is a 2016 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Takeshi Nozue and scripted by Takashi Hasegawa from a story by Kazushige Nojima and Saori Itamuro. Developed primarily by Square Enix's exclusive CGI studio Visual Works, Kingsglaive is based on the setting and story of the video game Final Fantasy XV, which is thematically connected to the Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries. Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV was released theatrically in July 2016 in Japan by Aniplex, and received a limited theatrical run in August in North America by Stage 6 Films. Digital and physical home video versions were released three months later in October, and the film was bundled with different editions of Final Fantasy XV alongside Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV.
Kingsglaive runs parallel with the events in the beginning of Final Fantasy XV, focusing on Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII, the father of main character Noctis. The main protagonists are from the Kingsglaive, an elite combat corps who share Regis's magical powers and defend the kingdom of Lucis and its Crystal from the invading empire of Niflheim. Faced with continued detrimental conflict, Regis accepts an armistice with Niflheim: as part of the peace treaty, his son must marry Lady Lunafreya Nox Fleuret of the imperial province of Tenebrae. The treaty turns out to be a ruse for Niflheim to invade, and Kingsglaive soldier Nyx Ulric is caught up with Regis and Lunafreya in a battle to secure the future of Lucis. The film's voice cast includes Gō Ayano, Shioli Kutsuna and Tsutomu Isobe in Japanese; and Aaron Paul, Lena Headey and Sean Bean in English.
Kingsglaive was made as part of a planned multimedia expansion of Final Fantasy XV to negate having to develop a series of games using the setting and characters. Beginning production in 2014 by the same team that created Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005), Kingsglaive used discarded concepts from the original version of Final Fantasy XVs story, with the aim being to create a self-contained experience with a dedicated cast and relatable plot. Multiple external studios were brought in to help complete the project within the short development time. Its announcement was delayed to 2016 due to the early reveal of Final Fantasy XV.
Kingsglaive grossed $6.55 million during its limited theatrical run and earned a further in the United States from its DVD and Blu-ray releases. Reception to the film was generally negative, with praise going to the visuals and lead actors' performances, while the story and supporting cast were widely criticized.
Synopsis Setting
Kingsglaive takes place on the Earth-like world of Eos, running parallel to the opening events of Final Fantasy XV. The kingdom of Lucis is home to a magical Crystal, given to humanity by the world's deities and used by the ruling Caelum dynasty to defend Lucis from invaders via a magical barrier known as the Wall. The Crystal is kept in a special chamber within the Royal Citadel, its powers only accessible through the hereditary Ring of the Lucii. For centuries, Lucis has been at war with the militaristic and technologically advanced empire of Niflheim, which has conquered the other nations using its Magitek armies.
Lucis's crown city Insomnia is protected from Niflheim by the Kingsglaive—an elite corps made up of immigrants from beyond the city limits with whom the Crystal's power are shared by the ruling monarch Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII. The film opens with Regis accepting a peace treaty with Niflheim: as part of the treaty, Regis must cede the territories around Insomnia to Niflheim and have his son Prince Noctis marry Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, former princess of Tenebrae.
Plot
During a visit to Tenebrae, Regis and Noctis—who is recuperating from a near-death experience—are targeted for assassination by Niflheim. Tenebrae is subsequently attacked, and in the invasion Queen Sylva is killed by Niflheim's General Glauca. Regis attempts to flee with Lunafreya, but she decides to stay with her brother Ravus; both become subjects under Niflheim's rule.
Twelve years later, the Kingsglaive fight to protect Lucis's borders from attacks by Niflheim's Magitek army and Daemons, unnatural monsters tamed for military use. During one such operation, Nyx Ulric defies his orders to withdraw to rescue his friend Libertus from a Daemon. Regis, whose magic powers the Wall and is growing weaker due to advancing age, accepts Imperial Chancellor Ardyn Izunia's offer of peace. This causes dissension among the Kingsglaive, who feel Regis is abandoning their families. Two days before the treaty is to be signed, Kingsglaive member Crowe is sent on a mission to escort Lunafreya to Altissia to meet Noctis, but is killed en route. Her death causes Libertus to leave the Kingsglaive and join a group of Lucian rebels. At a party dedicated to the signing of the treaty, attended by both Regis and Niflheim's emperor Iedolas Aldercapt, Lunafreya meets with Nyx before being secretly abducted by Glauca. Nyx discovers this and finds that Niflheim has stationed their army outside Insomnia.
Regis agrees to deploy the Kingsglaive, although their commander Drautos has disappeared. While Nyx succeeds in rescuing Lunafreya, many of the Kingsglaive turn on him; Nyx, Lunafreya and rebel leader Luche Lazarus escape as the ship disintegrates. At the treaty-signing ceremony, the Niflheim delegation springs a surprise attack and kills the ruling council, while their army enters by destroying the Wall with help from the rebels, who are subsequently massacred. Lunafreya and Nyx reach the Citadel just as Regis is battling Glauca. During the fight, Glauca cuts the Ring of the Lucii from Regis's hand. Ravus attempts to put on the Ring and claim its power, but it rejects him and destroys his arm before he can remove it. Nyx, Lunafreya and Regis retrieve the Ring and flee with Glauca in pursuit. Regis forces the two to go on without him, dying in his ensuing battle with Glauca. Aldercapt and Ardyn—having successfully stolen the Crystal—leave Insomnia to be destroyed by Niflheim's Daemons.
Summoned to the city plaza by a call from Drautos, Nyx and Lunafreya are cornered by Luche, who reveals himself to be Crowe's killer. Luche almost kills Nyx before being tricked by Lunafreya into putting on the Ring, resulting in his death. Drautos then appears, but is attacked by Libertus, who reveals that Drautos is in fact Glauca. Just as Glauca is about to kill them, Nyx puts on the Ring. He is confronted by the spirits of the past kings of Lucis; initially rejected due to being not of their bloodline, his resolve and the threat to the Crystal persuade them to allow his use of their power at the cost of his life. After fending off Glauca, Nyx returns the Ring to Lunafreya before entrusting her to Libertus, telling them to flee. With the Ring's borrowed power he engages Glauca in a titanic battle throughout Insomnia, animating the city's statues of past rulers, known as the "Old Wall", to combat Niflheim's Daemons. Their fight ends as dawn approaches, with Nyx mortally wounding Glauca; Nyx dies shortly after as payment for using the Ring's power, wishing for Noctis to rule well in the future. In the aftermath, Libertus escorts Lunafreya out of the city, but she tells him to stay behind. Lunafreya then leaves with the Ring to find Noctis.
In a post-credits scene, Noctis and his companions are en route to Altissia when their car breaks down, leading into the opening scenes of Final Fantasy XV.
Voice cast
Gō Ayano (JP) / Aaron Paul (EN) as Nyx Ulric. A member of the Kingsglaive guard with a strong affinity with the king's magical powers, he is assigned as the protector of Lunafreya. His likeness is based on French model Johan Akan, while his motion actor is Neil Newbon. Shioli Kutsuna (JP) / Lena Headey (EN) as Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, an Oracle capable of communing with the world's deities, and a former princess of Tenebrae. She is engaged to marry Noctis as part of the peace treaty between Lucis and Niflheim. Her likeness is based on Russian model Sonya Maltceva, while her motion actress is Amanda Piery. Tsutomu Isobe (JP) / Sean Bean (EN) as Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII, king of Lucis and father to Noctis Lucis Caelum, the main protagonist of Final Fantasy XV. British actor Jon Campling performed motion capture for the film and was the physical model for Regis in both Kingsglaive and Final Fantasy XV. Shōzō Iizuka (JP) / David Gant (EN) as Iedolas Aldercapt. He is the emperor of Niflheim and the main force behind its expansion. Gant also provided motion capture for the character. Keiji Fujiwara (JP) / Darin De Paul (EN) as Ardyn Izunia. The chancellor of Niflheim and the right hand of Aldercapt, Ardyn is a powerful political figure within the empire. His likeness is based on actor Edward Saxby, while his motion actor is Jon Campling. Kōichi Yamadera (JP) / Adrian Bouchet (EN) as Titus Drautos. He acts as the commander of the Kingsglaive, and a figurehead leader alongside Regis. He is also revealed to be General Glauca, the high commander of Niflheim's military forces. Bouchet serves as the character's motion actor and physical model. Yūichi Nakamura (JP) / Trevor Devall (EN) as Ravus Nox Fleuret. Lunafreya's older brother and a former prince of Tenebrae, he is now the deputy high commander of Niflheim's military with a grudge against Lucis. His motion actor is David Nutley. Mitsuaki Kanuka (JP) / Liam Mulvey (EN) as Libertus Ostium. Libertus is Nyx's childhood friend and a fellow member of the Kingsglaive. Mulvey serves as the motion actor and physical model for Libertus. Tomokazu Seki (JP) / Todd Haberkorn (EN) as Luche Lazarus. A trusted member of the Kingsglaive due to his intelligence, he holds a leader-like position within the unit. Luche's physical model and motion capture actor was Greg Blackford. Ayumi Fujimura (JP) / Alexa Kahn (EN) as Crowe Altius. A Kingsglaive member and powerful mage, she considers the Kingsglaive her family due to being orphaned, and shares a close sibling-like relationship with Libertus. Crowe's physical appearance was modeled after actress Andrea Tivadar who also did the motion capture for the role.
Other characters include the various members of the Kingsglaive and Regis' council: Banjō Ginga (JP) / John DeMita (EN) as Clarus Amicitia, father to main character Gladiolus; Wataru Takagi (JP) / Ben Diskin (EN) as Pelna Khara; and Fuminori Komatsu (JP) / Max Mittelman (EN) as Tredd Furia. Unvoiced characters include Kingsglaive members Sonitus Bellum and Axis Arra. While both English and Japanese voicetracks were produced, lip syncing for all versions was matched to the English voice work. The lead voice actors, such as Paul, were chosen so they would be recognized and appeal to a wide audience, in addition to their acting abilities. The Japanese voice casting followed a similar model, choosing well-known actors for the lead roles. Casting was handled by Rui Kawada, who also acted as general project manager. The compartmentalization of the development meant that the characters were mostly voiced by different actors to Final Fantasy XV. Originally there were plans for both the film and game voice cast to cross over, but these were scrapped.
Production