Many Stranger Things fans are still reeling from all that took place in season four. Unfortunately, loyal fans will have to wait until season five for more storyline in that universe, which means that they’re likely looking for similar shows that hold up in story quality.
What draws viewers to the Stranger Things in the first place is its visually impressive and enthralling world, unique but nostalgic concept, and inspiring yet relatable characters. Fans hoping to discover a new series that could stand up to this structure may find what they’re looking for in the 1996 anime series, The Vision of Escaflowne.
The anime follows a high school girl with unusual powers who finds her own reality being interrupted by that of another world. There, she meets two young men, the King of Fanelia, Van, and a knight named Allen. She uses her powers to aid them in their war against the Zaibach empire who is attempting to overthrow their home of Gaea, and all the while learns more about her powers and even her past.
In many ways, this 90s series is an anime ahead of its time. It has empowering depictions of female characters (for that time period), features a relatively broad range of diversity among the characters, and examines human impact on the planet. The series even had a movie added to the franchise to further examine the complex world. Much like Stranger Things, it examines a universe that is both riddled in science and magic.
The tone of The Vision of Escaflowne is very similar to that of Stranger Things, as it weaves together several dark elements with vulnerable human emotions. Also like Stranger Things, it masterfully blends genres, adding several dense layers to the story. While Stranger Things walks the line between horror and sci-fi, The Vision of Escaflowne balances elements of sci-fi with fantasy. It does, however, take a couple of episodes for the blending between the two genres to become apparent, because initially it sort of just looks like robots and other futuristic technology in an otherwise Renaissance-looking, fantasy setting. While these two genres may seem to contrast each other, the series does an excellent job revealing how it’s all connected as the story goes on.
Another quality that’s similar to Stranger Things and is likely to appeal to viewers is that it has the structure and aesthetic of another decade. Being made in the 90s, several elements of the series reflect that decade, like the hairstyles, outfits, and concerns of the characters. The story itself, on the other hand, seems to defy time as it possesses the elements of so many different periods, ranging from Renaissance times to a tech-based future.
One element of Stranger Things’ iconic season four that fans couldn’t get enough of was the soundtrack, which complimented the story beautifully. While The Vision of Escaflowne isn’t likely to reveal any undiscovered hits from another decade, its soundtrack does mirror the story well. It is primarily made up of dramatic instrumental music that perfectly reflects the tone, action, and emotions in each scene. The music in this series isn’t necessarily catchy, but it definitely stirs the appropriate emotions. The music of the show was even released as CD soundtracks, though they weren’t globally produced.
Even the themes of the two shows are similar. Escaflowne focuses on the concept of fate, and themes of Stranger Thingsrevolve around owning one’s power. In Escaflowne, fate is examined as far more complex than being decided by one’s self vs. being decided by omniscient powers. In The Vision of Escaflowne, a person can decide the direction of their fate, and if they choose the right direction (doing good), things always work out. In Stranger Things, each of the primary characters has a sort of gift or power that makes them a valuable asset to the team, and the strength of those powers is determined by how well the owner embraces them. Both themes seem to sort of suggest that life is what one makes of their situation.
Beyond how it’s on par with Stranger Things, the show simply has a good storyline and structure. The plot itself is intellectual, action-packed and sprinkled with emotion throughout. The characters are believable and all stand out as unique, yet they still compliment each other and create interesting dynamics. Protagonist Hitomi, as a teenage girl struggling to understand her powers and use them to help those she cares about, is a lot like Eleven. The villain is surprisingly complex with an interesting backstory, and is actually quite similar to Vecna in his perception, goals, and even his voice.
While The Vision of Escaflowne was only produced for a year and had one film addition, it is a dense enough storyline to satisfy viewers looking for something new to immerse themselves in. If all the similar elements between it and Stranger Things aren’t enough to speak to the quality of Escaflowne, fans will just have to watch it and see for themselves.
The Vision of Escaflowne can currently be viewed on Funimation, Prime video, and other streaming platforms.