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Funimation Streams Shoji Kawamori, Kazuki Akane Interview Clips


It’s time for two masters of mecha took a trip down memory lane.

Earlier today, Funimation started streaming two segments from interviews with Kazuki Akane and Shoji Kawamori. The two clips are parts of larger interviews that will appear on the upcoming Vision of Escaflowne Blu-ray sets.

Kazuki Akane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDPBBo5i1bg

Shoji Kawamori

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbY0ilipL4

Shoji Kawamori (Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Aquarion) created The Vision of Escaflone and wrote the screenply. Kazuki Akane (Birdy the Mighty: Decode, Heat Guy J) directed the series, as well as theatrical film Esaflowne at Sunrise. Nobuteru Yuki (Orange, Kids on the Slope) providing character designs.

The series aired in the Spring 1996 broadcast season. Bandai Entertainment released the title in North America on VHS and DVD. In 2000, Fox aired a heavily censored and modified version of the show under the title “Escaflowne”, which aired during their Fox Kids block.

In addition to the interview clips, Funimation released several images of the upcoming Collector’s Edition (plus artbook) and Kickstarter Edition of set 1. You can check these out below:

Collector’s Edition

Collector’s Edition Artbook

Kickstarter Edition

The Vision of Escaflowne will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 18. The movie will hit stores on the same day.

Funimation’s English dub cast features:

  • Van Fanel: Aaron Dismuke
  • Hitomi Kanzaki: Caitlin Glass
  • Merle: Alexis Tipton
  • Allen Schezar: Sonny Strait
  • Millerna Aston: Colleen Clinkenbeard
  • Dilandau Albatou: Joel McDonald
  • Folken: Vic Mignogna
  • Eriya: Felecia Angelle
  • Naria: Michelle Rojas
  • Emperor Dornkirk:Jeremy Schwartz
  • Balgus:Chris Guerrero
  • Prince Chid:Bryn Apprill
  • Shesta:Chris Cason
  • Jajuka:Chuck Hüber
  • Gaddess:Ian Sinclair

Escaflowne Key Visual 001 - 20160817Funimation’s Kickstarter to re-dub Vision of Escaflowne officially launched on February 27. In an interview with Anime News Network’s Zac Bertschy, Funimation brand manager Jennifer Fu explained the need for a new dub on the series:

So basically there was the original dub that came out and it’s based on SD materials that, as you’re aware, the director’s cut, the HD Japanese version that was released on Bluray more recently, has scenes that were not in the original materials that the original English dub was based on. So because of that it’s not possible for us to put the subtitled HD material which is what we’ve just received from Japan, on the same disc as the original dub, because otherwise it doesn’t line up correctly and there are some points where the dub just won’t have any dialogue or anything in it and it’d just be kind of strange.

Funimation noted that the $150,000 goal wouldn’t cover the full cost of a new English adaptation.

The campaign raised a total of $318,784 across 2,058 backers, with an average contribution of $154.90 per backer.

Source: Kickstarter

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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