Interviewing The Developers

Below is an interview by Dengeki Magazine from GameSpot

Q = Dengeki Magazine A = Tetsuya Nomura

Q:Why was a movie sequel to Final Fantasy VII decided for development, and when was it decided?

A: About a year back, Visual Works (a company that has developed CG movies for Square) picked FFVII as the theme for a presentation that they were going to create. Our research and development department worked with them on its launch, and I joined the crew after producer Kitase-san called me. It's going to be released as a sequel, but it was planned to just be a visual presentation in the beginning.

Q: Why is Advent Children a movie instead of a game? Are there any differences between making a game and making a full movie?

A: First of all, we started off from the project that Visual Works was handling, but they can't make a game on their own. We tried to see if we could make it into a game, but it wasn't possible due to a number of factors. As a result, we decided to stick with the original plan and work on it as a movie production. The development isn't too different from the way we make movies that get used in our games, but our schedule is a bit tight. We need to keep the cost down since it's not a game, but [we still need to] maintain high quality.

Q: Are there any differences between creating movies for games and creating Advent Children?

A: There are more efforts put into the textures and the atmosphere. We usually need to balance [the movie graphics] with the game screen, but there are no such limitations in Advent Children, so we're going all out on it.

Q: What meaning does Final Fantasy VII have for you?

A: It was the Final Fantasy game that I was most involved in, and it is also my favorite. It's also where the series takes a radical change (from past FF titles).

Q: How is production going?

A: We are at about 10 percent done. Not all the characters have been created yet, but the scenario has already been completed.

Q: Were there any things that you were especially careful about when bringing back Cloud and Sephiroth to the screen?

A: What you are seeing now is the result of numerous explorations. Since it was impossible to bring the look [from FFVII] directly to the new realistic look (in Advent Children), the characteristics that would allow anybody to recognize Cloud and the others were left behind on them.

Q: What kind of standing does the new character fighting with Cloud have?

A: He is an enemy.

Q: Were the characters in Advent Children's promotional video animated through motion capture?

A: They were animated by motion capture, but that capture was recently taken for promotional use. It isn't a part of the main movie.

Q: Are the battle scenes also created through motion capture?

A: Many are, but parts that aren't humanly possible are done by hand.

Q: Will the characters have voices? And will it be in English or Japanese?

A: The characters will have voices, but I can't answer more.

Q: What is the theme of Advent Children?

A: Nojima, who handles the scenario, says that it won't be something soft, like healing. It will be about survival.

Q: Where, specifically, will Advent Children take place? Will it be somewhere from the original Final Fantasy VII?

A: It's hidden in the logo.

Q: How long will Advent Children be?

A: It is planned to run for 60 minutes.

Q: Are there any chances for a FFVII sequel to be developed as a game after the release of Advent Children?

A: I hope that this project may lead to something, since we woke up something that was sleeping.