Vision of Escaflowne DVD 7: Light and Shadow

Episode 21. Reaction of Fortune: Catgirls' Eriya and Naria's fortune runs out as equal and opposite reactions take place. The younger sister Eriya escapes back to the flying fortress Vione. The latter crash lands but still manages to nab Hitomi who then refuses to escape. Her belief in Naria' innate goodness is reciprocated when she is released. Van goes on a rampage but Eriya stops him from killing Folken; her words also cause Escaflowne to react with Vione's core, destroying the flying fortress. As the catgirls die in his arms, Donkirk gloats about the success of the experiment. This finally convinces Folken that Zaibach's methods are wrong and he escapes in the flying guymelef.

This was all very SUNRISE - the catgirls may have been portrayed as the bad gals but their back story makes them more sympathetic and are still shown to truly care for Folken. And finally it is those bonds of affection and the terrible cost that shatters Folken's loyalty to Donkirk. It's also the first instance of Hitomi taking her grandma's advice - trusting in her feelings and getting a good result.

Vision of Escaflowne DVD 6: Fate and Fortune

Episode 18. The Gravity of Destiny: Hitomi, Van and Allen are teleported before the Emperor of Zaibach, Donkirk, who reveals that he is Isaac from Earth and how he wanted to learn the laws of fate to end man's destiny of constant war. The three are locked up and Van is in agony as the Sorcerers start to dismantle Escaflowne. With Hitomi's help, Van activates Remote Control to bring the mecha to their cage prison. Rocket Form is engaged to escape from the pursuing Guymelefs.

Good grief, security at these Imperial headquarters are terrible! The converse of that old adage that the most dangerous place is also the safest place is also applicable. I loved how love between two people was described as a form of gravity given that attraction operates in both cases (though in different meanings); I don't know enough basic physics to know how far the analogy can be stretched but, hey, physics has never stopped animu before. Rocket dragon FTW!

Vision of Escaflowne DVD 5: Paradise and Pain

Episode 15. Lost Paradise: The vengeful spirits of the Dragonslayers slain by the Draconian in the 'Dragon' Escaflowne drag Van towards death with them. Hitomi dives in to save him and catgirl Merle manages to call both of them back from being swallowed by a vision of the destruction of Atlantis. Dilandau has a RONERY flashback and backdown. Millerna and Hitomi have a 'My friend's romantic dilemma' chat. Folken sends cat ladies Naria and Eriya who pwn a PTSD Van but they back off when Merle intervenes. With Allen's father's Atlantis otaku diary, Dryden pieces together the clues and the gang heads towards the Mystic Valley, home of the Draconians.

Merle is MVP for her two saves in this episode. It seems that there's plenty of anti-catgirl discrimination among humans. Though it didn't seem to be the case in Fanelia. Maybe it's because all the guys are jealous because there are not enough cat girls to go around and so not everyone can haz a cat girl? Certainly I'm jealous that Folken has the love and devotion of not just one but two cat girls! And the mechanical claw arm. And the wings. orz

Vision of Escaflowne DVD 4: Past and Present

Episode 12. The Secret Door: Duke Freid has returned and war preparations are underway. Hitomi feels the stress of Zongi's death prophecy and the pressure of everyone's expectations but she manages to give some kind advice to the shota prince Chid. Donkirk looks forward to seeing her power for himself and of meeting *surprise surprise* a fellow Earthling. But her tarot cards and Millerna's discovery of Marlene's diary point show that Allen x Marlene = Chid.

There was plenty of foreshadowing since the episode entitled 'The Blue Eyed Prince' so it was not particularly surprising. Having set up Allen as someone for Hitomi to fangirl over, this proves to be a serious knock on her image of him which foreshadows how Hitomi's relationship with Van holds the key to the fate of Gaea.

Vision of Escaflowne DVD 3: Angels and Demons

Episode 9. Memories of a Feather: Hitomi learns about how Van's father Goau met his mother Varie and married her despite the taboo of associating with the winged Draconians, the cursed descendants of Atlantis. She taught him not to reveal his wings until the time was right and left the castle, never to return, after Goau's death and Folken's disappearance. As Zaibach catches up, Hitomi proves all round situational awareness but the badly outnumbered Van is almost captured again until Allen rides to the rescue. However he is badly injured, taking a blow that would have hit Hitomi.

Varie being sent to Goau in order to bear Folken and Van. No wonder I found The Sisko's back story somewhat familiar. The disaster of Atlantis seems to be at the root of the taboo against associating with Draconians (not, not the grunts from Dragonlance) but I suppose being King has its privileges.

Vision of Escaflowne DVD 2: Betrayal and Trust

Episode 5. Seal of the Brothers: Van is captured and recognizes Folken as his elder brother by his wings. The latter wants his younger brother to join him in helping Donkirk rule the galaxy fight a war to end all wars but Van refuses. With the helping of Hitomi's esper powers, Allen locates the flying fortress and launches a daring assault to rescue Van and recover Escaflowne; Hitomi makes one helluva long jump to warn Van against a backstabbing Dilandau who ends up requiring plastic surgery.

Episode 6. Capital of Intrigue: The gang arrive in Palas, capital of Asturia, which turns out to be like Neo-Venezia without the undines and a lot more corrupt. The king brushes off Allen's warning as Folken has already fed him some cock and bull story about Faniela being the one who attacked Zaibach first. Van confronts Folken again and Hitomi saves the young king from an ultra long range sneak attack by Dilandau. King Aston and his merchant banker pal Meiden subject Escaflowne to a battle against three ruthless mercenaries.

Vision of Escaflowne DVD 1: Dragons and Destiny

I watched the downloaded AVIs about three years ago and finally bought the DVD boxsets at a Forbidden Planet sale last October. Jotting down some notes of my third viewing of this series; hopefully this retro-blogging will be of interest to some of my readers.

Episode 1. Fateful Confession: Hundred metre sprinter Hitomi Kanzaki prepares to snag her first kiss from leavin' on a jet plane team captain Amano. Swordsman Van Fanel appears on the track, followed by a proto- Kagutsuchi land dragon. Hitomi's premonition saves the day but after Van harvests the Drag-energist from the slain beast, the pair are transported, pillar of light-style, to Gaea.

The earlier run-through vision of Van in the afternoon, the tarot cards and her grandma's pendulum pendant indicate that Hitomi may be one of those espers that Haruhi-sama is searching for and that she may have a link to Van's homeworld.