Appleseed | 
| Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama
Actors: Yosuke Akimoto, Julia Braams, Mika Doi, Yuzuru Fujimoto, Toshio Furukawa
Studio: Manga Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.98
Buy New: $8.87
You Save: $16.11 (64%)
New (19) Used (8) Collectible (2) from $6.47
Rating:  30 reviews
Sales Rank: 14108
Format: Anamorphic, Animated, Color, Dolby, Dvd, Full Screen, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 71 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: RKOD4079D
UPC: 066020040792
EAN: 0066020040792
ASIN: B00005AX6N
Theatrical Release Date: 1988
Release Date: April 24, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
After the devastation of wwiii the scattered governments of the world construct the perfect city controlled & monitored by biodroids. A band of terrorists plots to destroy the biodroids to restore freedom. Features: digital transfer english sub & dub plus japanese manga previews. Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 04/24/2001 Run time: 68 minutes
Amazon.com
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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| Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 I thought Shinji Aramaki's Appleseed film was a stronger production May 20, 2009
Lesley Aeschliman (Enumclaw, WA)
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.
The CG Versions Are FAR Superior April 6, 2008
T Boz (USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Coming from a hardcore Masamune Shirow fan, if you want to know about Appleseed, either read the mangas, or see the two excellent CGI films. This OVA from the early 80s is total cheese, taking none of the futuristic drama into account, and going for cheap laughs. It might fit the Tank Police series, but not here. Trust me, don't waste your money when this series has been reimagined into some of the finest computer animated features to ever come out of Japan.
 Not THAT good!! I think that the 2004 Appleseed is better! May 8, 2007
Francisco Cortes
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
This anime is NOTHING spectacular! Is pure decent action anime with VERY FEW exciting scenes wich weren't even THAT good!
Not only that! The action wasn't well choreographied and the graphics, sound and animation were so-so.
The 2004 Appleseed have more excitement, more stunts, more action and better quality. What I didn't like was the CG animation, I hate CG animation and graphics in animes(except for Final Fantasy A.C.).
Adios.
Poor effort June 5, 2006
@
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
This is the original cell anime and should in no way be confused with the glorious 3D CGI creation of the same name. The animation is shoddy and doesn't compare well with many of its contemporaries, Akira this is not.
Plot, xenophobic terrorist and sappy police traitor plot to destroy Olympus ( Spelt incorrectly in the signposts.) The defence is lead by Deunan a female SWAT cop and her Cyborg sidekick Brearios, who looks more like a robotic rabbit than the formidable man-machine he's supposed to be. Much shooting and running around in circles ensues until right prevails, Hurrah !
If you've seen the latest Appleseed CGI masterpiece and are considering watching this one, don't. It's simply not in the same league and the character relationships, such as they are, are nonsensical when compared with the more recent version. It's almost guaranteed to disappoint.
 Re-visit the 80s. December 28, 2004
Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA)
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
Appleseed is based on the manga - Mankind is trying to make a perfect utopia in the city of Olympus. But is it perfect or just another form of a cage, monitored and controlled by a computer named Gaia. Forces within the city are trying to restore their freedoms. Or are they just trying to bring paradise down to hell?
It is up to Dunan Nats and Buliarous Hekatonecles, with the rest of their fellow officers in the ESWAT Squad, to keep order without breaking the laws themselves.
The voice actors don't seem to appear in anything else, the plot is simple, the themes watered down, English is mis-spelled -Red ALART???-, the music is late 80s (DUH - the anime was MADE in the late 80s) and the F-word is used by everybody. All in just over an hour.
IT is SO PERFECT. Come on, this is the stuff we all watched at one time or another. Terrorists, mecha, explosions. A must for any fan of anime or Masamune Shirow.
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