Escaflowne is one of those rare works that has everything—romance, comedy, action, drama—and more importantly, does them well. That is its key to success in sustaining a story that has not one original bone in its body—girl finds herself on mystical world, in the middle of a war against an evil empire—that sort of thing. The animation is gorgeous, the score perfectly complements what's on screen, the characters feel multi-layered and realistic, the action is enthralling, but most importantly, it is a show that has fantastic pacing. That is, until the last few episodes, which feel rushed by comparison. But they don't take away from what this series is—a true masterpiece. It should be seen by any anime fan at least once.
A masterpiece
Escaflowne is one of those rare works that has everything—romance, comedy, action, drama—and more importantly, does them well. That is its key to success in sustaining a story that has not one original bone in its body—girl finds herself on mystical world, in the middle of a war against an evil empire—that sort of thing. The animation is gorgeous, the score perfectly complements what's on screen, the characters feel multi-layered and realistic, the action is enthralling, but most importantly, it is a show that has fantastic pacing. That is, until the last few episodes, which feel rushed by comparison. But they don't take away from what this series is—a true masterpiece. It should be seen by any anime fan at least once.