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It is staggering to realize that Advent Children Complete is now over a decade old. The original standard DVD release of 2005 has aged noticeably. But the 2009 Blu-ray (and its subsequent 4K upscale release in 2021) remains a benchmark. The render of the Church in the slums, with individual flowers swaying in the breeze, or the high-frequency detail on Sephiroth's leather coat during the final duel—these visuals were ahead of their time. The 10th anniversary reminded critics that this was the film that convinced many Hollywood directors that real-time game engines might one day rival offline renders. That day has come, but Complete was the watershed.

Even by 2025 standards, ACC holds up due to:

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete is a rare example of a director’s cut that transforms a flawed work into a masterpiece. It respects the audience’s intelligence by restoring lore, deepens the original game’s themes of ecological grief and mental health, and sets a gold standard for how to update CGI films for new media. For fans, it is the definitive ending to the FFVII saga – until Remake challenged that notion. For scholars, it represents a key text in transmedia storytelling, where a film, game, novella, and Blu-ray technology converge to complete a 12-year narrative arc.

Final Verdict: Essential viewing. Not a cash-grab, but a creative restoration. Cloud’s final smile – held for two seconds longer in ACC than the original – says everything. He is finally complete.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete (2009) - A Detailed Overview

Introduction

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete is a 2009 Japanese animated science fantasy film directed by Tetsuya Nomura and produced by Square Enix. The film is a complete version of the 2005 original video animation (OVA) Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and includes approximately 20 minutes of additional footage.

Background

The movie takes place two years after the events of the original Final Fantasy VII game. The story follows Cloud Strife, a former member of the elite military unit SOLDIER, and his allies as they deal with a new threat to the planet.

Plot

The film begins with Cloud Strife and his allies, including Tifa Lockhart, Barret Wallace, Red XIII, Cait Sith, Cid Highwind, and Yuffie Kisaragi, on a mission to stop a terrorist group known as AVALANCHE from using a powerful being known as Jenova-Life to control the planet.

However, their efforts are disrupted by a mysterious entity known as Kadaj, who seeks to reclaim his physical form by gathering the remaining fragments of Jenova. Kadaj is accompanied by his allies, including Loz and Bada.

As Cloud and his allies try to stop Kadaj, they also have to deal with the consequences of their own past actions, including the events of the original Final Fantasy VII game. Along the way, they discover a powerful being known as "the Planet" and learn more about the true nature of Jenova and its connection to the planet.

New Additions in the Complete Version

The Complete version of Advent Children includes approximately 20 minutes of new footage, which expands on the original story. The new additions include:

Themes

The movie explores several themes, including:

Reception

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the movie's action sequences, visuals, and expansion on the original story. However, some critics noted that the new additions were not substantial enough to justify the existence of the Complete version.

Conclusion

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete is a fun and action-packed animated movie that expands on the story of the original Final Fantasy VII game. While it may not be a must-see for everyone, fans of the game and the series will likely enjoy the new additions and the further exploration of the characters and their relationships. With its stunning visuals and exciting action sequences, Advent Children Complete is a great way to revisit the world of Final Fantasy VII.

Technical Details

Cast

Music

The movie's soundtrack, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, was released on April 16, 2009, and features a mix of electronic and orchestral elements. The score received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its energetic and emotive qualities.

Ten Years After the Geostigma

The rain over Midir had stopped falling years ago. In its place came a gentle, persistent light that filtered through the rebuilt Sector 5 slums, turning the rusted plates of the old city into a mosaic of amber and gold. It had been ten years since the fight against Bahamut SIN, ten years since Cloud Strife finally laid his ghosts to rest. Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children Complete 10...

Cloud no longer rode his Fenrir alone. These days, the modified motorcycle had a sidecar—lopsided, welded by Barret’s impatient hand, and painted a cheerful chocobo yellow. Inside sat Marlene, now seventeen, her braided hair whipping in the wind as she shouted directions to a young boy in the seat behind Cloud.

"Denzel, hold on tighter!" she yelled.

Denzel, fifteen and already taller than Cloud had been at that age, rolled his eyes but obeyed. His Geostigma was a faded memory, though a single pale scar remained on his left palm—a reminder, Tifa always said, that some battles leave marks you learn to carry.

They were heading to the new flower field. Not the church. The church had become a proper memorial two years ago, after the last remaining fragment of Jenova’s cells was finally destroyed by a consortium of scientists led by a remorseful Professor Hojo’s AI ghost—long story, Red XIII still grumbled about it. Instead, Aerith’s flowers had spread. They now covered the northern cliffs overlooking the rebuilt Midgar, a sea of white and yellow that swayed like a silent prayer.

Cloud parked the Fenrir at the cliff’s edge. Waiting there were the others.

Tifa stood with her arms crossed, her hair longer now, tied back in a practical knot. She had expanded Seventh Heaven into a small inn, and her knuckles, though softer, still remembered their steel. Beside her, Barret was arguing with Vincent, who hadn't aged a day and looked eternally unimpressed. Cid was trying to light a cigarette in the wind, while Yuffie—now the official Wutai ambassador to Midgar—was attempting to steal materia from a passing chocobo cart.

And there, sitting on a crate with his legs dangling, was Nanaki. His fur had more silver streaks than red, but his eyes were as sharp as ever. He was speaking quietly to a young woman with short dark hair and a wolf’s tooth necklace.

"Who's that?" Denzel asked, sliding off the bike.

Marlene smiled. "That's Elena. She runs the new Turks. Reformed. Mostly."

Cloud walked past them all, boots crunching on the wildflowers, until he reached the cliff's edge. He knelt and placed a single blue materia orb into the soil. It was a Master Magic orb, empty now, but it had once held the spell that stopped Meteor. He didn't need it anymore.

"Hey," said a voice behind him.

Cloud turned. Zack Fair stood there, not as a ghost, but as a man—solid, scarred, and annoyingly cheerful. The resurrection had been a fluke, something involving the Lifestream, a corrupted mako reactor, and a very angry scientist's last revenge. It had taken Zack five years to recover his memories. He still had gaps. He didn't remember dying, and Cloud had never told him.

"You're late," Zack said, grinning.

"Traffic," Cloud replied.

Zack laughed and sat down beside him, looking out over the flower field. "She would have loved this."

"She does," Cloud said quietly. "She's here."

A soft wind blew, carrying the scent of rain and lilies. For a moment, Cloud could have sworn he saw a figure in white standing among the flowers, hand raised in a wave.

Then the moment passed.

"So," Zack said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Ten years. No Sephiroth. No Geostigma. No world-ending meteor. What do we do now?"

Cloud looked back at his family—Tifa laughing at one of Barret's stories, Denzel and Marlene racing each other through the flowers, Vincent actually smiling (a terrifying sight), and Nanaki teaching Elena how to howl at the afternoon sun.

He stood up, dusted off his pants, and for the first time in ten years, smiled.

"We live," he said.

And they did.

"Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children" is a 2005 computer-animated science fiction film directed by Tetsuya Nomura. It is a sequel to the 1997 role-playing game Final Fantasy VII. The film was released in Japan and later internationally.

In 2009, a complete version of the film titled "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" was released in Japan. This version included 17 minutes of additional footage, bringing the total runtime to approximately 101 minutes.

The story of "Advent Children" takes place two years after the events of Final Fantasy VII. The film follows Cloud Strife and his allies as they deal with a new threat to the planet. It is staggering to realize that Advent Children

Are you looking for information on where to watch it, its plot, characters, or something else?

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete – The Definitive Legacy of Gaia

When Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children first arrived in 2005, it was a visual marvel that pushed the boundaries of CGI, yet it left many fans hungry for more narrative depth. Enter Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, the 2009 high-definition director’s cut that didn't just polish the pixels—it reconstructed the heart of the story.

Running roughly 26 minutes longer than the original, the "Complete" version transforms a flashy action spectacle into a poignant exploration of grief, forgiveness, and the enduring weight of heroism. More Than Just a Visual Upgrade

While the leap to 1080p (and later 4K) brought out the staggering detail in Cloud’s weathered leather and the iridescent shimmer of the Bahamut SIN fight, the true value of the Complete edition lies in its storytelling. 1. The Weight of Geostigma

The original film treated Geostigma—the "Star's scar"—as a plot device. The Complete version treats it as a tragedy. New scenes showing the suffering of the children in Edge, particularly Denzel’s harrowing backstory, ground the conflict. We see the physical and emotional toll the disease takes, making Cloud’s eventual journey toward the Church’s healing waters feel earned rather than inevitable. 2. A Humanized Cloud Strife

In the 2005 cut, Cloud often felt stoic to a fault. The added footage provides crucial context to his isolation. We see his internal struggle with Aerith’s death and Zack’s legacy not just as "brooding," but as a legitimate battle with PTSD. The expanded dialogue with Tifa provides the emotional anchor the film previously lacked, highlighting the family dynamic they are trying to build amidst the ruins of Midgar. 3. Brutal, Clearer Combat

The action sequences were re-edited and expanded to be more visceral. The climactic battle between Cloud and Sephiroth is significantly more violent and desperate. Sephiroth feels more like an omnipresent god of despair, and Cloud’s "Omnislash Ver. 5" is replaced with the even more spectacular Omnislash Ver. 6, a flurry of blades that remains one of the most iconic moments in animation history. Bridging the Compilation

Advent Children Complete serves as the perfect bridge between the original 1997 classic and the modern Remake trilogy. By incorporating elements from Crisis Core (including more prominent cameos from Zack Fair), it unifies the lore of the Compilation. It moves away from being a standalone "sequel" and becomes the definitive epilogue to the struggle against Jenova. The Verdict: A Must-Watch

If you haven't seen the Complete version, you haven't truly seen the film. It corrects the pacing issues of the original and replaces "cool for the sake of cool" with genuine emotional stakes. It is a love letter to the fans who spent hundreds of hours in Gaia, proving that even after the credits roll, the memories of those we've lost never truly leave us.

The definitive version of the 2005 CGI film is Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete

, released in 2009. It functions as an extended director's cut, adding roughly 26 minutes of new footage and over 1,000 revised scenes to flesh out the narrative and visual detail The Lifestream Key Improvements in "Complete" Narrative Clarity

: The added scenes significantly improve the coherence of the plot, which was criticized in the original for being too thin . It provides much-needed context for

(the mysterious illness) and the motivations of the antagonists, Kadaj and his brothers Character Fleshing : New scenes expand on

backstory—explaining how he met Cloud and Tifa—and provide more screen time for

, including a more detailed flashback to his "final stand" from Crisis Core Enhanced Visuals

: Nearly every frame was touched up with added dirt, blood, and clothing textures to make the world feel more grounded and less sterile The Lifestream Extended Combat : The climactic battle between Cloud and Sephiroth

is noticeably longer and more brutal, including a scene where Cloud is physically impaled Review Summary

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete – The Definitive 10th Anniversary Evolution

When Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children first arrived in 2005, it was a visual marvel that served as a love letter to fans of the PlayStation classic. However, it wasn't until the release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete—timed with the 10th anniversary of the original project—that the film truly found its soul.

This version isn't just a "Director’s Cut"; it is a comprehensive reconstruction that bridges the gap between a flashy action flick and a poignant epilogue to the greatest RPG ever made. More Than Just High Definition

The "Complete" edition added roughly 26 minutes of new footage, but the impact of these scenes far outweighs their runtime. While the original release often felt like a series of disconnected (albeit beautiful) fight scenes, the 10th-anniversary update focuses heavily on character motivation and the human cost of the Geostigma pandemic. Key Narrative Enhancements:

Denzel’s Journey: We get a much deeper look into Denzel’s backstory, making his relationship with Cloud and Tifa feel earned rather than incidental.

The Weight of the World: New scenes show the suffering of the citizens in Edge, grounding the high-stakes combat in a reality of pain and survival.

Rufus and the Turks: The motivations of the remnants of Shinra are fleshed out, moving them away from "cool cameos" and back into the role of complex power players. Visual Fidelity and Brutal Realism

Technically, Advent Children Complete was a showcase for the Blu-ray format. The textures were overhauled to show grit, sweat, and—most notably—blood. Themes The movie explores several themes, including:

In the original version, the violence felt "PG." The Complete version leans into the brutality of Cloud’s struggle. When Sephiroth impales Cloud during the climax, the addition of blood and the visceral nature of the wound transform the scene from a choreographed dance into a desperate fight for life. The lighting and particle effects were also retouched, ensuring the 1080p presentation remained the gold standard for CGI animation for years. The Legacy of the 10th Anniversary

The release of Advent Children Complete was more than a home media event; it was a pivot point for the "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII." It included the On the Way to a Smile - Episode: Denzel animated feature and, perhaps most importantly, the first playable demo for Final Fantasy XIII.

It reaffirmed that Midgar was a world worth returning to. The themes explored here—forgiveness, the burden of heroism, and the legacy of Aerith and Zack—laid the emotional groundwork for what would eventually become the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. Why It Still Matters Today

If you are playing through Rebirth or waiting for the final installment of the Remake project, Advent Children Complete is essential viewing. It remains the definitive conclusion to Cloud Strife’s character arc, showing a man who finally learns to stop living in the shadows of his failures and start living for the people who are still with him.

Two decades later, the "Complete" version stands as the only version of the film that truly does justice to the legacy of Final Fantasy VII. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more

The story of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete takes place two years after the events of the original game. Although Sephiroth was defeated and Holy saved the planet from Meteor, the world of Gaia is still suffering. 🌑 The World After Midgar

The ruins of the city of Midgar have been replaced by Edge, a new city built on its outskirts. The survivors are plagued by a mysterious, painful disease called Geostigma. This illness is caused by the body’s immune system fighting off the remains of Jenova that entered the Lifestream during the Meteor crisis. ⚔️ The New Threat: The Remnants

Three silver-haired men—Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo—appear. They are physical manifestations of Sephiroth’s will. They seek the remains of their "Mother," Jenova, to initiate a "Reunion" and once again threaten the planet. Kadaj: The leader, searching for Jenova's head.

The Plan: To use Jenova's cells and the Lifestream to corrupt the world. 🛡️ Cloud’s Struggle

Cloud Strife, now working as a delivery man for "Strife Delivery Service," has withdrawn from his friends. Guilt: He blames himself for the deaths of Aerith and Zack.

Affliction: Cloud has contracted Geostigma, which he hides from Tifa and the children they care for, Denzel and Marlene.

Conflict: He believes he is unworthy of being a hero or being forgiven. 💥 The Climax and Sephiroth's Return

The Remnants kidnap the children of Edge, promising to "cure" their Geostigma. This leads to a massive battle in the ruins of Midgar.

The Reunion of Friends: Tifa, Barret, Vincent, Yuffie, Cid, Red XIII, and Cait Sith reunite to help Cloud fight a massive summon, Bahamut SIN.

The Transformation: Kadaj eventually retrieves the remains of Jenova. By merging with them, he transforms into Sephiroth.

The Duel: Cloud and Sephiroth engage in a legendary battle across the ruins of the Shinra Building. Cloud, finding his resolve, defeats Sephiroth using the Omnislash Version 5/6. ✨ Healing and Redemption

As Sephiroth fades, he tells Cloud he will "never be a memory."

The Great Gospel: Aerith’s spirit calls forth a rain of healing Lifestream water from the church. This rain cures the Geostigma for Cloud and the children of Edge.

Zack and Aerith: In the final moments, Cloud sees the spirits of Zack and Aerith in the church doorway. They smile, signaling that he is finally forgiven.

Resolution: Cloud realizes he is not alone and returns to his friends and family, finally at peace. If you'd like to explore this further, I can help you with:

A breakdown of the differences between the original version and the Complete (10th Anniversary) edition. The lore and history of the Geostigma disease.

Analysis of the fight choreography or specific character arcs.

Based on the text provided, you are referring to Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete.

Here is a breakdown of what that title refers to, along with what the "10" likely signifies:

The 10th anniversary retrospectives have highlighted the evolution of the English voice cast. The original 2005 dub was rushed and often wooden. For Complete, Square Enix re-recorded the entire English audio track with a new cast (including Steve Burton as Cloud and George Newbern as Sephiroth) and improved direction. As we look back a decade later, this is the cast that fans now hear in their heads. The Complete edition canonized the voices of Crisis Core, Dirge, and eventually Remake.

Square Enix famously used Advent Children Complete as a technical showcase for the PlayStation 3 (included as a bonus disc with the Final Fantasy XIII demo). But more importantly, it served as the narrative and aesthetic blueprint for the Remake trilogy. The combat choreography—Cloud parrying bullets, the particle effects of magic, the seamless summoning of Bahamut—was directly lifted from Complete and iterated upon for the PS4/PS5. In essence, the 10th anniversary of Complete aligns perfectly with the development and release of Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) and Rebirth (2024). Watching Complete today feels less like watching a sequel and more like watching the conceptual animatic for the modern games.

Absolutely. While you don't need to watch Advent Children to enjoy Rebirth, you will miss 40% of the emotional context. The Remake trilogy is building toward the resolution of Advent Children, not the original 1997 game.

Seeing Cloud reject Geostigma, seeing Tifa hold the family together, and seeing Denzel (the orphan introduced in the film) find a home explains why the characters in Remake are fighting so hard to defy fate. They know what happens after—and they want a better ending.