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 set is available with a simple box (no fliptop, no figure, no excessive price!)

    The third disc of the box set contains the same episodes as this Region 4 one. The R1 cover is dark and fraught, with characters looking distant or anxious. The R4 is light and bright with roses and a romantic image of Allen, which has little 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 Empire of Zaibach — containing a big spoiler about the Emperor, so I think we're better off without it!
• Dolby Digital Trailer Egypt

    The Region 1 disc is missing:

• creditless ending
• production sketches gallery
• soundtracks at 224kbps (R1 soundtracks are 192kbps)

    The R1 has different trailers (for Gundam Wing, Angel Links, Saber Marionette J, and Crest of Stars), 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, some light background shimmer, the occasional small rainbow, and is a bit darker, which makes some details harder to see. At normal speed, the two are roughly equivalent to the eye. I think I prefer the Region 4 transfer, even with the interleaving.

    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.