The future of anime is here... well it's on DVD anyway. Appleseed is the next step in the evolution towards anime bliss. This movie looks just like I wanted anime to look when I got my eyes on Robotech about 20 years ago. (I'm secretly and foolishly wishing that the series would be remade with this technology, it would look perfect).
Anyhow, about 10 years ago I purchased the original Appleseed (1988)on the word of a friend telling me that it was the ultimate anime flick. Well it wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good either. I believe they only used the first book of four to make it. It was confusing and garbled to watch, with the uber-high pitched and squeaky Japanese voice-overs.
But last year I heard that a remake had been made and I downloaded the previews from the Apple site in Japan. It just looked fantastic. Unfortunately it wasn't released here in Montreal. So I waited and waited for the DVD release and when the day came, I went out to get it. It was BO in all the 8 stores I visited over and over again, for weeks, until 2 days ago when I was at the new Best Buy that opened near my area. I go in and there it was, 3 copies on the shelf, I immediately grabbed one and held on to it like my life depended on it while I took a look at my dream-camera and resisted the temptation to bankrupt myself to purchase it. So to the cash I go. As I do I by the shelf where I picked up my DVD and the remaining 2 copies were already gone. It was my day to get Appleseed I guess.
So yesterday I pop the DVD in as I sit down to eat some pork-chops and boiled potatoes...
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Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
The visuals on this disc are simply stunning, no question about it. It's a beautiful mix of 3-D CG backgrounds with 2-D CG figures. Simply lovely.
2 - JELIEL³
Actually even the characters are fully 3D
3 - Phillip Winn
You're right, but they're different.
Less texturing, except for the bionic dude.
They seem "flat," is what I'm trying to get across. It's an unusual mix, and very beautiful.
4 - JELIEL
Yeah I see your point. I think they wanted to keep the old-school anime look of characters, which probably explains the cell shading instead of texturing. It looks like old-school anime, but better.
5 - Phillip Winn
Yeah. I hope readers understand that this is a mind-bogglingly beautiful piece of filmmaking and should definitely be seen.
There's a bit of violence at the beginning, with the crushing of skulls and such, but I think it largely settles down after that, and remains a rollicking good show throughout.
The scenes in the rain are simply breath-taking.
6 - azoric
A new ROBOTECH series is in the works and the CG & cell animation look to be even better integrated than Appleseed.
http://www.robotech.com/gallery/galimage/viewgalimage.php?id=1278
http://www.robotech.com/gallery/galimage/viewgalimage.php?id=1279
az!
7 - JELIEL
Azoric, thanks for the intel. This is fantastic news :D