December 3, 2010

Production I.G and 3D animation studio Jinni's Animation Studios are producing Appleseed XIII, a 13-episode 3DCGI-animated series based on the original graphic novel Appleseed created by Shirow Masamune (Ghost in the Shell). The story follows the exploits of the ES.W.A.T. special forces member Deunan Knute and her combat cyborg colleague Briareos at the city of Olympus after World War V.

The series is directed by Takayuki Hamana (Erin, the Beast Player, Library War, Sisters of Wellber). Junichi Fujisaku (Blood+, Loups=Garous, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series) is the main scriptwriter, Takayuki Goto (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series, Erin, the Beast Player) is designing the characters, and Atsushi Takeuchi (Ghost in the Shell, The Sky Crawlers, IGPX) is in charge of the mechanical designs.

Appleseed XIII is slated in Japan for June 2011.

Story
Following World War V that killed half the world's population, the city-nation of Olympus stands as a beacon of hope in a world of chaos and conflict. The utopian metropolis is governed by Gaia, a vast artificial intelligence, and administered by genetically engineered humanoids known as Bioroids.

Although Olympus seems like a peaceful city on the surface, racial (human vs. bioroids vs. cyborgs), religious, and political conflicts lurk underneath -threatening to overturn the delicately balanced "peace." Security threats such as terrorists and anti-government criminals abound, so the use of force becomes a necessary evil even in this so-called "utopia."

Deunan, a young female warrior, and Briareos, a veteran cyborg-soldier, are both partners and lovers, as well as members of ES.W.A.T., the elite special forces serving Olympus. They are deployed wherever trouble strikes.

Conspiracy, terrorism, deadly military weapons technology, greedy corporations, and power-hungry politicians -these are just some of the threats that Deunan and Briareos must contend with as they fight to protect Olympus and save mankind from plunging into another war.

official website (Japanese only):
http://www.appleseed13.jp/

© 2011 Shirow Masamune / Seishinsha - APPLESEED XIII Projects