Appleseed
by Kazuyoshi Katayama
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Julia Braams, Mika Doi, Toshio Furukawa, Y?suke Akimoto, Yuzuru FujimotoDirector: Kazuyoshi Katayama
Writer: Kazuyoshi Katayama
Producer: Atsushi Sugita
Producer: Hirohiko Sueyoshi
Producer: Masaki Sawanobori
Producer: Shinji Nakagawa
Producer: Shoji Murahara
Writer: Masamune Shirow
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Running Time: 71 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-04-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Manga Video
Movie Reviews of Appleseed
Movie Review: I thought Shinji Aramaki's Appleseed film was a stronger production
Summary: 2 Stars
This OVA is loosely based on the Appleseed manga series. While the OVA and the manga share the same characters and setting, the storyline for the OVA deviates from the story told in the manga.
The OVA runs for a little over an hour, and I think this short runtime is to the production's detriment. When I watched the DVD, I felt the storytelling was rather choppy. The only reason I was able to follow what was going on was the fact that I had seen Shinji Aramaki's 2004 film version of Appleseed. If it hadn't been for that, I would have been rather lost as to what was going on. Personally, I think this OVA version of Appleseed would have been stronger if there was a longer runtime, and that a significant portion of the expanded runtime was spent giving a little more background on the characters. Deunan and Briareos are so undeveloped as characters in the OVA, that it's hard to really care about them. And considering that they are supposed to be the heroes of the story, this isn't a good thing.
The animation isn't too bad in the Appleseed OVA. While it's nothing groundbreaking, it's still a good example of the typical style of animation being used in Japan during the late 1980's. However, I wish a stronger script was used for this production.
The extras were rather unimpressive on this DVD release. The character bios are two page write-ups for the characters that include a picture. This was probably the best extra on the disc, but Calon was not included. Considering he's a major part of the story, I thought this was a major oversight.
The "Japanese production credits" are a credit roll that includes the Japanese voice actors. Considering this is already included at the end of the OVA, this seemed like a waste of an extra. The remaining extras were all advertisements for Manga Entertainment (Manga Video Previews, Merchandise & Catalogue, and Manga DVD Catalogue). There are also Palm Pictures DVD previews and weblinks for Manga Entertainment, Palm Pictures, and Sputnik 7.
Personally, I prefer the 2004 film version of Appleseed over this OVA production. However, if you are a fan of the Appleseed OVA, you need to acquire this release, since it is the only way to own the production on DVD.
Summary of Appleseed
Based on the captivating manga comic book series created by the acclaimed Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), Appleseed is a high-octane, action packed race against time as the future of civilization hangs in the balance. After the devastation of World War III, the scattered governments of the world construct the perfect city - but life in Olympus is carefully controlled and monitored by Biodroids - artificially created half-human half-robots. A dedicated band of terrorists plot to destroy the central computer to restore freedom to mankind.Based on a manga series by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), Appleseed is an interesting, early mecha adventure. After World War III, "General Management Control Office" created the model city of Olympus for the survivors. They also created the "Biodroids," half-human cyborgs designed to serve humanity. Dunan Nats is a tough female cop; her partner, Buliarous Hekatonecles, was badly injured in the war and rebuilt with mechanical limbs and sensors. Together they pursue a cyborg terrorist and a rogue officer who want to destroy Olympus, which they see as an elaborate cage that limits human freedom. Released the same year, 1988, Akira pointed the way to much of the future of anime. Appleseed largely summarized its past. The character designs display a strong Western influence, the mecha are simpler than they would become in a few years, the violence looks tame by contemporary standards, and the chase sequences are accompanied by what sounds like elevator music. Although Dunan is clearly the ancestor of Motoko in Ghost in the Shell, she keeps her clothes on. Significantly, the forces of law and order emerge victorious, rather than the freedom-seeking rebels of this elegant dystopia. "For Mature Audiences Only"; suitable for ages 16 and up for violence and considerable profanity. --Charles Solomon
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