Escaflowne: The Movie

Escaflowne: The Movie (Japanese: エスカフローネ), is a 2000 Japanese animated film produced by Sunrise and animated by Studio BONES. Directed by Kazuki Akane, it is a re-telling of the 1996 anime television series, The Vision of Escaflowne. The movie's plot is similar to the anime, but retold in a way that fits a two-hour film. Most characters from the series appear in the movie, but their designs are altered, sometimes bearing little resemblance to their series counterparts. Unlike the series, Guymelefs are virtually non-existent in the movie, and the setting is more Asian-inspired compared to the series' Eurasian elements. The movie focuses on the personal struggles of Hitomi and Van, creating a darker and more brooding tone. Escaflowne and Alseides are the only two mecha shown, powered by dragon clan blood. The movie premiered in Japan in June 2000, and in North America in January 2002. The soundtrack was composed by Yoko Kanno and Hajime Mizoguchi, with a soundtrack CD and drama CDs also released. A novelization by Ryota Yamaguchi was also published.