Rating: 5 of 5
Escaflowne is one of my favorite anime
of all time. So I was ecstatic when I discovered that Funimation had
rescued the series from obscurity and would be doing a redub. The
animation may seem outdated compared to today's standards, but it was
great for its time and will still wow you, because of how great
everything was designed.
There are many reasons why Escaflowne
is just as enjoyable for me today as it was in the mid-nineties. One
reason this series stands the test of time and is still a must see is
because there are no other anime like it. I have not seen another
anime with a medieval-style mecha. These mecha, Guymelfs, are like
giant suits of armor that uses swords instead of missiles and laser
beams. Yet, enemy Guymelfs are able to fly and discharge spears of
solidified liquid metal. The technology of Escaflowne was well
thought out. Simply awesome.
Another thing that makes any show stand
the test of time is the characters. The characters of Escaflowne are
memorable and will touch your heart. There is Hitomi, the Alice in
Wonderland or Dorthy of the Wizard of Oz of the show. She is one of
the central characters. She is an everyday teenage girl stuck in
Gaia, a world where Earth can be seen in the sky. It was fun watching
her go through emotions, trying to figure out who she loved: Allen,
Van, or Amano. And though there were many times she was frightened,
her courage prevailed, and she would often be the one to save Van or the
entire cast. Though not a fighter, Hitomi's heart made her one of the
strongest of the heroes and heroines. You can't help but fall in love
with such an adorable character.
Van, the main protagonist, is one of my
favorite anime heroes of all time. He was kind, but there was also an
aggressive, and sometimes arrogant, side to him. He'd often be brash,
rushing into battle. As the series progressed, he grew and became
more acquainted and receptive to Hitomi. It was really fun watching
the cold relationship between them turn into something truly special.
Then there's the gallant swordsman,
Allen. He was more than just a ladies man and a handsome face. In
battle, he was vicious. His gallantry, nobility, and his skill made
him one of the deadliest of the show's heroes. Don't let his face and
gentleness fool you.
Another thing that makes this series so
memorable is the world of Gaia itself. Every country had its own
uniqueness and was beautiful to watch onscreen. Then there was the
cinematic music score, which can rival any movie you think of.
Though the original voice cast was my
favorite and will always hold a special place in my heart, the new
cast does an excellent job, and Van's new voice actor adds a level of
aggressiveness to his voice that I like quite a bit.
When you purchase the Blu-ray box sets,
you get the new and old dubs, so pick up this classic anime and
enjoy. It has mecha, sorcery, sword fights, and more! It combines
action and romance and bridges the gap between male and female anime
fans, making it a series for both to watch.
