Bandai has set a July release for DVD editions of its Escaflowne: A Girl in Gaia movie (2000) and the Escaflowne TV Series (1996).  Bandai recently released the Escaflowne (pronounced 'Es-ca-flow-NEIGH') movie to theaters in the U.S. (see 'Dates Set For Escaflowne Release').  The Escaflowne movie is a total remake of the original TV series.  It follows the general storyline of the series, but the characters were redesigned for the big screen, and the storyline was tweaked with additional fantasy elements.  However the movie version is no travesty -- it was made by virtually the same crew that created the TV series including director Kazuki Akane, character designer Nobuteru Yuki, and composer Yoko Kanno, so it more than manages to capture the spirit of the TV series, that many anime fans believe to be the top TV anime of the 1990s, even surpassing Neon Genesis Evangelion.  On July 23 Bandai is releasing the Escaflowne movie in 'regular' and 'limited' editions as well as a limited edition of the entire 26-episode TV series.

 

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.