DVD: Appleseed – Ex Machina

In the 20 years since Akira brought Japanese animation to global attention, anime has built a solid cult audience. The form and style was a huge influence on the Wachowski Brothers, whose own Animatrix collection helped push the form even further into the mainstream. However, anime still struggles to truly break through.

The latest effort is Ekusu makina aka Appleseed: Ex Machina which has Hong Kong and Hollywood director John Woo’s name attached as producer. The action maestro’s influence is clear – the action is spectacular, fast and utterly implausible, but the real credit still to director Shinji Aramaki.

Set in a utopian city in 2199, the plot is very similar to a 2006 Doctor Who episode in which the Cybermen used headsets to take control of the population and even the most casual anime viewer will recognise the clichés of the film. The intricately designed mechanical suits in particular are a trademark of Japanese science fiction, but originality is not the objective here – it’s spectacle, and Aramaki delivers in spades.

Woo may help this become a hit but its clear from the behind-the-scenes documentary on the disc that this producer was really more of a consultant. His filmmaking has informed the style and his every suggestion is obvious when watching the film, heroes leap in slow motion, doves fly across the screen symbolically and there’s a strong emotional core within. Between the action scenes a curious love triangle develops between the three main characters, as heroine Deunan becomes torn between her partner Briareos and his clone Tereus.

Eschewing the photo-realism of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within but no less awesome to look at, Ex Machina is utterly captivating. Designed like a classical animation but with a computer generated depth and clarity which is nothing short of incredible. Thanks to Woo’s involvement, this film is certain to catch the attention of a broader audience, but it’s not the long-sought breakthrough the makers may have hoped for. In the Hollywood tradition, Ex Machina is merely a bigger and better looking rehash of so much that has come before. It’s a sequel to 2004’s Appleseed, itself a remake of a cult classic from 1988.

With a refreshingly simple plot, a decent English language dub and a story which requires no familiarity with its predecessors, Ex Machina is more accessible than the majority of Japanese animation and a definite landmark in the genre. Distributed by Warner Bros, whose commitment to mature animation is evident not only in their Matrix spin-off but in the forthcoming Batman: Gotham Knight and a string of DC comic adaptations, Appleseed: Ex Machina is a must-see for fans and newcomers alike.       Richard Hawes

You can buy it by clicking here.