Rating: 
Summary: An absolutely wonderful series
Review: My first introduction to Escaflowne was the FOX kids version, thanks to a fellow anime lover. After watching an episode of this magnificent series you can not help but become hooked. After FOX kids had cancelled the series I obtained a set of tapes and the first DVD, it is amazing how much had been cut out. I highly recommend this series to anyone, the people I've introduced have all loved the series but how could one blame them. Escaflowne is the tale of Hitomi Kanzaki an ordinary high school student swept away in an extrodinary adventure on a place called Gaea where the Earth and the Moon hang in the sky.(Couldn't help but borrow that line) It's amazing to watch the story develop with many twist and the confusion of Hitomi trying to sort out her own feelings (I leave it there before I spoil something. The music in this series is also wonderful, I could listen to it all day. All in all I have to say that this series is a must see for any fan of anime or anyone just being introduced to anime. Now to get down to just this DVD, I love how you can change the languages and add subtiles. Personally I prefer the DVD to the tape because I love listening to the different voice actors, in my opinion the Japanese voice actors are better but some people don't like dealing with subtitles like my brother for example. Also the music videos on the DVD are a big bonus, the songs are wonderful and nice to listen to. This DVD is a MUST BUY for any Esca fan or anyone interested in the series.
Rating:
Summary: The best anime ever begins
Review: Escaflowne is without a doubt the best anime ever. It includes romance, action, mystery, intrigue, great animation, fascinating music and more all into one to make a great show. These first 4 episodes start up this wonderful show.
1: Fateful Confession
Hitomi Kanzaki is a normal girl, on the track team, whos in love with the senior on the team, Amano. When Hitomi hears he's moving, she gets him to agree to give her her first kiss if she can run a lap in 13 seconds. However, during her run a mysterious light appears, transporting a stange boy and a dragon there. After the Dragon is defeated, Hitomi and the boy, named Van are somehow transported to the land of Gaea.
2: The Girl From the Mystic Moon
Hitomi is now in the land of Gaea, where she finds that Van is actually the King of the nation of Fanelia. However, during his coronation invisible giants attack the city and burn it to the ground. Van get's in Fanelia's ancient Guymelef, called Escaflowne so he can fight back.
3: The Gallant Swordsman
Stranded in the woods, Hitomi is rescued by a knight who looks exactly like Amano. He introduces himself as Allen Schezar and brings him to a nearby fort in the country of Asturia. Meanwhile, we meet Dilandau and Folken, from the nation of Zaibach, the country that sent the invisible Guymelefs that destroyed Fanelia. What kind of plans do they have for capturing Van and Escaflowne?
4: The Diabolical Adonis
Hitomi has a strange vision of the fort being attacked by the Zaibach Guymelefs. Few believe her, but her vision comes true. Everyone attempts to flee the fort on the Crusade, Allen's flying ship. However, when the Zaibach Guymelefs led by Dilandau chase after them, Escaflowne transforms into a flying Dragon and sacrifices himself so the others can escape.
Rating:
Summary: Is It in the Cards?
Review: As is normal for me, I always watch the wrong part of a series first. In the case of Escaflowne, I saw the movie, and that convinced me that I wanted to see the original TV series. Since that meant laying my hands (and eyes and ears) on an eight DVD series, I've been slow to carry out that commitment. Not that there is anything wrong with the film. In fact, I thought it was remarkable, visually, musically, and dramatically. Moreover, the director made a careful effort to point out the film is an alternative story line, not a recap of the original. But still, what a difference!The first thing that strikes you (no matter which version you see first) is the comparative youth of the characters in the TV series, and, more important, the comparative slowness of development in the series. This is for the good. Already I have a better idea of who Hitomi Kanzaki, the beautiful young runner, really is. And a more meaningful sense of the mysterious world of Gaea where both dragons and giant robots are real, and our Earth is called the Mystic Moon. When Hitomi is snatched from the earth in mid-race by the dragon-hunting Prince Van, she is barely in time to watch the destruction of his kingdom at the hands of Van's fallen brother, Prince Folken. Assisted by the insane Dilandau, Folken now serves at the head of the expeditionary forces of the Zaibach Empire. His instructions from Emperor Dornkirk are to seek out and destroy a mysterious dragon that threatens the future of his overlord. And the nature of the dragon is hidden within the magical suit of armor called Escaflowne. The war spreads from Van's homeland to the castle of Knight Allen Schezar in Asturia. Leaving a trail of fire and destruction behind it. Hitomi's role is still unclear, although she is already showing considerable sensitivity as a Tarot card reader. Romantic complications ensue, than the viewer will quickly realize that this is more than a skeletal plot to enable a lot of action. Whatever the future holds, this first DVD proves a magnetic introduction to the series. Stylistically, this is a no holds barred production. Fin graphics and animation by a noted production staff, and a musical team led by Yoko Kanno (also noted for Cowboy Bebop, among other things). Plot and dialog show complexity much like Evangelion. In fact the two series have a lot of quality in common, although they are much different in all other ways. As US audiences have become more aware of anime, Escaflowne's stature has steadily risen. It is a shame that it is almost impossible to find the individual DVD's but the complete set is well worth it, despite the cost.
Rating:
Summary: Worthy of 5 Stars
Review: After waiting for quite some time (a good couple of years), fans of Escaflowne (myself included) were treated to a wonderful little morsel: the release by Bandai of the first DVD of The Vision Escaflowne. The story, covered very well by previous review authors, is definitely everything that those previous authors have raved about and more. Escaflowne is one for kids, adults, boys and girls alike. The story has enough twists and turns for adults to have a good time, but is easy enough for kids to follow as well. There's a little bit of blood spilled in the first episode, but other than that, kids will have a fun time following the adventures of Hitomi, Van and the gang. There's mecha and sword fighting for the guys and a dash of romance for the girls. Escaflowne is definitely an anime title you can share with the family. Bandai did a relatively good job with the first volume of Escaflowne, with a pretty good transfer (a few rainbows here and there, especially in the hair), a very nicely done menu system, and some good extras. The music videos I definitely enjoyed, but for those of you out there that haven't watched the series, BEWARE! A lot of important spoiler scenes appear in the videos, so a good suggestion would be to watch the entire series before watching the Music Videos. For those of you adventurous enough to sing along, romanji can be shown instead of the english subtitles. The one thing I noticed when I watched this DVD again was that a few scenes cut from the TV series, but added in the Japanese LaserDisc version, were not included in the transfer. Although these scenes were miniscule and really unimportant, it would have been a nice little thing for Esca-heads (who bought fansubs that did have these little scenes). My last gripe was that perhaps a few more extras could have been added to this DVD; a character guide or an art gallery might have been nice. But, even without a billion extras, the fact remains that the first DVD for Escaflowne is definitely one to buy, for Escaflowne fans and non-fans alike.
Rating:
Summary: The first few chapters of the greatest animated tale ever.
Review: A friend of mine recommended Escaflowne to me several years ago, and it was the best thing she ever did for me. Escaflowne is the greatest anime I have ever watched. It has something for just about everyone. Lots of swordfights, lots of mecha, lots of romance, and a strong female lead. All the characters are incredibly real and believable. There's also a beautifully written story, incredible animation and breathtaking music. This DVD contains 4 episodes (your choice of English or Japanese voice acting) and has some bonus music videos of some of the songs in the series. At the beginning of the series, you will be confused about a lot of things. As the series progresses, things that didn't make sense early on are brought back and everything falls into place. Be warned that this series is spread across 8 DVDs, which can put a strain on your pocketbook. Trust me, if you buy this DVD, you will want to watch the series to the end.
Rating:
Summary: an epic anime for all ages
Review: Just wanted to share my thoughts on (Vision of) Escaflowne. It is an absolutely stunning anime for all ages to enjoy. First, a comment to "Rabid Rabbit"...the FOX broadcasts of Esca are edited quite a bit for reasons of time constraints as well as content (war violence and mild language). My point to the "Rabbit" is you will NOT be disappointed with the uncut/unedited DVD...you'll see Esca totally intact and should be a profound anime experience for you. Now, on with my thoughts...I think it's cool to have the edited version available on VHS to ease concerned parents minds. However, your kids need to eventually watch Esca as it was meant to be seen...filled with danger, romance, drama and interesting character development, Esca is one of the most compelling TV shows (live action or animated) I have seen...period. The music is one of the coolest elements of Esca (though the music is rather sloppily edited on the edited version, the unedited version is absolutely glorious! ) I have read neat Internet articles about entire families (not just in Japan, here in the US, too) watching this anime and are so entertained by it. I think all ages can appreciate this stunning work of art for all the reasons I just described. Hard core anime fans like myself will appreciate the unedited VHS/DVD. Young kids should appreciate the edited VHS...as they grow up, please don't let them miss out on the real (unedited) Vision of Escaflowne as it was meant to be seen. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun anime, well done; but, I liked the movie better!
Review: Hitomi is an active, perky high school student who likes to practice fortune telling. One evening, she gets more magic than she bargined for when a young man mysteriously appears infront of her on the school track, followed by a monstrous (and very well drawn and animated) dragon. The young man fights the beast to the death, then removes its glowing heart. Before Hitomi can gather her witts, she and the boy get teleported to another world: Gaea, a sort of alter Earth with a more magical atmosphere. That's the run-down of the first episode. It's a little hurried, but the later episodes on this DVD serve as a good introduction to the characters. As with most animes, the show gets better over time. Overall, ESCAFLOWNE is a fun, well-animated, highly enjoyable anime series about the adventures of school-girl Hitomi, warrior-king Van (the young man who slays the dragon in the first episode), and a host of other colorful, well-fleshed out characters in a fantasy world full of huge mechas, dragons, and more. The focus of the show is Van's quest to regain his kingdom, which was more or less pulled out from under his feet by invading forces. Hitomi is the key to Van's return to the throne, which is explained as the show progresses. Underlying this story is the fate of Gaea itself, in which Van, his mecha Escaflowne, and Hitomi play important roles (though they don't realize that at first). In a nutshell: visual quality: excellent. The soundtrack is pleasing and the voice actors do an good job. I enjoy the English dub as much as the Japanese version (many of the voice actors for this show did work on MONSTER RANCHER, another great anime series). That said, I like the movie version of ESCAFLOWNE more than the show. The film is more mature and the character designs are better, in terms of both their roles in the film's story as well as physical appearances. Hitomi, Van, and the rest of the gang look slightly older in the movie and are more realisticly drawn with less cartoonish, chibi-style looks. The series is less dark and lacks the brooding, confrontational atmosphere that the film captured. Finally, the soundtrack for the television series, while it is good, can not compare to the film's soundtrack. Still, I highly recommend the series to hard-core anime collectors.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Anime!!!
Review: I really liked this anime. It was intense, and didn't have the main charecter(Hitomi) rushing off to save the world, as like in other animes. It kept my attention(extra kudos!) all the way through. All in all, excellent choice.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful beginning to one of anime's true epics.
Review: Considered by many to be the "Saving Private Ryan" of anime, "Escaflowne" is a true epic of the anime genre. Filled with action, drama, romance, and mystery, the series has left an undistinguishable mark in the minds of everyone who enjoys a breathtaking story not limited by the American stereotypes of animation. And considering the series consists of 26 episodes, it's amazing that the story moves forward from the get go, as seen in the first "Escaflowne" DVD, "Dragons and Destiny". Hitomi is a regular high school girl with pretty normal life: she has friends, a spot on the school track team, and a crush on the track superstar Amano. So what if she has a sixth sense of some kind or the ability to read Tarot Cards with amazing accuracy? She's about to tell Amano how she feels and earn from him her first kiss. But when her plans are interrupted by the arrival of a young prince called Van and a fire-breathing Earth Dragon, everything falls apart and Hitomi soon finds herself stranded with this Van on a bizarre world called Gaea, where the Earth and Moon hang in the sky. Now she wishes to find a way home while facing the political turmoil that plagues Gaea. The story of "Escaflowne" plays at a perfect pace: it gives you enough information to make the story interesting and doesn't bog down everything with unnecessary exposition. The action, while often not the main focus of the story, is intense and hard-hitting; several scenes of blood warrant the series' 13UP rating. But what really bring the story together are the character interactions. Although several scenes do move by rather quickly, character relationships are well established and undeniable, even in the first four episodes. And considering there are 22 episodes left to go, it'll be interesting to see how these relationships develop over time as the series' intriguing story plays out. Visually, "Escaflowne" is a marvel to look at. While the series may not possess the intense, beautiful art direction found in series like "Cowboy Bebop" and "X: TV", "Escaflowne" obviously possesses the artistic flair to set it apart from all other series before it. Character models, while reminiscent of anime such as "Macross Plus" (the series creator actually worked on both that series and "Escaflowne"), manage to give the series the uniqueness it needs to distinguish itself from other fantasy series such as "Record of Lodoss War". And the world of Gaea is, to say the least, a work of art. Everything, from forests to cities, was obviously given the tender care the series deserves. Sound wise, international music genius Yoko Kanno ("Cowboy Bebop", "Macross Plus") provides an excellent score with her eclectic talents and abilities. Her music is so powerful and moving that some scenes cannot be complete without her beautiful melodies to back them up. Regarding the dub, many people have condemned the English track as being horrible and unacceptable. However, after watching the dub first and then the sub, I can say I actually enjoy the dub. Yes, the English voices cannot hold a candle to the Japanese voices, but the dub is not as terrible as many people say it is and it will satisfy most people who cannot stand "reading anime" with subs. Overall, "Dragons and Destiny" is a perfect start to one of the most prolific series in anime. Everything about this anime is as close to perfection as humanly possible and it deserves a spot in every serious anime collector's collection. If you were introduced to "Escaflowne" through the horribly butchered Fox Kids version, then you'll be pleasantly surprised with what this series truly has to offer. If you're looking for a series that can satisfy fans of virtually any mainstream genre, then "Escaflowne" is the series that demands to be seen.
Rating:
Summary: You cannot live without this VHS
Review: This is the best series I have seen in all my life. If you have ANYTHING bad to say about Escaflowne,... Second, don't get the cut version. Dubbed keeps out the "harsh" words but if you get it cut, you miss sooo much and won't get A LOT of the emotional conflicts. It messes up the episodes too. Anyways, this movie is an amazing start to the best series you'll ever see. It's worth every penny. Hitomi discovers a different world, and her own powers and there's Van(I luv this guy) It's filled with adventure, action, the real reality of emotional conflicts, fantasy, a beautiful world, and more. These characters are so REAL that you are drawn in instantly. The fight scenes and gymelefs are awesome. And the swords! If your a romance/action/fantasy/in-your-face-it's-so-real than this is deffinetly for you. Heck, it's for everybody. I have NEVER heard a negitive comment on the 'flowne... It's sooo worth it... It always keeps you on your toes, and there's so many twists you can't even guess the end of that episode. It's plot is little complicated(not that that's a bad thing) There are no words to discribe the joy of seeing this movie.
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