Escaflowne

Escaflowne: Anime Legends Complete Collection

Although it didn't fare well on Fox Kids, Escaflowne  has a large, loyal following, perhaps because this sprawling fantasy offers the ingredients of classic mecha, sword-and-sorcery and magical girl adventures. After psychic teen-ager Hitomi has a vision of a man battling a dragon, Prince Van of Fanelia and a dragon materialize. He slays the monster and transports Hitomi to the mysterious world of Gaea. An odd mixture of advanced technology and medieval culture, Gaea has links to ancient Atlantis. A typical romantic triangle develops, involving Hitomi, diamond-in-the-rough Van and ideal knight Allen Schezar. The saga attains a Byzantine complexity when the trio is captured by Zaibach Emperor Dornkirk--who is actually Sir Isaac Newton. He's at work on a machine that will enable him to create alternate destinies for Gaea. At times, the story by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori seems to be careening out of control, as Hitomi whines and the supporting characters appear, disappear and undergo radical personality changes. The most serious flaw is the failure of any of the heroes to defeat the evil Dornkirk, who has dispatched murderous doppelgangers, conducted sadistic experiments on kidnapped children and attempted to subjugate an entire planet. But the combination ofteen-age romance, fantastic robot-suits ("guymelefs"), elaborate battles, hystroinic villains and a world-threatening challenge has made Escaflowne a favorite among otaku. The feature, released theatrically in the US in 2002, repeated much of the story. Rated 13 and up for animated violence. --Charles Solomon

Hitomi Kanzaki is a typical high school girl, with typical high school problems. But when a vision of a young man battling a dragon becomes a reality, her life changes forever. Drawn into a strange vortex with the swordsman, Van, Hitomi is thrust into the strange world of Gaea. Entangled in a struggle over life and death, Van must learn to master the suit of armor, Escaflowne. Chased by the Empire of Azibach, Van and Hitomi will encounter both allies and enemies in an effort to unlock the secrets within Escaflowne. Hitomi's heart is stirred by love and adventure, but at times aches with sorrow. The entire 26 episode epic series in one package. Genre: Action/Romance/Fantasy

Escaflowne - The Movie

Escaflowne is a sprawling adventure saga that infuses sword-and-sorcery and mecha elements into the popular "magical girl" anime genre. The girl is Hitomi Kanzaki (voice by Kelly Sheridan), a withdrawn teenager who wishes she could just leave everything behind and vanish. When she's magically transported to the alternate world of Gaia, she gets her wish--in spades. The dashing Van (Kirby Morrow) of the White Dragon Clan is pitted against his twisted brother Folken (Paul Dobson), the leader of the Black Dragon Clan, in a succession war that threatens the very existence of Gaia. Hitomi is hailed as the long-awaited "Wing Goddess," and her power over the invincible dragon-mecha suit Escaflowne confirms her status. Although the tangled story line has been pared down, the feature remains a reworking of the 26-part TV series The Vision of Escaflowne, which aired briefly on Fox Kids and is available on DVD. Fans of the television series will find that many of the familiar characters have been redesigned and reduced to minor roles, among them Allen, Princess Millerna, Dryden, Merle, Naria, and Eriya. Some of the story's more outré elements have been dropped, but there are still more prophecies, conflicts, and relationships than the filmmakers can resolve satisfactorily in 96 minutes, despite a pat happy ending. Escaflowne boasts some impressive action sequences, which Kazuki Akane directs with panache. The film opens with a spectacular sword fight, as Van single-handedly dispatches the guards on an enemy airship to capture Escaflowne. MPAA rating: PG-13. Contains considerable violence. --Charles Solomon

Escaflowne - The Movie

Escaflowne is a sprawling adventure saga that infuses sword-and-sorcery and mecha elements into the popular "magical girl" anime genre. The girl is Hitomi Kanzaki (voice by Kelly Sheridan), a withdrawn teenager who wishes she could just leave everything behind and vanish. When she's magically transported to the alternate world of Gaia, she gets her wish--in spades. The dashing Van (Kirby Morrow) of the White Dragon Clan is pitted against his twisted brother Folken (Paul Dobson), the leader of the Black Dragon Clan, in a succession war that threatens the very existence of Gaia. Hitomi is hailed as the long-awaited "Wing Goddess," and her power over the invincible dragon-mecha suit Escaflowne confirms her status. Although the tangled story line has been pared down, the feature remains a reworking of the 26-part TV series The Vision of Escaflowne, which aired briefly on Fox Kids and is available on DVD. Fans of the television series will find that many of the familiar characters have been redesigned and reduced to minor roles, among them Allen, Princess Millerna, Dryden, Merle, Naria, and Eriya. Some of the story's more outré elements have been dropped, but there are still more prophecies, conflicts, and relationships than the filmmakers can resolve satisfactorily in 96 minutes, despite a pat happy ending. Escaflowne boasts some impressive action sequences, which Kazuki Akane directs with panache. The film opens with a spectacular sword fight, as Van single-handedly dispatches the guards on an enemy airship to capture Escaflowne. MPAA rating: PG-13. Contains considerable violence. --Charles Solomon

Escaflowne - The Movie (Anime Movie Classics)

Hitomi is depressed. So depressed she sleeps all the time even in class. Friends try to cheer her up but nothing works. Hitomi dreams of fading away. Then one day her wish is answered when a mysterious kindred spirit from another world appears telling her that she is "the wing goddess" and whisking her away to the fantastical land of Gaia. There she meets the handsome young King Van and learns that she alone has the power to summon Escaflowne - a warrior/protector that can end the fierce conflict that has been raging between the forces of light and dark. Original Story by Shoji Kawamori. Mecha Designs by Kimitoshi Yamane! Genre: Action/Romance/Fantasy. System Requirements:Run Time: 96 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMATION/ADULT SWIM Rating: PG-13 UPC: 669198802720 Manufacturer No: 80272

Escaflowne is a sprawling adventure saga that infuses sword-and-sorcery and mecha elements into the popular "magical girl" anime genre. The girl is Hitomi Kanzaki (voice by Kelly Sheridan), a withdrawn teenager who wishes she could just leave everything behind and vanish. When she's magically transported to the alternate world of Gaia, she gets her wish--in spades. The dashing Van (Kirby Morrow) of the White Dragon Clan is pitted against his twisted brother Folken (Paul Dobson), the leader of the Black Dragon Clan, in a succession war that threatens the very existence of Gaia. Hitomi is hailed as the long-awaited "Wing Goddess," and her power over the invincible dragon-mecha suit Escaflowne confirms her status. Although the tangled story line has been pared down, the feature remains a reworking of the 26-part TV series The Vision of Escaflowne, which aired briefly on Fox Kids and is available on DVD. Fans of the television series will find that many of the familiar characters have been redesigned and reduced to minor roles, among them Allen, Princess Millerna, Dryden, Merle, Naria, and Eriya. Some of the story's more outré elements have been dropped, but there are still more prophecies, conflicts, and relationships than the filmmakers can resolve satisfactorily in 96 minutes, despite a pat happy ending. Escaflowne boasts some impressive action sequences, which Kazuki Akane directs with panache. The film opens with a spectacular sword fight, as Van single-handedly dispatches the guards on an enemy airship to capture Escaflowne. MPAA rating: PG-13. Contains considerable violence. --Charles Solomon

Escaflowne - The Movie (Ultimate Edition 3-Disc Set)

Escaflowne is a sprawling adventure saga that infuses sword-and-sorcery and mecha elements into the popular "magical girl" anime genre. The girl is Hitomi Kanzaki (voice by Kelly Sheridan), a withdrawn teenager who wishes she could just leave everything behind and vanish. When she's magically transported to the alternate world of Gaia, she gets her wish--in spades. The dashing Van (Kirby Morrow) of the White Dragon Clan is pitted against his twisted brother Folken (Paul Dobson), the leader of the Black Dragon Clan, in a succession war that threatens the very existence of Gaia. Hitomi is hailed as the long-awaited "Wing Goddess," and her power over the invincible dragon-mecha suit Escaflowne confirms her status. Although the tangled story line has been pared down, the feature remains a reworking of the 26-part TV series The Vision of Escaflowne, which aired briefly on Fox Kids and is available on DVD. Fans of the television series will find that many of the familiar characters have been redesigned and reduced to minor roles, among them Allen, Princess Millerna, Dryden, Merle, Naria, and Eriya. Some of the story's more outré elements have been dropped, but there are still more prophecies, conflicts, and relationships than the filmmakers can resolve satisfactorily in 96 minutes, despite a pat happy ending. Escaflowne boasts some impressive action sequences, which Kazuki Akane directs with panache. The film opens with a spectacular sword fight, as Van single-handedly dispatches the guards on an enemy airship to capture Escaflowne. MPAA rating: PG-13. Contains considerable violence. --Charles Solomon

Escaflowne - Light & Shadow (Vol. 7)

In the penultimate collection of this popular series, various conflicts approach their resolution: not only the battle being fought over the fate of the alternate world of Gaea, but the standard rivalry for the affections of this "magical girl" series' heroine, between a dashing, rough-hewn suitor and a more elegant, polished one--in this case, Van of Fanelia and Allen Schezar. Dornkirk, the evil emperor of Zaibach, continues his plan to alter the fate of Gaea using his semi-magical/semi-technological device. Dornkirk's lieutenant, Folken, is pitted against his brother, Van, the pilot of the mecha Escaflowne and a leader of the anti-Zaibach alliance. Much of the struggle hinges on the psychic abilities of Hitomi, the girl from Earth who unwillingly finds herself at the focus of the storm. At times, the story by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori seems to be careening out of control, as characters appear, disappear, and undergo radical changes in personality. Suddenly the filmmakers try to build sympathy for the psychotic villain Dilandau, and the heretofore utterly noble Allen confesses to numerous romantic indiscretions. Hitomi sets a new standard for ditziness, even for a magical girl, when she offers first aid to her human-animal kidnapper, rather than escaping from her. Rated 13 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Escaflowne - Fate & Fortune (Vol. 6)

The saga of Hitomi, the psychic girl from Earth on the world of Gaea, reaches new heights of byzantine complexity as she, Allen, and Van are captured by Dornkirk, the Zaibach Emperor--who is actually Sir Isaac Newton. Dornkirk plans to create a machine that will enable him to create alternate destinies for Gaea. The trio escapes to the Kingdom of Asturia in the mobile suit Escaflowne, which is somehow linked to the destiny machine. Folken plots to break the tie between Hitomi and Escaflowne by creating a romance between her and Allen (whom Princess Millerna loves). Things grow even more bizarre when Folken replaces the blood of his feline servants, Naria and Eriya, with artificial "fortune blood" that increases luck. He attacks Asturia to seize Hitomi with a cadre of super-lucky soldiers during Millerna's wedding to Dryden. Hitomi believes she altered the destinies of her friends by giving Millerna a false Tarot reading that led her to go through with the wedding. The mixture of slushy romance, amplified luck, and artificial destiny takes some very odd turns, especially when Hitomi decides she misses Amano, her boyfriend on Earth, whom she hasn't mentioned since the first episodes. Episodes: 18. "The Gravity of Destiny," 19. "Operation Golden Rule of Love," 20. "False Vows." Rated 13 and up for violence and complex plot lines. --Charles Solomon

Hitomi, Allen and Van finally confront the Zaibach Emperor Dornkirk. Later, However, it's time for a wedding. Bride-to-be Millerna asks Hitomi for a tarot card reading, and she lies about what the cards hold for Millerna's wedding. Has Hitomi's disillusionment with Van given Folken the chance he needs to test the Fate Alteration engine?; "An Amazing Show" - Animerica; Created by Shoji Kawamori (Macross Plus, Blue Submarine No. 6); Story by Shoji Kawamori and Hajime Yatate (Gundam Wing); Breathtaking 2D/3D CG Animation; Genre: Fantasy/Adventure (D&D, Magic the Gathering CCG); On-air broadcast on Fox Kids (U.S.) and YTV (Canada)

Escaflowne - The Series (Limited Edition Boxed Set)

Although it didn't fare well on the Fox Kids network (where it played in an edited format), Escaflowne has a large, loyal following, perhaps because this sprawling fantasy offers the ingredients of classic mecha, sword-and-sorcery, and magical girl adventures. After psychic teenager Hitomi has a vision of a man battling a dragon, Prince Van of Fanelia and a dragon materialize. He slays the monster and transports Hitomi to the mysterious world of Gaea, an odd mixture of advanced technology and medieval culture. A typical romantic triangle develops, involving Hitomi, diamond-in-the-rough Van, and ideal knight Allen Schezar. The saga attains a byzantine complexity when Zaibach emperor Dornkirk captures the trio. He's at work on a machine that will enable him to create alternate destinies for Gaea. At times the story by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori seems to be careening out of control, as Hitomi whines and the supporting characters appear, disappear, and undergo radical personality changes. The evil Dornkirk has dispatched murderous doppelgangers, conducted sadistic experiments on kidnapped children, and attempted to subjugate an entire planet. The combination of teenage romance, fantastic robot-suits ("guymelefs"), elaborate battles, histrionic villains, and a world-threatening challenge has made the 26-episode series a favorite among otaku. A feature film, released theatrically in the U.S. in 2002, repeated much of the story. Rated 13 and up for animated violence. --Charles Solomon

Complete 26-episode series: 1. "Fateful Confession," 2. "The Girl from the Mystic Moon," 3. "The Gallant Swordsman," 4. "The Diabolical Adonis," 5. "Seal of the Brothers," 6. "Capitol of Intrigue," 7. "Unexpected Partings," 8. "The Day the Angel Flew," 9. "Memories of a Feather," 10. "The Blue-Eyed Prince," 11. "Prophecy of Death," 12. "The Secret Door," 13. "Red Destiny," 14. "Dangerous Wounds," 15. "Lost Paradise," 16. "The Guided Ones," 17. "The Edge of the World," 18. "The Gravity of Destiny," 19. "Operation Golden Rule of Love," 20. "False Vows," 21. "Reaction of Fortune," 22. "The Black-Winged Angel," 23. "Storm Premonition," 24. "Fateful Decision," 25. "Zone of Absolute Fortune," 26. "Eternal Love."

Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection

Escaflowne - Dragons and Destiny (Vol. 1)

Hitomi is a sensitive teenager who reads tarot cards for her friends and nurses a crush on the track star Amano. As she runs on the school track, Hitomi has a vision of a young man battling a dragon; a few days later, the man and the dragon materialize. Hitomi and Van, the young warrior, are carried off to the mysterious world of Gaea, with its odd mixture of advanced technology and medieval culture. Hitomi watches as Van is crowned king of Fanelia, and then another of her visions comes true: Fanelia is destroyed by an army of monstrous robot-suits called "Guymelefs." Van and Hitomi escape in Escaflowne, a legendary super-Guymelef. In the kingdom of Asturia, they meet Allen Schezar, a gallant knight who resembles Amano. They also encounter the villainous Dilandau, who destroyed Fanelia at the orders of the evil emperor of the Zaibach Empire. Although Asturia is allied with Zaibach, Dilandau attacks the small kingdom, forcing everyone to flee. Escaflowne, which began to air on the Cartoon Network in late 2000, delivers a classic anime mixture of teenage romance involving a sensitive heroine, a diamond-in-the-rough hero and an ideal knight, fantastic robots, elaborate battles, hysterical villains, and a world-threatening challenge. The DVD and uncut VHS are rated 13 and older for animated violence; the edited version is what plays on TV and is suitable for ages 7 and older. --Charles Solomon

Hitomi Kanzaki is a typical high school girl, with typical problems, but when a vision of a young man battling a dragon becomes a reality, her life changes forever. Drawn into a strange vortex with the swordsman, Van, Hitomi is thrust into the strange world of Gaea. Van must learn to master the suit of armor, Escaflowne, before he and Hitomi are crushed by the ambitions of the Empire of Zaibach. Van and Hitomi will encounter both allies and enemies in an effort to unlock the secrets within Escaflowne, and Hitomi's heart, stirred by love and adventure, will, at times ache with sorrow. But why was she sent to this world? Her journey has just begun!