Final Fantasy
25th Anniversary
Exhibition
The Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Exhibition was held at Hikarie Hall on the 9th Floor of Shibuya Hikarie in Shibuya, Tokyo from August 31 to September 2, 2012. The special pre-opening on August 2 was only accessible by the media and 180 Square Enix Members fans selected by lottery, with an opening ceremony.
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The exhibition was opened to the public free of charge from September 1 to 2, 2012, although a 49-page Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary pamphlet was required to be purchased for ¥2,000 prior to entry. Shibuya Station, connected directly to Hikarie Hall, was decorated with Final Fantasy themed banners and posters.
OPENING CEREMONY
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (commonly abbreviated by fans as Skapara or TSPO) kicked off the opening ceremony by performing familiar songs from the FF series including “Opening Theme” and “Victory Fanfare” in ska and jazz fashion. "Opening Theme" from Final Fantasy I was to be included as the opening track to the upcoming Final Fantasy Tribute ~Thanks~ album released as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary campaign, December 5, 2012.
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Yoichi Wada, CEO of Square Enix, greeted the audience with a speech about the meaning of Final Fantasy as a "final challenge", referencing the urban legend that Squaresoft's original Final Fantasy was the company's final project when they were struggling.
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"Thank you for your love of FINAL FANTASY on a daily basis. I heard that FINAL FANTASY was originally developed in the sense of the final challenge, and then a sequel will be made by a completely different team. It's a title that seems to have been destined. It is Final Fantasy that inherits the flame of this destiny. There is no end. FINAL FANTASY will continue for a long time, complimented by Yoshitaka Amano's wonderful artwork. We will continue to provide users with such graphics, gentle music, a magnificent view of the world, bonds with party members born in the process of adventure, and finally a game experience. In order to reach as many players as possible, we also provide consoles on a wide range of platforms, and also provide titles on all terminals such as mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, as well as players in social games. We are also trying to get in touch with each other. Of course, we are also producing the Versus XIII that everyone is expecting, and I would like you to wait a little longer until it becomes a state of FINAL FANTASY."
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After his greeting, Mr. Wada remained on stage to greet guests. The next guest was Hiroshi Kawano, President of Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) Japan, who talked about his company's relationship with Squaresoft since the launch of Final Fantasy VII.
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"It is no exaggeration to say that the history of PlayStation came alongside FINAL FANTASY. The first PS was FFVII-IX, PS2 was FFX-XII, and PS3 was FF XIII. It can be said that it was an irreplaceable existence that walked together. With the introduction of the FFIII on the PSP, scheduled to be released on September 20, 2012, all numbered titles will be playable in PlayStation format. In addition, the original FF on the PS Vita will be released, so you can play with a fresh feeling on the organic EL display. The team at SCE also sympathize with the challenges faced by Square Enix's development team, such as the cutting-edge graphics of FINAL FANTASY and the innovative game system. At the "PlayStation Awards" held in December every year, prizes are given according to the number of units sold, but there is no other title (other than FF) that always wins the prize every year."
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Mr. Wada next welcomed Takashi Sensui of Microsoft Japan to the stage, commenting on how Square Enix first entered into a relationship with Mircosoft via Xbox 360 from FFXI, and matched the nature of online-oriented hardware, pushed by the voices FF fans mainly in Europe and the United States. Mr. Sensui commented on the infancy of his company's relationship with Square Enix, and hopes players will enjoy future games on Microsoft platforms for years to come.
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"I think it's rare for an entertainment franchise like FINAL FANTASY to survive for a quarter of a century, but FINAL FANTASY has been passed down to many creators and is still popular around the world as Japan's leading global IP. I think that is also a proof that the people concerned and fans have enthusiastically supported it. Microsoft released the first Xbox about 11 years ago, so it is far from the history of FINAL FANTASY. We wanted Xbox 360 users to play FINAL FANTASY games, so we launched FFXI and continued to release the titles after that. We were also able to deliver FFI to Windows Phone. We would like to support you so that you can play FINAL FANTASY on Microsoft platforms in the next 5 or 10 years."
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A video message from Satoru Iwata, President and CEO of Nintendo, was screened as he was unable to leave Kyoto at the time. He reminisced about his company's NES, the first hardware system in the FF series. He noted the series' 25 years success was not just because it created great entertainment, but because it continued the difficult challenge of opening up new horizons while preserving the tradition of the series.
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"The franchise loved by fans will continue for 15 years, 20 years, and 25 years, and when that time actually passes, we will look back on the past with a warm feeling as we do now. Such a fascinating series. I hope that it will continue in the future."
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Lastly, Shinji Hashimoto of Square Enix took to the stage to announce the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box, scheduled for release on December 18, 2012. He welcomed Yoshitaka Amano, who was in charge of the artwork for the Ultimate Box. Mr. Amano commented that "it was very troublesome because there are many characters", and the audience was wrapped in laughter.​
RECEPTION AREA
The reception area was located on B3F of Hikarie where official pamphlets are sold for 2,000 yen. A giant Chocobo statue from Final Fantasy Brigade, surrounded by congratulatory flower bouquets, greeted patrons as they entered. Several patrons reported it took up to two hours waiting in the queue for entry; during this time, Square Enix staff handed out free free Final Fantasy Brigade themed tissues and smartphone wallpapers.
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A welcome sign at the entrance reads: "Thank you for visiting the special "FINAL FANTASY Exhibition" today. We dreamed of sharing with you the memorable 25th Anniversary of FINAL FANTASY, and this dream has come true today with this event. We hope you enjoy it. From all the staff."
FINAL FANTASY WORKS
The first area of the exhibition is FINAL FANTASY WORKS. This is the only area where photography isn't prohibited. A sign reads: "Please enjoy the exhibition for game packaging titles I to XIV, history boards and 3D replicas created thus far."
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A display of the original packaging for every numbered release from I to XIV, alongside the Final Fantasy history board titled "History of Crystals", was exhibited, as well as a showcase of the contents of the upcoming Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box. A range of 3D statues, replicas and merchandise from the franchise was exhibited:
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Final Fantasy VII: 1:1000 scale model of Midgar, produced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the game. It features an incomplete Sector 6 plate, which was still under construction during the events of Final Fantasy VII.
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Final Fantasy VII: 1:1 scale model of the Cloud Strife's Buster Sword, produced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the game.
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Final Fantasy VII ~Dirge of Cerberus~: Replica of Genesis Rhapsodos' coat. Gackt, who performed the game's theme song, wore the coat in the music video, as well as during live performances.
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Final Fantasy X: Large scale model of Sin. The model was sculpted by Tadahiro Inoue for CG model verification during game development.
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Final Fantasy X: In-development 3D sculpts of monsters and summons. Hand sculpted by the art staff for model verification during the game's development.
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Final Fantasy XI: Replica of a genuine Crystal, created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the game. It was exhibited at "Vana'diel 2012".
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Final Fantasy XII: 1:1 scale replica of Judge Gabranth's armour. Produced for exhibits in USA and Europe as well as Japan.
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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning portrait based on game artwork.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Replica weapons produced for shooting the TV commercial for the PC version. It is based on actual in-game weapons adventurers can equip. Weapons spotted include Ul'dahn Winglet (Gladiator’s Arms), Longstop Labrys (Marauder’s Arms), Balisarde (Dark Knight’s Arms), Iron Lance & Steel Halberd (Lancer’s Arms), Aubriest's Whisper (Thaumaturge's Arm), Maple Cane (Conjurer’s Arms), and Bladed Flame Sergeant’s Shield.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Warrior of Light's armour replica produced for shooting the TV commercial for the PC version. It is the actual armour worn by actor Toma Ikuta.
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Certain props, such as Gabranth's Judge armour and Cloud's Buster Sword, were displayed at the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary World Concert Tour "Distant Worlds THE CELEBRATION" December 29, 2012 at the Osaka International Convention Centre, Grand Cube Osaka Main Hall. The mini exhibition was called "Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Special Exhibition".
MEMORIES OF FINAL FANTASY
The next area of the exhibition is MEMORIES of FINAL FANTASY.
A sign reads: "A mini theatre that looks back on the history of Final Fantasy through video."
In a room with area capacity of about 120 people, a 7 minute video showcasing the history of the series was shown.
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The latter half of the video shows the “Agni’s Philosophy” technical game engine demo previously screened at E3 in 2012.
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FINAL FANTASY CREATIVES
The next area of the exhibition is FINAL FANTASY CREATIVES.
A sign reads: "Please enjoy the many valuable FF development materials."
Development materials used in past productions of the series (from Final Fantasy I through XIV) were exhibited, including previously unused material, rare handwritten notes from the NES and SNES eras, pixel art, image illustrations, storyboards, in-development material. and sprite designs.
GIMMICK PASSAGE (JOB ANALYZER)
The next area of the exhibition is GIMMICK PASSAGE (Job Analyzer).
A sign reads: "With the guidance of the Crystal, the best job for you will be diagnosed."
Visitors passing the front of the screen in the aisle triggered a Final Fantasy Brigade job diagnosis that is best for the individual and is displayed on the screen. A motion sensor camera captured the visitor and magically transformed them into tiny Final Fantasy avatars. The avatars would walk alongside the visitor for the entire length of the hallway.
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YOSHITAKA AMANO WORKS
The next area of the exhibition is YOSHITAKA AMANO WORKS. A sign reads: "Please enjoy the original FF artwork by Yoshitaka Amano."
A hall dedicated to Amano's artwork from past Final Fantasy series, including the special artwork for the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary. Twenty-eight hand picked original drawings were displayed, including:
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Final Fantasy: "Warrior" and "Chaos Enthroned".
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Final Fantasy II: "Call to Arms" and "Firion".
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Final Fantasy III: "Nameless Warrior" and "Warriors of the Light".
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Final Fantasy IV: "Cecil"
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Final Fantasy V: "Shared Destiny" and "Red Sword Blue Sword".
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Final Fantasy VII: "Challenge" and "Tranquility".
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Final Fantasy VIII: "A Worthy Rival 1" and "The Party".
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Final Fantasy IX: "Zidane and Garnet" and "Time to Rest".
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Final Fantasy X: "Tidus and Yuna" and "Watery Dream".
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Final Fantasy XI: "War (Rise of the Zilart)" and "Seekers of Adoulin".
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Final Fantasy XII: "Judges" and "Balthier, Fran, Ashe and Vaan".
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Final Fantasy XIII: "Group" and "Snow and Serah".
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Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Artwork
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25TH ANNIVERSARY MARKET
The next area 25TH ANNIVERSARY MARKET, a product shop area with Final Fantasy related products. A sign reads: "25th anniversary and other FF related goods, CDs, official pamphlets, game software, etc can be purchased here."
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The Goods counter featured merchandise like figures, toys, plushes, posters, and shirts.
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The Music & Game counter featured music CDs, DVDs and game software. For purchases over 3,000 yen at the Music & Game counter, a bonus CD “Composers’ Selection CD”, retailing at 2,500 yen, is given featuring commentary from the six Final Fantasy music composers. New release OSTs include the Chip series CD (downgrades newer FF music into retro versions). Event exclusive CDs include "Music from Dear Friends", "Music from More Friends" and "SE Sound Effect Collection".
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FINAL FANTASY BRIGADE
CAPSULE TOY AREA
The next area was the FINAL FANTASY BRIGADE Capsule Toy Area.
Gashapon vending machines with serial codes for in-game redemption and character stickers were available for the mobile game "Final Fantasy Brigade".
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Cost for each try was 500 yen and a time limit was imposed to prevent congestion. The machines only accepted 500 yen coins but a money changer was available on premises.
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CHOCOBO CAFE
The next area was CHOCOBO CAFE.
The cafe was a small stall selling Final Fantasy themed cookie packs (Chocobo and Dissidia branding), Dissidia Ramune and a cold aqua-coloured Diamond Dust cocktail. The cocktail was a carbonated drink with a slight apple taste.
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GUEST ILLUSTRATIONS
The final area, just outside the exhibition, was GUEST ILLUSTRATIONS. A sign reads: "Please enjoy the guest illustrations of FF contributed with the co-operation of the Gangan editorial department." Final Fantasy inspired artwork by manga artists serialized in Square Enix's monthly magazines, Shonen Gangan, was displayed. Each work had the distinct look and style of the manga artist. Final Fantasy VI appeared to be the favourite, with six manga artists contributing a Final Fantasy VI related artwork. The list of guests are:
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Final Fantasy III by Shiro Amano – Kingdom Hearts II (2006-2015) Shonen Gangan (1- volumes)
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Final Fantasy III by Hekiru Hikawa – Candy Pop Nightmare (2011-2016) Big Gangan (7 volumes)
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Final Fantasy IV by Kairi Shimotsuki – Date Bashira (2010) Gangan Online (1 volume)
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Final Fantasy IV by Yaeko Ninagawa – Shinsengumi Jingishou Asagi (2008-2012) Young Gangan (8 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VI by Hiromu Arakawa – Fullmetal Alchemist (2001-2010) Shonen Gangan (27 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VI by Yoshiichi Akahito – Corpse Princess (2005-2014) Shonen Gangan (23 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VI by Yana Toboso – Black Butler (2006-ongoing) GFantasy (29+ volumes)
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Final Fantasy VI by Takatoshi Shiozawa - Final Fantasy Type-0 Gaiden: The Ice Reaper (2012-2014) Shonen Gangan (5 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VI by Higasa Akai - Undertaker Riddle (2009-2013) Gangan Online (8 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VI by Rensuke Oshikiri – Hi Score Girl (2010-2018) Big Gangan (10 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VII by Ryuuji Gotsubo – Anikoi (2008-2012) Shonen Ace (8 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VII by Shiwo Komeyama – Bloody Cross (2009-2015) Shonen Gangan (12 volumes)
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Final Fantasy VII Advent Children by Aguri Igarashi - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A (2011-ongoing) Shonen Gangan (6+ volumes)
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Final Fantasy IX by Jirou Suzuki – Magical Musou Tenshi Tsuki Irase!! Ryofuko-chan (2007-2012) GFantasy (9 volumes)
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Final Fantasy IX by Maybe – Dusk Maiden of Amnesia (2009-2013) Gangan Joker (10 volumes)
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Final Fantasy IX by Yamada – Hana to Harinezumi (2012-unknown) Gangan Online (2 volumes)
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Final Fantasy X by Night Owl – Kiba no Tabishounin: The Arms Peddler (2010-unknown) Young Gangan (7 volumes)
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Final Fantasy X by Shinta Fujimoto – Red Raven (2010-2013) Shonen Gangan (9 volumes)
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Final Fantasy X-2 by Yuusuke Shiba – Pecoros (2011-2013) Big Gangan (3 volumes)
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Final Fantasy XII by Etorouji Shiono - Übel Blatt (2004-2019) Big Gangan (23 volumes)
