Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV is a feature-length CGI film set during the events of Final Fantasy XV. It was officially revealed during the Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV event, and is 110 minutes long. According to developers, one can enjoy Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV without playing Final Fantasy XV, and vice versa. Experiencing both tales, however, ensures a deeper level of appreciation for them, as they are intended to complement one another.
== Synopsis ==
=== Characters ===
* Nyx Ulric - The main protagonist.
* Lunafreya Nox Fleuret - The former princess of Tenebrae.
* Regis Lucis Caelum - The reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Lucis.
* Luche Lazarus - A member of the Kingsglaive who considers himself to be the group's leader.
* Libertus Ostium - A cheerful member of the Kingsglaive, and Nyx Ulric's best friend.
* Titus Drautos - The commander of the Kingsglaive.
* Crowe Altius - A female member of the Kingsglaive, whom Libertus sees as a sibling.
* Ravus Nox Fleuret - The brother of Lunafreya, and now deputy high commander of Niflheim's army.
* Sonitus Bellum - Master of weapons in the Kingsglaive who values discipline.
* Axis Arra - A member of the Kingsglaive who is reserved and quiet.
* Tredd Furia - A member of the Kingsglaive who is considered top in his class, thanks to his extensive training.
* Pelna Khara - One of the intelligent and perceptive members of the Kingsglaive.
* Petra Fortis - A royal Lucian guard that dislikes the Kingsglaive immigrants.
* General Glauca - The main antagonist. Head of the Niflheim military, who is sent to kill King Regis and retrieve the Ring of the Lucii.
* Ardyn Izunia - Chancellor of Niflheim, proposes the initial peace treaty via the surrender of Lucian territories and the marriage of Lunafreya Nox Fleuret and King Regis's son, Noctis.
* Iedolas Aldercapt - Emperor of Niflheim, one of the main antagonists. Comes to Insomnia for the signing of the treaty.
=== Story ===
While Final Fantasy XV tells the story of Noctis's journey, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV depicts the events that take place in Lucis during the prince's absence. The members of the eponymous Kingsglaive serve as the film's main characters; together, they comprise an elite team of royal guards tasked with protecting King Regis, the crown city Insomnia, and the kingdom of Lucis.
Regis and Noctis—who is recuperating from a near-death experience—once visited Tenebrae, then an ally of Lucis. Niflheim launched an attack on the kingdom in to kill the Lucian royals, and in the ensuing invasion the Queen of Tenebrae, Queen Sylva, was killed by General Glauca. Regis attempted to flee with Noctis and Lunafreya, either not aware of, or unwilling to return for, Lunafreya's brother Ravus as he knelt beside his mother's body, as the king and his son are closely pursued by Niflheim soldiers. Lunafreya decided to stay with Ravus, and both became subjects under Niflheim's rule.
Twelve years later, both Niflheim and the forces of Tenebrae are allied against Lucis due to Tenebrae's apparent abandonment by their ally, as Ravus is a high ranking military officer in the Niflheim army, who feels King Regis abandoned him and whom he blames for his mother's death.
The Kingsglaive are in the midst of a battle to protect Lucis's borders from both beasts and daemons, and the attacks of Niflheim's magitek armies. During one such operation, Nyx defies his orders to withdraw to rescue his friend Libertus, whose leg was trapped under a rock, from a giant daemon captured by Niflheim and sent to the Lucian front.
In the wake of the operation, Nyx is reassigned as a city guard by the Kingsglaive captain and Nyx's superior officer, Titus Drautos, where he experiences first-hand the hostility Insomnia residents feel towards the Kingsglaive. The Kingsglaive themselves feel this hostility, although Nyx doesn't let it bother him due to his faith in Regis.
The battle leaves Lucian forces in a weakened position. Ardyn Izunia, chancellor of Niflheim, arrives and offers terms for peace between Lucis and Niflheim—Lucis must surrender all territories beyond Insomnia to Niflheim, and Regis's son Noctis is to marry Lunafreya. This causes consternation and division among the Lucian Council, but Regis agrees due to his accelerated aging preventing him from commanding the greater magics of the hereditary Ring of the Lucii. He deems himself unable to fuel the Crystal's magical barrier for much longer than a few remaining years, as maintaining the New Wall has been draining his life-force and causing his premature aging. Regis's acceptance of the peace terms causes dissension among the Kingsglaive, who feel Regis is abandoning their families and homes that extend beyond the Crown City in other parts of Lucis.
During this period, Lunafreya attempts to leave for Lucis incognito to pursue her own goals concerning Regis and Noctis, but she is prevented by Ravus. Despite her telling him that Niflheim is using him as their "lap dog", Ravus continues to blame Regis for the death of his mother. Parallel to this, Kingsglaive member Crowe is sent on a mission beyond Lucis to help escort Lunafreya and present her with a hairpin, and is killed by an unknown assassin. Her death and the circumstances surrounding it enrage Libertus and he leaves the Kingsglaive to join a group of Lucian rebels, giving them information about the workings of the capital's security, as he blames the king for Crowe's death, who he cared for as a little sister.
At a party at Caelum Via dedicated to the signing of the peace treaty, attended by both Regis and Niflheim's emperor Iedolas Aldercapt, Lunafreya meets Nyx. She learns of Crowe's death and receives the hairpin. While praying for Noctis's continued safety, Lunafreya is abducted by Glauca, who confirms her suspicions that the treaty is a ruse. Nyx discovers this and finds that Niflheim has stationed airships outside Insomnia. Regis agrees to deploy the glaive, although their leader, Drautos, has disappeared.
While Nyx rescues Lunafreya after having realized the hairpin is a tracer, many of the Kingsglaive turn on him and the other loyal members. All but Nyx, Lunafreya, and a few of the rebel traitors and the rebel leader, Luche Lazarus, are killed in the ensuing battle with an Ultros daemon commanded by Niflheim.
At the treaty signing, Regis prepares to either capture or kill Iedolas. The Niflheim delegation springs a surprise attack, leading to a temporary stand-off. Using information from the Lucian rebels, Niflheim soldiers infiltrate the Crystal's sanctuary, destroying the apparatus that powers the city's shield. This allows Niflheim to attack in strength, leading to the swarming and death of most of the Lucian Council once magitek soldiers infiltrate the room along with General Glauca.
As Lunafreya and Nyx head for the Royal Citadel, Regis and his former protector Clarus Amicitia fight together against Glauca and the magitek forces. Glauca kills the remaining council members, including Clarus, leaving Regis alone. Just as Lunafreya and Nyx arrive, Glauca attacks Regis, cutting the Ring of the Lucii from his hand. Ravus, having wished for Lucis's downfall since his childhood, puts on the Ring to access its power: the Ring violently rejects him, severely burning his arm before he can get it off. Taking the Ring, Lunafreya and Nyx lead the wounded Regis away with Glauca in pursuit. Despite Nyx's anger at Regis for seemingly allowing the destruction of Insomnia to protect his son, as he knew what the empire was planning, he agrees to get both Lunafreya and the Ring out of the capital.
Lunafreya tries to bring Regis with them, but, his strength waning, he commands them to leave without him. Staying behind, Regis raises a barrier to protect Lunafreya and Nyx before he makes his final stand and struggles to defeat Glauca, holding him off with lightning magic before being overpowered and killed. The surviving members of the Kingsglaive, and all those close to King Regis, lose their magical abilities, rendering them powerless against Niflheim's attack. Iedolas and Ardyn steal the Crystal from the Citadel, fleeing the besieged city with it. In the midst of the chaos, Libertus learns that the rebels—himself included—were used as the empire's pawns and will now be blamed for the fall of Insomnia as terrorists.
Lunafreya and Nyx are summoned to the city plaza by a call from Drautos: once there, the two are cornered by Lazarus. Severely wounding Nyx, he reveals that he had killed Crowe, and that Niflheim promised the Kingsglaive and their families Insomnia as their new home if they cooperated. Lazarus almost obtains the Ring, but Lunafreya tricks him into putting it on, killing him.
Drautos appears and is attacked by a repentant Libertus, who has learned of the rebels' role in Lucis's fall, and Drautos's true identity. It is revealed that Drautos is Glauca, and his indomitable strength means Nyx is powerless without access to magic. Glauca is about to kill the three when Nyx puts on the Ring; he finds himself in an otherworldly realm, where he demands the spirits of the past kings of Lucis to appear. They denounce him as unworthy of bearing the Ring's power, not being of royal blood and unwilling to choose between Libertus's or Lunafreya's life as the demanded sacrifice.
They relent due to King Regis's spirit's intervention, and when they realize that Niflheim will otherwise capture the Ring just as they did the Crystal. Nyx is granted use of its power when he reveals he fights so that others will have a better future, with the cost being his life once the sun rises.
His power restored and enhanced, Nyx fends off Glauca. He returns the Ring to Lunafreya, entrusting her to Libertus and telling them to flee. Nyx and Glauca engage in a titanic battle throughout Insomnia, with both the city's statues animated by the Ring's power—the "Old Wall"— and the daemons used by Niflheim clashing around them. From an airship above, Iedolas and Ardyn watch, with Ardyn being intrigued by the Old Wall's power. Iedolas simply orders them to leave the ruined city and destroy the daemons now the Crystal is theirs. Though following his orders, Ardyn decries the "waste" of the great city and powerful daemons being needlessly destroyed.
The fight ends with Nyx fatally wounding Glauca by stabbing him in the chest. Nyx dies shortly after as payment for using the Ring's power as his skin has become like ash with his veins burning, and he starts to disintegrate. Libertus—now one of the few surviving members of the Kingsglaive—decides to stay behind at Luna's behest, while Lunafreya leaves with the ring to find Noctis.
In a post-credits scene, Noctis and his companions are heading for Altissia to meet Lunafreya, when their car suddenly breaks down.
=== Themes ===
The core theme of Final Fantasy XV is "the bond between parent and child." Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV details the parent's side of this relationship: Regis acts as a link between the stories of both Final Fantasy XV and the film.
== Music ==
Composer John R. Graham has written the original music for Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. The soundtrack also features the main theme, written by Yoko Shimomura, who composed the music for Final Fantasy XV.
The soundtrack will be out digitally in the US on August 30 2016, digitally worldwide September 7 2016. A CD release is forthcoming on October 26 2016.http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/kingsglaive/
== Development ==
At the "Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV" event, Aaron Paul, Nyx's voice actor, revealed Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV had been in development for at least three years before its announcement. The first trailer for the film premiered at the event, as well.
When the developers of Final Fantasy XV first sat down to re-plan the project from Final Fantasy Versus XIII, they evaluated which elements they should use to create a kind of gameplay experience they wouldn't get anywhere else. They felt because the theme they were trying to handle was so massive, they couldn't fit all of that into the game. Because the Niflheim invasion of Lucis episode is something that would take up so much effort and time, rather than force it into the game, the team started up its own separate project: Kingsglaive.
With Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, Square Enix aimed to create a film of the highest quality, for it was not limited by the capabilities of a game console. The movie and Final Fantasy XV were meant to share voice casts, but scheduling conflicts and high costs prevented this from coming to fruition. Real actors inspired the designs of some of the characters in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV; the appearance of King Regis was changed because of the film, and this transformation was carried over to Final Fantasy XV for consistency's sake.
The cast was chosen based on its acting ability, and to give viewers a truly cinematic experience, developers hired a professional screenwriter and other Hollywood staff. Square Enix's internal team of approximately 50 members cooperated with various other production teams from around the world; other studios who worked on Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV include Digic Pictures, which is known for its work on Assassin's Creed, and Image Engine, which is known for its contributions to major Hollywood productions like Jurassic World and Game of Thrones. According to Takeshi Nozue, the Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV project never slept: the Los Angeles team worked on the film during Japanese mornings, while the European team worked on it during Japanese nights.
The movie's main objective was to reach out and engage fans who might have played Final Fantasy before, but had grown estranged from the series. Director Takeshi Nozue is most proud of breaking new ground for Final Fantasy with realistic character designs, as previous characters lean more toward fiction in appearance and presentation.
When the creator of the Final Fantasy series, Hironobu Sakaguchi, saw Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, he stated King Regis's eyes seemed too immaculate, clear, and child-like; they did not suit someone who had a lifetime of experience. Sakaguchi also claimed Regis's eyes prevented viewers from becoming immersed in the monarch's world; despite the lifelike visuals of Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, the eyes of the film's characters gave away their true, CG nature. Takeshi Nozue took this feedback into consideration, and his team decided to further polish the film.
== Release ==
For marketing purposes, Square Enix decided to release Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV before Final Fantasy XV. Aniplex is in charge of the film's distribution to Japanese theaters; screenings begin on July 9. Pre-orders for tickets to these screenings went on sale on April 23.
On June 13, 2016, it was revealed Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV would be viewable in select theaters across the United States on August 19. Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV will be downloadable on August 27, 2016 for $17.99, according to streaming service VUDU.http://www.vudu.com/movies/#more_info/778855/Kingsglaive-Final-Fantasy-XV
On June 24, 2016, at San Diego Comic Con, it was announced that Kingsglaive would receive a release on streaming and digital download channels on August 30 with the physical release on Blu-Ray and DVD happening on October 4.http://www.polygon.com/2016/7/23/12264282/final-fantasy-15-cg-movie-kingsglaive-arrives-digitally-in-aug-on-dvd-and-blu-ray-in-oct It was released digitally in the United Kingdom on August 29.
The UK premiere was hosted by PlayStation Access at Picturehouse Central in Piccadilly, London, on August 23. Le Grand Rex will show the French premiere on September 15.http://www.finalfantasyunion.com/news/3274/french-kingsglaive-final-fantasy-xv-premier-confirmed/
== Reception ==
The review aggregator website reported a 13% approval rating based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10,https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kingsglaive_final_fantasy_xv_2016/ lower than both Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (44%) and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (33%).https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/final_fantasy_the_spirits_within/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/final_fantasy_vii_advent_children/ However, it was rated 6.9 out of 10 by 16,377 users on .http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5595168/
== Gallery ==
Kingsglaive FFXV Logo.png|Logo
KG FFXV Artwork.jpg|A promotional poster.
Kingsglaive_Final_Fantasy_XV_Poster_2016.jpg|A promotional poster for that debuted at E3 2016.
Kingsglaive US Date Poster.jpg|A poster announcing the release date in the United States.
Final_Fantasy_XV_Kingsglaive_Ruins.jpg|Concept art depicting ruins.
Final_Fantasy_XV_Kingsglaive_Lucis_Outside.jpg|Concept art depicting the Kingdom of Lucis's exterior.
Final_Fantasy_XV_Kingsglaive_Inside_Lucis.jpg|Concept art depicting the Kingdom of Lucis's interior.
Kingsglaive Amano artwork.jpg|Nyx and Luna standing in front of a painting that depicts the world's Goddess.
Kingsglaive_Group.jpg|The members of the Kingsglaive.
Kingsglaive_OST_Cover.jpg|Soundtrack cover.
Kingsglaive After Defeating Behemoth.jpg|
Kingsglaive Battle.jpg|
Kingsglaive FFXV anniversary.jpg|Promotional image for the first anniversary of Kingsglaive.
Kingsglaive FFXV anniversary 2.jpg|Promotional image for the first anniversary of Kingsglaive.
Kingsglaive FFXV anniversary 3.jpg|Promotional image for the first anniversary of Kingsglaive.
== Credits ==
=== Staff ===
Director 	Takeshi Nozuehttp://gematsu.com/2016/03/final-fantasy-xv-release-date-platinum-demo-anime-cg-movie-more-officially-announced
Producer 	Hajime Tabata
Screenwriter	Takashi Hasegawa
Composers 	John GrahamYoko Shimomura
=== Cast ===
Character 	Japanese 	English 	French 	Italian 	German 	Spanish 	Motion Capture	3D Scan Model
Nyx Ulric 	Gō Ayano 	Aaron Paul 	Damien Ferrette 	Giuliano Bonetto 	Stefan Günther 	Carlos Di Blasi 	Neil Newbon 	Johan Picard
Lunafreya Nox Fleuret	Shiori Kutsuna 	Lena Headey 	Geneviève Doang 	Mattea Serpelloni 	Dina Kürten 	Núria Trifol 	Amanda Piery 	Sonya Maltceva
Regis Lucis Caelum 	Tsutomu Isobe 	Sean Bean 	Philippe Catoire 	Massimo Lodolo 	Richard van Weyden 	Juan Carlos Gustems 	Jon Campling 	Jon Campling
Titus Drautos 	Kōichi Yamadera 	Adrian Bouchet 	Patrick Borg 	Edoardo Siravo 	Torben Liebrecht 	Paco Gázquez 	Adrian Bouchet	Adrian Bouchet
Libertus Ostium 	Mitsuaki Kanuka 	Liam Mulvey 	Julien Chatelet 	Giovanni Caravaglio 	Ole Pfennig 	Ramon Canals 	Liam Mulvey 	Liam Mulvey
Crowe Altius 	Ayumi Fujimura 	Alexa Kahn 	Géraldine Asselin 	Valentina Mari 	Shandra Schadt 	Ana Pallejà 	Andrea Tivadar	Andrea Tivadar
Luche Lazarus 	Tomokazu Seki 	Todd Haberkorn 	Sébastien Desjours	Daniele Giuliani 	Frank Schaff 	Angel de Gracia 	Greg Blackford	Greg Blackford
Clarus Amicitia 	Banjo Gingahttp://kingsglaive-jp.com/staffcast/ 	John DeMita 	Philippe Dumond 	Alessandro Rossi 	Crock Krumbiegel 	Carlos Vicente 	Liam Mulvey 	Gil Darnell
Iedolas Aldercapt 	Shōzō Iizukahttp://kingsglaive-jp.com/staffcast/ 	David Gant 	Vincent Grass 	Emilio Cappuccio 	Bernd Stephan 	Miguel Ángel Jenner 	David Gant 	David Gant
Ardyn Izunia 	Keiji Fujiwarahttp://kingsglaive-jp.com/staffcast/ 	Darin De Paul 	Arnaud Léonard 	Loris Loddi 	Jo van Nelsen 	Alberto Mieza 	Jon Campling 	Edward Saxby
Ravus Nox Fleuret 	Yuichi Nakamurahttp://kingsglaive-jp.com/staffcast/ 	Trevor Devall 	Bruno Choël 	Massimiliano Virgilii	Marios Gavrilis 	Albert Trifol Segarra	David Nutley 	David Nutley
Petra Fortis 	 	Neil Newbon 	 	Danilo Di Martino 	Matthias Klie 	 	Neil Newbon 	Ryan Oliva
Pelna Khara 	Wataru Takagihttp://kingsglaive-jp.com/staffcast/ 	Benjamin Diskin 	Philippe Valmont 	Gianluca Tusco 	Patrick Roche 	José Javier Serrano 	Will Bowden 	Tausif Patel
Tredd Furia 	Fuminori Komatsuhttp://kingsglaive-jp.com/staffcast/	Max Mittelman 	Bruno Méyère 	Lorenzo De Angelis 	 	Hernán Fernández 	David Nutley 	Mehran Armando
Sonitus Bellum 	N/A 	N/A 	 	 	 	 	Shaun McKee 	David Chun Cheung
Axis Arra 	N/A 	N/A 	 	 	 	 	Shaun McKee 	Oliver Gyani
Pruvia Colpus 	 	Will Bowden 	 	Ambrogio Colombo 	Niko Macoulis 	 	Will Bowden 	Tee Morris
Sylva Via Fleuret 	 	Wendee Lee 	 	 	 	 	Tilly Wood 	Tilly Wood
Young Noctis 	 	Hyrum Hansen 	Emilio Rabat 	 	Fabian Philipp 	 	Matteo Elezi 	Matteo Elezi
Young Luna 	 	Liliana Chomsky 	Clara Quilichini 	 	Dina Kürten 	 	Bo Bragason 	Bo Bragason
Young Ravus 	 	Zachary Gordon 	 	 	 	 	N/A 	Connor Mackintosh
Maria 	 	Polly Eachus 	 	 	 	 	Polly Eachus 	Rosie Bannister
Selena 	 	Michelle Ruff 	 	 	 	 	N/A 	Aisling Callaghan
Yamachang 	 	Keith Silverstein	 	 	 	 	Shaun McKee 	Taylor James
Noctis Lucis Caelum 	Tatsuhisa Suzuki 	Ray Chase 	Anatole de Bodinat	 	Marco Sven Reinbold 	Albert Trifol Segarra	Takuma Harada 	N/A
Ignis Scientia 	Mamoru Miyano 	Adam Croasdell 	Julien Allouf 	 	Gilles Karolyi 	José Garcia Tos 	Naoki Terui 	N/A
Gladiolus Amicitia 	Kenta Miyake 	Chris Parson 	Gilles Morvan 	 	Tobias Brecklinghaus	Rafael Parra 	Makoto Obata 	N/A
Prompto Argentum 	Tetsuya Kakihara 	Robbie Daymond 	Alexandre Nguyen 	 	Linus Kraus 	Jordi Naro 	Yuichi Ito 	N/A
== Trivia ==
* Great beasts are used by the warring nations in massive-scale battles. These beings are inspired by classic Final Fantasy entities (i.e. summons, bosses, recurring enemies), such as Cerberus, Diamond Weapon, and Ultros.
== See also ==
* Brotherhood Final Fantasy XV
== External links ==
* Official Japanese Site
* Official Japanese Square Enix Site
* Official Site
== References ==
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Category:Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
Category:Final Fantasy XV Universe
Category:Films
Category:Final Fantasy XV