The 'regular' edition of the Escaflowne film carries a suggested retail price of $29.98 and includes both Japanese (w/ English subtitles) and English soundtracks. The film is presented in widescreen letterbox format and includes some first time ever 'extras' for an anime DVD release -- overlapping realtime storyboards, and an isolated score audio track. Theatrical movie trailers for the film are also included along with previews of other Bandai DVDs. Since the Escaflowne feature film was released in the U.S. it does have a MPAA rating of PG-13.
The Limited Ultimate Edition DVD Box Set is a 3-disk affair that comes in a Collector's DVD Box and carries an srp of $54.98. The first disk is identical to the 'regular' edition, but a second disk includes a Production Art Gallery, interviews with staff and crew, premiere event interviews, exclusive musical performances, Anime Expo premiere footage, and a theatrical poster gallery. The third disk contains the original Escaflowne CD soundtrack by Yoko Kanno, one of anime's very best composers.
The Escaflowne TV Series Limited Edition DVD Box Set is limited to 10,000 numbered units and carries an srp of $199.98. The set contains 700 minutes of material including all 26 episodes of the Escaflowne TV Series, Japanese and English soundtracks, a character gallery, Escaflowne musical videos, and creator interviews. The TV series Box Set also comes with an exclusive Escaflowne action figure that is only available with the DVD box set. For Americans who have only had a chance to see the 10 bowdlerized episodes of this anime epic that ran on Fox Kids, the entire, uncut Japanese series (which is rated 13UP) will come as a revelation. The price tag is high, but the Escaflowne TV Series is one of the holy grails of anime.
