No Remake Yet: Final Fantasy 9 Animated Series Revived, Targeting 2028

Remember that Final Fantasy 9 animated series everyone quietly wrote off? Turns out it might not be dead after all, and it even has a new home and a long runway to release.

Wait, wasn’t this canceled?

Back in 2021, a Final Fantasy 9 animated show was announced at French studio Cyber Group Studios — yes, the same outfit that did a TV series based on IO Interactive’s Mini Ninjas. Then Cyber Group shut down, and the project looked like it went with them. End of story… until now.

The revival: new studio, new timeline

French magazine Écran Total is reporting that the series has resurfaced at Euro Visual. This was first spotted by BlueSky user ensis, and it comes with actual details, not just wishful thinking.

• Format: 2D animation
• Episodes: 13
• Runtime: 22 minutes each
• Target release: 2028
• Premise: The story follows six Black Mages who are the children of Vivi — one of FF9’s main protagonists
• Leak check: RPG Site points out this matches earlier leaks for a project titled "Final Fantasy 9: The Black Mages' Legacy," including key art showing six Black Mages — one of them frozen — which lines up with the new synopsis
• Remake status: This likely has nothing to do with the long-rumored FF9 remake, but the fact the show survived a studio closure gives the optimist in me a tiny bit of hope

Why this is a little unexpected

Switching studios mid-flight is always a messy behind-the-scenes story, and going all-in on a Vivi-and-the-kids angle is a bold swing for an adaptation. Also, 2028 is a long wait, but at least the project has a clear target, a format, and a premise — which is more than we had when it looked buried with Cyber Group.

Side note from the anniversary file

As part of the game’s 25th anniversary chatter, a NieR producer offered this very relatable take:

"they should have made the loading faster"

Same.