One of the most beloved characters in RPG history is getting his own spotlight moment.
Square Enix has officially announced a brand-new illustrated picture book set in the world of Final Fantasy IX, bringing fan-favourite black mage Vivi back in an original prequel story. The 48-page release is scheduled to launch on May 19, 2026, with a retail price of $17.99 USD.
While the currently listed edition is in Japanese, an English version is widely expected to follow.
Emmanuel Umahi
A Prequel Story Centered on Vivi and Grandpa Quan
The new book explores Vivi’s life before the events of the original game, focusing on his quiet childhood with Grandpa Quan.
Fans of Final Fantasy IX will recognize the emotional starting point: Quan rescuing Vivi from the ocean. From there, the story shifts into a softer, slice-of-life narrative that follows their daily routines — sharing meals, forming friendships, and slowly shaping the worldview that defines Vivi when players first meet him.
The book builds toward the poignant moment when Vivi leaves home to begin the journey that unfolds in the 2000 RPG. For longtime fans, it’s a chance to revisit one of the franchise’s most emotionally resonant arcs from an entirely new perspective.
Per the publisher’s website, “Vivi is a mysterious boy who was fished out of the ocean by Grandpa Quan, a gourmand trying to master the art of food. Once Grandpa Quan realizes that Vivi is not food, he begins to raise Vivi and teach him about the world. Together, they live a peaceful life of fine feasts and friends, eventually leading up to Vivi's day of departure.”
Original Creative Talent Returns
What makes this release especially exciting is the involvement of key creators from the original game.
Kazuhiko Aoki, who worked as an event designer on Final Fantasy IX, is writing the story, while character designer Toshiyuki Itahana is providing brand-new illustrations. That creative continuity gives the project strong ties to the original vision and visual identity of Gaia, the game’s fantasy world.
Early previews describe the tone as “gentle and heartfelt”, very much in line with the character-driven storytelling that helped make Final Fantasy IX a standout entry in the long-running franchise.
Originally released on July 7, 2000, Final Fantasy IX remains one of the most celebrated entries in the series.
The game currently holds an OpenCritic average score of 81/100, with an 81% critic recommendation rate.
Emmanuel Umahi
