SILPHINE

There is an artist which I like to consult the works from time to time : Alfons MUCHA. One day, I stopped on one specific illustration he did :

" Painting " (from the series " The Arts " - 1898)

I didn't know why, but the design of the dress seemed kind of familiar to me. But it took me a huge time to find out why. Some time ago, I opened one of my artbooks, and I fell on this :

Varie Fanel settei - in her Draconian dress

I always loved this sketch of Varie Fanel and the dress she wore when she first met her husband Goau Fanel. But I never noticed that it was inspired by dresses drawn by Mucha ! [ Fun fact : We can see the influence Alfons Mucha had on Nobuteru Yuki's 1990 style on series like "Record of Lodoss War", "The Weathering Continent", "Vaelber Saga"... (cloth folds, arabesques in hair, ornements...) This settei is not a Yuki's one but I like to imagine he shared some Mucha's works with the staff. ] Others ? :

" Amethyst " (from " The Precious Stones " series - 1900)

" Leslie Carter " (1908) > The most similar one I've found.

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🎶 Shuffle Tag! 🎶

Shuffle your library, list ten songs, tag people.

Eric Serra - Le Grand Bleu (Ouverture)

Ennio Morricone - The Crisis

Cowboy Bebop - Blue

Peter Gabriel - A Different Drum

Kenji Kawai - Ghost in the Shell (Cinema Symphony)

Thomas Bergersen - Cry

Loreena McKenitt - Prologue (The Book Of Secrets)

Fredericks, Goldman, Jones - Nuit

M83 (Oblivion) - Starwaves (extended)

Sting - Mad About You (The Living Sea)

[ Escaflowne voice meme made by @drkstars-art ]

PART 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

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6. What would you like to see in a figurative remake/sequel? Would you include more minor characters? Would you want a whole new story that could be a stand alone?

Honestly, I'm clearly not in "remake/sequel" things. (Most of the time, it ruins the universe or doesn't bring anything relevant to the story.) I really love the series as it is (despite elements I see as flaws) and it's clear for me it wasn't made to have a sequel. Now, if creators wished to do a remake or a sequel, I would watch it because I love the universe. But I don't ask or wait for it.    

7. Movie, Series, Game, or Manga preference? What are things you did/didn't like of each?

  I definitively prefer the Series : Because I love different themes through out the story, the characters, their development. The production always moves me. - I never played the game but I saw animated cut scenes. I've never really been in it. - I read Shonen manga once but I didn't like it. Mainly because I didn't feel empathy for characters. - About Shojo manga : I read it many years ago but it was so short... No real opinion on it. It didn't hit my mind. - The Movie... Well, I'm a bit conflicted about it... I love the design. Some scenes are just stunning (first sequence, Van vs Dilandau...) but I never bought in characters, neither in the story. I think my main problem is the movie is so short and full of characters that I don't have the time to really feel something for them/with them. I love loneliness and depression themes in it. But again, I don't know why, I didn't empathize for characters... So, it's quite difficult to enjoy the movie this way...        

8. Recite your top five [least] characters by name.

Argh, it's so hard to choose ! ... I would say...

    [ TOP 5 favourite ]

1) Van I already explained why in part 2/5. 2) Dryden Mainly because he is a human library, curious and funny ! An excellent travel and knowledge partner ! I love the company of this type of person. At first, I would have been quite suspicious about him. But he is so interesting and surprinsingly pleasant that I would definitively stay in his surroundings.   3) Gaddes Because he is reliable, calm and so pleasant ! 4) Mahad / Balgus I cheat - I know - but I love strong and kind men, with a great sense of duty and honor. 5) Folken Even if I don't always understand him. Beyond his cold appearance, he is warm and moving. I would love to hang out someone like him and learn about him, having deep meaningful discussions with him. He inspires me so much interest and tenderness. > No girls !? But I really appreciate Millerna and Hitomi too... I also love Merle, even if I find her quite annoying sometimes. But she is such a good, loving, smart and courageous girl !

        [ TOP 5 least favourite ]

I would say : 1) Zaibach Sorcerers 2) Meiden Fassa 3) Grava Aston 4) Dilandau 5) Dornkirk      

[ Escaflowne voice meme made by @drkstars-art ]

PART 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

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4. Least favorite plot point? Was there something you think should have changed? What do you think would have made it better.

I think Atlantis arc and Great War arc. I wouldn't tell what staff "should" have changed because I don't feel legitimate to do so, plus I don't have access to the original script. But I can share my thoughts on what bothers me. (It's more or less already said in my answers to previous questions...) [ Atlantis Arc ] My main problem with this arc is it leaves me with too many questions about : - Draconians - Hitomi's grandma and Leon Schezar's meetings - Zaibach I would had loved to learn more about these topics. [ Great War ] In my opinion, this part is too short and events happen too fast. We don't have context about Basram, Cezario, Egzardia... Too bad because I think it would have brought more depth to the climax.        

5. OTP? What kind of art and fiction would you like to see? What are some head canons you have for them? What is your NoTP?

  I love 3 couples : ( VAN x HITOMI ) It's quite obvious for me that Hitomi unconsciously starts to fall for Van early in the story, despite her superficial focus on Allen. > Allen is a fantasy, a reassuring and pleasant figure for a romantic teenage girl. It's easy to have a crush for this kind of man. Van, on the other hand, is less understandable, less "legible". (Fun fact > Allen is always awesome, elegant and a pleasant company. Van is poorly dressed, has no manners, doesn't know how to deal with girls, neither talk to them, even less how to seduce them...) But he represents the reality of truly loving someone :

Despite all imperfections, misunderstandings and vexations, Hitomi learns to understand and love him for who he really is. Each time he is in danger, she just jumps and even risks her life to help/save him. She doesn't act the same with Allen. Van is the only one who can really make her mad or sad. They never try to seduce one another, never hide themselves... Sometimes they are tough to one another, but they truly care about each other. To me, that's what a real couple is.   ( MILLERNA x DRYDEN ) I just love how they complete one another, even if they don't end up together at the end of the series. Millerna is independant, curious, wants to learn more about medecine... She needs an educated partner, with repartee, who can understand and support her but who would not overprotect her. Dryden ticks all the boxes. He is modern, doesn't see her as a precious little thing and her royal status doesn't influence his behaviour towards her. But again, as I said in part 3/5, they need time to reveal. ( MAHAD x MARLENE )

For the little I understood and saw : I just love the idea in their couple ! The fact he recreated her apartments in Fleid....

  The way his last thought is dedicated to her, as she told him she learned to love him, just before dying... This man is so strong, reliable and kind ! I always loved him ! And I love the idea she learned to love him despite their arranged marriage. ( Couples I don't appreciate ) I don't like Allen x Millerna, neither Allen x Hitomi : Because, despite I've learned to really appreciate Allen over the years, I think he can not be a sane partner for Millerna, neither Hitomi. He is too traumatized by his childhood, his first love Marlene and obsessed by control and protection. He is a very kind guy but really needs to work on himself before becoming a good life partner. [ ABOUT ART & FICTION ]

[ Escaflowne voice meme made by @drkstars-art ]

PART 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

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3. Which side are you on ? What do you think happens Post-Hitomi when she leaves? Who do you think will be the next opposing power?

 Why necessary choosing a side ? (Funny, I never asked myself this question...) Well... As the series focuses/develops way more "good" side than Zaibach’s side and its characters, it's easier for me to empathize and lean more towards main protagonists. But deep inside, I’m a neutral observer. Because each side has its own set of we can label "good" or "bad" moral aspects. - I really love Folken, Narya and Eriya. - I don't see Dornkirk as pure evil despite I don't appreciate him... I would had loved to dive more in Zaibach generals (specially Adelphos), Sorcerers and Dilandau's soldiers psychology. But I don't think staff had planned to explore or develop these points... (Too bad because I love nuances in stories !) I digress but that's why I love Mononoké Hime (Miyazaki) that much or enjoy a big part of Game of Thrones for example.

    [ About Post-Hitomi ]

Well... I have more questions than ideas or answers on that matter... - Post-Zaibach is a big enigma in my mind :

Who can rule or give a strong and desirable direction after Dornkirk's reign ?

What could be Zaibach people's opinion on Great War events ?

What would they want to do next ?

  As Hitomi says in Ep 18 : " I wonder if Zaibach people are really happy... "

Personally, if many Sorcerers survive, I like to imagine high tensions with Adelphos.

We don't know lot of things about the General, but I noticed that :

He doesn't seem to appreciate or trust Sorcerers

He sees Dilandau as a demon.

He doesn't seem to blindly trust Dornkirk neither.

When he saw Celena in the garden scene, he felt clearly unconfortable. He even said : " I wonder what Zaibach has become (or what's going on in Zaibach)... "

He almost died in Basram's "energist" attack. But didn't go further in the war, unlike Alliance countries - betraying each other right away.

I tend to think he has a moral code and could play a good partition in "Peace" on Gaea. - Globally, it's quite difficult for me to imagine what Post-War Gaea could be because the end of the series doesn't take time to properly explain political, energy and technological context with other countries (like with Basram for example).

I would be definitely interested in translated informations on that subject !

My inner feeling is that true Peace is an utopia because each country has its own point of view, interests, history, concerns, culture and beliefs... so it necessarily leads to tensions with other countries.

But nations have to do their best to aim for this ideal in the interest of the greatest number, respecting everyone’s differences, thanks to a true and permanent diplomacy.

When you know humanity's complexity, it's a huge challenge...

  [ On a more character level ]

I am not quite confident in Allen and Celena's future...

I can not imagine she definitely recovered from all she's gone through in Zaibach.

And I think Allen would be (quite understandably) an overprotective brother... (this attitude never brings anything good in a relationship, even a brotherly one.)

Not that I don't wish the best for them. But I simply don't buy it...  (or at least, not without a huge and very long psychological work for Celena...)    

My opinion on Millerna and Dryden is way more positive.

I really think they would form a great and supportive couple. But they both need a lot of time.

However, I won't be surprised if Millerna relied once again on Allen for a while before going back to Dryden and sincerely falling for him (she is still lost at the end of the series...)

I can imagine her being the new Queen of Asturia, just as Eries      

About Van and Hitomi...

It's funny because I can just as easily imagine them never seeing each other again as they will definitely meet one way or another, whatever the form. (single or already married, with or without children from another partner, or even with different ages...) I would bet more on the idea they will meet again. It's how I feel and always felt since my first viewing. But it can also never happen. [ NOTE : If I am not mistaken : Kazuki Akane (director) said in an interview in "Roman Album" Artbook that Hitomi would surely meet Van again. But as they shared a "youth love", they need to grow up and mature before truly going back to one another. ( Please take this information with a grain of salt because I lost the translation many years ago... )  ] Some elements make me question a lot on their non or hypothetical reunion :

Their last dialogue (based on subtitles of Japanese dub)

Time Flow (which doesn't seem to be the same on Gaea and Earth...)

Van’s royal status.

    ( Their last dialogue ) H - I want to see this world with you, Van. But can I stay ? I love Gaea and Fanelia... V - If you want it, so do it.      As long we would share the same feelings, we can see each other again. ( Hitomi cries and gives him her pendant, telling him ) " I will never forget you, even when I will be a grandma. I will never forget you. " (I never get why she gives him her pendant before leaving Gaea...) I'm maybe wrong but I always felt that Hitomi thinks she will never meet Van again, or if : only with a big age difference between them. What does she mean by "grandma" ? That she will go on with her life, probably marry another man, have children, become a grandmother ? Or just an old lady ? It keeps remind me about Hitomi's grandmother and Leon’s story... ( Time Flow )

Too many questions run through my head on this part...

I wonder if we can even define a temporal correspondence between Gaea and Earth. (the more I try, the more I think this story element doesn't follow a strict rule... ) If we stick to chronological events : > it seems Leon met Hitomi's grandma 2 times : 1)  A first one (picture above) - Hitomi’s grandma is around 15. - About Leon : No precise idea... Except he is an adult. No direct mention of his wife and his children. 2)  A second (Leon’s search for Mystic Valley and meeting with  Isaac / Dornkirk)   - We know at that point - for sure - Leon is married to Encia and already has Allen. [ In his discussions with Allen, Leon never mentions Celena. " I get married and became father by obligation. I tried to live denying who I was. But men always wish to escape from destiny others impose on them. When I saw this young woman the second time... I realized I loved Encia... and you too, Allen..." ] I guess Leon died 15 (gaean) years before the events of the story. - Leon meets Hitomi’s grandma just before his death and is surprised to see her " like in the past ". He concludes : " I see... Here is the secret of Atlantis... The Power of Wishes..." He gives the pendant to Hitomi’s grandma, telling her : " Wishes become reality. No matter the distance, they transcend time and space." It seems to imply that time has passed for him but Hitomi’s grandma (still 15) is the materialization of his desire to see her, as he knew her. (Not her real appearance on Earth, on that moment.) I tend to think Grandma was not 15 when she received the pendant.   Another fact which makes me lean towards this hypothesis : > If Grandma really received the pendant at 15 and told her daughter about her experience when she was still a little girl, then : why did she give the pendant to Hitomi and not to her own daughter ? A part of me wonders if she received the pendant when she was already a grandmother and gave it right away to Hitomi. (But it's just my own hypothesis...) This part of the story leaves me with many questions :

How old was Leon when he met Hitomi’s grandma the first time ? Was he already married to Encia ?

How old was he on the second meeting ?

How old really was Hitomi’s grandma on the second meeting ?

Whatever the answer, it seems time passes quicker on Earth than on Gaea.

But this topic remains an enigma for me...         (Van’s royal status)

[ Escaflowne voice meme made by @drkstars-art ]

PART 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

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2. Who is your favorite character and why? Was it love at first sight?  Has any of their qualities or quirks swayed you on characters in other series?

Instinctively, Van.

He was my favorite character right from the beggining. And despite I now love the vast majority of characters (for many different reasons), I'm still really attached to him.

WHY ? > Mainly because Van's story is the (painful and challenging) process of a boy growing up to finally become a man.

He has the widest range of emotions through out the series, which makes him very realistic and human.

He is the combination of a Life of Duty, Fight, Revenge with the tough, rebelous and doubtful period of adolescence. These two concepts confront inside him and I just love the dynamic it gives to his character :

- Deep inside, Van is a shy, kind, sensitive, pacifist and simple young man > But must endorse a King role he never aimed to and has to learn to fight and kill if needed.

- He lacks of self confidence, is also very impulsive and wholehearted with his beliefs (he is still a teenager after all) > But has to deal with many adult and overwhelming situations (with other royals, leaders, politics...)

- Physically, he is quite small for his age and pretty puny > But reveals being strenghful, mature (on many aspects) and determined. Plus, very dangerous in critical situations :

When he kills several Zaibach soldiers in Energist mine.

When he slaughters all Dilandau’s soldiers.

When he finds and enters Zaibach invisible forteress 

I just love this contrast !

Gaea is a violent world for his kind soul. But he finally accepts his fate and deals with it the best he can, even if it's too heavy for his young and small shoulders.

He internalizes his suffering most of the time and that's why I sympathize so much for him.

His resilience always impressed me.

> He lost almost everything at the beginning of the story, but manages to overcome the situation. We clearly see Balgus' influence in him. (I always loved Balgus. A strong, stoic, proud but so reliable and very kind man. An excellent father figure for any young becoming man.)

By the way, I love the fact that the promise Balgus made to Hitomi to find a way to send her back home foreshadows Van x Hitomi relationship all over the series until its very end.

" We will find a way to send you back on Mystic Moon." " A Fanelian warrior never lies. "

Indeed, Van never lies to Hitomi. By friendship (and because he genuily understands her sadness for being separated from her family), he takes up the promise Balgus made her...

...and reminds her later (in a bitter way) Even if he is deeply irritated by her presence on the moment, frustrated and full of jealousy towards Allen : he WILL keep his promise.

And he will. Definitely. Despite their mutual love. I don't think many young men would do the same. That's why I find him so special. Was it love at first sight ?   > Here was the very first time I saw him.

Frankly, how can it not be a love at first sight ? I knew nothing about his character, neither the story of ESCAFLOWNE. But I instantanly understood in this scene he was desperatly in love with this girl kissing a "perfect blondie man" and that all his hopes just gone up in smoke ! I felt so bad for him... (I feel the same each time I rewatch this scene.)

(Second dose... In case the viewer would not really get how much his heart is broken !) Honestly... How can a heartbreak be so beautifully portrayed and hurt so hard in a single image !? I also love watching him get irritated and not understanding his own feelings. He saves and protects Hitomi most of the time but, paradoxally, is unable to properly express his love to her. He is so lost on that topic ! To finish : his character taught me a lesson on humanity has a young teenage : > The most dangerous person may not be the one who attacks, cheats, enforces domination or hurts people in the first place.... 

[ Escaflowne voice meme made by @drkstars-art ] I discovered this meme some weeks ago. Reading the questions and other fan answers, I thought it would be nice to do mine. (I did it with text and images.) Some answers are quite long (mostly for questions 2, 3 and 5) but I decided to not shorten them. I also voluntary skipped some because I had nothing particular to say. So, if you enjoyed my thoughts, feel free to share your own with me here and do your own ESCAFLOWNE Voice meme (if not done yet) ! With that said : Good Reading !

  PART 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

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1. Introduce yourself! When did you first watch Escaflowne? What brought you into the fold?

[ Sketch of the day ]

Flipping through one of my Nobuteru YUKI’s artbooks (Senshi Bankou), I stopped once again on his Escaflowne flower illustrations. For more a decade, I never asked myself why Yuki has drawn flowers around the characters. (I thought it was just a nice ornament.) It’s only recently I felt that - maybe - these flowers have a signification. So I made some research on flower language… And I saw these wonderful illustrations with a brand new eye ! [ DISCLAIMER : I’m French and I did some researches in my language. Maybe flowers have different meanings in other cultures, but it seems they have big similarities between japanese and french (so why not for others !). I found this exercice very pleasant and instructive. ]

HITOMI (Daisy flower)

This pretty white flower with a yellow heart evokes Innocence, Candour and Purity. Delicate and Feminine, it is the symbol of Youth, but also of Fidelity.

VAN (Purple Iris)

Iris flower has different meanings to different people and cultures. Here are some of its meanings: - Royalty - Confidence - Wisdom - Hope - Courage

MERLE (Sunflower)

The specificity of sunflower is to follow the sun’s path. In that way, sunflower represents unwavering Loyalty and Sincerity. It stands for Admiration and Praise.

ALLEN (Red Rose)

Emblematic symbol of Passion and Love. This love is both Deep, full of Longing and intense Desire. It is also the symbol of Devotion. But it can also represent Blood or a Wound.

MILLERNA (Pink Lily)

Symbol of Majesty and Royalty. Elegant and refined, the pink lily flower is associated with Purity and Beauty of Youth, but also with Rebirth, Dynamism and Passion. It’s also a symbol of Tenderness and Affection.

DILANDAU (Narcissus Flower)

Like the myth of Narcissus - in love with his own reflection - this flower symbolizes : - Vanity - Egocentricity - Self-satisfaction Depending on the culture, the Narcissus flower can also evoke Death.

FOLKEN (Black Tulip)

Symbol of intense, eternal Love that lives in Suffering. This love can be between two lovers or between family members. But the tulip can also evoke Forgotten or Neglected Love. It can then accompany the Loss of a Loved one. Thanks to its elegance, it also symbolises Royalty.

NARIA & ERIYA (Adonis / Pheasant's Eye)

* also known as Fukujusō in Japan.

(Thank you @visarcana​ for finding the name of this flower !) In greek mythology, Adonis was an Aphrodite’s lover, killed by Artemis. Adonis flower evokes Heartache but also Melancholic Memories (a painful memory that we cannot get rid of). Fukujusō means in japanese: Fortune.

DRYDEN (Strelitzia)

* also known as Paradise Bird

The meanings of Paradise Bird flower are many : - Freedom. This flower is a symbol of freedom, like a free bird in the air. It reminds us to let go of our worries and embark on a new adventure. - Success and Excellence. - Optimism and Joy. It reminds us to always be cheerful and keep a smile on our face, no matter how difficult life gets. - Faithfulness.

VAN x HITOMI (Edelweiss)