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This week, there's no need to use a Phoenix Down because we are ALIVE, and talking about the fans of the Final Fantasy series! The iconic music, characters, stories, costumes... whatever it may be, it has left a lasting mark on the RPG and video game worlds for the decades since its introductions, and we get into all of that with some special guest friends of ours, Dan and Ari!

Next week, just in time for [Anime North](http://animenorth.com/), we're talking about fans of Boys' Love with Sarah of the [Feminist Fujoshi](https://feministfujoshi.wordpress.com/)!

## Where can I learn more about Dan and Ari?

You might remember Dan and Ari from our [super-cut of Super MAGFest 2018](https://youtu.be/DiJt-4m6qKE?t=4m8s) and his panel on [the music of Final Fantasy](https://youtu.be/sEPn75v-L3M). You can check out more of their work online:

_Ari_

- Instagram: [@totallytoastyari](http://instagram.com/totallytoastyari)- Facebook: [facebook.com/totallytoasty](http://facebook.com/totallytoasty)- YouTube: [youtube.com/totallytoastyari](https://www.youtube.com/totallytoastyari)

_Dan_

- Instagram: [@musiconthedlo](http://instagram.com/musiconthedlo)- Twitter: [@musiconthedlo](http://twitter.com/musiconthedlo)- YouTube: [youtube.com/musiconthedlo](https://www.youtube.com/musiconthedlo)

## Episode outline

### Fandom Facts

**History and Origins:**

Final Fantasy is a science fiction and fantasy media franchise owned by Square Enix. Despite having fifteen numbered games, 135 million copies of the various games sold, and well over 40 different sequels, spin-offs, and other properties, the game acquired its moniker in 1987 due to the game designers' belief that Square was going to go bankrupt ([according to Nobuo Uematsu](https://www.wired.com/2009/07/final-fantasy/), composer of many famous _Final Fantasy_ tracks).

Though most of the numbered games are stand-alone stories in different settings with different characters, there are many recurring plot themes, game mechanics, and character names (e.g. Plots center on a group of heroes battling a great evil while exploring the characters' internal struggles and relationships).

**Search Data:**

The Final Fantasy series has had a dramatic [decrease in interest since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02ywx,%2Fm%2F0dvzv). The series is about a tenth as popular as it was back in 2004. There are spikes in interest in September 2005 (The release of _Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children_), March 2010 (_Final Fantasy XIII_), and December 2016 (_Final Fantasy XV_).[// Why is that? More options for games? ]: #

The top ten countries, by search volume, are as follows: Phillipines, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, South Korea, United States, New Zealanda, Spain.

[// Also gives us some interesting data on most searchedBy topic:

- XIII-2- Dissidia- Brave Exvius- Lightning Returns XIII- XV

By query:XIVXIII-2DissidiaA Realm Reborn (XIV)Type 0Exvius]: #

**Fan Demographics:**

We actually managed to find a survey from 2015 with some data! Though it is skewed towards whoever responded on `r/FinalFantasy`, [Tobzzen has us covered with almost 5000 responses](https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/comments/4rd7at/results_of_my_survey_from_november_2015/):

- _Age:_ 21 to 30 years old (47%), 18 to 20 years old (42%) — a very narrow age range- _Gender:_ Male (82%), Female (16%), Other (2%)- _Location_: >50% North America, >30% Europe- _Employment Status:_ 60% studying or working- _Gaming Status:_ 95% had more than 4 years of computer gaming experience; >25% had more than 16 years experience- _Game Playing Time:_ 53% played on average 3-6 hours per day; >10% played more than 10 hours per day

**Fanac Fast Facts:**

- Archive Of Our Own has [over 28 000 works related to the Fi