English-speaking fans of Final Fantasy 9 will soon be able to discover the backstory of the beloved character Vivi Ornitier with the release of Final Fantasy 9 Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky on May 18, 2026. This book comes after the 25th anniversary of the classic PlayStation game, which was celebrated on July 7, 2025. While fans are still hoping for a remake, this picture book offers a welcome chance to learn more about one of Final Fantasy 9‘s most popular characters.
The book, Final Fantasy 9 Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky, first came out in Japan in 2025 as part of a big celebration for the Final Fantasy 9 anniversary. Square Enix marked the occasion with new merchandise, a vinyl soundtrack, and a special exhibit in Tokyo from November 22nd to December 7th, 2025. While fans had hoped for an announcement about a Final Fantasy 9 remake, it wasn’t revealed. For fans outside of Japan who couldn’t travel to Tokyo, the English translation of the Vivi book is a welcome treat.
Final Fantasy 9 Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky Gives Readers a New View of Vivi
A hardcover art book based on Final Fantasy 9, titled Final Fantasy 9 Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky, is coming to the United States on May 18, 2026. The book focuses on Vivi Ornitier, a character from Final Fantasy 9 who uses magic in battle – a common role in the series. Interestingly, players begin the game as Vivi, before meeting the intended main character, Zidane. The story quickly confronts Vivi with a difficult question for someone so young: What does it mean to exist, and what happens when you die?
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This 48-page picture book shares the backstory of Vivi and his grandfather, Quan, exploring their lives before the events of the main game. It’s written by Kazuhiko Aoki, who directed the game’s events, and illustrated by Toshiyuki Itahana, the character designer for Final Fantasy IX. Both Aoki and Itahana are long-time Square Enix employees with a history working on FFIX, ensuring the book authentically captures the world and characters.
According to the Square Enix Store, the book is scheduled to be released on May 18, 2026, and the product page gives a brief overview of the story.
Join FINAL FANTASY IX’s beloved black mage Vivi as Grandpa teaches him how to live a good life!
I’m totally captivated by the story of Vivi! He’s this incredibly enigmatic boy who was found floating in the ocean by Grandpa Quan, a real foodie obsessed with perfecting his cooking. It’s so sweet – Grandpa Quan initially thinks Vivi is food, but quickly realizes he’s a person and takes him in as his own. They build this beautiful, peaceful life together, filled with amazing meals and lovely friends. It’s a really heartwarming story, but it also has this bittersweet feeling because you know Vivi’s time with Grandpa Quan won’t last forever, and eventually, he has to leave.
I just finished reading this awesome new story, and I have to say, it’s a fantastic addition to Vivi and Grandpa’s adventures! It was actually written by Kazuhiko Aoki, who designed the events in Final Fantasy IX, and the illustrations were done by Toshiyuki Itahana, the character designer. Seriously, it’s a treat for any fan!
Even though it’s a short book, fans of Vivi will still enjoy this addition to his story – and Vivi’s storyline is one of the best parts of an already excellent game, Final Fantasy IX. With so much talk about a possible remake or animated series that seemed to fall through, fans are hoping for something bigger than just a picture book. Still, any new content is a positive, especially considering Square Enix could have easily limited it to Japan. The fact that they wrote and translated this book at all shows they know fans are eager for more FF9 content. However, Square Enix likely believes anniversary merchandise is the most practical way to celebrate the game right now, as business decisions often take priority.
You can now pre-order the hardcover version of Final Fantasy 9 Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky from these online retailers:
- Square Enix Store
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Books-A-Million
- Bookshop.org
- Indigo
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2026-02-20 06:05