Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Synopsis

By 2065, Earth has become a desolate wasteland, far removed from its former splendor. Alien beings called Phantoms stalk the planet, killing or slowly deteriorating humans on contact. To protect what remains of humanity, major urban areas are enclosed by protective force fields. In this crisis, scientists Aki Ross and her mentor Dr. Sid work toward a definitive solution after discovering a mystical Gaia energy that can neutralize the Phantoms. With backing from the Human Council and the military team Deep Eyes, they prepare to implement their plan, despite facing doubt from some quarters. Aki, Sid, Grey, and their companions must unite to confront threats from both alien and human adversaries in their quest to save the world. Though the deadly Phantoms pose the most obvious danger, human resistance to their efforts is equally treacherous and must not be overlooked.

Background

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was the only full length film produced by Square Pictures. The movie's final budget was $137 million dollar budget, due to the high costs of the technology being used for the film's computer animation. With marketing costs included, The Spirits Within lost in excess of $94 million. Adjusted for 2016 inflation, this amounts to over $126 million. Not only did this directly lead to the closing of Square Pictures, but it also delayed the parent company Square from completing its planned merger with the video game publishing company Enix. A Japanese/American collaboration, The Spirits Within was filmed in English and premiered in the United States two months before releasing in Japan.