The character of Hitomi in Escaflowne: The Movie is a significant departure from her portrayal in the television series, reimagined as a deeply melancholic and isolated figure. She is introduced as a depressed high school student who feels profoundly lonely and disconnected from her friends and family, to the point that the narrative implies she is contemplating her own disappearance or death. Her initial emotional state is one of profound melancholy and self-loathing, which causes her to push away those closest to her. This version of Hitomi does not possess the psychic powers or interest in tarot card readings that define her television counterpart; instead, her latent potential is recognized by others, who refer to her as the legendary Winged Goddess, a being capable of awakening the mystical Dragon Armor known as Escaflowne. Her arrival in the fantastical world of Gaea is less an accident and more a summons from her own despair, as her wish to disappear responds to the otherworldly presence of Lord Folken.

Upon arriving in Gaea, Hitomi is bewildered by her new surroundings, a strange land where ships fly and anthropomorphic cat people exist. Rather than a proactive figure driven by premonitions, she is initially passive and withdrawn, reacting to the events unfolding around her. Her role in the story is to serve as a kindred spirit to the vengeful and headstrong King Van Fanel, a young ruler whose kingdom has been destroyed and who lives only for revenge. Both are wounded individuals, and their connection forms the emotional core of the film. Her status as the Winged Goddess makes her a sought-after prize, placing her at the center of a conflict between various factions who wish to use her power for their own ends, whether to bring harmony or destruction to the world of Gaea.

Hitomi's primary motivation throughout the film is to overcome the deep melancholy that defines her, and her character development is centered on this struggle. Her journey is not about learning to control newfound psychic abilities but about slowly emerging from her depression and finding a reason to live and connect with others again. This growth is catalyzed by her bond with Van; as she witnesses his pain and determination, she begins to break free from her own emotional isolation. A notable part of her development involves her falling in love with Van, a shift that drastically alters her perspective and gives her a renewed sense of purpose. While her athletic abilities from her time on her school's track team remain an asset, she does not have any supernatural abilities or combat skills. Her true power is passive and enigmatic, lying in her very existence as the Winged Goddess, a title she neither understands nor knows how to control.