Looks fun, at least until the Americans pick it up and dub over the voices (although one suspects they might remember the bath they took on SPIRITS WITHIN).

http://www.apple.com/jp/quicktime/trailers/squareenix/final_fantasy_large.html

Actually the "bath" with Spirits Within had nothing to do with dubbing (though it is a beautiful film); but more with marketing strategy and a weak plot (I still like the film.)

I do not believe that animated films are affected as much by dubbing (sometimes none at all) as live film (of course most film using voice over though I have the same opinion as Steven Soderbergh on this subject.) For example, several of the anime features of Hayao Miyazaki have excellent English readings.

Extra note: the best dubbing job I have seen has probably been the Das Boot translation though I would have prefered to hear it in German.

DAS BOOT benefitted greatly from many of the German actors dubbing themselves on the English track, as well.

I also realize the bath Columbia/Sony took on SPIRITS WITHIN had nothing to do with dubbing - let's face it, that movie was designed to have English-speaking characters. It wasn't like they were replacing a Japanese track. And though I may have sounded dismissive of it in my original post, I'm actually quite fond of the film, I just wonder if studio execs over here would even bother with a theatrical run on a film that bears a remarkable visual similaity to SPIRIT'S WITHIN, knowing full well that less-keen thinkers among the critical community will jump at the chance to draw unfair comparisons between the two based simply on box-office figures for the first film.

For Miyazaki's stuff, I'm of two opinions on the subject. When his films are set in undefined geographical locations or fantasy worlds, I don't mind the dubbing so much, though in general I favour the original language of all the films I watch. But when his films are set decidedly in Japan, I just feel right somehow in listening to the Japanese audio track (even when the English tracks are exceptional, as in SPIRITED AWAY).

this movie looks awesome i really badly want to see it.

When does it even come out? anybody know?

msg me if u do, thankz a bunch

This was skedded for release in Japan Sept. 14, so I imagine a DVD release will be forthcoming, although we might have to wait a while for a subbed version. I'm still not sure whether this has been picked up for North American distribution.

Japanese DVD is already out.

Kerio, it's most unfortunate and pitiable we cannot also offer you the option of flashing fonts....

... ... ...

and what do you mean by that??