{"rewrite":{"id":"r_b1580e46c09f4f52a5c94fb4","clusterId":"c_3ee02ba8ae4c4a438de2ac28","slug":"final-fantasy-xi-marks-24th-anniversary-with-animated-short","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Final Fantasy XI Marks 24th Anniversary With Animated Short","summary":"Square Enix released a new animated short titled \"Our Adventure Never Ends\" for Final Fantasy XI's 24th anniversary. Animation filmmaker Wakaboku created the one-minute video, which features music by composer Naoshi Mizuta and follows a player party exploring Vana'diel. The game debuted on May 16, 2002, and its latest story chapter launched in May 2023.","whyItMatters":"The short is the latest sign that Square Enix continues to invest in Final Fantasy XI's identity two decades after its launch, even as its successor Final Fantasy XIV dominates the MMORPG conversation.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eAnimation filmmaker Wakaboku, known for his work on the \u003ci\u003ePokémon\u003c/i\u003e short \"GOTCHA!\" and the \u003ci\u003eFinal Fantasy XIV\u003c/i\u003e \"Dawntrail\" trailer, directed the anniversary piece. The video shows a party of different races and jobs-a deliberate nod to the game's character system-fighting monsters across Vana'diel. Composer Naoshi Mizuta, who has scored Final Fantasy XI since its early expansions, provided the music.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe game itself has not received a major expansion since 2013's \"Seekers of Adoulin,\" but Square Enix has kept the service running with story updates. The most recent, \"The Voracious Resurgence,\" concluded in May 2023. The short arrives alongside a website redesign, another sign the company is not treating the 24-year-old MMORPG as a legacy product left to run on its own.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Final Fantasy XI got a new animated short for its 24th anniversary. Wakaboku directed the one-minute piece, Naoshi Mizuta composed the music. The game keeps getting these small but deliberate tributes even as it enters its third decade.","twitterPost":"Final Fantasy XI got a new animated short for its 24th anniversary. Wakaboku directed the one-minute piece, Naoshi Mizuta composed the music. The game keeps getting these small but deliberate tributes even as it enters its third decade.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Square Enix released a new animated short for Final Fantasy XI's 24th anniversary. Animation filmmaker Wakaboku directed the one-minute video, which features music by composer Naoshi Mizuta and follows a player party exploring Vana'diel. The short arrives alongside a website redesign, signaling continued support for the two-decade-old MMORPG.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2026-05-18/final-fantasy-xi-mmorpg-celebrates-24th-anniversary-with-animated-short/.237457\",\"title\":\"Final Fantasy XI MMORPG Celebrates 24th Anniversary with Animated Short\"}]","lintFlagsJson":"[]","lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":3971,"outputTokens":653,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1779827020,"createdAt":"2026-05-19T03:01:39.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-05-19T03:15:31.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-19T03:15:31.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_3ee02ba8ae4c4a438de2ac28","canonicalTitle":"Final Fantasy XI MMORPG Celebrates 24th Anniversary with Animated Short","representativeArticleId":"a_0093114f9e3a9854cc8b40d3","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-05-19T01:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-05-19T01:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-20T00:32:23.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2026-05-18/final-fantasy-xi-mmorpg-celebrates-24th-anniversary-with-animated-short/.237457","title":"Final Fantasy XI MMORPG Celebrates 24th Anniversary with Animated Short"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Square Enix released a new animated short titled 'Our Adventure Never Ends' for Final Fantasy XI's 24th anniversary.","Animation filmmaker Wakaboku, known for the Pokémon short 'GOTCHA!' and the Final Fantasy XIV 'Dawntrail' trailer, directed the one-minute video.","Composer Naoshi Mizuta, who has scored Final Fantasy XI since its early expansions, provided the music for the short.","Final Fantasy XI debuted on May 16, 2002, and its latest story chapter, 'The Voracious Resurgence,' concluded in May 2023.","The short accompanies a website redesign, indicating continued investment in the 24-year-old MMORPG."]}