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by Erin Chupeco Welcome to a land where knights clash for power and survival, where the key to the world domain resides within a dragon owned by a prince with no kingdom. Where giants clash against each other admist the dark sky, blood and twisted metal in a cacophonous symphony of survival. Where fate lies at the hands of a young girl whose only power is her vision. Welcome to Gaea. With the average otaku's love for watching anime featuring gun-toting mecha and huge robots doomed to fight with the world as their battlefield, it would be rare for one specific mecha series to rise and prove itself original above all the others that have been and are existing. Yet, Vision of Escaflowne is anything but ordinary. Set against the dark planet of Gaea, a seemingly strange offshoot of our very own Earth, it combines an intricate mixture of hard battle mecha and fast-paced action, lightening the oftentimes serious mood with light comedy and touching romance. Though originally conceived by Shoji Kawamori and the animation company Sunrise nearly five years ago, it nonetheless continues to attract a cult following all throughout the world. It is already spanning 26 television episodes, an ongoing manga series, and a new revamped movie in the works, it proves to be a continues blockbuster hit in the years ahead. One of the best loved features of this series is the complex mech designs formulated by its designers guaranteed to bowl over any battle-loving fans; What it boasts most about is the 'Guymelef' (the common giant robot called in Gaea) being the Escaflowne itself; an 8.2 costa mecha able to transform into a white metal dragon as per its owner's wishes. However, piloting the Escaflowne involves a blood contract between liege and dragon, as well as the acceptance of all consequences involved... The most common characteristic of an Escaflowne series? Its characters' patented uptilted button nose. The series' soundtrack is also a beautiful mixture; of heavy low sounds that depicts a battle between mechas; and of light, lilting music that lets its listeners imagine Gaea as it really is; beautiful and at peace.
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