Masamune Shirow has been called many things, which include colorful terms such as "artist," "pervert," and "genius." Shirow has created many prolific works, including Ghost in the Shell, Dominion Tank Police, and Black Magic. He is renowned for his contributions to both anime and manga. It was only a matter of time until another of Shirow's works hit the silver screen. This time, the title of choice is Appleseed: a slick combination of impressive style, gritty science fiction, and a touching story to produce a breathtaking spectacle that belongs in every anime fan's collection.

Shirow has successfully crafted a beautiful tale of love, hate, and betrayal. Set in a dark, hopeless future, Deunan and Briareos play parts in a gritty, action-packed retelling of Beauty and the Beast. However, the romantic struggle between Deunan and Briareos are far from the central focus of the film. Instead, it is the secondary characters who truly take the spotlight. An uprising quickly becomes immanent as members of the human military plan a coup on the Bioroids (artificial humans, who were created as a balance to humanity's warlike ways). The situation becomes dire as the possibility of the Bioroids' extinction grows more and more plausible. Details are not minced, and viewers are exposed to the hatred the Bioroids face. The search for the enigmatic "Appleseed," which holds the secret to the prosperity of the Bioroids, becomes the true focus, as both sides struggle to gain hold of this enigmatic item. However, at the same time, it seems as if those who seek to save the Bioroids are hiding behind their own fears, and ambitions. The romantic woes of Deunan and the urgency of the Bioroids' situation intertwine to deliver an experience that is best described as a mature, satisfying tale that will appeal to film afficionados from all walks of life.

Deunan manages to be deadly and easy on the eyes at the same time.	You won't find these busty 'bots in the original work. They're Aramaki originals.

Appleseed has the dubious honor of being Japan's first feature-length, computer-generated film. I say a "dubious" honor, since, while it is an achievement, the film also has a lot of pressure to succeed. Fortunately, naysayers can hold their cocky cries, as the film delivers a splended visual feast. The immediate difference from traditional animation is the fact that everything is in the third dimension. However, rather than attempt hyper-realism (a la Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within), the creative staff opted to stay close to the ideal source. The character designs prove to be far different from those of the original manga. Deunan, Hitomi, and the others have been given a massive face-lift to fit into the fantastic settings of the film, as well as pull them out of the days when fox cuts and high-boots were considered fashionable. The mecha seem to benefit the most from Appleseed's 3-D treatment, as they seem to have been placed into an element that does more justice than simple celluloid ever could.

Animation for the film is provided by a combination of extensive motion capture, combined with hand-adjusted data. The results are simply breathtaking, as everything moves with an eerie realism that few animated films ever reach. Even the giant, lumbering mecha appear to move with an almost natural grace.

The world of Appleseed runs to the rhythm of a soundtrack that can best be described as "amazing." Top electronica artists from around the world, including Boom Boom Satellites, Paul Oakenfield, and Ryuichi Sakamoto provide the score for the feature. The star-studded soundtrack feels at home in the film's cyberpunk setting, and adds a certain emphasis that would be missing if another set of tracks had been used.

As it stands, Appleseed is less of a film, and more of an immersive experience. Everything, from the amazing story to the unique style and presentation comes together to form a truly unforgettable experience that simply should not be missed.

Distributor: Geneon
Creator: Masamune Shirow
Released: 2005

Plot: A
Character Design: A+
Animation Quality: A+
Music: A+
Overall: A+