For those anticipating a manga adaptation of the anime series, it's best to abandon that expectation immediately. Apart from a shared setting and some recurring elements like the Escaflowne and the main characters' names, this is an entirely distinct narrative.
The TV series of Escaflowne merged shonen and shojo elements, but this manga leans decidedly towards shonen. The mecha are more massive (Escaflowne stands about ten stories tall), there's ample fanservice targeting male audiences (Hitomi appears naked at least three times in the first volume alone), and the story and its protagonists resemble InuYasha characters more than their TV counterparts, with Hitomi particularly mirroring Kagome but with glasses. Dilandau is almost unrecognizable here, and it's wise to consider this as an alternate universe akin to the Escaflowne movie. Van also surpasses his TV counterpart in rudeness and can be outright foolish occasionally. Being a shonen manga, character interactions lack subtlety and often culminate in yelling.
My primary issue is the pacing, which feels off; certain scenes drag on too long, while character development receives scant attention. The fanservice can be distracting, especially when Hitomi powers up the Escaflowne and transforms into a blonde bombshell. This aspect might irk viewers accustomed to the strong, independent girl from the TV series. It's important to keep the target audience in mind, but even so, it seems gratuitous and somewhat cheap.
Nevertheless, without prior knowledge of the TV series, this manga is decent. However, the art sometimes feels rushed, and character designs vary in detail and proportions. While it retains the mecha battles, bloodshed, and budding relationship between Van and Hitomi from the TV series, it lacks the gradual buildup and emotional depth, sometimes seeming dismissive of developing their bond.
Despite these shortcomings, it still manages to capture some essence of the original for enjoyment. If you're seeking the distilled essence of Escaflowne through battles and bloodshed, then by all means explore this series. But if it was the deeper, quieter aspects that captivated you, this series may disappoint.
Before I say anything, let me clarify that this manga series began about two years prior to the anime's release. The final volume includes comments and interviews with both Katsu Aki and the creators, Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori of Studio Nue, confirming their involvement and frequent communication with Katsu. Each volume from the start acknowledges that the manga is based on the original concept of Escaflowne, explaining its significant divergence from the anime series. Yes, this is a different Escaflowne, and you are encouraged to leave the anime's world behind and embrace the manga's unique perspective.
And that’s not necessarily bad. Was the manga used to promote the series? Possibly. Did it work? Given that the anime was not well-received in Japan, it’s hard to tell definitively. The manga ended two years after the anime concluded in Japan, suggesting it might have remained popular enough to continue or was financially supported to do so. This version may be more recognized compared to the two-volume manga adaptation, which apparently never made it to the U.S.
I first heard of Escaflowne when I was thirteen. On my thirteenth birthday, my late-grandfather gave me the Escaflowne movie, which I instantly fell in love with. It wasn't until later, thanks to friends, that I learned about the series. Recently, I watched the series and compared it to the movie. About two to three years ago, while visiting Half-Price Books with my father for the first time, I stumbled upon the manga section. The title "Escaflowne" caught my eye, and it turned out to be the first volume. Despite noticing Hitomi looked different from the movie, I bought it out of curiosity.
I was amazed by how different it was from the movie (which is odd to say since I only watched the TV series a month before writing this).
The story follows a sixteen-year-old girl named Hitomi Hoshino, who dreams of a glittering energist and hears distant music. While telling fortunes at school to her friends Yukiko and Amano, she is suddenly transported to Gaea through an Energist crystal during a quake. There, she meets Prince Van Slanzar de Fanelia, who turns out to be a jerk and hot-blooded. Fanelia is soon attacked by Zaibach, led by Dilandau, who kidnaps Van's mother. Hitomi ends up in the control room of Escaflowne, where touching the panel changes her appearance and activates the Energist within her. Along the way, they encounter various enemies and allies as they unravel the mysteries of Gaea, Escaflowne, and the Energist inside Hitomi.
While initially similar, the manga quickly diverges into a retelling or alternate universe, much like the movie. However, it can be complex, requiring careful attention to follow the plot. Overlooking details or skipping volumes will lead to confusion. Though brief recaps are rare, treating the audience maturely has its merits. The series does offer satisfying bookends, leaving a warm feeling.
Katsu Aki's distinct art style is unmistakable. His attention to detail shines through vast backgrounds, distinctive characters, and expressive visuals using lighting and shading. Some genuinely creepy moments stand out due to his portrayal in shadows. Art evolution is evident, with cleaner visuals by the end. However, distinguishing Guymelefs during fight scenes was challenging; dialogue bubbles were often necessary to identify them.
Character development is apparent, with Van becoming less of a hot-blooded jerk and Hitomi growing more accepting of Gaea and her powers. Main characters receive the most development, though many supporting characters have distinct personalities but plateau at certain points. Introducing too many characters results in uneven screen time. Zongi remains memorable but is vastly different and perhaps more sympathetic in the manga. Some characters gain sympathy through Hitomi's visions.
Despite being very shounen, with curvaceous Hitomi and moments of nudity, the story still resonates. Characters' appearances differ significantly, yet the narrative remains compelling. I rated it a “9” personally but acknowledge it as a “7” overall due to visible flaws and individual nitpicks. It’s a pretty good story for what it is.
Whether everyone enjoys it depends on openness to alternative universes and adaptations. I don’t regret picking up the series; it expanded the Escaflowne universe intriguingly. Exploring differences and similarities was fun. If interested in how it differs from the anime, try it out. Released by Tokyopop in 2003, it’s now out-of-print but available secondhand online. Give it a read and form your own opinion—love it or hate it, reading it yourself is the only way to know.
Let's get one thing straight: I absolutely ADORE the "Escaflowne" anime. I rated it a perfect 10/10. This admiration will color my review. Regardless, this manga stands on its own as boring and pointless, and in relation to the original TV series, it’s even more disappointing. It’s an abomination. The story barely resembles the original anymore. It's generic rubbish slapped with the "Escaflowne" label. It's a terrible joke.
So, what the HELL IS THIS?
I was thrilled when I heard that the "Escaflowne" manga was being released in the United States. After all, the anime was fantastic, and I had read some amazing post-anime manga (like "Evangelion"), so you can never have too much of a good thing, right?
That’s a moot point anyway. This manga is not a good thing at all. It just... sucks.
To start, the characters lost their charm. They’ve devolved from beautifully nuanced individuals into walking stereotypes typical of shounen-genre robot anime. Even the character designs have deteriorated. They’re bad, boring, and stereotypical. The story has become a cliché about a lost prince reclaiming his throne, and Escaflowne is now just another overpowered mecha. Unlike some series that play up stereotypes for fun or parody, this manga merely embraces them and kills any enjoyment. That’s it.
If you enjoyed the "Escaflowne" anime, steer clear of this manga. It will only infuriate you. If you like robot manga, choose something else. If fantasy manga is your thing, pick a different title. And if you're into shounen manga... well, you get the idea. This isn't worth your time.
Popular Reviews
For those anticipating a manga adaptation of the anime series, it's best to abandon that expectation immediately. Apart from a shared setting and some recurring elements like the Escaflowne and the main characters' names, this is an entirely distinct narrative.
The TV series of Escaflowne merged shonen and shojo elements, but this manga leans decidedly towards shonen. The mecha are more massive (Escaflowne stands about ten stories tall), there's ample fanservice targeting male audiences (Hitomi appears naked at least three times in the first volume alone), and the story and its protagonists resemble InuYasha characters more than their TV counterparts, with Hitomi particularly mirroring Kagome but with glasses. Dilandau is almost unrecognizable here, and it's wise to consider this as an alternate universe akin to the Escaflowne movie. Van also surpasses his TV counterpart in rudeness and can be outright foolish occasionally. Being a shonen manga, character interactions lack subtlety and often culminate in yelling.
My primary issue is the pacing, which feels off; certain scenes drag on too long, while character development receives scant attention. The fanservice can be distracting, especially when Hitomi powers up the Escaflowne and transforms into a blonde bombshell. This aspect might irk viewers accustomed to the strong, independent girl from the TV series. It's important to keep the target audience in mind, but even so, it seems gratuitous and somewhat cheap.
Nevertheless, without prior knowledge of the TV series, this manga is decent. However, the art sometimes feels rushed, and character designs vary in detail and proportions. While it retains the mecha battles, bloodshed, and budding relationship between Van and Hitomi from the TV series, it lacks the gradual buildup and emotional depth, sometimes seeming dismissive of developing their bond.
Despite these shortcomings, it still manages to capture some essence of the original for enjoyment. If you're seeking the distilled essence of Escaflowne through battles and bloodshed, then by all means explore this series. But if it was the deeper, quieter aspects that captivated you, this series may disappoint.
Before I say anything, let me clarify that this manga series began about two years prior to the anime's release. The final volume includes comments and interviews with both Katsu Aki and the creators, Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori of Studio Nue, confirming their involvement and frequent communication with Katsu. Each volume from the start acknowledges that the manga is based on the original concept of Escaflowne, explaining its significant divergence from the anime series. Yes, this is a different Escaflowne, and you are encouraged to leave the anime's world behind and embrace the manga's unique perspective.
And that’s not necessarily bad. Was the manga used to promote the series? Possibly. Did it work? Given that the anime was not well-received in Japan, it’s hard to tell definitively. The manga ended two years after the anime concluded in Japan, suggesting it might have remained popular enough to continue or was financially supported to do so. This version may be more recognized compared to the two-volume manga adaptation, which apparently never made it to the U.S.
I first heard of Escaflowne when I was thirteen. On my thirteenth birthday, my late-grandfather gave me the Escaflowne movie, which I instantly fell in love with. It wasn't until later, thanks to friends, that I learned about the series. Recently, I watched the series and compared it to the movie. About two to three years ago, while visiting Half-Price Books with my father for the first time, I stumbled upon the manga section. The title "Escaflowne" caught my eye, and it turned out to be the first volume. Despite noticing Hitomi looked different from the movie, I bought it out of curiosity.
I was amazed by how different it was from the movie (which is odd to say since I only watched the TV series a month before writing this).
The story follows a sixteen-year-old girl named Hitomi Hoshino, who dreams of a glittering energist and hears distant music. While telling fortunes at school to her friends Yukiko and Amano, she is suddenly transported to Gaea through an Energist crystal during a quake. There, she meets Prince Van Slanzar de Fanelia, who turns out to be a jerk and hot-blooded. Fanelia is soon attacked by Zaibach, led by Dilandau, who kidnaps Van's mother. Hitomi ends up in the control room of Escaflowne, where touching the panel changes her appearance and activates the Energist within her. Along the way, they encounter various enemies and allies as they unravel the mysteries of Gaea, Escaflowne, and the Energist inside Hitomi.
While initially similar, the manga quickly diverges into a retelling or alternate universe, much like the movie. However, it can be complex, requiring careful attention to follow the plot. Overlooking details or skipping volumes will lead to confusion. Though brief recaps are rare, treating the audience maturely has its merits. The series does offer satisfying bookends, leaving a warm feeling.
Katsu Aki's distinct art style is unmistakable. His attention to detail shines through vast backgrounds, distinctive characters, and expressive visuals using lighting and shading. Some genuinely creepy moments stand out due to his portrayal in shadows. Art evolution is evident, with cleaner visuals by the end. However, distinguishing Guymelefs during fight scenes was challenging; dialogue bubbles were often necessary to identify them.
Character development is apparent, with Van becoming less of a hot-blooded jerk and Hitomi growing more accepting of Gaea and her powers. Main characters receive the most development, though many supporting characters have distinct personalities but plateau at certain points. Introducing too many characters results in uneven screen time. Zongi remains memorable but is vastly different and perhaps more sympathetic in the manga. Some characters gain sympathy through Hitomi's visions.
Despite being very shounen, with curvaceous Hitomi and moments of nudity, the story still resonates. Characters' appearances differ significantly, yet the narrative remains compelling. I rated it a “9” personally but acknowledge it as a “7” overall due to visible flaws and individual nitpicks. It’s a pretty good story for what it is.
Whether everyone enjoys it depends on openness to alternative universes and adaptations. I don’t regret picking up the series; it expanded the Escaflowne universe intriguingly. Exploring differences and similarities was fun. If interested in how it differs from the anime, try it out. Released by Tokyopop in 2003, it’s now out-of-print but available secondhand online. Give it a read and form your own opinion—love it or hate it, reading it yourself is the only way to know.
Let's get one thing straight: I absolutely ADORE the "Escaflowne" anime. I rated it a perfect 10/10. This admiration will color my review. Regardless, this manga stands on its own as boring and pointless, and in relation to the original TV series, it’s even more disappointing. It’s an abomination. The story barely resembles the original anymore. It's generic rubbish slapped with the "Escaflowne" label. It's a terrible joke.
So, what the HELL IS THIS?
I was thrilled when I heard that the "Escaflowne" manga was being released in the United States. After all, the anime was fantastic, and I had read some amazing post-anime manga (like "Evangelion"), so you can never have too much of a good thing, right?
That’s a moot point anyway. This manga is not a good thing at all. It just... sucks.
To start, the characters lost their charm. They’ve devolved from beautifully nuanced individuals into walking stereotypes typical of shounen-genre robot anime. Even the character designs have deteriorated. They’re bad, boring, and stereotypical. The story has become a cliché about a lost prince reclaiming his throne, and Escaflowne is now just another overpowered mecha. Unlike some series that play up stereotypes for fun or parody, this manga merely embraces them and kills any enjoyment. That’s it.
If you enjoyed the "Escaflowne" anime, steer clear of this manga. It will only infuriate you. If you like robot manga, choose something else. If fantasy manga is your thing, pick a different title. And if you're into shounen manga... well, you get the idea. This isn't worth your time.