Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals

In 1994, a ghost named Mid returned from the dead to guide a new generation of heroes, yet his presence marked the beginning of a troubled legacy for the Final Fantasy franchise. This spectral engineer, grandson of the legendary Cid, appeared in an original video animation that would become the first direct sequel to a video game in the series. The story unfolded on Planet R, two centuries after the events of Final Fantasy V, where three of the four crystals had been stolen by a rising evil known as Deathgyunos. The animation was produced by Madhouse and released across four thirty-minute episodes between March and July of that year, setting a precedent for future adaptations while simultaneously sowing the seeds of controversy that would follow it for decades. The narrative introduced Prettz, a reckless swordsman riding a motorcycle, and Linally, a blue-haired summoner who was the direct descendant of Bartz, the original hero. Their journey was complicated by the presence of Valkus, a bumbling general of the Tycoon air force, and Rouge, a scantily-clad sky pirate captain obsessed with shiny objects. The production team, including composer Masahiko Sato, wove Nobuo Uematsu's original themes into the score, creating a soundscape that honored the past while attempting to forge a new path. Despite the ambitious scope, the series would eventually vanish from legal distribution, leaving only VHS tapes and a boxed set released by Urban Vision in 1997 and 1998 as physical remnants of its existence.

The Void Wizard's Ambition

The true antagonist of the story was not the shadowy Deathgyunos, but the wizard Ra Devil, who sought to steal the brain of Cid to unlock the secrets of the four crystals. This macabre plot point revealed the depth of the villain's desperation, as he assumed his true form only after successfully acquiring the knowledge contained within the stolen organ. The narrative arc spanned four distinct chapters, each focusing on a different element: Wind, Fire, Dragon, and Star. The first volume, released on the 9th of December 1997, contained the Wind and Fire chapters, while the second volume, arriving on the 3rd of February 1998, covered the Dragon and Star chapters. A boxed set combining both volumes was later released on the 17th of November 1998, offering fans a complete collection in a single slipcase. The story's structure was designed to mirror the episodic nature of the original game, yet it diverged significantly in tone, relying heavily on comedy and fan service to engage its audience. The character of Linally, who became the vessel for the Wind Crystal, struggled with her novice status, able to conjure only chocobos until the climax. Meanwhile, Prettz wielded a nodachi and spiked bombs, showcasing a combat style that was both flashy and dangerous. The relationship between the protagonists and the supporting cast, including the loyal but clumsy Valkus, added layers of interpersonal drama that were often overshadowed by the action sequences. The animation quality, while praised by some critics for its character designs, was criticized by others for its simplicity and reliance on comedic timing over dramatic storytelling.

Common questions

What is Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals?

Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals is a 1994 original video animation that serves as the first direct sequel to the video game Final Fantasy V. The story unfolds on Planet R two centuries after the original game and follows a new generation of heroes including Prettz and Linally. The series was produced by Madhouse and released across four thirty-minute episodes between March and July 1994.

Who is the true antagonist in Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals?

The true antagonist of Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals is the wizard Ra Devil who seeks to steal the brain of Cid to unlock the secrets of the four crystals. Ra Devil assumes his true form only after successfully acquiring the knowledge contained within the stolen organ. The shadowy Deathgyunos serves as a rising evil that steals three of the four crystals but is not the primary villain.

When were the volumes of Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals released?

The first volume of Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals was released on the 9th of December 1997 containing the Wind and Fire chapters. The second volume arrived on the 3rd of February 1998 covering the Dragon and Star chapters. A boxed set combining both volumes was later released on the 17th of November 1998.

Who composed the music for Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals?

The musical score for Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals was composed by Masahiko Sato who incorporated numerous cues from Nobuo Uematsu's original soundtrack to Final Fantasy V. Two soundtracks were released in 1994 with the first volume arriving on the 21st of May and the second on the 21st of July. The soundtracks remain a rare commodity with no official digital release available to this day.

Why is Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals difficult to find today?

Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals is difficult to find today because Urban Vision lost the distribution license for the series and it has not been released in any other format such as Blu-ray. The series remains available only on VHS tapes and the boxed set released in 1998. The absence of a digital release has meant that the series has not been remastered or remade.

Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals

The Void Wizard's Ambition

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