Square Enix is releasing a new illustrated picture book on May 19, 2026, dedicated to Vivi Ornitier — one of the most memorable characters from Final Fantasy IX. The 48-page hardcover is written by Kazuhiko Aoki, the event design team leader from the original 2000 game, and illustrated by Toshiyuki Itahana, one of the game’s three original character designers — who later left Square Enix at the end of 2025 to work as a freelance illustrator.
Titled Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky, the book covers Vivi’s quiet years living with his adoptive grandfather Quan — a member of the Qu species who fished Vivi out of the Mist after the young black mage fell from a cargo ship. Originally released in Japanese in July 2025 as part of the game’s 25th anniversary celebrations, the English edition is priced at $17.99 USD and available through the official Square Enix store.
Final Fantasy IX originally launched for the PlayStation in Japan on July 7, 2000, followed by North America on November 14, 2000, and Europe on February 16, 2001. Since then, it has sold over 8.9 million physical and digital copies worldwide, as confirmed by Square Enix on the game’s official 25th anniversary page.
✦ By The Numbers ✦
The Book at a Glance
Everything you need to know about the upcoming Final Fantasy IX picture book, at a glance.
Official cover art for Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky — illustrated by Toshiyuki Itahana
✦ Explore the Book ✦
What’s Inside — Select a Tab
Use the tabs below to explore the story, the creators behind it, the lore it covers, and what fans can expect.
🌊 A Boy, a Qu, and a Life Worth Living
Vivi — a black mage prototype — fell from a cargo ship and was fished out of the Mist by Quan, a member of the Qu species. Though Quan initially took Vivi in planning to eat him once he grew bigger, that never came to pass. Instead, Quan taught Vivi about the world, and Vivi came to see him as his grandfather.
According to the official Square Enix description, together they lived “a peaceful life of fine feasts and friends, eventually leading up to Vivi’s day of departure.” The book covers those quiet years — before Vivi boards an airship to Alexandria and the events of the main game begin.
✍️ Written & Drawn by the Original FF9 Team
Kazuhiko Aoki wrote the text. He served as event designer and event design team leader on the original Final Fantasy IX (2000), working directly from the story outline written by Hironobu Sakaguchi and directing the game’s narrative events. His credits also include Final Fantasy Chronicles (director, 2001) and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (director, 2003).
Toshiyuki Itahana provided the illustrations. One of three original character designers on Final Fantasy IX — alongside Shūkō Murase and Shin Nagasawa — Itahana is also the primary designer of the Crystal Chronicles and Chocobo spin-off series. He contributed anniversary illustrations in 2025 before leaving Square Enix at the end of that year to work as a freelance illustrator after over 25 years at the company.
📜 Filling in the Gaps of Vivi’s Past
In the original Final Fantasy IX — released for PlayStation in Japan on July 7, 2000 — Vivi’s backstory with Quan is referenced in the game but never shown in full. When players visit Quan’s Dwelling during the game, they learn about Vivi’s time there. The clock on the ledge where Quan used to fish is noted to have stopped “about a week before” the main story begins.
The Japanese edition (44 pages, paperback, ISBN: 9784757598737), titled “Vivi and Grandpa On the Day of Departure,” was published in Japan in July 2025 as part of the game’s official 25th anniversary events. The English hardcover edition follows on May 19, 2026, under the title “Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky” (ISBN: 9781646094738).
Square Enix confirmed on the 25th anniversary page that Final Fantasy IX has sold over 8.9 million physical and digital copies worldwide since its original release.
🎮 Who Is This Book For?
- Returning FF9 players — adds canon depth to Vivi’s origins, covering a period only briefly referenced in the original game.
- First-time readers — works as a self-contained story; no prior FF9 knowledge required to follow Vivi’s journey with Quan.
- Art fans — original illustrations by Toshiyuki Itahana, using the same visual style he brought to the 2000 game.
- Collectors — hardcover format, 8-5/8 × 8-5/8 inches, priced at $17.99 USD. Pre-orders are available through the Square Enix North America store.
Final Fantasy IX is currently available on PC via Steam, PlayStation Store, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
Interior preview art from the picture book — illustrated by Toshiyuki Itahana
✦ Road to Release ✦
From 2000 to May 2026
How the world went from a 2000 PlayStation RPG to a 2026 English picture book.
✦ Official Specs ✦
Full Book Details
📗 Where to Get It
The English hardcover edition is available for pre-order on the Square Enix North America store. The Japanese paperback edition was available on the Square Enix Japan store, where pre-orders included an exclusive bonus poster.
Published under the Square Enix Manga & Books imprint. The English edition is also listed by Penguin Random House. You can also revisit the original game on Steam, the PlayStation Store, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
| Full Title | Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky |
| Series | Final Fantasy IX Picture Book |
| Publisher | Square Enix Manga & Books |
| Release | May 19, 2026 |
| Price | $17.99 USD / £14.99 GBP |
| Format | Hardcover, 48 pages |
| Dimensions | 8-5/8 × 8-5/8 in |
| ISBN | 9781646094738 |
| Author | Kazuhiko Aoki |
| Illustrator | Toshiyuki Itahana |
| JP Edition | 44 pp · ISBN 9784757598737 · July 2025 |
✦ The People Behind the Pages ✦
Tap Each Card to Learn More
The picture book was created by the same team who built the original game’s world back in 2000.
Kazuhiko Aoki
Event designer and event design team leader on the original FF9 (2000). He expanded the story outline from director Hironobu Sakaguchi and supervised all narrative events. He later directed FFCC (2003).
Toshiyuki Itahana
One of three character designers on FF9, alongside Shūkō Murase and Shin Nagasawa. Left Square Enix at end of 2025 after 25+ years to work as a freelance illustrator.
Vivi Ornitier
A black mage prototype who fell from a cargo ship and was fished out of the Mist by Quan. Vivi later became the central emotional character of Final Fantasy IX.
Grandpa Quan
A Qu who fished Vivi out of the Mist and took him in. According to the official book description, Quan “teaches him how to live a good life,” sharing a “peaceful life of fine feasts and friends.”
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The Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky was covered here as a 48-page hardcover releasing on May 19, 2026, priced at $17.99 USD. The book was written by Kazuhiko Aoki and illustrated by Toshiyuki Itahana — both from the original 2000 development team — and tells the story of Vivi’s years with Quan before the events of the main game.
The Japanese edition was discussed as having been published in July 2025, with the English hardcover following via the Square Enix North America store. The original Final Fantasy IX game, released in 2000, was noted as having sold over 8.9 million physical and digital copies worldwide.