Escaflowne (film)
Encyclopedia
is an anime
film produced by Sunrise and animated by Studio BONES. Directed by Kazuki Akane
, the film is a re-telling of the twenty-six episode anime television series The Vision of Escaflowne
. While the plot of the film has some similar elements to the original television series, the characters differ in varying degrees from the television counterparts, with many completely redesigned and bearing little resemblance to the originals. The world of Gaea has a more Asian design than the heavily European influenced television series.
The film is licensed for Region 1 release by Bandai Entertainment, which gave the film a theatrical release on January 25, 2002. A CD soundtrack
and two drama CDs have also been released in Japan by Victor Entertainment
in relation to the series.
series. With character re-designs by Nobuteru Yūki
, the film focuses on the relationship between Van and Hitomi and their personal issues. The characters themselves are also given different personalities, with the film Hitomi changing from a cheerful girl in love to a depressed, suicidal schoolgirl who is suffering from self-induced feelings of loneliness and alienation. Van is also depicted as being more lonely and emotionally reserved, as well as being far more aggressive and willing to slay any perceived enemies than his more pacifistic series counterpart.
Although the Vision of Escaflowne series had been produced by Sunrise, the animation for the film was handled primarily by Studio BONES, a company founded by a number of ex-Sunrise staff. It was the first BONES feature film production. Studio co-founder Hiroshi Ōsaka
and character designer Nobuteru Yūki split the animation director duties, with Ōsaka heading up production at BONES. Some of the film's action sequences were assigned to the studio's animators as talent showcases, notably including Yutaka Nakamura (who animated nearly a minute and a half of the opening sword fight without assistance).
The soundtrack was, as with the Vision of Escaflowne series, composed mostly by Yoko Kanno
in collaboration with Hajime Mizoguchi
.
programming block Adult Swim
, after airing on [adult swim] on demand.
Bandai Visual
released the movie to DVD in a two-disc limited edition set on April 25, 2001. Packed in a limited edition art box, the release included a 36 page booklet on history of the film, as well as on-disc interviews with staff and cast and the theatrical trailers and television commercials. The film was released to Blu-ray
disc on January 28, 2008.
Licensed by Bandai Entertainment, Escaflowne was first released to Region 1 DVD
on July 23, 2002, in "Standard" and "Ultimate" editions. The Ultimate Edition included premium packaging, the CD soundtrack, an exclusive Maaya Sakamoto
music video, interviews from the theatrical premiere events, and interviews with the staff and cast. On September 13, 2005, the film was re-released as part of Bandai's "Anime Legends" line, including many of the extras from the Ultimate Edition, including the CD soundtrack and interviews. The film was given another re-release on February 6, 2007 under Bandai's "Anime Movie Classics" label. Unlike the "Anime Legends" release, this version uses the same cover art and CD as the original standard DVD release. Bandai Entertainment also included the Ultimate Edition release of the movie in its 2004 "Perfect Collection" DVD set of the original Vision of Escaflowne anime series.
and Hajime Mizoguchi
composed and produced the movie's musical themes and backgrounds. Vocal performers include Maaya Sakamoto
, Shanti Snyder
, Midori
, Children of Adom — Vocals and the Warsaw Chorus.
In North America, the soundtrack was released with the Ultimate Edition Region 1 DVD release on July 23, 2002 and with the "Anime Legends" re-release on September 13, 2005. The CD has not, however, been given an individual release.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
film produced by Sunrise and animated by Studio BONES. Directed by Kazuki Akane
Kazuki Akane
is a Japanese director of Japanese animation. Until the early 2000s, he was a staff member of the anime studio Sunrise, where he collaborated with Shoji Kawamori to direct his most famous work, The Vision of Escaflowne...
, the film is a re-telling of the twenty-six episode anime television series The Vision of Escaflowne
The Vision of Escaflowne
is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise Studios and directed by Kazuki Akane. It premiered in Japan on April 2, 1996 on TV Tokyo, with the final episode airing on September 24, 1996. Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax also aired the series, both in Japan and on its...
. While the plot of the film has some similar elements to the original television series, the characters differ in varying degrees from the television counterparts, with many completely redesigned and bearing little resemblance to the originals. The world of Gaea has a more Asian design than the heavily European influenced television series.
The film is licensed for Region 1 release by Bandai Entertainment, which gave the film a theatrical release on January 25, 2002. A CD soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
and two drama CDs have also been released in Japan by Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
in relation to the series.
Plot
Hitomi Kanzaki is plagued by sleepiness and experiences very unusual and strange dreams. She is depressed and wants nothing more than to disappear. After leaving her only friend, she is suddenly transported, while inside the Dragon Armour, to a new and mysterious world, Gaea. Once there she is declared the "Winged Goddess", but is confused and can't understand anything. After a while she discovers there is a battle for the Black Dragons dynasty between Prince Van and his brother Lord Folken. A battle in which she is called to play an important role.Production
Escaflowne varies greatly from the original The Vision of EscaflowneThe Vision of Escaflowne
is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise Studios and directed by Kazuki Akane. It premiered in Japan on April 2, 1996 on TV Tokyo, with the final episode airing on September 24, 1996. Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax also aired the series, both in Japan and on its...
series. With character re-designs by Nobuteru Yūki
Nobuteru Yuki
is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, and animator. He began as a doujinshi artist under the nom de plume The Man in the High Castle and Yubic , both references to the works of American science fiction author Philip K. Dick...
, the film focuses on the relationship between Van and Hitomi and their personal issues. The characters themselves are also given different personalities, with the film Hitomi changing from a cheerful girl in love to a depressed, suicidal schoolgirl who is suffering from self-induced feelings of loneliness and alienation. Van is also depicted as being more lonely and emotionally reserved, as well as being far more aggressive and willing to slay any perceived enemies than his more pacifistic series counterpart.
Although the Vision of Escaflowne series had been produced by Sunrise, the animation for the film was handled primarily by Studio BONES, a company founded by a number of ex-Sunrise staff. It was the first BONES feature film production. Studio co-founder Hiroshi Ōsaka
Hiroshi Osaka
was a Japanese animator, character designer and illustrator, born in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture. He was a graduate of the Kyoto Saga University of Arts...
and character designer Nobuteru Yūki split the animation director duties, with Ōsaka heading up production at BONES. Some of the film's action sequences were assigned to the studio's animators as talent showcases, notably including Yutaka Nakamura (who animated nearly a minute and a half of the opening sword fight without assistance).
The soundtrack was, as with the Vision of Escaflowne series, composed mostly by Yoko Kanno
Yoko Kanno
is a composer, arranger and musician best known for her work on the soundtracks for many games, anime films, TV series, live-action movies, and advertisements...
in collaboration with Hajime Mizoguchi
Hajime Mizoguchi
is a cellist and composer.Mizoguchi started playing piano in 1963, at the age of 3, and the cello in 1971. From 1978–1985 he attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music where he majored in violoncello...
.
Media
The first European presentation was on January 19, 2001, during the Future Film Festival in Bologna (Italy). The North American theatrical premiere was on January 25, 2002, in select cities, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Vancouver. The North American television premiere was September 10, 2005, on the Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
programming block Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
, after airing on [adult swim] on demand.
Bandai Visual
Bandai Visual
, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...
released the movie to DVD in a two-disc limited edition set on April 25, 2001. Packed in a limited edition art box, the release included a 36 page booklet on history of the film, as well as on-disc interviews with staff and cast and the theatrical trailers and television commercials. The film was released to Blu-ray
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
disc on January 28, 2008.
Licensed by Bandai Entertainment, Escaflowne was first released to Region 1 DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on July 23, 2002, in "Standard" and "Ultimate" editions. The Ultimate Edition included premium packaging, the CD soundtrack, an exclusive Maaya Sakamoto
Maaya Sakamoto
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress, and voice actress. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1992 as the voice of Chifuru in the anime series Little Twins, but is more well known for her role as Hitomi Kanzaki in the hit anime series The Vision of Escaflowne...
music video, interviews from the theatrical premiere events, and interviews with the staff and cast. On September 13, 2005, the film was re-released as part of Bandai's "Anime Legends" line, including many of the extras from the Ultimate Edition, including the CD soundtrack and interviews. The film was given another re-release on February 6, 2007 under Bandai's "Anime Movie Classics" label. Unlike the "Anime Legends" release, this version uses the same cover art and CD as the original standard DVD release. Bandai Entertainment also included the Ultimate Edition release of the movie in its 2004 "Perfect Collection" DVD set of the original Vision of Escaflowne anime series.
Soundtrack
The Escaflowne OST was released on July 5, 2000 and contained a generous twenty-seven tracks, including the movie's full opening and ending themes. Yoko KannoYoko Kanno
is a composer, arranger and musician best known for her work on the soundtracks for many games, anime films, TV series, live-action movies, and advertisements...
and Hajime Mizoguchi
Hajime Mizoguchi
is a cellist and composer.Mizoguchi started playing piano in 1963, at the age of 3, and the cello in 1971. From 1978–1985 he attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music where he majored in violoncello...
composed and produced the movie's musical themes and backgrounds. Vocal performers include Maaya Sakamoto
Maaya Sakamoto
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress, and voice actress. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1992 as the voice of Chifuru in the anime series Little Twins, but is more well known for her role as Hitomi Kanzaki in the hit anime series The Vision of Escaflowne...
, Shanti Snyder
Shanti Snyder
Shanti is a half Japanese/French lyricist, singer, songwriter, and music TV host based in Japan. She performs with a few different formations in the Tokyo area in some of the best clubs and has also appeared with many top artists....
, Midori
Midori Goto
is a Japanese American violinist. She made her debut at the age of 11 in a last-minute change of programming during a concert highlighting young performers by the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. When she was 21, she formed the philanthropic group Midori and Friends to help bring music to...
, Children of Adom — Vocals and the Warsaw Chorus.
In North America, the soundtrack was released with the Ultimate Edition Region 1 DVD release on July 23, 2002 and with the "Anime Legends" re-release on September 13, 2005. The CD has not, however, been given an individual release.
Drama CDs
Victor Entertainment released two drama CDs for the movie. Escaflowne Prologue 1: Earth and Escaflowne Prologue 2: Gaea were both released on October 21, 2000 and originally broadcast as part of the Bunka Hoso radio show. Both drama CDs are out-of-print in Japan.External links
- Bandai Channel's official website for Escaflowne
- Escaflowne at MetaCriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...