Final Fantasy: Unlimited - The Story:

"So, whats Final Fantasy: Unlimited actually about?" you may ask. Many people dont even have a clue the anime actually exists, let alone the plot for it, so here is a brief rundown for those of you who havent had the fortune of seeing it.

Twelve years ago, a towering dark pillar materialised in Tokyo harbour, spawning two creatures unlike the world had ever seen. The two beasts fought in the skies above the sea, eventually destroying each other in the process, but the dark pillar remained as an ugly testament to the events of that day. As well as the many Japanese lining the street, the event was witnessed by two scientists; Joe and Marie Hayawaka, who would later travel into the pillar searching for a new source of energy.

What dangers lurk in the subway?

Jump to the present, and Joe and Marie have vanished during their latest trip, leaving their two twin children (Ai and Yu) alone and without a clue about their parents fate. Having heard about a mysterious subway train that can take them into the pillar, they decide to board it and follow in their parents footsteps, and so begins the beginning of their strange journey. Along the way, they meet new friends, discover evil regimes determined to topple the balance within the Outer World, and ultimately discover themselves asking one important question:

"Who, or what, is Chaos?"

Characters:

Yu Hayawaka:
Yu is the younger brother to Ai and one of Joe and Marie Hayawakas children. Yu is more of a thinker than his sister, which often leads to arguments between the two siblings due to Ais more impulse nature. He is naturally trusting of others, seeing the best in them even if they can not, and forms a special bond with Kaze right from their first meeting. He is also the only one of the group who can communicate with Chobi; their Chobobo tag-along.

Ai Hayawaka:
Yus older sister is a lot different from her brother. Shes bossy, impulsive, and takes a while to trust people. Long after Yus trusted Lisa, Ai is still questioning the older womans motives for helping them, but eventually during her travels she learns to take things more at face value, instead of seeing potential problems.

During their adventures, she comes into possession of Poche-poke; a creature that can regurgitate anything she demands from it.

Lisa Pacifist:
Lisa was discovered by Ai and Yu on the same subway that they were taking to the Outer World, and once they had arrived at their destination the three stuck together. Lisa has become the childrens unofficial carer in their sea

rch for their parents, and seems perfectly happy to travel with them until their reach their goal. During her youth, Lisa learnt and partially mastered the "Skill of Genesis"; an ability that allows her to influence the environment around her as long as she is adapted to it. It is both a blessing and a curse, however...

Kaze (Black Wind):
Kaze has no idea who he is or where he comes from. Tall, dressed entirely in black, the man suffers from extensive amnesia which is only interrupted by short - and violent - flashes of his mysterious past. It is clear, however, that both he and White Cloud have encountered each other before, and the bond between them is somewhat less than friendly...

Kaze is armed with a single-barrelled - but powerful -handgun, which seemingly never runs out of bullets, but his most interesting asset has to be his Demon Gun. Taking the form of a forearm-fitting glden cylinder when its inactive, the Demon Gun morphs into a complex tri-barrelled firearm of unbeatable strength when activated by powers unknown. Instead of firing normal rounds, the Demon Gun accepts bullets containing Soil, and based upon the combination inserted into the chambers can produce a different Summoned Creature when it is fired. However, the gun will not activate when commanded; something else - or someone - is the key...

The stuff of summons	A Summoned Creature: Ixion

Makenshi (White Cloud):
A swordsman clad entirely in white, Makenshi serves the child-tyrant known only as "The Count", and appears to share a bond with the amnesic Kaze that the other man cant remember. Both are driven to confront each other, although neither can quite tell why, but ultimately it appears their rivalry is one of the keys to the mystery that surrounds the Outer World...

As well as being an accomplished sword fighter (he is also known as the "Demon Swordsman"), White Cloud controls the power of Mist by first containing it in bottles, then releasing it as his own form of Summoned Creature at his foes.

The Deathlords:
The Counts elite cadre of warriors and advisors, The Deathlords are made up of Hungus, Helba, Oscar, Pisto and - later - Makenshi. They carry out any task The Count may ask of them, from destroying worlds all the way upto securing their master the sustenance he requires. Recently, there have been rumours of a returning force of unimaginable power to the Outer World, and the Deathlords have been tasked with the job of retrieving it...

So, there you have it. FF:U is coming to America, you have a bit of background information, so theres only one thing left to say.

"Go and see it. Now."

Oh, and for Europeans hoping for a release, theres still no word on if well ever get it over here. There are certain...shall we say, "less than legal" methods of acquiring it, but nothing official.

Adopted from http://www.ffwa.org/news/27-08-2003.html