The Vision of Escaflowne

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Vision of Escaflowne
Limited Edition DVD box set
天空のエスカフローネ
(Tenkū no Esukafurōne)
Genre
Created by
Manga
Written byShōji Kawamori
Illustrated by
Shōnen Ace
DemographicShōnen
Original runOctober 24, 1994 – November 26, 1997
Volumes8 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by
YTV
  • SEA: Animax Asia
  • UK: AnimeCentral
  • US: Fox Kids
    • Original run April 2, 1996 – September 24, 1996
    Episodes26 (List of episodes)
    Manga
    Messiah Knight: The Vision of Escaflowne
    Written byYuzuru Yashiro
    Published byKadokawa Shoten
    Magazine
    Asuka Fantasy DX
    DemographicShōjo
    Original runApril 18, 1996 – January 18, 1997
    Volumes2 (List of volumes)
    Light novel
    Written byYumiko Tsukamoto
    Illustrated byNobutoshi Yuuki
    Hirotoshi Sano
    Published byKadokawa Shoten
    MagazineNewtype
    Original runJune 1996 – August 1997
    Volumes6 (List of volumes)
    Manga
    Escaflowne: Energist's Memories
    Written byVarious
    Published byKadokawa Shoten
    DemographicShōjo
    PublishedJanuary 8, 1997
    Volumes1
    Anime film

    The Vision of Escaflowne (

    Bandai Entertainment. The series is currently licensed by Crunchyroll
    .

    The series follows a high school girl named Hitomi, who finds herself pulled from Earth to the planet Gaea when a boy named Van appears on the high school track while battling a dragon. In Gaea, she is caught in the middle of a war as the Zaibach Empire attempts to take over Gaea. Van (King of Fanelia), with aid from Allen (an Asturian Knight), commands his mystical

    mech
    Escaflowne in the struggle to stop the Zaibach Empire. Hitomi's fortune telling powers blossom in Gaea as she becomes the key to awakening Escaflowne and to stopping Zaibach's plans.

    While the anime series was in production, two very different

    drama CD
    have also been released in relation to the series.

    Plot

    Further information: List of The Vision of Escaflowne characters

    Gaea is an alternate dimension that was created from the combined wishes of the inhabitants of Atlantis when it started to sink into the ocean. On Gaea, Earth is known as the Mystic Moon. Gaea's size, mass, atmospheric composition, temperature belts, and even seasons are the same as Earth’s. The series focuses on Hitomi Kanzaki and her adventures after she is transported to the world of Gaea, a mysterious planet where she can see Earth and its moon in the sky. Hitomi's latent psychic powers are enhanced on Gaea and she quickly becomes embroiled in the conflicts between the Zaibach Empire led by Emperor Isaac Dornkirk and the several peaceful countries that surround it. The conflicts are brought about by the Zaibach Empire's quest to revive the legendary power from the ancient city of Atlantis. As the series progresses, many of the characters' pasts and motivations, as well as the history of Atlantis and the true nature of the planet Gaea, are revealed.

    Production

    Nobuteru Yuki was hired as the character designer, and tasked with crafting a design for Hitomi and the rest of the cast. He would later state that Hitomi was his favorite character because it was the first one he would ever designed completely from scratch rather than simply being adapted from an existing medium. Initially, Folken and Dilandau were a single enemy commander, but as the story was fleshed out, the creators felt the series would be more interesting if there were two with very different personalities.[1]

    Initially,

    tarot cards were added.[3][1] Akane also redesigned Hitomi, taking her from a curvy, air-headed, long-haired girl with glasses to a slim, athletic, short-haired and more intelligent and confident girl.[3][1] With the series character designs finalized and the story set, Yoko Kanno was selected to write the songs for the series, including the background songs which she co-wrote with her then-husband Hajime Mizoguchi, with whom she had previously collaborated on the soundtrack for Please Save My Earth.[3][1] Initially they found it difficult to score the series as the plot itself was still being reworked around the new concept, but the plot changes were finished in time for them to prepare the score and give the film the desired final "epic touch."[1] 16-year-old Maaya Sakamoto, fresh from a small role in the anime adaptation of Mizuiro Jidai, was selected not only as the voice of Hitomi, but also to sing the Escaflowne theme song. Kanno is noted as saying that Sakamoto is an ideal interpreter of her work. After this project, they continued to collaborate on many other works and some consider her work on The Vision of Escaflowne to be the launching point of Sakamoto's career.[3]

    It is said as the series entered into production, the budget required it be cut down to twenty-six episodes before work began on the final scripts and the animation.[1][4] However the director disputes this in a Panel Q&A for Funimation's Kickstarter, where he states the series was always supposed to be 26 episodes. This is clarified by Shoji Kawamori in the Special Edition Booklet for Escaflowne, in which he states the original pitch was 39 episodes in 1990, but this version never went into production, it was also radically different in concept and tone. The production really began in 1994 where the show solidified its fantasy aspects and the final format.,[5] In an interview during this time Kawamori had said he was unsure what form Escaflowne would take, but eventually it was set on a 26 episode TV anime.[6] In the retail Japanese video release, some of the extended scenes were restored to the first seven episodes.[4]

    Media

    Anime

    See also: List of The Vision of Escaflowne episodes

    The Vision of Escaflowne premiered in Japan on

    YTV acquired Fox's dubbed version of the series for broadcast. Following Fox's planned broadcast schedule, they premiered the series on September 11, 2000, with the second episode.[11] YTV aired all of the episodes Fox Kids dubbed, concluding with the series true first episode in February 2001.[12][13] Bandai began releasing the dubbed version to VHS in 2000, discontinuing the releases in February 2001 after only four volumes had been released.[14]

    Bandai later released the entire series, unedited and in the original episode order, to

    All 4.[19] As of November 2022, the series now streams on ITV Hub, along with its successor platform, ITVX.[20]

    Soundtracks

    Victor Entertainment. Escaflowne: Over the Sky was released on June 5, 1996, with sixteen tracks, including the series' full opening and ending themes.[7][21] The second CD, Escaflowne Original Soundtrack 2, was released on July 24, 1996, and contained an additional seventeen tracks.[7][22]

    Released on September 28, 1996, Escaflowne Original Soundtrack 3 contained an additional fifteen tracks.[7][23] The fourth CD soundtrack, The Vision of Escaflowne: Lovers Only, was released in on January 22, 1997, and contained twenty tracks, including the original TV length opening and ending themes and the ending theme used for the final episode of the series.[24] Despite the relative popularity of the soundtracks, they were not licensed for release outside Japan for some time and were only available by importing them. However, all 4 soundtracks can now be currently purchased digitally via iTunes.

    Manga

    Three alternate retellings of The Vision of Escaflowne have been released in

    Shōnen Ace magazine from Kadokawa Shoten. Despite the anime series itself being on hold, Sunrise gave artist Katsu Aki the existing production and character designs, resulting in the first series having the heavy manga feel and curvaceous Hitomi that was originally planned for the anime series.[3][1] Given free rein to change the story however he wanted, Aki's version is a violent saga focused primarily on fighting and has Hitomi transforming into a "curvaceous nymph" that is the power source of the mecha Escaflowne.[1] The series premiered in Shōnen Ace's first issue on October 24, 1994, and ran until November 26, 1997. The thirty-four chapters were collected and published by Kadokawa across eight tankōbon volumes.[1] It was licensed for released in North America by Tokyopop with the first volume released on July 8, 2003.[25] The Tokyopop English editions were also imported for distribution in Australia by Madman Entertainment
    .

    No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
    1 March 28, 1995[26]978-4-04-713104-0July 8, 2003[25]1-59182-366-8
    • "Vision 1: Of Dreams and Legends" (聖宝石パワー発現!!, Hijiri hōseki pawā hatsugen!!)
    • "Vision 2: Dilandau" (冷徹！ディランドー, Reitetsu! Dirandō)
    • "Vision 3: Battle in Asturia" (激突！古城基地の闘い!!, Gekitotsu kojō kichi no tatakai!!)
    • "Vision 4: Rah Drick, Demon of the Heavenly Mountains" (天上山脈の悪魔, Tenjō sanmyaku no akuma)
    2 November 28, 1995[27]978-4-04-713123-1September 9, 2003[28]1-59182-367-6
    • "Vision 5: Secrets of the Holy Spring" (聖なる湖の神話, Seinaru mizuumi no shinwa)
    • "Vision 6: Trial by Fire" (激闘！バァンVS炎の騎士!!, Gekitō！ Bān VS Hono no kishi!!)
    • "Vision 7: Familiar Faces" (奪われた紋章, Ubawareta monshō!)
    • "Vision 8: Single Passage" (たったひとつの突破口, Tatta hitotsu no toppakō)
    • "Vision 9: Zaibach Infiltration" (ザイバッハ侵入作戦, Zaibahha shinnyū sakusen)
    3 April 1, 1996[29]978-4-04-713137-8November 4, 2003[30]1-59182-368-4
    • "Vision 10: Conspiracy" (ゲルグラン元帥の陰謀!!, Geruguran gensui no inbō!!)
    • "Vision 11: Death to the Queen" (処刑!! エスカリーナ王妃, Shokei!! Esukarīna ōhi)
    • "Vision 12: Identity of the Flame" (炎の騎士の正体, Honō no kishi no shōtai)
    • "Vision 13: Emperor Dornkirk" (帝王ドルンカーク, Teiō Dorunkāku)
    • "Vision 14: The Forest of Deception" (まやかしの森の悲劇, Mayakashi no mori no higeki)
    4 July 29, 1996[31]978-4-04-713147-7January 6, 2004[32]1-59182-449-4
    • "Vision 15: Knights of Gold and Silver" (金の騎士・銀の騎士, Kin no kishi gin no kishi)
    • "Vision 16: Final Farewell" (最後のメッセージ, Saigo no messēji)
    • "Vision 17: A Desperate Prayer" (命がけの祈り！, Nochigake no inori!)
    • "Vision 18: Battle of the Mine" (第２採掘場の死闘!!, Dai 2 saikutsuba no shitō!!)
    5 November 27, 1996[33]978-4-04-713169-9March 2, 2004[34]1-59182-450-8
    • "Vision 19: Suicide Bombing" (脅威 !! ゾンギ自爆計画, Kyōi!! Zongi Jjibaku Keikaku)
    • "Vision 20: Millerna's Choice" (ラーナの真実, Rāna No Shinjitsu)
    • 'Vision 21: Renegade?!" (逆賊アレン!?, Gyakuzoku Aren!?)
    • "Vision 22: The Revolutionist's Army" (反帝国軍を探せ。, Han teikokugun o sagase.)
    6 April 25, 1997[35]978-4-04-713181-1May 11, 2004[36]1-59182-451-6
    • "Vision 23: Into the Storm" (豪雨の対決!!, Gōu no taiketsu!!)
    • "Vision 24: Riot in Freid" (動乱！フレイド公国!!, Dōran! Furei do kōkoku!!)
    • "Vision 25: The Legend of the Light" (光の神話, Hikari no shinwa)
    • "Vision 26: Vision of Fate" (運命のビジョン!!, Unmei no bijon!!)
    7 September 1, 1997[37]978-4-04-713195-8July 6, 2004[38]1-59182-452-4
    • "Vision 27: Espionage" (スパイ潜入, Supai Sen'nyū)
    • "Vision 28: Unto the Ark" (箱船が運びし者, Hakobune ga hakobishi mono)
    • "Vision 29: Abandoned Paradise" (棄てられた楽園, Sute rareta rakuen)
    • "Vision 30: The Demon Awakes" (目覚めた邪神!!, Mezameta jashin!!)
    • "Vision 31: Mystery of the Lost Empire" (消えた帝国の謎!!, Kieta teikoku no nazo!!)
    8 January 28, 1998[39]978-4-04-713208-5September 14, 2004[40]1-59182-453-2
    • "Vision 32: Invading the Ark" (「箱船」発動 !!, "Hakobune" hatsudō!!)
    • "Vision 33: Emergence of the First Commander" (第1指揮官出現!!, Dai 1 Shikikan Shutsugen!!)
    • "Final Vision: Dreams of a World" (星の見る夢, Hoshi no miru yume)

    In 1996, with the premiere of the anime series, Messiah Knight — The Vision of Escaflowne was created.

    Asuka Fantasy DX[1] from April 8, 1996, through January 18, 1997.[citation needed] Unlike the first manga, it focused more on the interaction of the characters and severely toned down the violence to the point that the mecha are not used for battle at all and Escaflowne only appears near the end of the series. It was abruptly canceled after only 10 chapters and the end of the anime, due to the slowing popularity of the series.[1] The individual chapters were released in two tankōbon volumes,[1]
    at which time the series was retitled Hitomi — The Vision of Escaflowne.

    No. Release date ISBN
    1 September 27, 1996[41]978-4-04-852739-2

    "Prologue" (プロローグ, Purorōgu)

    1. "The Price of the Wound" (傷の代償, Kizu no daishō)
    2. "White Demon" (白き魔人, Shiroki majin)
    3. "The Day When the Angel Dances" (天使の舞う日, Tenshi no mau hi)
    4. "The Smell of Battle" (戦いの匂い, Tatakai no nioi)
    5. "Storm Raider" (嵐の襲撃者, Arashi no shūgekisha)
    2 April 7, 1997[42]978-4-04-852799-6
    2. "Scarlet Demon Boy' (緋の魔少年, Hi no ma shōnen)
    3. "The Sprouting Bond' (芽生えた絆, Mebaeta kizuna)
    4. "Destiny Reunion' (運命の再会, Unmei no saikai)
    5. "Burning Earth' (灼熱の大地, Shakunetsu no daichi)
    6. "Eternal Feelings" (永遠の想い, Eien no omoi)
    'Epilogue' (エピローグ, Epirōgu)

    A final manga retelling, Escaflowne — Energist's Memories, was a collaborative effort of various

    manga artists
    around Japan to create 15 "mini-stories" related to the anime series. The single volume manga was published in January 1997 under Kadokawa's Asuka comics DX imprint. Artists who contributed to the volume include: Tammy Ohta, Yayoi Takeda, Kahiro Okuya, Daimoon Tennyo, Kazumi Takahashi, Masaki Sano, and Kyo Watanabe.

    Novels

    Yumiko Tsukamoto and

    Nobuteru Yuuki and Hirotoshi Sano. The individual chapters were collected and released in six individual volumes by Kadokawa
    under their "New Type Novels" label between June 1996 and August 1997.

    No. Release date ISBN
    1 June 19964-04-701603-9
    Volume title: Escaflowne
    Cover characters: Hitomi Kanzaki, Van Fanel, Allen Schezar, Susumu Amano
    2 August 19964-04-701604-7
    Volume title: The Dragon's Wanderings (竜の流離, Ryū no Sasurai)
    Cover characters: Van Fanel, Hitomi Kanzaki, Allen Schezar
    3 November 19964-04-701609-8
    Volume title: The Dragon's Training (竜の修練, Ryū no Shūren)
    Cover characters: Allen Schezar, The Doppelganger, Dilandau Albatou, Hitomi Kanzaki, Prince Chid
    4 April 19974-04-701610-1
    Volume title: The Dragon's Silence (竜の沈黙, Ryū no Chinmoku)
    Cover characters: Millerna Aston, Allen Schezar, Dryden Fassa, Van Fanel, Hitomi Kanzaki
    5 May 19974-04-701613-6
    Volume title: The Dragon's Preference (竜の愛憎, Ryū no Aizō)
    Cover characters: Eriya, Folken Fanel, Nariya, Van Fanel, Hitomi Kanzaki
    6 August 19974-04-701617-9
    Volume title: The Dragon's Eternity (竜の永遠, Ryū no Eien)
    Cover characters: Van Fanel, Hitomi Kanzaki, Escaflowne

    Anime film

    Main article: Escaflowne (film)

    Escaflowne (エスカフローネ, Esukafurōne) is an anime film released in Japan on June 24, 2000, that retells the story of the anime series. The film was produced by

    Studio BONES, and directed by Kazuki Akane. Featuring 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; in the film Hitomi changes from a cheerful girl in love to a depressed, suicidal schoolgirl who suffers from self-induced feelings of loneliness and alienation and Van is now a violent, hot-headed man.[43] In the film the world of Gaea has a more Asian design than the heavily European-influenced television series.[4]

    Other media

    Victor Entertainment released one

    drama CD for the series, Escaflowne Original Drama Album, which was released on December 18, 1996.[44] A video game based on the series, also titled The Vision of Escaflowne was released to the PlayStation system by Bandai Games in 1997. A limited edition version came packaged with a small collector's book and 26 tarot cards. The action-adventure game had an altered plot line and featured additional characters.[45]

    Reception

    Though well received, The Vision of Escaflowne was not as popular in Japan as producers hoped. Outside Japan, however, it was a worldwide hit.[1] In the United States, it outsold Gundam on video tape;[1] and the first volume of the English DVD release of The Vision of Escaflowne was the fourth best-selling anime DVD for the month of September 2000.[46] The series aired in South Korea where it enjoyed consistently high ratings.[1] Producers noted that it was the worldwide success that led to the eventual creation of the anime film, Escaflowne.[1]

    Egan Loo, writing for Animerica, considered it an "epic fantasy" with some of the "most dramatic music in any soundtrack, anime, or live-action", and a "breathless pacing" that result in its being an "acclaimed masterpiece."[1] The Anime Encyclopaedia calls it the "genuine family entertainment, both in and out of the anime world, and arguably the best TV anime of the 1990s".[4] It is called a "fantastically beautiful series, with striking production design" and an "incredibly well executed fusion of familiar anime genres and devices" by Anime Classics Zettai!.[47]

    References

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      .
    2. ^ "The Vision of Escaflowne". IMDb. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
    3. ^
      OCLC 50898281
      .
    4. ^
      OCLC 47255331
      .
    5. ^ ESCAFLOWNE THE MOVIE ULTIMATE 3-DISC EDITION-BOX Booklet
    6. ISBN 1569312206
      .
    7. ^ a b c d 天空のエスカフローネ. Bandai Channel (in Japanese). Bandai Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
    8. ^ "The Vision of Escaflowne Video Tapes". Escaflowne Compendium. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
    9. ISBN 978-1476665993
      .
    10. OCLC 27130932. Archived from the original
      on February 22, 2003.
    11. ^ "YTV Programming". Anime News Network. October 31, 2000. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
    12. ^ "YTV Finishes Vision of Escaflowne". Anime News Network. February 19, 2001. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
    13. ^ "YTV Broadcasts the first episode of Escaflowne". Anime News Network. February 27, 2001. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
    14. ^ "Edited Escaflowne Tapes Cancelled". Anime News Network. February 22, 2001. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
    15. ^ Beveridge, Chris (October 3, 2000). "Escaflowne Vol. #1 (of 8)". AnimeOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
    16. ^ "Escaflowne". AnimeOnDVD.com. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
    17. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 10, 2013). "Funimation Adds Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Outlaw Star, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
    18. ^ Ressler, Karen (February 27, 2016). "Exclusive: Funimation Launches Kickstarter to Dub Escaflowne TV Anime Director's Cut". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
    19. ^ "100 hours of Anime blast onto All 4". Anime UK News. October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
    20. ^ "Anime Now Streaming on ITV Hub". Anime UK News. November 9, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
    21. ^ "Escaflowne Soundtrack". CD Japan (in Japanese). Neowing. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
    22. ^ "Escaflowne Original Soundtrack 2". CD Japan. Neowing. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
    23. ^ 天空のエスカフローネ(3) (in Japanese). Retrieved February 10, 2008.
    24. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ The Vision of Escaflowne" (in Japanese). Retrieved February 10, 2008.
    25. ^ a b "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 1". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    26. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ１" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 1] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    27. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ２" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 2] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    28. ^ "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 2". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    29. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ３" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 3] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    30. ^ "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 3". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    31. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ４" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 4] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    32. ^ "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 4". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    33. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ５" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 5] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    34. ^ "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 5". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    35. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ６" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 6] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    36. ^ "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 6". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    37. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ７" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 7] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    38. ^ "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 7". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    39. ^ "天空のエスカフローネ８" [Escaflowne of the Heavens 8] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    40. ^ "Vision Of Escaflowne, The Volume 8". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
    41. ^ "Hitomi 天空のエスカフローネ１" [Hitomi: Escaflowne of the Heavens 1] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
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    45. Namco Bandai Games
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    46. OCLC 27130932
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    47. OCLC 124985401
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    External links

    Wikiquote has quotations related to The Vision of Escaflowne.
    Preceded by
    Sorcerer Hunters
    (10/3/1995 – 3/26/1996)
    		 TV Tokyo Tuesday 18:00 Timeframe
    The Vision of Escaflowne
    (April 2, 1996 – September 24, 1996)     		Succeeded by
    Saber Marionette J
    (10/1/1996 – 3/25/1997)
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Vision_of_Escaflowne&oldid=1218047559"