Escaflowne the Movie-Anime Movie Classics (2000)

"Plenty of dramatic action, stunning imagery...  Loren King, Chicago Tribune
"Beautifully animated epic is never dull.  Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide

Editor's Note 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.

	Joji Nakata - Voice Of
	Kazuki Akane - Director
	Kazuki Sekine - Writer
	Kazunori Okeda - Cinematographer
	Maaya Sakamoto - Voice Of
	Masahiko Minami, et. al. - Producer
	Minami Takayama - Voice Of
	Tomokazu Seki - Voice Of
	Yoko Kanno, et. al. - Original Music By

"Just fade away."----Thought that keeps reoccuring to Hitomi

The Onion A.V. Club 7 of 10
Escaflowne is richly animated in glorious kinetic detail, packed with broad swaths of color and dark, vividly realized fantasyscapes. It's worth seeing for the animation alone, particularly on the large screen. But while Escaflowne shares its predecessor's beautiful surfaces as well as a bit of its hidden depths, it still lacks the breadth that came from a script equal to the director's talents, and from the singularity of a unique vision. - Tasha Robinson