There have also been changes in the character design. The first film had a more “anime” look to the characters; with the big Bambi eyes, the animation looked more like shaded cell. Here the look is abandoned for a more natural look with 3-D shading effects. This might be to the chagrin of hard core anime fans but has the potential to draw in a larger audience.

A running theme throughout Ex Machina is individuality. In the overall plot, the antagonist wants to unite people - think the Borg from Star Trek - so there would be no war, no fighting, etc. The theme then runs rampant in the side plot, the relationship development between Briareos, Deunan, and Tereus. Briareos has a cyborg body, the only one of its model, and Tereus is a Bioroid clone of Briareos. So the question hanging over Briareos’ head is will he eventually be rejected by people, specifically by Deunan, (they never do clear up what exactly their relationship is so you can only assume through the hints writers give you throughout the movie) because of his unique body? As for Tereus he knows what he is; he is a prototype and the powers-that-be can just make another one of him. Also is he truly an individual to begin with when he has all of Briarios’ skills and mannerisms? Is he as they say “just a copy”? So the question runs throughout the film as to what makes us individuals and whether individuality a good thing for the survival of the human race.

Available on Blu-ray, HD, single-disc, and two-disc collector’s editions, Ex Machina is well worth the money. The collector’s edition has bonus material that includes interviews with John Woo and director Shinji Aramaki, a look at the making of the film, a history of Masamune’s Appleseed over the years, and the American anime revolution. Appleseed: Ex Machina with its impressive action sequences, dramatic use of architecture, and computer generated effects, is a must-see for any fan of the cyberpunk genre.