It appears that the long-awaited television adaptation of Square Enix’s beloved JRPG classic is finally moving forward.
Back in 2021, the French production house Cyber Group Studios revealed they were developing an animated series based on Final Fantasy IX. Following the studio’s closure in 2025, many fans assumed the project had been scrapped. However, the latest issue of the French trade publication Écran Total confirms that the series remains in development, with production duties now transitioned to Euro Visual studio.
The show is currently slated for a 2028 release. Rather than being a direct retelling of the game’s plot, the series will serve as a spin-off set within the same universe, taking place some time after the original events. Specifically designed for a younger demographic aged 6 to 13, the project will consist of 13 episodes, each running 22 minutes.
The narrative focuses on a group of new characters—Mel, Colm, Luciola, Thea, Phala, and Doc—who are identified as the children of Vivi, a central figure from the original game. These young protagonists are the last surviving Black Mages on the four continents, living under the protection of the citizens of Alexandria. The status quo is shattered when Colm finds Mel “stopped” like a statue in the tavern where she works. This plot point leans heavily into the game’s established lore, which dictates that Black Mages have a very limited lifespan before they inevitably cease to function.
While the animation project is officially back on track, it provides no new clarity regarding the rumored Final Fantasy IX remake. While a remake was famously mentioned in the 2021 Nvidia GeForce Now leak, subsequent reports have been inconsistent, with some industry insiders suggesting the game project may have been put on hold or cancelled entirely.
Source: iXBT.games