Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Escaflowne TV Series Blu-ray Movie Review

The Vision of Escaflowne is one of the most acclaimed anime series ever produced. The anime series was created by Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori. Produced by Yumi Murase (Magical Project S, Tenchi in Tokyo) and Masahiko Minami (Cowboy Bebop, Fullmetal Alchemist), the series was first broadcast in Japan on the TV Tokyo network. The series animation is produced by studio Sunrise (Cowboy Bebop, Gundam Wing). Fans of fantasy mecha anime series will be thrilled with the ambitious production.

Hitomi Kanzaki (Maaya Sakamoto) is whisked away to planet Gaea. When a mysterious guy named Van Fanel (Tomokazu Seki) dukes it out with a dragon on her high school track field, Hitomi finds herself in new territory on a new planet away from Earth. The stage is set for war as Hitomi finds herself thrust directly into a conflict involving Gaea and the Zaibach Empire.

As the battle is waged, Escaflowne is a powerful mecha suit used by the king of Fanelia, Van. Hitomi also finds herself playing a key part in the battle and involving the giant Escaflowne mecha. With a magical pendant, Hitomi plays a bigger part in the epic saga than she ever could have imagined. Can Van and Hitomi save Gaea?

The series has outstanding action and adventure. There is a sense of excitement in the series and the manner in which the storytelling unfolds. The fantasy element is strong and will appeal to genre enthusiasts seeking a bold vision. These elements make the production all the more unique in animation. Ambitious, epic, and riveting.

The characters are central to the series of Escaflowne as well. Hitomi Kanzaki is a wonderful lead and she imbues the program with her charm and smarts. The Japanese language version is voiced by none other than Maaya Sakamoto, one of the most prolific and exemplary Japanese pop musicians. The role was a perfect fit for Sakamoto and she imbues the part with her own charm as a voice-actress. Van Fanel is a compelling action lead as well (and is expertly voiced by Tomokazu Seki). These characters and their voice-actors bring the series a strong foundation for the storytelling to build upon.

Escaflowne also benefits from stellar animation. The series features art direction by Junichi Azuma (City Hunter, Samurai Girls). The animators did exceptional work bringing together the series art style and its creative voice. The layout art is exquisitely detailed and the ambitious scope of the production is well realized. The animation showcases the action sequencing remarkably well.

The cinematography by Kazunobu Okeda (Ronin Warriors: Legend of the Inferno Armor, Mobile Fighter G Gundam) showcases the artistry of the animation beautifully. The visual language of the cinematography shines through. The use of light is delicate and well thought out.

The design efforts are commendable. The character designs by Nobuteru Yuki (Kids on the Slope, Record of Lodoss War) are distinct and creative. The characters fit the world of the fantasy series well and are seamlessly part of the production. The mecha designs by Mahiro Maeda, Koji Sugiura, Kimitoshi Yamane, and Junya Ishigaki are equally impressive and provide the giant robot action quotient that mecha anime fans expect.

The best element of The Vision of Escaflowne is the original score. The score composed by Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and Hajime Mizoguchi (Texhnolyze, Jin-Roh - The Wolf Brigade) is outstanding. Kanno is one of the most visionary composers in the industry (and Kanno’s music is superior to that of many composers working on blockbuster films in Hollywood). As someone who has listened to the original soundtracks for Escaflowne time and time again, the music is riveting and something that holds up remarkably well. Kanno is a creative genius and her work is truly brilliant in every respect.

Screenwriter Shoji Kawamori (Aquarion, Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell) handles the epic story and brings it to life. Kawamori explores the characters and the roles each character plays in the grand scheme of the story. The series is epic in scope and builds on a great concept. Kawamori has fun with the concept and the production is all the more engaging as a result.

Directed by Kazuki Akane (Escaflowne: The Movie, Ronin Warriors: Gaiden), The Vision of Escaflowne is a remarkably ambitious anime production. The scale of the production is enormous and there was a lot of effort put forth. Akane is a talented director and he handles the material expertly – providing the series with plenty of epic adventure. A classic anime.

Escaflowne TV Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Anime Limited, The Vision of Escaflowne is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The release has impressive picture-quality on the whole and fans of the series will be pleased with the results. A native high-definition presentation (from a scan of the film), the presentation is better as a result. The animation is crisp and colorful.

However, it is worth noting that the U.S. release has some DNR (digital noise reduction) and the U.K. presentation is closer to the original Japanese Blu-ray release (with all film grain left intact on the presentation). For viewers wanting the most faithful presentation (true to the source), stick with the Anime Limited release. (Please Note: the Anime Limited release is Region B "locked" and those who don't own a Region Free player should still consider the Funimation Entertainment release).

Escaflowne TV Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound, English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 stereo, and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The audio options are excellent. Each of the audio selections is provided in 24 bit high-resolution. The audio capably handles the original soundtrack – bringing vibrancy to the original score. Dialogue is crisp throughout. The soundstage is impressively dynamic. The audio handles the action-sequences well.

Escaflowne TV Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1:

Title-Free Opening (HD, 1:31)

Title-Free Endings (HD, 2:22)

Music Videos (SD, 13:05)

Video Game Cutscenes (HD, 7:36)

2000 Concert Footage (SD, 4:44)

Club Escaflowne Interviews:

Cast: Maaya Sakamoto, Ikue Ohtani, Joji Nakata (SD, 18:15)

Cast: Shinichiro Miki, Mayumi Iizuka, Minami Takayama (SD, 20:27)

Staff: Hirotoshi Sano, Hiroshi Ousaka, Kimitoshi Yamane (SD, 27:11)

Staff: Shoji Kawamori, Kazuki Akane (SD, 19:22)

Escaflowne TV Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One of the best anime series of all time, The Vision of Escaflowne is one of the medium's crowning achievements. The series is a beloved anime classic for a reason – it has great animation, storytelling, and characters. The original score composed by Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop) is a masterpiece as well. The score is haunting, epic, and beautiful.

The Blu-ray from Anime Limited features an outstanding presentation of the series with a top-notch encode. The video presentation is far superior to the stateside release, with a more faithful presentation (with organic film grain left intact on the video presentation). A must-own for series fans. Highly recommended.