The Vision of Escaflowne

It comes as a surprise to me that no threads on The Vision of Escaflowne have existed here prior to this. I have no doubt that some, if not many, denizens here at PCF have caught this magnificent series and it's feature film retelling, be it fansub, DVD, or the macabre hack job featured on FOX back in 2000.

The Vision of Escaflowne features a spectacular marriage of mecha action with a mythical medieval atmosphere and an intriguing romantic story, as well as fabulous animation and a beautiful soundtrack courtesy of none other than Yoko Kanno. I am now renting it - currently on DVD volume four - with intentions to eventually purchase the DVD box set.

In a nutshell, for those unaware, Escaflowne is the story of an athletic Japanese high school student named Hitomi Kanzaki. One day during a track run, she encounters a mysterious boy dressed in obscurely primitive clothing, a sword in his grasp, who introduces himself as Van Fanel of the "kingdom of Fanelia," to Hitomi's bewilderment. After surviving a suddent dragon attack, Hitomi and Van are engulfed in a beam of light and are transported to a Gaea, a Middle Age-esque world where dragons and other mythical creatures run rampant, large humanoid machines called Guymelefs are utilized to wage war, and the Earth (referred to as "The Mystic Moon") can be seen in the sky. As Van crusades against the malefic Zaibach Empire - ruled by his long lost brother Folken Stratogos - with the ancient guymelef Escaflowne, Hitomi tries as she might to survive and return to Earth.

Escaflowne... It's what I spent my art show prize money on!

It was a billion years ago that I got into the show when it showed on FOX. When it disappeared, I was sad, but not beaten. Over a year later, my mom bought me the movie! I loved it to bits. Then, I bought the first two DVDs of the uncut anime since that was all I could afford at the time. It asn't until last year that I got the rest of the series.

It is a very awesome anime series! What I find the best about it is that it is one of the best half shounen, half shoujo animes out there. It has all the action of a mecha anime, yet the drama and romance of a shoujo show.

Also, we mustn't forget that it has some of the most amazing music ever in the history of anime. I know classical and symphonic music, and Escaflowne's soundtrack is more than music from a Japanese cartoon. It's a work of art!

There aren't many series out there that make me go out and buy a $60 replica of its main character's mecha. So I'm proud to say that standing right next to my 20-inch tall Aragorn is an Escaflowne!

And here's a funny picture of Dilandau I drew a long time ago. He's my favorite character from Escaflowne!

Personally I loved the series before they threw it into a movie and I really only like watching it subbed I felt that when they try airing it on fox kids as a english dub was horrible they editied out half of everything and stuff. But enough of that. Its a awesome series the movie is alright but I felt like it was rushed.

P.S. Mistress-Samwise I LOVE YOUR little Dalandue (sp?) Hes one of my favorites! Yyaya!

-Beth

I know some people who say that the series is better than sex. Personally, since I stole a few of the dvds from my college's anime club, I didn't care for it at all. That's just my opinion, though.

I liked it - an interesting mix of romance and mecha action. There are some neat twists - some that I didn't seem coming, but when I stop and think about it, make sense.

I also like the mystical take on mechas and the machinations of the Zaibach antagonists - like the "fate altercation device" (isn't that cool? or something like that) and how they try to control the future and luck.

What type of stuff did FOX cut out of this show? I mean, there is some blood, and also more adult stuff like

spoiler (highlight to read):

Allen being the father of that boy who became prince of that one nation

.

Anywho, a neat show. And what everybody else said about the outstanding orchestral music is true - fabulous stuff.

I haven't seen the movie version. Is it worth it?

Delandau was actually

spoiler (highlight to read):

female.

See what brain washing does to people, kiddies?

I have a fansub of the entire series that a friend gave me for my wedding present - gorgeous artwork, music, and storylines.

I personally liked the fact that Hitomi was psychic, which is a rare gift in Gaea.

I really enjoyed Escaflowne. I first saw it when they used to play it on Fox Saturday mornings then I bought some of the DVD's. It had a great story with enjoyable characters, plenty of nice drama but what I loved the most was the art. I haven't seen the movie yet but I hope to soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Lady Tesser Delandau was actually spoiler (highlight to read): female. See what brain washing does to people, kiddies? I have a fansub of the entire series that a friend gave me for my wedding present - gorgeous artwork, music, and storylines. I personally liked the fact that Hitomi was psychic, which is a rare gift in Gaea.

spoiler (highlight to read):

No, Delandau was male, Celena was female. They're two entirely separate people who just happen to share the same physical space. There's at least one occasion with Delandau topless and he definitely lacks Celena's bust line. It's almost like Ranma, but with two separate personalities involved as well. and less water

Anywho, I've only seen Escaflowne once, over 2 years ago during my Freshman year of college, in our anime club. It was definitely one of my favorites that year. Great story, great characters, great world building. I like the scale of the Gey-melufs (sp?), they're about as big as mecha should ever realistically be, and a good in-between range between powered-armor and more typical mecha.

I've never seen all of the movie (our club was interrupted the night we watched it and we never got back to it), but I liked how they took the basics of the story and completely reinterpereted it from there. I'll have to sit back again some time and actually watch it all. That and rewatch the TV series.

Indeed, Esca is a great show. It's sad that fox kids butchered it and while I'm normally I'm not a huge fan of Ocean's bandai dubs but their dub of Esca wasn't all that bad. Brian Drummond did a nice job as Allen, although he gets type casted as these roles all the time. Kirby Morrow as Van was pretty darn good too. Kelly Sheridan's Hitomi was pretty good too, she did capture Hitomi's innocent's. As far as charecter's go, I like Allen, Van, and of course Gaddes. Balgus and the samurai generals where pretty cool, until they got pwned something fierce by Dilandau and his dragon slayers, there the typical samurai mumbo jumbo about "Only a coword attacks from behind!" was classic lol.

Zillions of hearts for Esca. Dilandau is loved. And seriously, like...

spoiler (highlight to read):

How can you NOT love a series whose ultimate villain turns out to be SIR ISAAC NEWTON?

Escaflowne? I think I remeber that, but i can't reemeber what it was a bout, the name sounds ffamiliar but...

Folken and Dilandau rock mah world.