The popular anime series Escaflowne is making the leap to DVD thanks to the good folks at Pioneer. Three separate DVD releases are scheduled for the coming months including Escaflowne: Limited Edition Perfect Version Box Set which contains all twenty six episodes of the 1996 Japanese television series and Escaflowne: The Movie which will come as a movie only and a special edition.

In the television series Hitomi Kanzaki is a typical high school girl, with typical high school problems. But when her vision of a young man battling a dragon becomes a reality, her life changes forever. Drawn into a strange vortex with the swordsman, Van, Hitomi is thrust into the strange world of gaia. Entangled in a struggle over life and death, Van must learn to master the suit of armor, Escaflowne. Chased by the Empire of Zaibach, Van and Hitomi will encounter both allies and enemies in an effort to unlock the secrets within Escaflowne.

The set will contain all the episodes in their original fullscreen ratio with audio in the original Japanese with optional English subtitles or in an English stereo dub. The set will contain the “Club Escaflowne” featurette, a music video and a trailer.

In the feature film, Gaia – a mythical realm ruled by sword and sorcery and immersed in blood and violence. Thrust into a conflict he doesn’t quite understand, Hitomi helps aid the young Prince Van as they embark upon their journey of discovery. The battle over a legendary suit of dragon armor, Escaflowne, has begun.

The film will be displayed in anamorphic widescreen with audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. The movie-only edition will carry a trailer, overlapping realtime storyboards and an isolated score audio track. The special edition will be a multi-disc set which includes the making of “Escaflowne” featurette, a musical performance by Maaya Sakamoto, a trailer, a production art gallery, staff interviews, “Escaflowne” premiere event interviews and Anime Expo premiere footage.

All arriving on July 23rd, the series, basic movie edition and special edition will be priced at $199.98, $29.98 and $54.98 respectively.