In 2013, the German label Nipponart released a new box set of Escaflowne. The important thing: The episodes 1 to 4 and 6 & 7 are now available as regular TV Version and longer Director's Cuts. The quality of said release is enhanced as well.

 

The opening and ending match the ones from the TV Version. In other words, the quality of those is inferior to the rest of the Director's Cut episodes but that is acceptable.

 

Compared are the TV Version and the Director's Cut (both available in the German Collector's Edition box set by Dybex/Nipponart.

 

 

With 86.68 seconds, the additional footage is a little shorter than it was in episode 2. The 5 new scenes and an altered one are a nice addition though and increase the quality of the episode.

6:42 (6:42 TV Version)
Neuw scene in the DC.
3.76 sec

11:49 (11:45 TV Version)
Longer scene in the DC: Hitomi and Van look startled while Allen Schezar goes back in the house. Gaddes comes into the room and reports about the arrival of the Zaibacher troups. Van and Hitomi are watching them. Allen then speaks to both before he leaves the room and closes the door
36.64 sec

12:32 (11:52 TV Version)
Different shot: Only in the DC, one also gets to see Dilandau and her soldiers. For that reason, Dilandau's comment is missing in the TV Version.
no difference

TV Version	Director's Cut

12:35 (11:54 TV Version)
New scene in the DC. Dilandau and her soldiers are at the gate at Allen's fortress. She makes a snarky comment about them before they pass the bridge.
Then a scene with Hitomi, Van and Gaddes. Van wants Gaddes to let him out of the room but Gaddes refuses.
23.64 sec

18:20 (17:16 TV Version)
Additional scene of Van's Hitomi's escape in the DC: Van is in a rush and expresses that very directly.
14.56 sec

20:16 (18:58 TV Version)
Before the fight between Van and Allen, the DC contains an additional scene showing a guy who accepts beds on the fight.
8.08 sec