Bordering between life and self-annihilation, Hitomi Kanzaki is tired of living. One day on her way home from school, she is transported to another land. A land called Gaia. Gaia has been ravaged by war and the world is in constant turmoil as Lord Folken, leader of the Zaibach empire aims to bring about the end of all things. Hitomi is believed to be the ancient Wing Goddess who has the power to summon the dragon Escaflowne which will carry out Gaia's destruction. The only thing standing between Folken and the Wing Goddess is Van Fanel, the young king of Fanelia. When faced with the full might of the Zaibach empire what hope does Van have in protecting Hitomi when he may not be able to protect himself?
Escaflowne: The Movie is an original story based off of the anime series of the same name. Since the movie is a stand alone story, it is very easy for long-time fans, as well as newcomers to get into. You don't need to be familiar with the characters or the world of Gaia in order to understand everything that goes on, but long-time fans will probably have a greater emotional return and appreciation of the liberties that were taken with the original series. However, subject matter here is something most audiences can appreciate. Themes such as family and honor are touched upon, as well as love, but not in a cliche sense of romance but rather, accepting others and sometimes doing what's right for yourself out of love for another person. It sounds somewhat inaccessible but only because few if any anime tackle themes of this nature in such a profound way.
There is a subplot revolving around the relationship between Van and Hitomi but not in the sense that they are star-crossed lovers. Our two main characters both have self-destructive tendencies and under normal circumstances, they would actually be dangerous toward one another. However, they exist in such a manner because due to their inability to form close bonds with others, they don't have the benefit of having someone in their lives who can show contrast. While Hitomi in the original series had many friends, in the movie even her closest friend feels like a stranger to her. This is also true of Van who had many friends and allies in the anime, but in the movie one of the characters goes so far as to state, "Lord Van fights alone. He's always alone." It is only after Van and Hitomi meet one another and witness each others self-destructive nature do the two of them find the motivation to change.
Escaflowne: The Movie is a lot darker than Escaflowne the series, so we don't get to see much of the "beauty" of Gaia this time around. The environments are a lot harsher, there is an abundance of dark shades, and the locations are a lot more industrial in nature. It's fascinating in many ways because while the movie and the anime take place in the same world, their respective settings are as different as night and day. If you're familiar with the series and were a big fan this actually might take you out of the movie, but that's ultimately a call made by your own aesthetics. Gaia and Earth (for the little time we're there) are all meticulously designed and the artists didn't skimp on the details. Escaflowne is revered in both Japan and America for having lush fantasy environments, and remarkable art and animation. This reviewer has been watching anime for twenty years and the only title that surpasses Escaflowne: The Movie in terms of visual quality is Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
One question you might be asking is how is the soundtrack? The soundtrack is composed by the legendary Yoko Kanno, with the ending theme performed by Maaya Sakamoto. In plain English: 'nough said.
When it comes to the voice acting I don't have much to say other than stellar. It was a very good idea on the part of the creators of Escaflowne to reassemble the original cast. Fans can expect the same quality of talent they're used to while newcomers don't have to worry about anyone phoning it in. The movie explores several social problems including colonialism and primogeniture. While the latter is of so-so importance in today's world, the former is still an issue as superpowers tend to prosper at the expense of weaker nations. While Escaflowne doesn't drive this point home, the Zaibach empire - with its industrial power and advanced weaponry - seems like it was modeled after the west, at least to this viewer.
If there is one moral lesson that Escaflowne does drive home it's enjoy the time you have with the one's you're with. Very rarely do we contemplate that a conversation we have with someone could be the last and you can't predict what's going to happen tomorrow. Throughout the movie we see Van and Hitomi form a uniquely powerful bond despite the fact that they come from two entirely different worlds. It eventually becomes clear that no matter how this ends they won't forget each other.
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| Three (3) Disc Ultimate Edition |
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