Last Order: Final Fantasy VII - Final Fantasy
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII is a twenty-five minute long Japanese OVA (original video animation) that was released in 2005 in Japan and later in 2007 in North America. It was released by Square Enix and produced by animation studio Madhouse. The events of the animation are based on two flashbacks that occur within Final Fantasy VII, a role-playing video game that was released in 1997. Other minor Final Fantasy VII characters are depicted as well. A remake of Final Fantasy VII will soon be re-released in 2020 as well.
The story of Last Order revolves around the main character of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife and his companions on a mission to try to stop the main antagonist, Sephiroth, as he tries to achieve world domination. Reception to the OVA was mixed, with some praising that it filled in the plot from the game and others criticizing the fact that it made changes to the events in Nibelheim.
This OVA was directed by Morio Asaka, written by Kazuhiko Inukai, and produced by Masao Maruyama, Jungo Murata, and Akio Ofuji. Last Order's score was composed, arranged, and produced by Takeharu Ishimoto, who also created the ending theme entitled "Last Order". The music was added to the score of Before Crisis on a single soundtrack and released in Japan on December 19, 2007. Well-renowned Square Enix staff are also credited with important roles for this OVA. Tetsuya Nomura is credited with the role of supervising director while Yoshinori Kitase is listed as an executive producer.
Plot
After Sephiroth discovers his personal identity and history (the fact that he is the offspring of “Jenova”- an alien calamity that came from the sky), he sets the village of Nibelheim ablaze and heads to the Nibelheim reactor to obtain Jenova. Tifa Lockhart attacks Sephiroth as he arrives, but she is easily overpowered and Sephiroth continues to Jenova’s body, which is preserved in a tank filled with liquid. Sephiroth then swiftly defeats Zack Fair. Cloud then attempts to stop Sephiroth from progressing his plans any further, but proves to be incredibly powerful. Sephiroth manages to impale Cloud with his sword, but Cloud uses this chance to attempt and overpower Sephiroth. When this happens, Cloud’s eyes glow a bright blue color, implying that he has been infused with Mako. It made little difference, however, as Sephiroth cuts off Jenova’s head and jumps into the reactor core with it so the two of them could reach the “Promised Land”. Cloud and Zack survive but are taken by Hojo for experimentation. The video gives more backstory to Zack and Cloud's escape from Shinra. While at the Shinra Mansion, Cloud began suffering from Mako poisoning and eventually passed out. He and Zack are able to escape and desire to return to Midgar, the central operating location of Shinra. The paramilitary group called the Turks ends up capturing them, however.
Cast and Characters
Kenichi Suzumura is the voice of Zack Fair, a member of SOLDIER that battles Sephiroth and is easily defeated. After he is used for Hojo’s experiments, he attempts to escape from Shinra with Cloud Strife.
Takahiro Sakura is the voice of Cloud Strife, a Shinra grunt who also faces off with Sephiroth after witnessing his companions, Zack and Tifa Lockhart getting injured and sees the town of Nibelheim destroyed. He almost succumbs to his wounds, but survives. Cloud is then experimented on by Hojo after he passes out.
Toshiyuki Morikawa is the voice of Sephiroth, a member of SOLDIER and former friend of Zack. Sephiroth has an incredible amount of power, as he manages to take care of most characters with ease. He ends up losing his mind and attempts to bring Jenova (his “mother”) and himself to what he calls the “Promised Land”.
Junichi Suwabe is the voice of Tseng, the commander of the Turks and narrator of the OVA.
Ayumi Ito is the voice of Tifa Lockhart, a Nibelheim resident and old friend of Cloud.
Hiroshi Fujioka is the voice of Zangan, Tifa’s martial arts trainer.
Ken Fujiwara is the voice of Reno and a Turk member.
Taiten Kusunoki is the voice of Rude and a Turk member.
Nachi Nozawa is the voice of Professor Hojo, the lead of Shinra’s science division who experiments on Zack and Cloud.
Daisuke Namikawa voices Turk (Rod), Ginpei Sato voices Turk (Two Guns), Hochu Otsuka voices Turk (Martial Arts)
Mayuko Aoki voices Turk (Shotgun), and Megumi Toyoguchi voices Turk (Gun). All of these characters are Turks under Tseng's command that originally appeared in Before Crisis.
Reception
The OVA was released to generally positive reviews. IGN’s Chris Carle said that "it adds even more dimension to the story of Final Fantasy VII.” DVD Talk’s Todd Douglass Jr. stated that he "was enthralled by every minute to be had in Last Order." However, some fans were disgruntled by the fact that the film made changes made to the events that occured in Nibelheim.