Final Fantasy: Advent Children Gets US Release Date [Archive]

Shadowmage952

02-13-2006, 12:30 PM

Courtesy of Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/psp/rpg/finalfantasyviiadventchildren/news.html?sid=6144169):

It's been a long time coming for North American fans of Final Fantasy, but the countdown can officially begin--home versions of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is coming to the US on April 25. The computer animated film based on the Square Enix franchise was previously released in theaters and on UMD and DVD in Japan, where it has sold hundreds of thousands of copies.
About damn time.

torrefaction

02-13-2006, 01:03 PM

Holy christ. FINALLY.

agentgray

02-13-2006, 01:04 PM

Ready for this? Are you ready?

Who the frak cares by now?

(I know some of you do, but ugh...whatever.)

Felonous

02-13-2006, 01:17 PM

Already watched it, and this is my opinion: It sucked.

Mozgus

02-13-2006, 01:18 PM

bap: please don't talk about Warez or digital theft.

Skjef

02-13-2006, 01:20 PM

FF7:AC is the shit. WAS the shit.

I cared about this in... September? All I wanted was subs. I don't give a rat's ass about the dub track.

Sorry Squenix. I just don't care anymore.

Mozgus

02-13-2006, 01:35 PM

I still want to know why it took them this long to dub the thing. Does anyone know? Some suggest that they actually went and changed all the character's mouths to match the dub. I really doubt this, but it would be TECHNICALLY possible. I mean why would Square just sit with their thumbs up their asses this long, when they had a hot new product with the Final Fantasy brand name on it? No one cares about it anymore. They blew it.

dotbomb

02-13-2006, 01:41 PM

Oddmaker

02-13-2006, 01:45 PM

Wasnt that good imo, Shame really.

Xerxes

02-13-2006, 01:56 PM

Story, ho-hum... Fighting/Action, niiiice...

Stevercakes

02-13-2006, 01:57 PM

Well, although some of you don't care about the release of this. I'm very excited to get my hands on the dvd... Yeah it's practically half a year old now and yes I have watched it already and it is about time that it is being released in North America... but still, I look forward to that date.

Maybe i'm a Final Fantasy fanboy...

Heptoid

02-13-2006, 02:07 PM

Bout damn time though waay late.

Well I'll still pick it up in hopes they'll still do more movies.

Balthasar

02-13-2006, 02:21 PM

Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I don't know if it's that I played FF7 when I was a bit younger, so my tastes and analytical ability were not developed enough to see all the flaws in the original story, or else this movie just missed the mark of what the game was able to accomplish. Some of the fights were pretty cool. Pixar probably could have made this movie look a bit sharper, however.

Edit: Oh yes, and way, way too late. Everyone that wanted to see this movie has seemingly already done so. Silly move on Square's part to take so long.

Megalith

02-13-2006, 02:30 PM

It sucked except for the sound mix.

Drinking_Buddy

02-13-2006, 02:39 PM

I have been paticently waiting for this, because I cant stand anime subs, if I want to read I'll read a book. But yeah, its about fucking time.

I think the bit-torent leak wasnt so bad that they will loose alot of revenue. I dont think the pirating comunity is that big. Least we start belieaving the MPA.....

But I'am sure me and the g/f will enjoy this, regardless of what you ugly bastads say.

carneconcarne

02-13-2006, 02:43 PM

Maybe this will get edited out...

Anyways, I think this may be one of the first cases where illegal internet distribution really does have a tremendous impact on the sales of a product. Whether an individual blames Square for this misfortune or not, the result remains: Square's bottom line will be lower due to theft over the internet.

What's the lesson to learn from this? Traditionally, companies "learn" that they have to wrap up their product more tighly in restrictive drm schemes that only affect legitimate customers. The average pirater will never see this drm, and his viewing experience will be better, or at least less restrictive, than the purchasers.

In the the long run, this will drive more and more people away from legitimate purchase and towards piracy, which will end in a less favorable situation for both consumer and producer.

I suggest Square learn from this by studying the piracy trends, and adapting release schedules to capitalize on market desires. Release in Japan, followed quickly by an internet only dub-release, a standard dub DVD, and at this time, release the "extended edition" with extra features and higher quality packaging. This would guarantee more revenue than they will get from the real-life release scenario, and avoid chasing away potential customers.

But what do I know? I'm just an internet pirate.

Spigot

02-13-2006, 03:00 PM

Although I did watch the fansub of this when it hit the net back in, what, October last year, I'm still going to buy the DVD. I loved it, personally, and thought that it should have been the FF picture released in theatres as opposed to the lacklustre Spirits Within.

I'm not feeling particularly sorry for Sony/Squeenix as they had originally had the thing slated for an October release, stateside. Had they not postponed it at the last minute and subsequently released it in Japan, I bet most people would have gone out and bought it instead of downloading it. I know I sure would have.

Granted, most people who won't buy it now that it's coming out probably wouldn't have bought it when it came out in the fall. Also, given that it hasn't officially been released over here yet, it still falls into that grey realm of fansubs. I'll definately delete my copy once the official version hits.

I'm just glad that it is finally coming out here and that it's not going to be limited to the UMD format. Packing in a lot of extras is a nice touch too.

For those who didn't like it, all I can wonder is how you can't like the Bahamut battle. Sure, most of the stunts and fights are over the top, but they look so good!

Megalith

02-13-2006, 03:03 PM

I like how Rachael Leigh Cook is doing Tifa's voice.

Guess I'll buy it after all.

Kelegacy

02-13-2006, 03:19 PM

I am one of those people who didn't bother seeing the Japanese version despite it being leaked. I have patience, I have virtue, I have a six inch penis with below average girth, but I did see some of the fansub. I am interested how they will do the English voices...and I can't imagine they'd fuck that up with all the money they've invested in this little venture.

Hopefully it does excellent when it hit shelves.

gsmith

02-13-2006, 03:36 PM

I enjoyed Final Fantasy VII: Last Order (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Order) a lot more than Advent Children, myself. AC was more action over substance, while LO went over some plot from FF7 and even revealed some new tidbits about what happened in the original game. The animation was extremely well done and the soundtrack was well integrated rather than feeling tacked on.

Spigot

02-13-2006, 03:53 PM

They could just release it without a dub and I'd be happy. I guess there are people who don't like watching anime (and this is a very pretty, CG anime) with the original language track. More pity them.

I would be very happy if they had pushed it back to April to coincide with the NA release of FFXII, but that must remain a hallucination for better times.

Atepsflame

02-13-2006, 03:56 PM

They better pack in some tastie extras to make it worth adding to my DVD collection. I love the movie, don't get me wrong, but I've seen it several times already and besides, I'd like some making of documentaries, character bios, that kinda stuff.

KSmitty

02-13-2006, 03:59 PM

I have been paticently waiting for this, because I cant stand anime subs, if I want to read I'll read a book.
This post makes foreign film directors cry.....

What's the lesson to learn from this? Traditionally, companies "learn" that they have to wrap up their product more tighly in restrictive drm schemes that only affect legitimate customers. The average pirater will never see this drm, and his viewing experience will be better, or at least less restrictive, than the purchasers.

In the the long run, this will drive more and more people away from legitimate purchase and towards piracy, which will end in a less favorable situation for both consumer and producer.

I suggest Square learn from this by studying the piracy trends, and adapting release schedules to capitalize on market desires. Release in Japan, followed quickly by an internet only dub-release, a standard dub DVD, and at this time, release the "extended edition" with extra features and higher quality packaging. This would guarantee more revenue than they will get from the real-life release scenario, and avoid chasing away potential customers.

But what do I know? I'm just an internet pirate.
You mean reward consumers instead of punishing them with restrictive and redundant DRM policies and practices *gasp*!!! As the saying goes thats just too much like right.
I planned on buying it so I could support Square, (and the English dub helps my nephew who has some trouble keeping up with the speed of subs) but I will be one of the few. Too little WAAAAAY to late Square hope you learn from this.

-K

Drinking_Buddy

02-13-2006, 04:13 PM

This post makes foreign film directors cry.....

-K

Notice I said anime, Anime, I can handle foreign films, but anime is different. 90% of the time with anime you are going to be watching the chick with blue hair and big tits. Why should you cloud up the screen with information you dont really care about. Its nice and all when fansubs take the time to explain what some word mean, but honesty I dont give a damn.

Film directors should not cry about a decesion I have made from my own opinon after watching my share of subs.

Mozgus

02-13-2006, 04:28 PM

Mr.Zip

02-13-2006, 04:47 PM

Their first motion picture sucked too... what was it called? Oh yes that's right... Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173840/

Big thumbs down from me on that one. Don't expect anything better out of them this time around.

I think I'm the only person in the world who likes that movie. Or maybe I'm the only one who admits it. I can't remember who said it but AC is definitely more action based than anything else. They could have cut the number of fights down in half and made it a much better movie.

Drinking_Buddy

02-13-2006, 04:52 PM

Subs work wonders on anime, because anime is usually still images with moving mouths. You aren't missing shit by reading text. Plus, any anime with d-cup bimbos are crap by default, so I don't watch them.

To each his own, I've tried subs on anime, I dont like them. But I am tired of this elist crap that sometimes gets shoved my way when I say I dont like subs. (Not accusing anybody here, just refering to anime-fans in general.)

Maybe this will get edited out...

Anyways, I think this may be one of the first cases where illegal internet distribution really does have a tremendous impact on the sales of a product. Whether an individual blames Square for this misfortune or not, the result remains: Square's bottom line will be lower due to theft over the internet.

What's the lesson to learn from this? Traditionally, companies "learn" that they have to wrap up their product more tighly in restrictive drm schemes that only affect legitimate customers. The average pirater will never see this drm, and his viewing experience will be better, or at least less restrictive, than the purchasers.

In the the long run, this will drive more and more people away from legitimate purchase and towards piracy, which will end in a less favorable situation for both consumer and producer.

I suggest Square learn from this by studying the piracy trends, and adapting release schedules to capitalize on market desires. Release in Japan, followed quickly by an internet only dub-release, a standard dub DVD, and at this time, release the "extended edition" with extra features and higher quality packaging. This would guarantee more revenue than they will get from the real-life release scenario, and avoid chasing away potential customers.

But what do I know? I'm just an internet pirate.

I dont want to sound rude, but what do you know? Do you have idea how much it would cost to study piracy trends, and would that be feasible, is there any evidence that sugest that piracy trends relate to market desires? I ask because I dont know.

Releasing a dub version on the internet, how much is that production module going to cost? From what I have read bit-torrent release modules are still in deisgin and havent been tested.

Besides Sony is the distrubter and that is there job. SquareEnix should continue focusing on making good products and not distrubtion.

RC Jester

02-13-2006, 05:08 PM

Hey guys - just so you know, the movie/UMD was supposed to be released this past Octoberish (maybe even September?) but it was actually initially delayed due to negotiations over $$$ between Square Enix and their U.S. film distributors, whichever movie company or whatever was planning on releasing it. I think one side wanted a much higher percentage than the other side was willing to concede. Something like that.
Someone here said they delayed it until April to coincide with the release of FFXII - is that actually coming out in the U.S. then? If that's the case, then perhaps they delayed it just a bit longer for that.
Anyways, you guys are right about one thing - the bottom line is both Square Enix and their distributor both wound up losing out on this deal as the demand for the movie is a LOT lower now than it was 6 months ago...

Balthasar

02-13-2006, 05:09 PM

I have patience, I have virtue, I have a six inch penis with below average girth...
That was so much more than I ever wanted to know about you.

carneconcarne

02-13-2006, 05:09 PM

All I know is how I react to things like this, how DRm makes me and many others feel, and what I think a more viable long term solution would be. I didn't say, "What do I know?" to demonstrate my expertise or surpassing knowledge in the field.

Mozgus

02-13-2006, 05:15 PM

To each his own, I've tried subs on anime, I dont like them. But I am tired of this elist crap that sometimes gets shoved my way when I say I dont like subs. (Not accusing anybody here, just refering to anime-fans in general.)
You and me both. I'm not about to say to get subs because it's "authentic" or some shit. I just watch foreign stuff with subs if the dubs are inferior to the original. Most cases this serves true. I think it will serve true in this movie. It didn't in Spirits Within, but then again, the cast in this one was picked by someone with a serious attitude.

All I can say, is almost all the characters sounded the way that I ASSUMED they would sound, in the japanese original. I played the game through six times. I built up their voices with my imagination over the years. And even in japanese, they sounded the way they should have. (Maybe not Red XIII.)

Spigot

02-13-2006, 05:29 PM

All I'll say about dubs vs. subs on anime is that until the level of voicework for anime rises to something approaching decent, I'll continue to watch the subs.

I think that the only dubbed anime that I actually enjoyed was the Disney release of Princess Mononoke. It wasn't perfect, but it was by far one of the best dubs of an anime. The voiceover cast actually had a modicum of talent (although Gillian Anderson was phoning in her lines) and read the script in a way that conveyed the proper emotion.

I can't imagine watching Last Exile with the dubs. Sure, you have to glance away for a sec to read subs, but the Japanese voiceover artists actually sound the way the directors want them to AND have that mysterious ability to convey emotions suitable to the scene.

Think about all the games that have had atrocious voiceovers (Baten Kaitos being one of the worst offenders). Then think about ones like Dragon Quest 8 that are spot on. I ended up turning off the voices and reading the subs in Baten Kaitos while in DQ8 I'd rather just turn the subs off completely and listen to the voiceovers.

Oh, and I didn't mind Spirits Within. It's still a gorgeous movie and it's not horrible. I just wouldn't have called it Final Fantasy. It was also too anime for a North American audience but not anime enough for a hardcore anime fan. Mediocrity never helps.

Drinking_Buddy

02-13-2006, 05:49 PM

You and me both. I'm not about to say to get subs because it's "authentic" or some shit. I just watch foreign stuff with subs if the dubs are inferior to the original. Most cases this serves true. I think it will serve true in this movie. It didn't in Spirits Within, but then again, the cast in this one was picked by someone with a serious attitude.

All I can say, is almost all the characters sounded the way that I ASSUMED they would sound, in the japanese original. I played the game through six times. I built up their voices with my imagination over the years. And even in japanese, they sounded the way they should have. (Maybe not Red XIII.)

I've watched the trailers and I have heard some of the japense voices. Yuffie and Vincint sounded perfect, but even one else sounded ok. I wount be surpised that the japanese cast is better then the U.S, the U.S. voice cast looks lacking at best. The best we have got is the guy who did Bender from Futurama.

Mozgus

02-13-2006, 05:53 PM

I think that the only dubbed anime that I actually enjoyed was the Disney release of Princess Mononoke. It wasn't perfect, but it was by far one of the best dubs of an anime. The voiceover cast actually had a modicum of talent (although Gillian Anderson was phoning in her lines) and read the script in a way that conveyed the proper emotion.
Agreed. Trigun is a good example of a dub transfering the humor accurately. Many times in anime, where a funny part occurs, the voice work just kills it, and you feel robbed and left out. But the team behind the Trigun dub knew what they were doing. There's better examples out there I'm sure, but I just honestly hate the shit. Maybe once every 2 years a show comes along and surprises me, but the genre has really died in the past decade. Maybe I just prefer the hand-drawn classics to the photoshopped shit they have now. No personality anymore.

alienchild

02-13-2006, 09:52 PM

well, what can I say... "too late"? this is what they get for holding back releases and not doing it am simultaneously, and Im not the only one.

Pumped'Up

02-13-2006, 10:56 PM

I've avoided most of the hype, don't expect much from this film, and looking forward to giving this flick a rental.

Royal Fool

02-14-2006, 02:46 AM

I stopped caring about Final Fantasy-related stuff many years back.

Not even excited about FFXII.

Oh, and FFVIII was good. Because I like spreading controversy.

overdrivechao

02-14-2006, 02:59 AM

For those of you looking for quicky info on what else the english VO actors have done, here is some poorly formatted material i am too lazy to retype.

Barret- Kevin Michael Richardson- The Animatrix (2003) (V) (voice) .... Thadeus (segment "Final Flight of the Osiris")/Cop (segment "Kid's Story")/Agent #2 (segment "World Record")
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (2002) (VG) (voice) (as Kevin M. Richardson) .... CMC Dolph

Elena- Michelle Ruff- "Chobits" (2002) TV Series (voice: English version) (as Georgette Rose) .... Chi/Black Chi (English Dub)

Rufus Shinra-Wally Wingert- Man, just a ton of additional voices credits... nothing starring

Cloud-Steve Burton-Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (2004) (VG) (voice) .... Cloud StrifeKingdom Hearts (2002) (VG) (voice) .... Cloud Strife
... aka Kingudamu hâtsu (Japan)

Loz-John Di Maggio-Futurama (2007) (V) (announced) (voice) .... BenderX-Men Legends (2004) (VG) (voice) .... Juggernaut, General KincaidFinal Fantasy X-2 (2003) (VG) (voice: English version) (as John DiMaggio) .... Wakka/Kimahri Ronso
... aka Fainaru fantajii X-2 (Japan)

Sephiroth-Paul Dobson- # "Transformer: Super Link" (2004) TV Series (voice: English version) .... Rodimus
... aka Transformers: Energon (USA) Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (2003) (VG) (voice) .... August, Gazel, Quval"Transformers: Cybertron" (2005) TV Series (voice) .... Landmine, Overhaul

Tifa-Rachael Leigh Cook-You know....

Mozgus

02-14-2006, 05:38 AM

Tifa-Rachael Leigh Cook-You know....
No, I don't.

overdrivechao

02-14-2006, 09:12 AM

No, I don't.

Go watch some movies. The problem is she's not VO'd anything special, but she's starred in a bunch of movies.

KSmitty

02-14-2006, 11:58 AM

Notice I said anime, Anime, I can handle foreign films, but anime is different. 90% of the time with anime you are going to be watching the chick with blue hair and big tits. Why should you cloud up the screen with information you dont really care about. Its nice and all when fansubs take the time to explain what some word mean, but honesty I dont give a damn.

Film directors should not cry about a decesion I have made from my own opinon after watching my share of subs.
Yes but the statement in and of itself is indicative of the way many people feel about subtitles in general, hence my comment. So while you may enjoy foreign films, that won't stop alot of people from avoiding foreign films because 'if they wanted to read they would get a book'. And you may not like it (which is fine by me, do your thing) but with dubs you are missing out on the way the movie was written as dubbing changes the dialogue of the film/anime.

-K

overdrivechao

02-14-2006, 12:28 PM

Yes but the statement in and of itself is indicative of the way many people feel about subtitles in general, hence my comment. So while you may enjoy foreign films, that won't stop alot of people from avoiding foreign films because 'if they wanted to read they would get a book'. And you may not like it (which is fine by me, do your thing) but with dubs you are missing out on the way the movie was written as dubbing changes the dialogue of the film/anime.

-K

I agree. In general, most VO'd film and anime is done sloppily, quite like official subtitling most of the time. Most of my friends refuse to listen to anything VO'd in english if it has a sub option. It's just something you get used to and for the most part the feeling in the voices of the original actors feels so much more genuine. Like I said, there are exceptions obviously.

MasterKwan

02-14-2006, 02:00 PM

You may laugh but, for an example of how an English conversion made an anime better, look no further than Dragon Ball Z. Yeah, as anime goes it's no great shakes but, Funimation found voice actors that were on the ball and completely replaced the music sound track with some incredible work by a US composer named Bruce Faulconer (I have the CD's). It's the last decent work that Funimation's done though (that I paid for anyway).

Something most people don't consider is that dubs let you filter the crap from the good stuff. I buy alot of anime bacause my kids don't want to watch a computer screen and it's easier to take on trips but, I also watch the fansubs. What the subs let me do is determine if the anime's crap or not. Like anything else, the crap far outnumbers the decent stuff.

Megalith

02-14-2006, 06:14 PM

No matter how bad the English dub is, I'll take it over the original Japanese track anyday.

See, even if the voice acting is bad, chances are I won't have to deal with that disgusting, 5-year old, over-exaggerated and whiny girly voice that is in almost every anime series.

A bad dub is also what gives anime the little satisfaction that it is capable of, since almost none of them can be taken seriously anyway, and can only be laughed at.

Zeal

02-14-2006, 07:31 PM

Hold on, my cell phone is ringing.

"I WILL NOT BECOME..........MEMOLY..."

::click::

Who the hell...?

MasterKwan

02-14-2006, 07:49 PM

If you don't like it, why watch it Mega? Sounds like you're punishing yourself for masturbation or something.

Skjef

02-14-2006, 08:27 PM

A bad dub is also what gives anime the little satisfaction that it is capable of, since almost none of them can be taken seriously anyway, and can only be laughed at.
I know you're just trolling, but you're an ass to try and give other people this impression.

There are anime series that are--nay, demand to be taken seriously. Off the top of my head: Cowboy Bebop, BECK, His and Her Circumstances, Ghost in the Shell, and anything by Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, etc).

And there are so many more. Simply because something is animated and in japanese does not automatically make it substanceless crap, as you are implying.

overdrivechao

02-14-2006, 08:57 PM

I agree with Skjef... the only cartoons i ever watch now are Japanese. Nick/Cart.Net. shows are so horrible. Really, if you feel as Megalith does chances are you are basing your opinion on DBZ/Pokemon/YuGiOH/Hamtaro stuff.

Im watching Bleach right now, and getting ready to check out the Hellsing OVA 1. I would say there is more substance to most well done anime than anything american cartoons have to offer. Although Billy and Mandy, and Foster's HFIF are allright sometimes.

Zeal

02-14-2006, 09:36 PM

I know you're just trolling, but you're an ass to try and give other people this impression.

There are anime series that are--nay, demand to be taken seriously. Off the top of my head: Cowboy Bebop, BECK, His and Her Circumstances, Ghost in the Shell, and anything by Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, etc).

And there are so many more. Simply because something is animated and in japanese does not automatically make it substanceless crap, as you are implying.

You are wrong. The only anime that 'demands' to be taken seriously is the original video animation of Kenshin.

Otherwise known as "The Day Anime Died".

Skjef

02-14-2006, 09:43 PM

You are wrong. The only anime that 'demands' to be taken seriously is the original video animation of Kenshin.

Otherwise known as "The Day Anime Died".
Let me get this straight. You're saying that nothing can live up to the Kenshin OVA?

Have you seen Bebop or KareKano? If not, I would highly recommend you do so. They give the Kenshin OVA a run for it's money.

Zeal

02-14-2006, 11:05 PM

Let me get this straight. You're saying that nothing can live up to the Kenshin OVA?.
Yes.

The rest of your post has been disregarded.

MasterKwan

02-15-2006, 08:25 AM

I watch a ton of anime but, Jesus none of it "demand(s) to be taken seriously". It's cartoons. It's as throwaway as any sitcom on American TV. Yes, I enjoy it. Yes, some's very well done and tells a decent story but, that's the extent of it's value. Sure, mega was a troll but, you're hurting your case by trying to make these cartoons more important than they really are.

The sub versus dub people is mainly good readers versus bad. Some people simply don't read well enough to enjoy subbed video. You can't really criticise them for it. I used to think reading was all practice but, now realize that reading just isn't as natural to some people as others. It's a focus issue I think. To me, reading subs is automatic and instantaneous. One glance and I know what they're saying. Some people, it's an effort. There's no magic to it. My 15 year old loves subs, my 12 year old hates them.