TL;DR
- The long-troubled Final Fantasy IX animated series is officially back in production under French studio EuroVisual
- It’s now titled Final Fantasy: Black Mages Legacy and confirmed on EuroVisual’s own website
- Season 1 will have 10 episodes, each around 22 minutes — trimmed down from a previously planned 13-episode run
- The show follows six children of Vivi Ornitier, set roughly 10 years after the events of the original game
- A 2028 release window was previously reported, but no official date has been confirmed
- The project originally began at Cyber Group Studios, which filed for bankruptcy and was liquidated — nearly killing the show entirely
- Square Enix has licensed but is not directly involved in production
Five Years of False Starts — And Now a Real Comeback
Few gaming-adjacent projects have had a rougher road than the Final Fantasy IX animated series. Originally announced back in 2021, the show was initially produced by French company Cyber Group Studios with character designs by Charles Lefebvre, aimed at children aged eight to thirteen. It was an ambitious premise — bringing the beloved world of FFIX to life in a new animated format — but the project quietly disappeared from public view for years.
The reason it vanished became clear when the studio behind it collapsed. In October 2024, Cyber Group Studios faced serious financial trouble, filing with the Paris commercial court and entering a judicial recovery process by November. Four potential buyers came forward expressing interest in the IP and assets, with two specifically wanting to continue production of the FF9 series. Despite those bids, a judge ordered the company to be liquidated in 2025.
For a while, it genuinely looked like the show was gone for good.
A New Studio Picks Up the Torch
Then, in late 2025, something shifted. French industry magazine Écran Total reported that the Final Fantasy IX animated project had changed hands to a new studio targeting a 2028 release, specifically naming EuroVisual as the company now heading development. Crucially, the original creative team at la Chouette compagnie remained on board as co-producers, keeping continuity with the vision that had been years in the making.
Now, that comeback has moved from rumour to official confirmation. EuroVisual’s own website has listed the anime under the title Black Mages Legacy, with Season 1 marked as in production — featuring 10 episodes of 22 minutes each, a slight reduction from the previously reported 13-episode plan.
The show is licensed and approved by Square Enix, though the game maker is not directly involved in its production. It’s a French passion project at its core, built by people who clearly grew up with the game.
What Is Black Mages Legacy Actually About?
The official synopsis listed on EuroVisual’s website gives us our clearest picture yet of the show’s story:
“Imel, Koln, Luciola, Théa, Fala and Doc, children of the hero Bibi, are the last dark mages of the four continents. Today, they live happily in the city of Alexandria, guarded by its inhabitants who are rather friendly, although sometimes very curious. Unfortunately, this peaceful existence was not meant to last… One day, Koln discovers Mel, frozen like a statue, in the inn where he works. Could it be the tragic legacy of their father catching up with them?”
For anyone unfamiliar with Final Fantasy IX — mild spoilers ahead — “Bibi” is the Japanese transliteration of Vivi Ornitier, arguably the most beloved character in the entire game and one of the most emotionally resonant figures in the whole Final Fantasy franchise. The site’s use of “Bibi” rather than “Vivi” is a quirk worth noting — it’s the Japanese version of his name, and not how he’s widely recognised in Western markets.
The series is set approximately 10 years after the events of the original game, making it effectively a sequel rather than an adaptation. The six siblings — Vivi’s children — are navigating a world that has largely moved on, living quietly in Alexandria. But the mystery of a black mage frozen solid in a local inn threatens to drag their father’s legacy back into the light.
It’s a smart angle. Rather than retelling a story fans already know inside out, it expands the world while putting an emotionally loaded question at the centre: what does it mean to inherit someone else’s tragedy?
A 2028 Release — If Everything Goes to Plan
EuroVisual hasn’t provided an official release estimate on their site, but earlier reports pointed to a tentative 2028 window. Given that production is now confirmed and actively underway, that timeline feels plausible — though given the show’s history, cautious optimism is probably the right approach.
The episode count has also been trimmed — down from 13 to 10 — which could reflect either a tighter creative vision or practical production constraints after the studio transition. Either way, it’s a meaningful first season and, if the show finds its audience, leaves room to expand.
And What About the FF9 Remake?
It’s hard to talk about Black Mages Legacy without at least raising the question of the long-rumoured Final Fantasy IX remake. The two projects have often been discussed in the same breath, with speculation that they might have been intended to arrive around the same time — the animated series feeding interest in the game, the game feeding interest in the series.
In February 2025, reliable leaker NateTheHate claimed the remake was still in production. That same leaker later walked it back, reporting in October 2025 that the project may be on ice and expressing uncertainty over whether it would ever see release.
Square Enix missed what many saw as the perfect moment — the game’s 25th anniversary — to announce or reveal anything. For now, Black Mages Legacy may be the only new look at the world of Final Fantasy IX fans can expect in the near future.
Whether the remake ever materialises or not, the confirmation that this animated series has survived bankruptcy, studio liquidation, and years of uncertainty to reach active production is genuinely good news. FFIX has one of the most devoted fanbases in gaming. They’ve waited a long time for something new. This might finally be it.
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