Fox Kids Introduced a Generation of Anime Fans to Mecha With This Series

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Although Cartoon Network’s Toonami and Adult Swim played a significant role in introducing western audiences to various anime series, they were not the only means through which anime reached North America. In fact, years before the arrival of Toonami, network television frequently aired anime, though often in heavily edited versions. Shows such as Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Voltron were common Saturday morning programming, offering many viewers their initial glimpse into anime’s grandeur. Interestingly, Fox Kids is where one of the most popular mech series was introduced to North American viewers, and you might be surprised to learn which one it was.

Instead of falling squarely into the genre of mechanical combat series like “Mobile Suit Gundam” and “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” “The Vision of Escaflowne” stands out with its unique blend of supernatural elements and technology. It also introduced one of the earliest examples of Isekai, a popular subgenre in anime. Unlike most stories under the “Gundam” umbrella, “Escaflowne” follows the journey of main character Hitomi Kanzaki, who is transported from Earth to the planet Gaea and must adapt to her new surroundings while seeking a way home. Despite the difference in storyline, “Escaflowne” shares a commonality with other mech franchises as both were produced by Sunrise, now known as Bandai Namco Filmworks.

Fox’s Escaflowne

In a different take, let’s title this piece Escaflowne. Unlike the significant edits made on iconic series like Dragon Ball Z and One Piece, Fox didn’t follow the same approach with Escaflowne. However, they did abbreviate the original anime significantly, airing just ten episodes before its cancellation. Similar to those two shonen series, Fox Kids introduced a more “American” opening theme for viewers who might not have been keen on the original Japanese soundtrack of the show.

Interestingly enough, Escaflowne garnered surprising popularity in North America, outpacing even the renowned Gundam series. The VHS and DVD editions of the Mobile Suit franchise frequently ran out due to its demand. Although it significantly influenced the anime world, serving as an excellent gateway for many western viewers into mech anime, a follow-up series was never announced. In fact, the last anime production set in this universe was the 2000 compilation film.

These days, a follow-up or revival of the classic anime series “Escaflowne” could find itself in excellent company. Given its position as one of the earliest “isekai” series, this is quite fitting. Interestingly enough, Inuyasha might be an ideal choice to follow suit, considering that Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon recently returned with a sequel that surprised many fans. Fortunately, if you’re interested in revisiting the original “Escaflowne” anime, you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video. The good news is that it isn’t limited to the ten episodes that made their way to North America.

Fox Kids’ Anime Endeavors

Before streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and specialized programming blocks such as Toonami and Adult Swim became prevalent, Fox Kids served as a significant platform for Western audiences to watch anime. Although Escaflowne didn’t gain enough popularity for all its episodes to air in the West, it didn’t deter Fox Kids from introducing many popular anime series to North America. Shows like Digimon Adventure, Cybersix, Monster Rancher, Flint The Time Detective, Medabots, Shaman King, and Kinnikuman initially gained prominence due to Fox Kids. Among these, it was indisputable that Digimon emerged as one of the most popular series, rivaling Pokemon in the anime world.

These days, anime has significantly less censorship compared to the past, which is great for those who want to fully experience anime narratives. In earlier times, many had to shell out high prices for physical copies, but with modern technology, anime is easily accessible, allowing a series like Escaflowne to reach a new fanbase. Being both a mech series and an isekai, The Vision of Escaflowne continues to be relevant.

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2025-04-19 23:13