Escaflowne - The Movie (2000)

43% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(11,376 ratings)

In this animé feature based on the popular Japanese television series, Hitomi is a high school student who is trying to come to terms with a severe case of depression. When her spirits are at their lowest, Hitomi makes a psychic connection with Van, the young king of the nation of Gaia, located on… More In this animé feature based on the popular Japanese television series, Hitomi is a high school student who is trying to come to terms with a severe case of depression. When her spirits are at their lowest, Hitomi makes a psychic connection with Van, the young king of the nation of Gaia, located on another planet visible in the night sky of Earth. Gaia has been brought to the brink of war by the evil Black Dragon Clan, and, while the nearby nation of Abaharaki wishes to form an alliance with Gaia for their mutual protection, Van is a leader who prefers to act on his own. Hitomi finds herself transported to Gaia, where she becomes a valuable if unlikely ally to Van; as the Black Dragon Clan advances, Van discovers that Hitomi may hold the key to the magical dragon armor of Escaflowne, the weapon that would make Gaia invincible. Escaflowne (also advertised as Escaflowne the Movie: A Girl in Gaia) features Kelly Sheridan as the voice of Hitomi; the voice cast for the American release version also includes Kirby Morrow, Brian Drummond, and Paul Dobson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Kazuki Akane, Yoshiyuki Takei
Written By: Ryouta Yamaguchi, Kazuki Akane
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Animation

In Theaters: Jun 30, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jul 23, 2002

Critic Reviews

Loren King, Chicago Tribune
Its ambitiousness and artistry should satisfy discriminating fans of the anime genre.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The idea of an ordinary slacker kid being a savior for another world may not be anything new, but Escaflowne literally gives it a new paint job.
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News
A visual spectacle full of stunning images and effects.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
A combination of standard, stiff TV-style animation and snazzy-looking digital effects that do little to disguise the fact that the characters barely move.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
It is just too bad the film's story does not live up to its style.
, Oregonian
Required viewing for anime fans.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
Even die-hard fans of Japanese animation ... will find this one a challenge.
Melanie McFarland, Seattle Times
Romantic, riveting and handsomely animated.
William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Typical animé, with cheapo animation (like Saturday morning TV in the '60s), a complex sword-and-sorcery plot and characters who all have big round eyes and Japanese names.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Fairly run-of-the-mill.
Tim Cogshell, Boxoffice Magazine
A fan film that for the uninitiated plays better on video with the sound turned down.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This beautifully animated epic is never dull.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
A 93-minute condensation of a 26-episode TV series, with all of the pitfalls of such you'd expect.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Matthew Y

I was forced to watch this in college by a roommate whose sole mission was to get me into Anime. He was not very successful. The film is actually kind of interesting but I was cautious from the get-go of such a detailed journey film (that involves nothing less than traveling through… More
I was forced to watch this in college by a roommate whose sole mission was to get me into Anime. He was not very successful. The film is actually kind of interesting but I was cautious from the get-go of such a detailed journey film (that involves nothing less than traveling through space and time to a new and magical world) being contained in an hour and half run-time and I was downright furious when it concluded with an all out mecha battle with giant freaking robots. I would like to go on record in saying that I'd rather be kicked in the balls than watch any Mech Anime. Perhaps the series is pretty good, like I said I was mildly enjoying it till the mech showed-up, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I take a shot at an almost 9hr version of this thing.
Chris B

Loved the ending to the OVA but still enjoyed the film, although Folken killed in the way he was just didn't do it for me...
Curt C

This is a retelling of the anime of the same name, but is sooooo much better. I ~loved~ the ending.