It was only a matter of time before someone dug up this four-part OVA series and decided to release it domestically. After all, the FINAL FANTASY merchandising wave is still pretty large, and there is a lot of money left to be made. And new company Urban Vision could certainly do with a big seller to help establish them on the American anime map. FINAL FANTASY may help them do that.
This is a four-part OVA series that takes place after one of the earlier FINAL FANTASY games. Planet R has experienced several centuries of peace, until now. A mysterious force is gathering up the planet's power crystals—already the first three: earth, water, and fire, have fallen into their hands. The only crystal that remains is the Crystal of the Wind.
Enter Linaly, a young female magic user who is descended from the saviors of Planet R. She and her grandfather must journey to the Temple of the Wind to protect the crystal. En route, they are joined by the pesky but persistent Prettz, who appoints himself Linaly's protector. That role is quickly tested as they encounter Rouge and her band of all-female pirates. Throw in Valkus, a military commander who gets mushy-eyed whenever he sees Rouge, and the cast is pretty much complete.
The story is entertaining, even if it does seem a bit RPG-ish. But then again, since Square was involved with the story planning, that's to be expected. The OVAs play like an RPG, with fast fighting sequences interspersed with scenes providing plot, exposition, and character development. However, the story is not as predictable as one might expect, which keeps things interesting.
The character designs look like they were based on Square characters, which helps lend credence to the FINAL FANTASY title. Madhouse did the animation, so it is hardly surprising that the art is good, with one exception. The backgrounds look like they've been done by the new guy. They are too simplistic and often stand out against the more detailed characters, mecha, and other objects. While this is not too distracting very often, sometimes it is noticeable.
Taro Rin, director of X, also served as the director of this OVA. Fans of his work will notice the high-intensity action sequences as a trademark of his.
The dubbing is something of a surprise. I found the voices to be believable, for the most part. Linaly, performed by Sherry Lynn, is especially noteworthy, as she manages to sound young but not whiny. Matt Miller, the voice of Prettz, does a good job with giving the character a slightly sarcastic edge and imbuing him with a flippant quality that augments the delivery of his humorous lines.
FINAL FANTASY provides a good balance of action, adventure, and just enough humor to make the characters personable. While the animation quality is a solid good, it is not breathtaking. The music is nothing extraordinary, either. However, the interesting story and the interactions of the characters should leave FINAL FANTASY fans waiting for the second tape, which brings the series to a close. This video is worth checking out.

LEGEND OF THE CRYSTALS Based on FINAL FANTASY Copyright © 1994 SQUARE/NTT Publishing Co. Ltd. English Language Version Copyright © 1997 Urban Vision Entertainment Distributed in North America by Urban Vision Entertainment UV1015 English Dubbed $19.95