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

Starring:Maaya Sakamoto, Tomokazu Seki, JÃ´ji Nakata, Mayumi Iizuka, Minami Takayama, KÃ´ji Tsujitani, ShinichirÃ´ Miki, Ikue Ootani, Richard Newman, Kelly Sheridan, Michael Dobson, Brian Dobson, Kirby Morrow, Andrew Francis, Paul Dobson, Hisako KyÃ´da, Venus Terzo, Nobuyuki Hiyama, Trevor Devall, Scott McNeil
Director: Yoshiyuki Takei, Kazuki Akane
Studio: Bandai
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
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 The girl is Hitomi Kanzaki (voice by Kelly Sheridan), a withdrawn teenager who wishes she could just leave everything behind and vanish.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 outrÃ© 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: Anime Legends Complete Collection
Average customer rating:

Oh you know,

Escaflowne is captivating and colorful.

can someone please tell me

Has Shoujo AND Shounen Aspects

highly addictive

Escaflowne: Anime Legends Complete Collection
Starring: Maaya Sakamoto , Tomokazu Seki , Jôji Nakata , Mayumi Iizuka , and Minami Takayama
Director: Yoshiyuki Takei , and Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Escaflowne - The Movie

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ASIN: B000E8NRNA
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Amazon.com

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

Description

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

Customer Reviews:

Oh you know,.......2007-07-01

This is an obvious classic, a fantasy triumph. A must buy for any fan of anime.

Escaflowne is captivating and colorful........2007-04-16

Having watched the entire series, I can only say how wonderful it is. The characters have interesting backgrounds and promising futures, the story line is unique and keeps you involved from episode 1-26 and the animation is imaginative and well executed.

The story begins with young Hitomi, a girl in high school that is a promising athlete and has managed to catch the attention of another popular young athlete, Amano. However, Hitomi is not entirely pleased with her life here on Earth. She longs for something else. She gets what she wants, so to speak, when a young man by the name of Van Fanel is transported from his world to hers while fighting a dragon. After the dragon's defeat with a little help from Hitomi, her and Van are transported back to the world known as Gaea, where the Earth and the moon hang in the sky. The story follows Hitomi and her adventures with Van in Gaea, the young king of Fanelia and their attempt to stop the plans of the evil Zaibach empire with the Escaflowne, a giant mecha directly linked to Van.

This is the story of Escaflowne and, as you can see, it is very interesting. The DVD casing is also cause for a good rating as it is easily portable in two thick cases that hold 4 separate discs in each. My only complaint and the reason for this anime only receiving 4 stars is for its ending. It's posotively disastrous. Well, perhaps I am over-reacting, but, in all honesty, it was a total let down. It just didn't seem over and the themes which were pressed so strongly during the series were lying helplessly in the background.

Overall, though, a wonderful anime and well worth the price. I will watch many times for the years to come...except for the ending.

can someone please tell me.......2007-04-12

Can someone please tell me if this is the complete uncut version in japanese and english? I just want to be sure because it doesn't say that its uncut on the cover it just says complete collection, which I'm assuming means every episode is included but I just wanted to be sure because I really love this anime and want to buy it.

Has Shoujo AND Shounen Aspects.......2007-01-12

...Which to me is a very good thing, because that means that it appeals to a broader audience. Both male and female audiences enjoy this anime. =) And with good reason--not only is Escaflowne considered a 'classic' amongst the animes out there, but it also has amazing mecha battles (and designs!), characters with depth, an intriguing and very complete world in which the characters live, and the plot twists and turns all over the place.

I won't swear it's the 'best anime ever'--being quite a fan of anime in general, I couldn't choose only one for a favorite, nor I think should you have to--but it's enjoyable enough to watch again and again that I bought the boxed set, and that's saying something for somebody who is a penny-pincher like myself.

If/when you watch this anime, be sure to pay attention in particular to what I think is one of the most convincingly-portrayed insane people in any anime--Dilandau Albatou. He's not just nuts, he's nuts in a way that makes him enjoyable to watch. I can't quite explain it--you'll see if you watch it. ^^;

As for the physical product itself--the Anime Legends Complete Collection DVD boxed set--it's contained in two thick DVD plastic cases which are held together by a cardstock slipcover.

I think I should note that the DVD cases' ways of holding the DVDs in are refreshing--you press down in the centers of them and they loosen and then when you press the DVDs back in they fasten again, eliminating that difficulty I had with getting the discs out of the cases in my other boxed sets (such as Fruits Basket's). That means that it's very easy to get the discs out of the case without damaging them, but they're also not coming off of their nests in the case just by being shaken around. It's the best of both worlds!

The cardstock slipcover will get beaten up pretty quick if you carry this set around a lot, but I've carried it back and forth between my house and a friend's at least seven times now and the slipcover seems okay. It may be more resilient than it appears.

The sound, imagery and extras I found to be complete and as excellent as expected. The subtitles are well-done and well-timed, the Japanese and English language tracks both sound great, and in general this was an excellent purchase for me that I'm very happy with. <3

highly addictive.......2007-01-10

this is a really great series. in my opinion it starts off rather slowly but once you are 7 episodes in it is just so thoroughly enjoyable. i really liked the directing in this series, it manages to be very expressive in abstract ways without being pretentious or over the top.
one of my favorite series of all time. that being said.
do NOT watch it in english, i just cant stomach it in english
oh and i hate the ending, granted its hard to abruptly wrap up such a beautiful world but i just hated the ending.

Average customer rating:

This is my armor
Different but Enjoyable
Do not be discouraged!
Good anime series gets a decent movie
My brush with Destiny

Escaflowne - The Movie
Starring: Venus Terzo , Kelly Sheridan , and Kirby Morrow
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Escaflowne: Anime Legends Complete Collection
Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection
Escaflowne - The Series (Limited Edition Boxed Set)
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ASIN: B0001DCY0K
Release Date: 2002-07-23

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

This is my armor.......2007-06-13

This anime movie based on the popular japanese cartoon series is one of the best. The armor is amazing and very different from most mechas seen in anime. I give this anime the tops in stars.

Different but Enjoyable.......2007-04-12

Excellent movie! I f your like me and get confused easily I suggest that you watch the series first. The movie is different from the series and many people may not likle the changes of the characters personalities, but I enjoyed the story going in a different direction. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Do not be discouraged!.......2007-03-29

The Escaflowne movie is one of the animes that I would definitely advise to see. It is beautiful, has a strong storyline (unlike the tv series), has lovely music and lots of action. Please, do not be discouraged by negative reviews from fans of the tv series, who just cannot seem to understand that 120 minutes of the movie time is not meant to include the character development of the soap opera that is the tv series. I found most of the characters in the movie much more interesting and less annoying than in the series. Except for perhaps Hitomi who is pretty annoying in both. But besides that - a definite improvement from tv series.

Good anime series gets a decent movie.......2007-03-26

I was into the Escaflowne anime series on tv, it was impressive, from the story, to the music, to the battles. For a while, Escaflowne had its anime series on television, on saturdays, and it was a very good alternative to the shallow cartoons that were on. Strangly the show stoped airing over here, just when i was getting more and more interested.
Anyways... i discovered the Escaflowne movie a while ago and recently found it on sale at the store, and i was looking for a good anime film to buy, and i had good memory of Escaflowne as a quality anime show, one of the very few well done animated shows aired in the USA, and id allways wanted to see the movie, i figured it would be epic and powerfull, like award winning.

It turns out that this movie sums up the Escaflowne story. Without giving away anything, it starts out with Hitomi on Earth and somehow being transported eventually, to this other world and meeting these new people. So it doesnt apparently start where the series left off, its the story of Escaflowne condensed to fit into movie form.

The animation is not bad...but isnt exactly theatrical release quality, i was expecting something on the lines of Miyazaki quality, but the animation is just a bit above the anime series, with the characters looking slighty more matured and a bit more well defined. Im not sure, but maybe this was made for DVD, perhaps it didnt get the big motion picture treatment in Japan.

The characters are allright, all the voice actors who did the characters on the anime series reprise their roles i believe for the movie, like Lord Vonn, Hitomi and Meryl, not to mention the villians.

There is battle between Lord Vonn and one of the bad guys, where Vonn uses Escaflowne against the bad guys own armor, right before the confrontation with Lord Vulcan ( Vonns older brother). Its good, but it made me wanna see more. There wasnt much battles in the movie, it was more story driven i guess.

The story is not bad, it just made me feel kinda bored in areas, i didnt feel too involved in it. But thats just me. It just didnt unfold as great or as grand as it seemed it would judging from the movies trailor.

The music in this movie is good, i really like Escaflowne theme that has the choral singing, its one of the most impressive themes ive heard for an anime.

The series of Escaflowne is definatly worth watching if you like this movie but felt it lacked some things or if you felt like you didnt get enuff. The anime series is real well done, and has intense battles, a complex enjoyable story and even more memorable music, like its opening intro music. Very good.

The one thing the movie has over the series is its graphic violence. Its done in good taste, and it is showcased in a powerfull way. The blood that is spilled in this movie is neccasary and respects your intelligence.

So, in the end i think it was an allright movie. I dont see myself watching it again anytime soon in the future, but its an okay fantasy/mecha anime movie.

My brush with Destiny.......2007-03-06

I was astounded to find, when I ordered and watched this Special Edition of the Escaflowne Movie, in the footage of the US premiere at Anime Expo 2000, I am on the DVD during the footage of "The Line" and the Director's question and answer period before the Midnight showing of the movie. My kids and I are in the second row of the audience and can be seen during the audience entrance and the question period where the camera pans toward the back and back up front when they speak to another technician at the rear of the room. It is our moment of glory LOL.. I will never forget the opening scenes sitting there at the Disneyland Hotel. The beat of drums and the sound of the airships' engines. The thrill of expectation, to see the movie for the very first time of my favorite anime.

I have to say, I was disappointed in the changes made for the big screen, the character's personalities and character designs are not the same. A LOT of content was naturally condensed and dropped, due to the limitations of time, but Millerna as a space slut was NOT an improvement. Oh well, at least we're on the DVD. And they fixed the Pinnochio noses....

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

Average customer rating:

This is my armor
Different but Enjoyable
Do not be discouraged!
Good anime series gets a decent movie
My brush with Destiny

Escaflowne - The Movie (Ultimate Edition 3-Disc Set)
Starring: Maaya Sakamoto , Tomokazu Seki , Jôji Nakata , Mayumi Iizuka , and Minami Takayama
Director: Yoshiyuki Takei , and Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Customer Reviews:

This is my armor.......2007-06-13

This anime movie based on the popular japanese cartoon series is one of the best. The armor is amazing and very different from most mechas seen in anime. I give this anime the tops in stars.

Different but Enjoyable.......2007-04-12

Do not be discouraged!.......2007-03-29

Good anime series gets a decent movie.......2007-03-26

My brush with Destiny.......2007-03-06

Average customer rating:

an amazing anime series
Meh
Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection
One of the greatest series out there
still one of my favorites

Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

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( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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Escaflowne - The Movie
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Release Date: 2004-10-26

Customer Reviews:

an amazing anime series.......2007-04-09

Escaflowne is, indeed, a wonderful series. It's engaging from the very first episode with a twisting storyline and ever-evolving characters. The ending is something that many complain about, but it reminds me of a Greek tragedy in some ways.

There is an element of the paranormal -- tarot cards coupled with visions of the future -- but this is balanced by the technological aspect of the mechs and the city of Atlantis.

The characters are memorable and the storyline amazing. The unique animation style will leave you breathless. Although it is an older series, it will be a highlight of anyone's anime collection.

Meh.......2007-03-29

My sister wanted this for Christmas. I got it for her. She didn't like it. If you've seen it before and liked it... then get it. If you haven't, she's telling you that you won't like it.

Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection.......2007-02-25

Dragons and Mechs.. Samurais and Knights.. Princes and Princesses.. Story has depth.. Very entertaining and a must have for your collection.. A real Classic..

One of the greatest series out there.......2006-05-20

This anime is a cherished jewel in my collection. Hell I don't even lend it out. So that should give you an idea how good it is. I noticed there is another collection out there with added features but I can't speak on that one because I haven't seen it. And I don't really care about that kind of stuff anyway. This anime combines a solid story, romance, and action. The animation is excellent, however I prefer a good story before that.

The story is about a young girl who finds herself in another land. Where kingdoms are at war with each other. The story may seem straight forward but there are alot of unpredictable twist. The action is not your typical anime gorefest, so fans of tons of blood will be disappointed on that end. However that doesn't drag this down at all. There is way too much to put out on this show. If your new to anime or you haven't seen this by now, you won't be disappointed with this.

still one of my favorites.......2006-03-24

I have seen many animation movies and series. this is still one of my favorites. Do not hesitate to buy.

Average customer rating:

The Precious Strength
Whoa.
A wonderful series.
Dilandau's back!
Great Anime series

Escaflowne - Light & Shadow (Vol. 7)
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Escaflowne - Forever & Ever (Vol. 8)
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ASIN: B00005B1VV
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com

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

Description

Hitomi surrenders to the fortune-enhanced soldiers Naria and Eriya, but the fortune-enhancing process has some unpredictable side-effects. After her escape, Hitomi and Van are summoned to the ruins of Fanelia by Folken. There, they face the menace of the dragons and the shadows of the past that have haunted Van's older brother since the days of his dragon-slaying ceremony. DVD Highlights: DVD Interactive Menus, Dolby Digital Audio, English/Japanese audio tracks with English subtitle option, Extras - Club Escaflowne/Staff Interviews/Bonus Materials/Trailers. "An Amazing Show" - Animerica

Customer Reviews:

The Precious Strength.......2003-06-22

Eriya and Naria, Folken's loyal feline warriors, try to kidnap Hitomi but their luck intensification fails. This triggers a grand rescue chase to foil the Zaibach Empire. But the tragic results leave Folken convinced that Emperor Dornkirk may have the right idea, but is going about it in entirely the wrong way.

Van finds himself torn between his childhood loyalty to Folken, and his anger over his brother's loyalty to Dornkirk. When Folken arranges a meeting, Van finally sets out to gain revenge for Folken's desertion of Fanelia. But the struggle between Van and Folken ends inconclusively, and Folken determines to turn himself over to Asturia to bring an end to this horrible war. Now the struggle truly begins in earnest.

Another relationship, that between Hitomi and Allen Schezar also seems to be developing cracks, as the young knight reveals his controlling side. Hitomi's is uncomfortable with this but is even more uncomfortable with Van's angry willingness to fight and kill. This triggers a spectacular cliffhanger of an ending sure to please the most jaded of watchers and leave them grabbing for the last DVD in this series.

As you can see, the fact that this series is drawing to an end means that there will be no lack of plot twists. And no lack of shifts in character development either. This is never a simpleminded series, but a complex weaving of the themes of destiny, human nature, war, and the value of relationships and love. It is always reaching beyond the story line for higher values, even as Evangelion did. Whether the story moves quickly or slows down for an introspective moment, it remains compelling.

Whoa........2002-02-15

I have to say, Vision of Escaflowne is one of my favorite series ever. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. It draws you in from the very first episode. The art and animation is pretty. Great music scores. ^_~

A wonderful series........2001-08-24

While I haven't seen the DVD, I *have* seen the entire series (subtitled), and these episodes are excellent, heck, the entire series is excellent, the music, the storyline, the brilliant animation, the characters, both minor and major contribute to this great series. The dubbing however (i've seen most of the dubbed series) was okay, not excellent like the dubbing in "Please Save My Earth", but it was alright, tolerable. As for what the editorial review says, I don't think Hitomi was being a ditz at all. She saw the good in her kidnapper and offered first aid to her because she's a kind and compassionate human being. Okay, so maybe you wouldn't and shouldn't do that if you were in her situation, then again, who knows. There's always two sides to the coin. But anywho. I highly recommend this series to anyone who's a fan of anime or action/drama/romance type movies.

Dilandau's back!.......2001-07-20

Yey! I was really excited to see the return of the evil Dilandau, he rocks. Anyways, I read a spoiler so I know who he really is.. Then we are at this mysterious scene where one of the 4 generals is looking out at a courtyard. He sees a girl who is innocent and really naive looking. She grabs a flower off the ground that has a snail on it. Then we see her about to eat the snail, like nothing's wrong with that. Well the general sees this and about ..., until this humanoid dog creature stops her from putting it in her mouth and shakes his head at her like "No you're not supposed to eat that.." Well, guess who the girl is..... I can't tell you! You have to wait! Hitomi and Allen get in their first fight over Allen being jealous about Hitomi and Van going to Fanelia the last night. There's a lot of Folken in this one, you discover that he is not all bad, because you find out his cause for all the mayhem. The reason he ran from the dragon wasn't because he was a chicken! hehehehhe..

Well, I am watching this one currently, and I can't seem to get it out of the player. -Seph.

Great Anime series.......2001-07-08

I have seen everything from Bubblegum Crisis to Wicked City. This is a great Jap-Anime for teens and adults. Not as much violence and gore as Bubblegum and no nudity. Has great humor as a girl from earth getts in trouble with everyone on a mistical planet that has 2 moons in the night ski (our moon and the earth). Well stuctured plot will keep adults and 2 girls takeing pot shots and pokeing fun at each other will get the kids. If you see any part of this video you will agree buy one, must have all.

Average customer rating:

"A pain that is deeper than the shadows"
A wonderful continuation of a true anime epic.
A mystical adventure
A Great Series!
Escaflowne rocks!

Escaflowne - Betrayal & Trust (Vol. 2)
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Escaflowne - Angels and Demons (V.3)
Escaflowne - Dragons and Destiny (Vol. 1)
Escaflowne - Past and Present (V.4)
Escaflowne - Paradise & Pain (Vol. 5)
Escaflowne - Fate & Fortune (Vol. 6)

ASIN: B00004Z4SO
Release Date: 2000-12-05

Amazon.com

Although it didn't fare well on Fox Kids in the U.S., Escaflownehas a large and loyal following, perhaps because it offers the classic ingredients of both mecha and magical girl shows. Hitomi, who's been transported to the parallel world of Gaea, is torn between her attraction to the elegant knight Allen, and to Van, the diamond-in-the-rough king of Fanelia. Allen lives by an elaborate chivalric code of honor, even in treacherous times; Van is less polished, but maneuvers the giant mecha suit Escaflowne expertly.

The story continues to unfold through a series of battles, threats, and escapes. When she isn't whining, Hitomi can see events before they occur, which enables her to save her friends' lives. These episodes of precognition are especially useful against the maniacal Dilandau of the Zaibach Empire, who hunts Van, sometimes aided by Van's turncoat brother Folken. Hitomi is furiously jealous of Princess Millerna's attraction to Allen and the feline Merle's affection for Van, who may be an angel in disguise. On Gaea, anything can happen--and generally does.

An odd interview with four of the Japanese voice actors (Hitomi, Merle, Folken, and Van) is included among the extras. Rated 13 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Description

Despite his heroic efforts, Van's been captured and is being held prisoner by the evil empire of Zaibach. Can Hitomi and the others rescue Van in time or will Hitomi be stranded forever on the strange and beautiful wold of Gaea. *The Hit TV Series as seen on the Fox Kids network every Saturday morning! *Extensive Print/Online Advertising! (Gamepro, Sci-Fi, Inquest, Wizard, Animerica) *"An Amazing Show!"-Animerica *Created by Shoji Kawamori (Macross Plus, Blue Submarine No. 6) *Written by Shoji Kawamori and Hajime Yadate (Gundam Wing) * Breathtaking 2D/3D CG Animation.

Customer Reviews:

"A pain that is deeper than the shadows".......2003-04-15

One of the things I will probably mention in several of my reviews of this series is that it is really a 'series,' not just a string of episodes with a dramatic ending. Themes and characters are developed over time, story arcs weave together, and each episode builds on the previous. With the kind of production effort that has gone into Escaflowne, success is a forgone conclusion. Not just success, but the kind of richness that makes for greatness.

When Van turns Escaflowne into a dragon and leads off Allen and Hitomi's pursuers it puts him face to face with his brother Folken, who failed the Fanelian test for kingship and fled to the Zaibach Empire. We discover that, as unappetizing as Folken's agenda is, it springs from honorable motives. This dichotomy between to forms of duty will haunt this series, providing as it does the seeds of redemption.

Eventually the flurry of rescues and escapes leads everyone to Palas, the capital of Arturia. But, there is no peace there. The Asturian king is squirming in the grasp of Zaibach and quickly proves his own untrustworthiness. Hitomi discovers that Allen, whom she is falling in love with, has some kind of pre-existing relationship. While this is unclear, Hitomi's confusion over her feelings for a boy back on Earth, Allen and Van is completely apparent. Thus will fate, desire, and duty play repeatedly in these relationships.

Art, animation and music continue to be top grade. I was struck in this DVD with the fine work done to bring Escaflowne to life, reminiscent of Evangelion, but a notch better. The kind of choreography used isn't just a delight to watch, it is expensive to use, underlying Kazuke Akane's commitment again. There is an interview with many of the lead voice stars that, amidst a lot of kidding around, reveals that Akane is not the only one who is determined to make something special of this series.

A wonderful continuation of a true anime epic........2002-12-05

With the first four episodes of "Escaflowne", "Dragons and Destiny" captured our imaginations and prepared us for what could possibly be a monumental anime series. The second DVD, "Betrayal and Trust", expands upon the first DVD in every way and yet still hints that there is much more to be explored along the way.

By now, Hitomi is pretty much a part of the turmoil going on in Gaea, whether she likes it or not. On the run with Allen and Van from the sinister Dilandau, her mysterious powers begin to grow and play a much larger role than with her simple Tarot card readings. And while Van has to contend with the fact that his long-lost brother Folken has betrayed his country, Hitomi tries to deal with her possible love of Allen, who already appears to have a lover in the form of Princess Millerna. And all the while, Dilandau schemes and acts rashly in his unstable and almost insane mood.

Like the previous four episodes, the next four episodes play out at a very reasonable pace. Things slow down enough for back story and characterization to take place, but the plot moves along somewhat faster than most other anime series. Thankfully, the overall effect is a finely balanced series that doesn't sacrifice one thing for the other. And considering there are still 18 episodes left in the series, one can only guess what extraordinary and imaginative ideas this series can come up with next.

Visually, "Escaflowne" is one of the better looking series on the market today. While colors may not be as sharp as many of the series that are coming out these days, the series still manages to hold up on its own with its unique art direction and wonderful character designs. And when the series wants to look good, it can look good. Definately something anime fans demanding quality eye-candy can enjoy.

Audio-wise, you know you can almost always expect greatness when Yoko Kanno does the soundtrack. With her eclectic and mastereful genius, she has crafted music that is a league of its own. From orchestral to choral and back again, she truly knows how to make a great anime series even greater.

As for the English dub (provided by the Oceans Group of "Gundam Wing" fame), this set of episodes reveals where the dub actually starts to get good. While the dubbing of the first set of episodes wasn't terrible, the voice actors failed to completely develop their characters and thus sounded stale at times. With "Betrayal and Trust", they finally manage to get into their roles, and by episode eight they sound emotional and vibrant. Sub fans may argue about certain choices of VAs for some characters, but dub fans and sub fans with an open mind should find the "Escaflowne" dub acceptable.

As for extras, the second DVD has a set of interviews of the four main Japanese voice actors. Any fan of "Escaflowne" would be insane to pass this up, but be forewarned. These interviews contain many spoilers (the DVD even gives a clear warning of this) so it would be best for newcomers especially to watch the entire series before even looking at this.

Overall, "Betrayal and Trust" in an excellent continuation of the first four series. The story is progressing nicely, characters are developing marvelously, and the dub is starting to sound more enthusiastic. Die-hard anime fans would be insane to pass up this epic, and even casual anime fans need to look into this show at least once. There is a reason, after all, why many people call this the "Saving Private Ryan" of anime.

A mystical adventure.......2002-03-27

This is a fun series to watch.
You kind of feel sorry for Hitomi, your sucked into a mystical land where people fight in giant suits of armor called Guymelefs and there's constant fighting and people are dying and theres animal people to.

It took me awhile to get this whole set. I would of prefered to get it as a box set, but still I really enjoyed this series.

My favourie character is Dilandau he's one bad guy totaly vicious he mows through guys on the battle battlefield just to get to Van his main anemy the only one he cares about fighting.

I really recomend this series for all to watch.

A Great Series!.......2002-03-20

A schoolgirl called Hitomi gets transported into another world, where the Earth and moon both hang in the sky. Hitomi soon finds out that the Earth is called "The Mystic Moon" on Gaea. She meets Van, who is a prince, and Merle, a half-cat/half human person.
Hitomi, Van, and Merle try to unravel the legendary power of Atlantis.
A great anime series!

Escaflowne rocks!.......2001-07-26

The first episode I saw of Escaflowne was episode 4 and my first impressions weren't too gr8 but my brother bought this DVD so I decieded to watch it anyway. After we watched the whole DVD I thought too myself "Hey this anime is pretty good after all" so it was this DVD got me into the Escaflowne series. Episode 5 is where Van finds out who his brother is, Episode 6 is when Hitomi meets Milerna and she believes that Allen and her are a couple until the next episode when we find out Milerna is getting married, but not to Allen. Hitomi thinks Allen is available until she is heartbroken from what she see's (it's sad that bit) and to make matters worse, Hitomi is sold off and Van rescues her but then Dilanduo appears, but Escaflowne changes into a dragon and flys them to safety. In episode 8 Hitomi wakes up from a strange dream and near the end of the episode, the angel in Hitomi's dream saves her from near death and so the DVD ends. My fave episode is probably 8 and I recommend this DVD to any1! Go buy it!

Average customer rating:

Still good but.....
Awsome
Be Careful What You Wish Forý
WHAAT???
Nearer the end of the story

Escaflowne - Forever & Ever (Vol. 8)
Starring: Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Jocelyne Loewen , and Andrew Francis
Director: Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Escaflowne - Light & Shadow (Vol. 7)
Escaflowne - Fate & Fortune (Vol. 6)
Escaflowne - Paradise & Pain (Vol. 5)
Escaflowne - Past and Present (V.4)
Escaflowne - Angels and Demons (V.3)

ASIN: B00005B1VW
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com

This popular "magical girl" series reaches its conclusion as the battle between the Alliance and the Zaibach Empire reaches a fever pitch that includes the deployment of deadly and unexplained new weapons. After a brief visit to Earth--where she's reunited with Amano, whom she nurtured a crush on 23 episodes ago--Hitomi returns to Gaea, despite her distaste for its wars. The story by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori takes some odd turns and leaves a number of plot points hanging. Its most serious flaw is the failure of any of the heroes to eliminate Dornkirk/Sir Isaac Newton, the evil emperor of Zaibach. Viewers have seen him launch unprovoked invasions, dispatch murderous dopplegängers, conduct sadistic psychological experiments on kidnapped children, and attempt to subjugate an entire planet: a more powerful resolution is needed than a chat about the nature of human desire with Hitomi. The attempt to fuse elements of the magical-girl, mecha, and sword-and-sorcery genres may have been too ambitious an undertaking for the filmmakers, or Dornkirk's real fate--and some of the other unanswered questions--may be dealt with in the Escaflowne feature. Rated 13 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Description

Wishing to get away from all of the fighting, Hitomi finds herself suddenly transported back to Earth on the very day that she originally left. She has one chance to get back to Gaea, but it will mean endangering her friends again. Meanwhile on Gaea, the war continues unabated as the Doomsday Weapon is deployed. But this means little to Dornkirk, who seems to be on the verge of achieving his goal. The fate of Gaea lies in a white dragon and the heart of a girl from Mystic Moon! DVD Highlights: DVD Interactive Menus, Dolby Digital Audio, English/Japanese audio tracks with English subtitle option, Extras - Club Escaflowne/Staff Interviews/Bonus Materials/Trailers. "An Amazing Show" - Animerica

Customer Reviews:

Still good but............2007-01-13

I loved the whole series, but I really have to take issue with the last couple of episodes. Who the heck were the Nuclear bomb people? Now I know that Japan has war issues, but where did those people come from? They weren't mentioned at all in the series until the last 6 episodes, but suddenly they appear, have uber weaponry and then try to take over. And I hate that.. it's a plot device for someone to say "War is Bad!!"... like we don't know that. There was no other reason for that to happen, save for the 'message' that the creators were trying to convey.

If these guys were mentioned earlier in the series, then fine I would agree with the inclusion at the end, but it seemed to me they were created just to bang us over the head with the 'message'.

A typically bad japanese ending to a great show (would it kill them to have some semblence of a happy ending, I guess I should be grateful that the main cast survived)

Awsome.......2004-12-06

The ending is awsome! I cried so hard when it was over. This is one of the most emotional volumes.

Be Careful What You Wish Forý.......2003-07-12

These are the last stanzas in what is one of the monuments of Japanese anime, a rich fantasy story as memorable as any other notable series. Hitomi, after fleeing Gaea back to earth finds that her experiences have left her with many unresolved feelings. When Van flies Escaflowne across the gap between the worlds to retrieve her she joins him, even though it is to return to the middle of an horrific war. Hitomi realizes that she can run no longer - that if Gaea is to heal, she must do her part.

By this DVD it is clear to the viewer that fate, and its changing, is the underlying theme of this series. Isaac Newton attempts to manipulate it so that the Zaibach Empire will rule the world, nearly repeating the mistake of the Atlantean forebearers of the Gaeans. Tarot cards reveal futures that seem inevitable. And the intertwining of the characters defies the rules of coincidence.

Into this apparent march to cataclysmic disaster and tragedy enters Hitomi, the most atypical of anime heroines. Thin and athletic rather than lush, cute rather than pretty, it is her inner nature rather than any physical ability that gives her the power to challenge the inevitable. Hitomi's special skill is the power to believe. And in doing so, she reveals that fate is far from ineluctable, that simply humans can change outcomes with their minds and hearts.

Hitomi's confusion about her feelings towards Van and Alan Schezar, her hatred of the continuous stream of violence that mars life on Gaea, and the struggle she has to accept what she can do make her a warm and accessible character to the viewer. This is true of all the protagonists of Escaflowne, making what would otherwise be a pompous fantasy concoction into a compelling, life affirming drama.

As endings go, this one starts a bit too slowly and ends too soon. I would have liked to see a stronger focus on the dynamics between Hitomi and Van as they realize their love for each other and must confront the roadblocks in their way. There is room for an entire additional episode, although the movie version of Escaflowne fills in much of this touching connection between two people separated by worlds. Even so, this is a fitting end to what has been a delightful series - one which I will always recommend without question.

WHAAT???.......2003-03-20

My wife and I started getting the Escaflowne DVD's on a whim after having seen the show on Fox Kids. We were blown away by how utterly fantastic and engaging the original version was - so much so that we anxiously awaited each installment (couldn't afford to get them all at once).

The animation and story of this series is easily the best I've ever seen -as engaging as the original Robotech and far surpassing it in intelligence and beauty. The characters are likable, the music is stirring, and the story highly compelling -

UNTIL-

What the heck happened in this last disc? Its like another writer took over. What was a wonderful story gets abruptly ended with some kitty girl pseudo lesbianism (which was kind've a downer considering we were watching the show with our kid and there'd been nothing like this in the entire series up until this point), and a tacked on nonsensical psychobabble ending (think: Akira).

We were VERY disappointed by the conclusion to this series, because the rest of it is HIGHLY recommended. Of course if you've been following the series this long, you've got to get this one too, but man what a let down. And don't bother with the movie either...ugh.

Nearer the end of the story.......2002-12-17

I was almost sad when I put this DVD in because I did not want the story to be over so soon. I was not disappointed in the ending. In these last episodes bonds grow stronger just as they are about to break. More amazing fights bring this story to the end. This series is amazing and is one I feel is quite rewatchable.

Amazon.com

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

Video description

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."

Customer Reviews:

It starts with a bang, but does it.......2007-05-30

Escaflowne is a fantasy story with all the soap opera components. The characters and their relationships are very dramatic and it is nice to see the different interactions between the good, bad and in between guys. However as any good anime, death is disregarded easily and characters you learn to love like Vargas and the Raja, die quickly, full of pride, and achieving nothing. I think the back stories are stronger than the real story.

One of my top favs.......2006-12-08

I agree that this series can appeal to any age. You'll fall in love with all of the characters, good and bad.

van and hitomi we miss you!.......2006-05-04

the anime is so great .i like to see van and hitomi again more happy this time.they really suffer before .

hitomi van we miss me!.......2006-05-04

i really hope to see hitomi and van again .hitomi can participate olympic 2006 and have new adventures with van.cool!

van and hitomi we miss you!.......2006-05-04

the anime is so great .i like to see van and hitomi again more happy this time.they really suffer before .

Average customer rating:

This is my armor
Different but Enjoyable
Do not be discouraged!
Good anime series gets a decent movie
My brush with Destiny

Escaflowne - The Movie
Starring: Maaya Sakamoto , Tomokazu Seki , Jôji Nakata , Mayumi Iizuka , and Minami Takayama
Director: Yoshiyuki Takei , and Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Escaflowne: Anime Legends Complete Collection
Escaflowne: The Perfect Collection
Escaflowne - The Series (Limited Edition Boxed Set)
Rune Soldier - Complete Collection
Blue Gender - The Complete Collection

ASIN: B000066IXU
Release Date: 2002-07-23

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

This is my armor.......2007-06-13

This anime movie based on the popular japanese cartoon series is one of the best. The armor is amazing and very different from most mechas seen in anime. I give this anime the tops in stars.

Different but Enjoyable.......2007-04-12

Do not be discouraged!.......2007-03-29

Good anime series gets a decent movie.......2007-03-26

My brush with Destiny.......2007-03-06

Escaflowne - The Movie (Anime Movie Classics)

Average customer rating:

Escaflowne - The Movie (Anime Movie Classics)
Starring: Maaya Sakamoto , Tomokazu Seki , Jôji Nakata , Mayumi Iizuka , and Minami Takayama
Director: Yoshiyuki Takei , and Kazuki Akane
Manufacturer: Bandai
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Escaflowne: Anime Legends Complete Collection
Howl's Moving Castle
Le Chevalier d'Eon - Psalm of Vengence (Vol. 1)
Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie - The Conqueror of Shamballa (Limited Edition)
Cowboy Bebop - The Perfect Sessions (Limited Edition Complete Series Boxed Set)

ASIN: B000KF0P1Y
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Description

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.

DVD:

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