Two broken people summoned into war by forces neither understands, each convinced they deserve to disappear. The animation doesn't just support this story, it is the story, every frame dripping with the weight of characters who've already given up. Van and Hitomi don't save each other through some magical bond; they survive each other, and by the end you realize that was always the point. The soundtrack reinforces every moment of despair until you can't separate the music from the hurt. Fans of the TV series will reject this version entirely, and they're not wrong to feel betrayed, but this film knows exactly what it chose to sacrifice, and it chose correctly.

Hitomi Kanzaki is sunk so deep in depression that she only wants to sleep and fade away. Her despair draws the attention of Lord Folken, who sends her to the world of Gaea. There, people take her for the Wing Goddess, a figure able to summon the legendary Dragon Armor known as Escaflowne. Gaea's King Van, the only survivor of the White Dragon Clan, is just as troubled. He lives by the sword and has sworn revenge on the Black Dragon Clan, who wiped out his kingdom. With the Wing Goddess finally here, the fate of Gaea rests in her heart, and Escaflowne may bring the world either peace or complete ruin. The film blends fantasy, mecha action and romance.