By Alison L. Roberts

For Escaflowne, Animation Director and Character Designer Nobuteru Yuuki (The Vision of Escaflowne, Record of Lodoss War OVA and X movie/TV) modified his original, European-influenced character designs to reflect the film's more primal tone.

Hitomi, the film's heroine, is so plagued with depression and uncertainty that she wishes for an escape — to simply disappear. Instead, she finds herself in the foreign land of Gaia where her decisions and actions have a profound impact on the fate of a world and its people.

The last king of the White Dragon Clan, this young warrior has sworn revenge against those responsible for his homeland's destruction — the Black Dragon Clan. Van's exclusive devotion to this cause, combined with his life experiences, have led him to be a loner who doesn't share his problems or thoughts with anyone.

The legendary Dragon Armor at the center of the conflict, the Escaflowne is bonded to its pilot by blood and has unequaled power of mystical proportions that may serve to save Gaia or lay it to ruin.

The leader of a rebel group sworn to opposing the Black Dragon, Allen's charismatic personality is almost diametrically opposed to that of Van — especially when he must reign in the young king's quick temper.

Folken, the leader of the Black Dragon Clan, is bent on obtaining the Escaflowne and using it to cause the destruction of Gaia. When he senses a "kindred spirit" in Hitomi, he summons her to the magical land to further his goals.