Alrighty, this starts out introducing you to Hitomi, a not-so-average 15-year-old girl. She's on the track team, she's fast, she's got nice friends, and she's psychic. Whoo hoo! You see, Hitomi's got this pendant that swings in time with seconds (1 swing/sec). So when her track team captain, Amano - whom Hitomi has a crush on - offers to meet her at the track that night after school, she's all for it. Amano says he's going to time her using her pendant. Yukari, Hitomi's friend, comes with to the track. Yukari realizes Hitomi's feelings for Captain Amano, and she knows something about him that Hitomi doesn't. She wants to make sure Hitomi gets to talk to him.
While the timing is going on, something happens, and a warp-ish hole opens up. Out comes a land dragon! Hitomi and company don't know what to do! I mean, dragons don't actually exist, do they? Somehow, Hitomi is transported into another world, which she soon learns is called Gaea. From Gaea, she can see the Earth (which is referred to as the "Mystic Moon" there) and our moon. The poor girl soon meets up with Van, the king of a land called Fanelia; Allen Schezar, an awesome bishie swordsman from... uh... somewhere I can't remember; Merle, a catgirl who follows Lord Van around; Millerna, a princess of some land; Dryden, a playboy who knows how to use his brain to get money; and lots of others, most of an actual importance.
So you'd think this is enough trouble for Hitomi and her new company. But noooo0000ooOO. She HAD to arrive in a time of war breaking out between all lands in Gaea! She's the "key" to helping the warriors fight in their Guymelefs (large robots) with her psychic abilities. But is Hitomi doing anything for herself? Are her own wishes and desires obstacles that shouldn't be ignored? Who is behind all of the weird attacks? Why are allies turning against each other? Can you have the perfect destiny? Can you alter fate to your liking? Who are the people with the wings; where did the rest of them go? And of course, the eternal question - WHO WILL HITOMI END UP WITH?! Allen, Van, Amano... the choices, the choices.
Things to watch out for are: A bit o' swearing and blood, some heart-wrenching themes, a little religious reference, and a scene of Hitomi in her underwear. There are also implied scenes as well, but nothing is shown.
Storyline
5/5 Awesome. This proves you can still have a great fantasy plotline. Not everything had been done before!
Character Development
5/5 Great! I basically liked everyone.
Plot Depth
5/5 Very deep and meaningful, although absurd at times (can't say why in the review).
Music
5/5 Very cool!
Sexual Content
5/5 None, but implied scenes (talk of affairs and illegitimate children).
Nudity
5/5 A scene of Hitomi in her undeees.
Violence/Gore
3/5 Some blood here and there, and talk of murder often.
Animation
5/5 Very well done.
Profanity
4/5 A bit of swearing, but nothing serious.
Overall goodness
5/5 I highly recommend this to just about ANYONE! It's got comedy, drama, tragedy, sci-fi, action, violence, "tender" scenes, spirituality, fantasy, etc etc! The list goes on!
Totals: 47/50
Hitomi is not really an average school-girl. She's a bit 'o' a psychic. Not like those cheesy "psychic friends" or something. . . she's just got these VISIONS!!! Anyway, she's on the track team. Her friend Yukari and her are running and stuff and Hitomi gets knocked out. She wakes up in the infirmary with Captain Amano (he's so CUTE!!) standing over her. He makes sure she's okay. She tells him about her necklace, which swings at one revolution per second. Amano says later tonight, if she comes out to the track, he'll time her. Bring the necklace! She says okee-day!
Hitomi and Yukari are walking home, and Yukari is mad. (I know why!!) Anyway, she tells Hitomi that she [Hitomi] has to go see Amano right away from reasons. . . skip. . . laa! Anyway, she does. Amano times her. . . skippee dee. . . and suddenly, as Hitomi is running, a dragon crashes in front of her!! EEE! Or was it Van. . . can't remember. Anyway. Van and Hitomi eventually get transported to Van's world, where ours is teh "Mystic Moon." Hitomi was thrown into their world in a time of war, so they're on the move constantly. Van, being a very important official, has to travel far to an ally country. So off they go. They meet up with Allen Schezar, Millerna. . . uh. . . yeah. Anyway, lots of people and so much farther to go! I can't say much more without ruining the plot!! EEKY!
The important stuff is the intervention of fate, what Hitomi has to do with everyone's fate on Gaea (Van's world), how she can change it, what Emperor Dornkirk wants with her (from an enemy country! NOO!), and how love can just throw a wrench in EVERYONE'S plans! It's an excellent series; I recommend it to pretty much anyone! It's part shojo (the love story), shonen (all the awesome mechs and action battles!), fantasy (the world Gaea, dragons, magic, etc.), and sci-fi, comedy, drama, all that good stuff! Escaflowne has me hooked! (I know I'm cheesy, but hey, what does it matter? Escaflowne makes me happy!)
Storyline
5/5 Couldn't have been better!
Character Development
5/5 Great on everyone! I got a little confused on the countries, though. Eh. . . I'm just dumb.
Plot Depth
5/5 Very nice and deep, without being utterly confusing!
Music
5/5 The opening and ending songs are the coolest! (okay, not THE coolest, but they are pretty coo)
Sexual Content
5/5 There's some IMPLIED stuff, but nothing really serious.
Nudity
5/5 Nothing 'tall. (at all)
Violence/Gore
4/5 There was some blood and gore, etc. etc.
Animation
5/5 Very excellent!
Profanity
4/5 Just a bit here and there!
Overall goodness
5/5 Excellent! I can't wait for the movie!!
Totals: 48/50, very excellent!
TOTALS PUT TOGETHER: 47.5/50 We are buying this. And you should too. NOW! A warning - There is also a Best Collection, which is a "condensed" version. We haven't seen it. . . but we just don't think it'd be as good. . .
***We rented this on DVD, watched subtitled.***
| Title: | Vision of Escaflowne (for you addicts/pure-ees, Tenku no Escaflowne) | ||||||||||||||
| Original Creator: | Yashiro Yuzuru | ||||||||||||||
| Year: | 1996 | ||||||||||||||
| Licensed by: | Bandai | ||||||||||||||
| Length: | 646 minutes for the normal, 174 minutes for the Best Collection | ||||||||||||||
| Rating: (not professional) |
PG13 (some blood, a little swearing, a few mature-er situations)
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Number of Tapes:
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8 (there is also a Best Collection, all subbed, with three tapes)
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Price for individual tape:
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$19.98 for dubbed, $29.99 for subbed, $24.98 for Best Collection subbed
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Box Set? Price:
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$149.98 subbed, $67.98 for Best Collection
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Number of DVD's:
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8
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Price for individual DVD:
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$29.98
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Box Set? Price:
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$239.84
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Comments:
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Escaflowne is an awesome series that has most of its viewers hooked! Girls, magic, dragons, mechs, love, fate, divine intervention, etc. etc. All in all, an excellent series!! Go SEE NOW!!! EEEE!
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