SynopsisAppleseed takes place in the aftermath of World War III, where the General Management Control Office has constructed the experimental city known as Olympus. Built to be a paradise on Earth, Olympus is inhabited by humans, cyborgs, and bioroids (genetically engineered humans designed for increased physical capabilities and decreased emotional capabilities). Bioroids run and control all of the administrative functions of Olympus, ensuring that the city remains the utopian society it was meant to be for all of its citizens. But for some people living in Utopia, the city has become less of a home and more of a cage.
Police officer Calon Mautholos has grown to despise Olympus following his wife's suicide, blaming her death on the lack of creative freedom caused by the rules binding the citizens of the city. As his hatred for the city grows, Calon conspires with the terrorist A.J. Sebastian to destroy the Legislature of the Central Management Bureau to send the rules of Olympus that killed his wife tumbling down. But when Calon discovers it is not political malcontent, but rather hatred for bioroids that motives Sebastian, Calon turns renegade and gains the attention of city officials. Deunan Knute and her partner Briareos of the ESWAT counter-terrorism unit are dispatched to hunt down and stop Calon and Sebastian... by any means necessary!
Just go through this movie as it's in my collection backlogged for a while now. After finished watching this movie, the 1st thing I question about this OVA is whether or not it need more than 1 episodes as it feel like it can be better with more episodes. Just from what I watch, it's really bland and lack of magic which make this OVA very forgettable. As of now, the plot of the OVA is a bit generic. Terrorists trying to bring down the Utopian society of Olympus so what left of the humanity doesn't become like a caged animal. Nothing special and do give you enough to push the story forward.
For the character development, it's a bit generic with some minor backstory for the two main characters (Deunan Knute and Briareos) and one of the villain (Calon Mautholos) from flash back scene to dialogue from conversation of other characters in the show. You found out a bit more of Calon side and his reason of what he did and some more info of Deunan. As for the other villain in the OVA, they isn't really much development of him and just made him the big bad guy with skills but it didn't developed as much and his conclusion is kinda disappointed as he was build up (literally) to be in this monster mech.
Animation design is also generic and bland. Nothing really stand out and it do have this generic 80s anime feel look. Also, the character or the mech animation quality are mixed. Sometime, you notice the amount of detail on certain characters while other, it's very simple. The animation of the Mech battle scene are okay to watch and workable but it isn't something I can say amazing for it's time. Also, as I am watching the Manga Entertainment North American DVD released (Discotek is releasing this OVA in DVD by the end of this month), it look like a VHS quality slapped onto the DVD as color of the animation have this lighter look.
Overall, I do feel like this OVA can do a bit more better if it have more than one episodes to try to develop better in the plot and character side. But what we get is this generic feel show which is very forgettable for more people who watch animated show. The only reason it might be pick up now is the CGI animation series Appleseed which released in 2004 which I think people who love Appleseed CGI series might want to check this OVA out.
Unless you're a fan of Masamune Shirow's work or a big fans of Appleseed, avoid this OVA as you're not really missing much and maybe look at Dominion Tank Police series which is much more fun to watch over this (and it's also Masamune Shirow's work).
