anime-Apleseed

Kategori:	Film
Jenis	Animasi

The manga Appleseed really is the standard by which all other manga are judged. Although Masamune Shirow is more widely known for creating Ghost in the Shell, it is with this long-running manga series that he became appreciated as a master storyteller. As a cyberpunk piece of fiction, it is without equal.

Appleseed mangaThe world that Appleseed takes place in—a near-future, post-WWIII city-state utopia—is exquisitely crafted and detailed. Into this city comes Deunan Knute, a nomad street-smart soldier from the destroyed outer territories, and her cyborg partner, Briareos.

The series initially introduces the characters and their new home on the island of Olympus. But once the stage is set and the pieces are in place, action erupts that carries through the rest of the book. It turns out this "utopia" is full of strife and factional in-fighting between ruling classes.

From here the central thematic conflict of the series is established: the human race's two options of (1) pursuing their every desire, thereby dragging their whole world into destruction, or (2) changing their very nature to preserve the present sterile utopia forever. This is essential reading for anyone interested in science fiction.

The series is awash with action, amazing technical designs, and great characters, all of which is rounded off by a nice dose of humor which does not detract from the very serious plotline. Shirow's artwork is simply gorgeous, and displays a flair for design, both architectural and mechanical, that shows up in some of the niftiest vehicles, buildings and mechs ever seen in a comic (or any medium). His character designs (some of whom are partially mecha themselves) are attractive, and exhibit that flair and style that makes this manga such a joy to look at.

Appleseed manga