Quote Originally Posted by DPZ2 View Post
That scene cost nothing more than the time to code it. All cut scenes (outside of a few in ARR) are generated 'in game'. It's why Thancred has that wonky stutter when he climbs steps in Camp Drybone during at least two cut-scenes prior to your encounter with Ifrit.
This is just from observation, but I think there are two levels of cutscene, even though graphics-wise they both use the normal gameplay models: one is entirely in-game with the characters only doing standard emotes and the world looking however it looks in live gameplay, and the devs just have control over camera angles and music; and "real cutscenes" where the characters can be doing custom animations and dramatic things, and this may (I'm not certain) be the only type of cutscene where they can change weather or time of day.

I think this is what determines whether the cutscenes show up in the Unending Journey or not.

Somebody did have to put the time into animating Raha with his escaping hamburger. Maybe they budget for it from the start, maybe it's a "we have finished creating all the necessary animations for the story and have a spare week before the deadline, let's throw in some fun moments".