Now that I've wound up somehow buying two copies of Escaflowne: The Movie and losing one of them, Bandai has announced that they'll be bringing the film to Blu-ray, so that I can check it out in its nice, hi-def format. The film was the topic for an early Japanator Recommends, and just talking about it makes me want to watch it again.
The film is a recap of the anime Vision of Escaflowne, about a girl named Hitomi who gets transported to a fantasy world where people fight with giant mecha. So, it's got both your Gundam-like robot fighting, while knightly honor is still alive and well. The film was animated by Bones (Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, Fullmetal Alchemist, Ouran High School Host Club), and so it takes a much darker, yet beautiful route. It's well worth checking out, even if it is just a plot rehashing.
All you have to do is wait until September 15th, when it'll be hitting store shelves for $39.98. The disc will include cast and staff interviews, along with the audio in 5.1 surround sound. Exciting! It'll be good to add some more anime to my Blu-ray shelf, and I'm glad to see Bandai is bringing over whatever Blu-ray titles they can from Japan -- living up to their promise from before that if Japan releases it in hi-def, they will too.
July 7, 2009 – Bandai Entertainment Inc. announced today that it will release the Escaflowne movie Blu-ray on September 15th.
Originally released in 2002 from studio BONES, the movie was directed by Kazuki Akane, features the music of Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop) and is based on the successful television series The Vision of Escaflowne created by Shoji Kawamori (Macross).
The story centers on Hitomi Kanzaki, who is tired of life. Depressed and despondent, she wishes that she could just fade away, to make the pain of living stop hurting. Her pain resonates with another on the world of Gaia, and when her wish is granted, she finds herself in a strange land. She is greeted as the legendary Wing Goddess, with the power to summon the legendary Escaflowne. Hitomi’s fate is intertwined with the brash young warrior king Van, who also feels that life has lost its meaning. By summoning Escaflowne, the Wing Goddess will choose a path for Gaia’s future. But will it be salvation…or destruction?
Specs include Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Japanese and English audio, English subtitles, cast and staff interviews. SRP $39.98
1 comments
