Other Titles • Escaflowne the Movie: A Girl in Gaea • Escaflowne: The Movie
Synopses for Escaflowne (2000)
1.
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 The girl is Hitomi Kanzaki (voice by Kelly Sheridan), a withdrawn teenager who wishes she could just leave everything behind and vanish.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
(82 votes)
2.
Gaia - a mythical realm ruled by sword and sorcery and immersed in blood and violence. Thrust into a conflict she doesn't quite understand, Hitomi helps aid the young Prince Van as they embark upon their journey of discovery. The battle over a legendary suit of dragon armor, Escaflowne, has begun.
(67 votes)
3.
Imagine a story about gigantic fighting robots mixed with Teutonic chivalry, teenage angst, and tarot cards: that is the world of ESCAFLOWNE, a highly successful animated series that has been transformed into a stunning feature-length film. A more adult version of the animé, the film ESCAFLOWNE: A GIRL IN GAEA retells the events of the television series in a drastically different manner; no previous knowledge of the series is necessary. The story follows Hitomi, a dissatisfied teenager who is suddenly transported to Gaea. There, Van and his brother Folken fight for control of dragon armor, the most powerful mecha in the land; only one will emerge from the conflict alive. The motion-picture format is perfect for portraying the ethereal vistas of Gaea, floating airships, and the larger-than-life combat between the dragon armors. All of the series' main characters, plus a few new characters, make appearances, though the film's length forces the director to focus on Folken, Hitomi, and Van. Most of the personnel from the series worked on the film, including the popular composers Yoko Kanno and Hajime Mizoguchi, who deliver a beautiful, mystical score.
(70 votes)
4.
"Romantic, Riveting, and Handsomely Animated."- Seattle Times
Gaia - a mythical realm ruled by sword and sorcery and immersed in blood and violence. Thrust into a conflict she doesn't quite understand, Hitomi helps aid the young Prince Van as they embark upon their journey. The battle over a legendary suit of dragon armor, Escaflowne, has begun.
Hitomi Kanzaki is tired of life. Depressed and despondent, she wishes that she could just fade away, to make the pain of living stop hurting. Her pain resonates with another on the world of Gaea, and when her wish is granted, she finds herself in a strange land. She is greeted as the Wing Goddess, who possesses the power to summon the legendary Escaflowne. Hitomi's fate is interwined with the brash young warrior King Van, who also feels that life has lost its meaning. Sworn to strike back at the Black Dragon Clan which destroyed his kingdom, he fights to exist, and he exists to fight. The arrival of the Wing Goddess marks the final turning point in Van's battle, as she holds an entire world's destiny in her heart. By summoning Escaflowne, the Wing Goddess will choose the path of Gaea's future. But is her heart's desire salvation… or destruction?
Soundtrack Track Listing:
Yubiwa (The Ring) Movie Version (Vocal: Maaya Sakamoto) First Vision Colors Into GAEA Appearance of the Dragon Armor Horse Ride Gaia Sheep Regret Bird Song Sora (Vocal: Shanti Snyder) Alseides The Hurt Take My Hands Organ Pub What'cha Gonna Do??? Sora's Folktale (Vocal: Midori) Torushina Dance of Curse II Black Escaflowne Tree of Hearts We're Flying Who Will Save Final Vision Nomitori Song (Vocal: Adom Children) You're Not Alone (Vocal: Maaya Sakamoto, Shanti Snyder)
(68 votes)
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