Based on the hit RPG Series.  Still early in development and is totally CG (Computer Generated), no live actors.  Slated to be released in the year 2001.  Here are a few comments made by Ted and an Anonymous Source to Cinescape.

"Few facts are yet known about the infamous Final Fantasy film, but news recently broke from a source in Square Japan that filming is over half complete in various Californian and Japanese locations. It has been directed by Hinonobo Sakaguchi, the producer all eight Final Fantasy video games and was written by Al Reinert, whose credits include Ron Howard's critically acclaimed Apollo 13. The executive producer is Jun Aida, who produced the Jean-Claude VanDamme actioner Street Fighter.

"Over 75% of the film will be computer-generated, but the
generation is supposedly unnoticeable due to the new technology used by the film's animation director Andy Jones. Jones' past credits include James Cameron's immensely successful film, Titanic and Steven Speilberg's family fantasy, Hook. Currently, 165 animators are working on the project in full cooperation with Square of Japan, who will also release the film in the Summer of 2001 as their first live-action movie. The computer effects with be fused with live action in such a way that the CGI images should look remarkably more realistic than the actors and actresses in the film. On a side note, the same effects program will be used to create the title character of Universal Picture's 1999 film, The Mummy.

"The production is moving along quite steadily with filming, but animation is so complex that sources at Square are stating that it is taking them nearly 30 days to complete four minutes of film effects. Most shots are created through motion-capture filming, which takes a filmed actor or actress and computer-generates them into a number of different images. Sources state that nearly all of New York City and Los Angeles were filmed from the air with digital cameras for extensive mapping sequences and a fly-through that highlights the film's intro sequence.

"The plot is complex, which will please fans of the game series. It takes place on Earth in the year 2065. A group of scientists have discovered that life is a simple form of energy, which sparks a controversy among religious groups around the world. Magicians have emerged from the inner-cities and proved that the god-like powers of mages really do exist through the amazing advances in science. A renegade scientist discovers that an extra-terrestrial force is about to attack Earth and begins a quest gather a group of fighters who can hold off the evil plague. At the head of this invasion is Grey, an ArmorMan Warrior who will stop at nothing to save the planet he loves.

"Along with Grey is a young woman who has almost solved the complex language code of the aliens, a brawler with a keen wit, a young magician who holds more than she gives away, and several others. Together, the small group will discover that there really is more to life than science and that after death, consciousness always goes on in your heart. They find more about themselves, the world, and the power of friendship in order to defeat the greatest threat the world has ever seen...

"The characters are very complex and they all have very long histories, which will later be elaborated on in a hopeful sequel and prequel. The character of Grey, for example, is an ArmorMan Official in the city of New York who protects and serves just as the police of the twentieth century did. His story will be the basis of a video game and several books before the film debuts."

The Honolulu Star Bulletin published an article about the production of the movie.

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