MAGE CAST episode #054 – “Highway to the Phantom Zone” (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within)

Get ready for the greebles as Mage Cast sits down with art director James H. Dargie for things that can neither be confirmed nor denied. James is an artist and designer who has worked on names like Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, Matrix, Metroid Prime, Solaris, and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Our discussion centers on that film, the first photorealistic computed animated theatrical movie, and what might’ve happened to derail its performance at the box office. James also shares his memories of being a part of various other studios as well as working under Hironobu Sakaguchi, plus we talk marketing woes, anecdotes about the Grey Project, the hidden chocobo in Spirits Within, art serving the game design, Aki’s ambitions as a digital actress, content that didn’t make the final cut, how to handle feedback and criticism, the Spirits Within SEIKO wristwatch, and more designer insights!

LINKS

Join Buzzsprout
Join our Discord
https://twitter.com/JHDargie
https://www.claviusbase.com/
https://www.firstcontactent.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Final-Fantasy-Spirits-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B00005Q41K

MUSIC

“The Spirits Within” & “A Child Recalled” composed by Elliot Goldenthal

LISTEN TO MAGE CAST

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Thanks for listening!

Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage, Mage Cast, or Story Mode.