One of the most interesting (and expensive) experiments in the growing field of computer animation, Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within is making news some five months before its July release. Estimates of the cost of the film range from $100 to $140 million dollars, and even more interesting than its cost is the hyper-realistic animation technique adopted by director Hironobu Sakasuki. The characters in Final Fantasy, in particular the protagonist Aki, have the three-dimensional look of live action actors. Although the film's complicated science fiction narrative, which features an earth overrun by alien phantoms that suck the life out of terrestrial beings, is pure anime, the almost photo-realistic nature of the images is quite a departure from traditional Japanese style of animation. Also a departure is the considerable vocal talent employed, including Ming-Na, Donald Sutherland, James Woods, Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, and Peri Gilpin.
Recently Sony Pictures has released fifteen minutes worth of key scenes from the film, and reaction to this extended trailer has been quite positive. Even those who have only seen the theatrical trailer have been impressed by the quality of the motion-capture animation and the marvelously detailed backgrounds. Unfortunately, reaction to a screening of the unfinished film has not been so positive. Although the problem may be fixed before the actual film is released in July, preview audiences were put off by a lack of synchronization between lip movements and the dialogue. Anything that breaks the spell of magical realism created by the artwork (which at times recalls the work of the Swiss painter Balthus in its 3-D precision) could work against the 'gee whiz' emotion that audiences experience seeing something that is simultaneously so real and yet so obviously created by humans (unlike the feeling one gets, for example from viewing a dubbed anime). Several years ago, James Cameron, the director of Titanic, was planning to do a realistic CGI film entitled Avatar, but was thwarted by the cost. Advances in computer technology and motion-capture animation have made creating a realistic CGI film doable, if still extremely costly. Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within is truly a revolutionary film in its design and conception, and like many pioneering efforts it may not turn out to be a financial success, but it is certain to be a very influential film in the history of animation.
Another certainty is that the new Final Fantasy film will provide Comic Images with excellent images for its trading card series based on the film. The film's design is spectacular, particularly the backgrounds; and the characters, especially Aki, are extremely photogenic. Bandai is producing a series of toys based on Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within (see 'Bandai America Unveils...'), and Palisades Marketing will expand its Final Fantasy line to include the new film, so there will be no lack of licensed merchandise. And the strong run-up and powerful property may salvage the merchandise sales even if the movie does not succeed on all levels.
