Kankakee Area Anime Association --> Reviews --> Escaflowne

Escaflowne

Format: TV Series
Length: 26 episodes x 25 Minutes
Genre: Fantasy/Mecha/Romance
Original Air Date: 1996
Creator: Yatate Hajime & Kawamori Shoji
Director: Akane Kazuki
Voice Talent:
Kanzaki Hitomi Sakamoto Maaya
Van Fanel Seki Tomokazu
Allen Schezar/Amano Susumu Miki Shinichirou
Millerna Aston/Uchida Yukari Iizuka Mayumi
Merle Ohtani Ikue
Folken Fanel Nakata Jouji
Dilandau Albatau/Prince Chid/Serena Schezar Takayami Minami
Dryden Fassa Kosugi Juurouta
Naria/Eries Aston Amano Yuri
Eriya Hidaka Narumi
Shesta Yamaguchi Kappei
Emperor Dornkirk Yamauchi Masato

Ratings: PG-13
Grades: 10 scale
Animation Quality: 8
Art Quality: 7
Fun Factor: 10
Music Quality: 10
Plot Quality: 9
Script Quality: 9
Overall: 8 5/6
Stars: 4 1/2 (Most Excellent)
Synopsis: Kanzaki Hitomi is a high school track star who does tarot readings for her friends. Then one fateful night, Hitomi is transported to the world of Gaea and thrust into the middle of a brewing war. Granted protection by the young king of Fanelia, Van Fanel, Hitomi must master the secret divining abilities of an old family heirloom before the entire world of Gaea collapses in a war to end all wars.
Review: Escaflowne is a true tour de force anime. Despite blatant shoujo sensibilities, Escaflowne has more than enough mecha fighting action to enthrall even the manliest man’s man. The series has excellent character development and, being a shoujo piece, it concentrates on inter-character relationship development. In no way does this ever bog down or detract from a fantastic, continuously twisting plot. The fantastic writing is backed up by the even more impressive musical score from Kanno Yoko and Mizoguchi Hajime. The only technical complaint one can have is the art, which is about average for a television series. As with most offerings from Kawamori Shoji, Escaflowne possesses an aspect of the man’s mystical nature. In this case it is divination, tarot cards, and the very force of destiny. Unlike other Kawamori series (e.g. Macross 7 & Earth Maiden Arjuna), the divination and destiny aspects are not presented in so unsubtle a manner as to detract from the whole. In fact, for a change, the mystical aspect totally clicks in place and makes Escaflowne work. This is a fantasy series that should be on the must see list for all fans of anime, especially those that like fantasy or romance.

Reviewed by: Jacob Jett