Product Details

• Actors: Johnny Yong Bosch, Kari Wahlgren, Crispin Freeman, Steven Jay Blum, Julie Anne Taylor
• Directors: Kôichi Chigira, Kristi Reed, Eric P. Sherman
• Format: Box set, Color, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 7
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
• DVD Release Date: December 14, 2004
• Run Time: 650 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303133185
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #67,182 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
LIMITED EDITION BOX SET CONTAINS: • Vol. 1: First Move; Vol. 2: Positional Play; Vol. 3: Discovered Attack; Vol. 4: Breakthrough; Vol. 5: Grand Stream; Vol. 6: Queen Delphine; Vol. 7: Sealed Move – IN A COLLECTOR'S BOX! • Limited edition mouse pad (OUTSIDE THE BOX) • Limited edition figurine (OUTSIDE THE BOX)

Set consists of the following titles:

LAST EXILE: VOLUME 1: FIRST MOVE

Japan's top anime creators bring a richly romantic action/adventure fantasy in an imaginary planet where retro-futuristic sky vehicles permeate the skies. Against this lavish background are the lives of young and heroic van ship sky porters – Claus and Lavie – who are forced to take on the mission to deliver a mysterious girl, Alvis, to the battle ship Silvana. Before they know it, they become entangled in an aerial adventure between two countries griped in an eternal war of magnificent air battleships. DVD EXTRAS:  Non-Credit Opening  Original Japanese Opening  Promotion Trailer  Staff Interview (Mahiro Maeda)  Art Gallery  Pioneer Previews
LAST EXILE: POSITIONAL PLAY: VOL. 2 Claus and Lavie deliver Alvis to the airship Silvana's captain, Alex Row. But much to Claus' anger, Alex Row accepts Alvis inhumanely into the Silvana and leaves the duo and their damaged ship behind. Claus and Lavie fly to the Silvana to retrieve Alvis, but the airship is savagely attacked by Guild-controlled, star-shaped vessels. Claus and Lavie are forced to take on the attackers with a borrowed Silvana vanship. The Silvana is severely damaged. Dio Eraclea of the Guild flagship notices Claus' unusual flying talents and vows to have a duel with him. More than ever, Claus and Lavie realize they are wrapped up in the mysterious conspiracies of war controlled by the omnipotent Guild. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:  Non-Credit Ending  Original Japanese Ending  Commercial Collections  Art Gallery  Geneon Animation Previews
LAST EXILE: DISCOVERED ATTACK: VOL. 3 Claus and Lavie participate in an eight-hour endurance vanship race, and are joined by Dio Eraclea who tries to befriend Claus. Tatiana also participates in the race, but she is actually on a secret mission under Alex Row's direction. In the meantime, Alex row bids for the mysterious "Exile Dorr" at a black market auction, but he is forced to withdraw from the bidding by the Guild. The Exile Door ends up in the hands of Delphine, the supreme leader of the Guild. And it becomes increasingly apparent that Alvis Hamilton is the key to the Exile. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:  LAST EXILE Exhibition in Tokyo, Art Gallery and Geneon Animation Previews
LAST EXILE: BREAKTHROUGH: VOL. 4 Claus and Tatiana are thrown together to fly a vanship to defend Silvana from a massive attack orchestrated by Anatoray, and Tatiana begins to confide in Claus when the two make an emergency landing. Sophia, who is revealed to be of royal lineage, leaves Silvana, and inherits a leading role in the Anatoray army. And Claus discovers through an old photograph the secret relationship between his vanship, his and Lavie's deceased fathers, Captain Alex Row and the Grand Stream, all of which leads us closer to the meaning of the Exile. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:  LAST EXILE Exhibition in Tokyo  Art Gallery  GENEON Animation Previews
LAST EXILE: GRAND STREAM: VOLUME 5 Claus and Lavie's fathers died attempting to cross the Grand Stream to deliver a message from Anatoray to Disith. Empress Sophia obtains a copy of the original message and discovers it suggested the two empires join forces to defeat the Guild and obtain peace in the skies! However, to defeat the Guild, one must take possession of the Exile, so Empress Sophia plans to command the Silvana to cross the turbulent Grand Stream to locate the Exile. Can they accomplish this dangerous feat within the critical six days? DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:  Textless Opening Version  Art Gallery  Geneon Animation Previews
LAST EXILE: QUEEN DELPHINE: VOL. 6 Claus and Dio return to the Silvana from their vanship expedition to search for the Exile, only to find that the Silvana has been hijacked by the Guild. Delphine takes Alvis, Claus and Alex Row hostage and transports them to the Guild ship. Delphine attempts to lure Alex to provide all the mysterions open Exile gateway. Dio is declared the official successor of his sister Delphine after he is forced to partake of a series of rite of passage ceremonies. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:

 Art Gallery and Geneon Animation Previews
LAST EXILE: SEALED MOVE: VOL. 7 With Luciola's help, Claus, Alvis and Dio escape the Guild ship while Delphine continues to hold Alex Row hostage and tortures him. Anatoray and Disith continue to wage an all-out war against the Guild and many sacrifice their lives attempting to prevent Delphine from gaining complete control of the Exile. Under Sophia's orders, Claus, Lavie and Alvis fly through the Grand Stream toward the Exile to complete their final mission in this heart-pounding conclusion! DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:  Geneon Previews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing series that non-anime fans would enjoy, January 10, 2005

By	Michael Kim (Elk Grove, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I discovered this wonderful anime series by accident. I was watching TV at my sister's house flipping the channels when on Tech TV I saw this anime show with flying battleships and characters wearing 19th century uniforms. After a few minutes I was drawn into this imaginary world, whether its a alternative universe or the future, is left up to the viewer. I am not a big fan of Japanese anime but I found the world being portrayed fascinating. I made the investment in purchasing the whole DVD collection, 26 episodes. This was one of my best purchases ever made. Last Exile takes place in an world divided between two human kingdoms, Anatoray and Disith, which are at war. The society and technology portrayed is a mish mash of different periods of the past. Most people seem to exist in a late 19th/early 20th century existence with hints of industrialization. The political system is an aristocracy with a Emperor ruling Anatoray with feudal lords, dukes, princes, etc. controlling territory and serving as leaders of the military. One of the creators, in an interview in the first DVD, mentioned how he was inspired by Weimar Germany period, 1919-1933. The movie does has a European feel to it. The aristocratic women dress in Renaissance outfits with the puffed out skirts and bodices while the aristocratic men and soldiers dress in military style 19th century uniforms. The nobility place great emphasis on honor and chivalry. But on this primitive foundation the people of this world called Prestar can fly in the skies using some type of magnetic levitation technology and its in the skies that the war between Anatoray and Disith is fought. The Anatoray ships are similar to Dreadnaught or pre-Dreadnaught style battleships, the type that fought at Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese War and Jutland during WWI with their drab color, steel armor, masts, and turrets with cannons. Ship to ship communication is done with signal flares and Morse code light beacons. Also all the instruments are analog, no fancy digital displays. The land dwellers are not alone and are dominated by the Guild. The Guild are a race of highly develop humans who are much more technologically advanced and provide the land dwellers the technology to fly their massive ships in the sky. The Guild seems to decide what technology the human population have access to so they have some electricity but no radios. The Guild reside in the Grand Stream, a region of high speed winds that serve as a barrier between Anatoray and Disith. The Guild sets the rules of the war and are suppose to serve as impartial arbiters but as can be seen in the first episode they decide to change the rules. In this interesting world are Claus Vlaca and Lavie Head, both 15 years old life long friends and orphans, who scratch out a living serving as couriers flying a Van Ship. Van Ships are small personal flying craft that look like roadsters from the 1920/30s with the elongated front section housing the engine, with hood ornaments, and open cockpits. Claus and Lavie dream of crossing the Grand Stream to complete the mission that killed their fathers who tried to cross the Stream to deliver a message from Anatoray to Disith. They lives are fundamentally changes when the meet up with Alvis (Al) Hamilton, an 11 year old girl, who holds the key to Exile although its not clear what exactly Exile is until well into the story. Claus and Lavie deliver Al to the warship Silvana a free agent ship both feared by Disith and Anatoray where they meet up with the enigmatic brooding captain Alex Rowe who has a tortured past and his XO the beautiful intelligent Sophia Forrester who has her own secrets. Chess plays an important role in the story and we see many of the characters play it and the title of the episodes are based on chess and give an indication as to what is going on in the story.
The animation is gorgeous using a combination of traditional hand drawing and CGI. The battle scenes, the scenery, the skies are pure eye candy. The music is great and the sound is wonderful and realistic. The plot is interesting with many elements that all come together in the end. I enjoyed the character development. Most of the main characters are teenagers so issues that young people face at that age are brought up, including loss of innocence especially during a time of war, love and romance, following ones own destiny versus what's expected of you from your family or because of ones social position. The story has a lot of action and adventure but also some nice intimate human elements. Even if you are not a fan of Japanese anime but like a good adventure story with elements of sci-fi and fantasy I would highly recommend this. This series is better than 99% of what Hollywood puts out in terms of creativity, plot, and characters. I find myself caring more for the characters in this anime series than supposedly live actors in a movie or TV show. Perhaps you can rent the first episode on DVD and see if you like it.
Each DVD has some extras although it consists mainly of an art gallery and non-text opening and closing credits. There is an interesting interview with the creative director on the first DVD, First Move.
The sound is Dolby 2.0 which is a bit disappointing although I was able to use all the speakers in my entry level home theater system by switching to the analog input.
The series is rated PG-13. The rating reflects violence during a time of war, you see people getting shot, stabbed, and an strangulation. The language is clean and there is no nudity, scantily clad women or overt sexual references. Except for a few scenes you can probably watch this in front of kids although someone under 13 will probably not understand the plot.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLE!, July 3, 2006

By	Niko - See all my reviews

The outline of my review is as follows:
- brief storyline
- explanations about the `mysterious language' that is used in the series
- additional facts about the anime
- answer to the question of buying it or not and why

The storyline (Spoilers included).

I will try to give a general picture of the story and its main protagonists so that the reader will be able to grasp the main idea of these series without giving too much away.

The main story resolves around the main protagonists, Claus and Lavie. These are the children who fly a Vanship (an aircraft that resembles more the aircrafts of the First and Second World War) in order to deliver messages across the country; that is basically how the story starts. Their parents used to be best friends and Vanship pilots as well but died on a mission inside the Grand Stream - which was to deliver a ten stars message, so important was the message (and that is what the ten stars mean) that something like this never has occurred before (for obvious reasons I cannot get too much into the story or I will give too much away, I am sorry).
Then both of the main protagonists will get caught in the middle of a war going on between Anatoray and Disith, two nations that usually fight their battles in airships that resemble more the naval ships in the Middle Ages but the difference is that they are airships instead of sea ships. Over them is the Guild, which provides both nations with the necessary technology and makes sure that both nations follow specific rules, in other words they take advantage of all this war. The Guild's Queen is called Delphine and her brother Dio and his bodyguard Luciola will play a great part later on.
In addition, we have a battleship that does not belong to any of the previous mentioned parties, the Silvana, in which captain is Alex Row, after him in rank is Sophia who will prove later on to be a princess. Tatiana, who plays also a main role, is a top pilot in the Silvana.
In the end, everything will resolve around the Grand Stream, the Last Exile, the relationships that all the characters will develop among them and how they will act during the battles. Key to all this will be Alvis, a young girl, that is basically the key for the Last Exile.


The `mysterious language'

If you watch the series than the language that is used in letters or on the battle ships may seem Greek to you; and guess what, it is Greek. To be more specific, it is Ancient Greek. My own personal complain is that although in some parts it was accurate but in others, it was completely inaccurate (referring to the way it was used). I assume that the creators were trying to bring across a mystique of the series. Apart from my personal complain, the creators did achieve in bringing across this mystique.



Additional facts about the anime

- To begin with, the animation is breathtaking. Not to mention the fact how good all the air-battles are done.
- The character development is great and the music is marvelous.
- Also, if you prefer to watch a series in dub than I have good news for you: The dub is so well done that only a few series can match the one of `The Last Exile', like the one of Cowboy Bebop etc.
- A reviewer wrote that some questions are left unanswered. Something that is not correct because some things were implied and not given straight away.
- The story and the plot are not just interesting and solid but ones you start watching it, you are glued on your sits till it is over. Additionally, the plot has many twists and will keep you guessing till the end.
- Moreover, main characters will die and the story gets very emotional as well.
- Last but not least, by watching `The Last Exile' the viewer will be caught up in a romantic, action, adventure, fantasy, retro-futuristic world, or should I say sky ;-)



Buying it or not and why

My personal opinion is that it is worth buying it and having it in your collection (a statement that I do not make very often). I admit, that to some it may seem a little bit expensive but I honestly believe that the specific series is a must buy.Additional, a reviewer said that he or she, did not get what is shown in the picture. Personally I bought mine from Amazon and you GET what you see in the picture (7 DVDs, a mouse paid and a doll, well no comments on that ;-P)

I hope that I could help you and provide you with some helpful information about the series. If so please click on the yes bottom below :-)

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Anime, February 12, 2006

By	Antonio D. Paolucci "Collector of Entertainment" (Beaver Falls, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Last Exile - The Murata Range Complete Set Edition (DVD)

To better explain the title of this review, every separate element of the anime Last Exile just works well. And when put together, it made for the perfect all-around anime. The story, the characters, the action, the music, and even this specific collection, the Range Murata edition, all of it is here and done with complete care and excellence.

To start, I'll begin with the story. It follows mostly two vanship couriers named Claus and Lavie, who are chasing their fathers' dreams of flying through the Grand Stream, a wind vortex that blows constant, swirling, hurricane-caliber winds. But because of a young girl named Alvis, who Claus and Lavie swear to protect, they are mixed into the ongoing war between the Anatory and the Disith, whose efforts for peace failed ten years before during Claus and Lavie's fathers' attempt at crossing the Grand Stream. In the background of this war are the Guild, a powerful people who controls the world with superior technology and their ability to move in and out of the Grand Stream at will. One ship, however, chooses not to follow anyone, and that is the Silvana.

During their journey, Claus and Lavie meet many interesting characters, and without all of these characters, this series definitely wouldn't have been as good. After Claus and Lavie, the other main characters are Alex, the captain of the Silvana, and Sophia, the first-officer of the Silvana. Alex's arch-enemy, Delphine, leads the Guild. Also involved is her younger brother Dio, a strange kind of free-spirit, along with his ever-present protector Lucciola. Tatiana and Alistair, Claus and Lavie's compatriot vanship pilots, lead the a raucous group of vanship mechanics, who are definitely meant as comic relief. Also, I can't forget to mention Mullen, the musketeer unhappy with his dangerous life and wanting a change. Everyone of these characters offers their own unique spin to this series, and never once was I overwhelmed by the massive cast (there are a lot more characters who play more minor roles that I didn't mention).

I've yet to find an anime that compares to the action in Last Exile. All I can say is that the air-battles in this series easily rivals if not surpasses the ones found in Star Wars. And none of it is redundant. Have you ever watched an anime that adds action merely to get to the end of an episode? Last Exile doesn't do that. If the plot does not call for action, then it doesn't happen, therefore nothing ever feels forced.

As for the music, there are few anime that so perfectly provided a soundtrack that matched as well as this one did. In fact, I can only name three--Cowboy Bebop, FLCL, and Samurai Champloo. The airy sound matches the theme and the action of the story and plays well to present the emotion of each scene. This is the only anime I've let play all the way through. Usually, I skip the opening and ending credits, where as this time, I put the DVD in and the only time I ever touched the remote was to start the episodes or to pause it for bathroom breaks. That's because of the opening and ending themes.

Last Exile is one of those anime that anyone can enjoy. In fact, I've found only one problem with this anime: it ends. But this is a common problem found in all anime, even the greatest. I can't recommend this highly enough, especially this edition of Last Exile. All of the DVDs have everything they had on their original release (special features, previews), but on the front and back covers of each DVD case is art from Range Murata, and on the inside is a painting and description of one of the seven important ships found in Last Exile. If you haven't already purchased Last Exile, now is your chance.