Region 4 Winners and Losers

    The Region 1 version that I have is part of a limited edition box set, with eight DVDs in a flip-top box (quite an attractive box); the limited edition also includes an exclusive Escaflowne figurine. The first volume of the Region 4 release is available with a simple box (no fliptop, no figure, no excessive price!).

    The second disc of the box set contains the same episodes as this Region 4 one. The R1 cover is dark and gloomy. The R4 is light and bright with flowers, which has nothing to do with the episodes, but is definitely more attractive.

    The Region 4 disc is missing:

• folded piece of paper ("booklet") with a couple of paragraphs of background information on the floating stones of Gaea and their use in flight.

    The Region 1 disc is missing:

• creditless ending
• production sketches gallery
• soundtracks at 224kbps (the R1 soundtracks are 192kbps)
• a second layer (the R1 disc is single layered)
• attractive picture label (the R1 has a simple text label)

    The R1 has different trailers (for Don't Leave Me Alone Daisy, Saber Marionette J, Jubei-chan, and Outlaw Star), but that's not important.

    The only extra the two share is the Club Escaflowne piece with the voice actors.

    The Region 1 transfer does not show interleaving like the Region 4, but it shows at least as much aliasing, and is a bit darker. At normal speed, the two are roughly equivalent to the eye, but I think the R1 is a little cleaner.

    The Region 1 menu is a bit messy — I definitely prefer the Region 4's menus.

    Despite the differences, I'd call this match pretty much even.