{ "id": "ep1410ghcx", "slug": "appleseed-saga-ex-machina", "title": "Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.genre-form", "label": "Films by genre, form, and subject", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.genre-form" }, { "id": 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"geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.genre-form.animated-shorts.anime-features.yr-1999-2013", "label": "Released 1999 to 2013", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.genre-form.animated-shorts.anime-features.yr-1999-2013" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina (アップルシード サーガ エクスマキナ) is a 2007 Japanese full-CG animated science fiction film directed by Shinji Aramaki, with action filmmaker John Woo among its producers.", "snippet": "Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina (アップルシード サーガ エクスマキナ) is a 2007 Japanese full-CG animated science fiction film directed by Shinji Aramaki, with action filmmaker John Woo among its producers.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.genre-form.animated-shorts.anime-features.yr-1999-2013", "markdown": "# Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina\n\n**Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina** (アップルシード サーガ エクスマキナ) is a 2007 Japanese full-CG animated science fiction film directed by Shinji Aramaki, the sequel to his 2004 film *Appleseed* and an adaptation of [Masamune Shirow](https://www.edgepedia.org/masamune-shirow)'s manga *Appleseed*, with action filmmaker [John Woo](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-woo) among its producers.[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) • [2](https://www.kiwireviews.nz/review/2416-appleseed-ex-machina) It was produced by Digital Frontier Inc. and premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival on October 20, 2007.[3](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/appleseed-ex-machina) • [1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Japanese title | アップルシードサーガ　エクスマキナ (Appleseed Saga Ex Machina)[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) |\n| Release | October 20, 2007 (Japan); world premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival 2007[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) |\n| Running time | 105 minutes per the Japanese Film Database; some reviews list 104 minutes[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) • [2](https://www.kiwireviews.nz/review/2416-appleseed-ex-machina) |\n| Director / studio | Shinji Aramaki; Digital Frontier Inc.[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) • [3](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/appleseed-ex-machina) |\n| Producers | John Woo, Terence Chang, Hidenori Ueki, Naoko Watanabe, Joseph Chou, and others[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) • [3](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/appleseed-ex-machina) |\n| Source | Manga *Appleseed* by Shirow Masamune, creator of *Ghost in the Shell*; screenplay by Kiyoto Takeuchi[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) |\n| Main cast | Ai Kobayashi as Deunan Knute; Koichi Yamadera as Briareos Hecatonchires[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) |\n| Place in series | The only direct sequel among the Appleseed films, following *Appleseed* (2004); the collection also includes the 1988 OVA and *Appleseed Alpha* (2014)[4](https://whichott.com/in/movie/appleseed-ex-machina-2007-13981) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story and setting\n\nThe film is set in Olympus, a futuristic city-nation where humans, cyborgs, and bioroids (clone humans created through DNA manipulation) coexist, in a future after a non-nuclear world war has drastically reduced humanity.[5](https://www.wowow.co.jp/detail/020960) The protagonists are Deunan Knute, a young female warrior, and Briareos, a veteran cyborg soldier, who are partners and lovers serving in E.S.W.A.T., the elite special forces of Olympus.[6](https://technosports.co.in/anime/title/appleseed-ex-machina-2969/)\n\nThe plot turns on a wave of cyborg terrorism and rioting that threatens the city's peace, apparently driven by the Conexus, a hugely popular entertainment gadget used to manipulate the behavior of the people who wear it.[4](https://whichott.com/in/movie/appleseed-ex-machina-2007-13981) • [2](https://www.kiwireviews.nz/review/2416-appleseed-ex-machina) Deunan and Briareos are joined by a new character, Tereus, a bioroid cloned mostly from Briareos's DNA who looks exactly like his genetic donor; Deunan is ordered to take him as a partner while Briareos is hospitalized, creating a love triangle at the center of the story.[2](https://www.kiwireviews.nz/review/2416-appleseed-ex-machina) Reviewers describe what remains beneath the action as a techno-conspiracy thriller with that romantic triangle as its emotional core.[7](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/appleseed-ex-machina-movie-review.5416/)\n\nSources differ on the story's year: the DVD Talk review places it in 2133 AD, while The Japan Times critic Mark Schilling, a film reviewer for that newspaper, writes that the story starts in 2138.[8](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/32610/appleseed-ex-machina/) • [9](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2007/10/19/films/film-reviews/appleseed-ex-machina/)\n\n### Place in the franchise\n\nThe Appleseed film collection comprises four titles: the 1988 OVA, the 2004 CG feature, *Ex Machina* (2007), and the 2014 prequel *Appleseed Alpha*; *Ex Machina* is the only direct sequel among them, with the other three being separate adaptations or reimaginings of the same manga story.[4](https://whichott.com/in/movie/appleseed-ex-machina-2007-13981) The manga itself, packed across volumes 1 through 4 plus *Appleseed: ID* and *Appleseed: Hypernotes*, has retained cultural relevance in part through the cinematic incarnations, including this John Woo-produced film.[15](https://images.darkhorse.com/common/salestools/catalogs/DH_Manga_Guide.pdf)\n\n## Production and animation technique\n\n*Appleseed: Ex Machina* is a full-CG animation feature that uses motion capture and in-depth toon shading for facial expressions, combining deformed, anime-like design with anatomy-based modeling to balance action and character expression; the production team used a toon shader and ambient occlusion to achieve an illustration-like effect rather than a cell-animation appearance.[10](https://history.siggraph.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SIGGRAPH-2008-Electronic-Art-and-Animation-Catalog-CAF.pdf)\n\nProducer [Joseph Chou](https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-chou), who had worked on *The Animatrix* before forming Axis Productions, described the production in a 2008 ICv2 interview: the 2004 film was made in under a year on a much smaller budget, while Ex Machina had a budget three times as large, about a year of pre-production, and a total production of roughly two and a half years.[11](https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/12268/) Chou characterized the result as performance capture animation rather than key-frame animation, with four types of actors on the project: motion capture actors, stunt actors, facial movement actors, and voice actors.[11](https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/12268/) He also noted a backlash among core otaku in Japan against CG and performance capture, which some fans regard as distinct from pure hand-drawn cel animation.[11](https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/12268/)\n\nSchilling's review framed the film as a version upgrade of its predecessor, the animated equivalent of going from [Windows 98](https://www.edgepedia.org/windows-98) to XP, with cityscapes, robots, and mecha realized with detail down to scratches on chopper doors.[9](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2007/10/19/films/film-reviews/appleseed-ex-machina/)\n\n## John Woo's involvement\n\nJohn Woo, the Hong Kong action director then known for the two-part *Red Cliff*, served as a producer, and his stylistic signature is visible throughout: two-handed gunplay, slow-motion shooting sequences, cascading shell casings, and white doves.[5](https://www.wowow.co.jp/detail/020960) • [7](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/appleseed-ex-machina-movie-review.5416/) The AVForums review counted more than a handful of classic John Woo moments and judged that he had considerable influence on the production.[7](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/appleseed-ex-machina-movie-review.5416/)\n\n## Music\n\nThe theme music was contributed by HASYMO, a new unit formed by three former members of YMO ([Yellow Magic Orchestra](https://www.edgepedia.org/yellow-magic-orchestra)), and the soundtrack also features Tei Towa and [Cornelius](https://www.edgepedia.org/cornelius); [Haruomi Hosono](https://www.edgepedia.org/haruomi-hosono), himself a former YMO member, served as music supervisor.[5](https://www.wowow.co.jp/detail/020960) • [1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) The AVForums review described the score as at times Aphex Twin-like and at times Commodore 64-like, but oddly suited to the action.[12](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/appleseed-ex-machina-blu-ray-review.3642/)\n\n## Release and reception\n\nAfter its Pusan premiere, the film screened at the Hawaii International Film Festival and the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival in Los Angeles in 2007, and at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Hong Kong International Film Festival, and the Nippon Connection Japanese film festival in 2008.[1](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694) Warner Home Video released it on single-disc DVD, two-disc special edition DVD, and Blu-ray in the United States on March 11, 2008, rated PG-13.[8](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/32610/appleseed-ex-machina/) In Australia it was classified M (animated violence) for sale and hire on July 10, 2008.[3](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/appleseed-ex-machina)\n\nCritical reception favored the visuals and action over originality. DVD Talk's Justin Felix found that the film stands alone without knowledge of the earlier entries and delivers kinetic, high-octane animation with stunning cityscapes and a diverse soundtrack, despite derivative elements.[8](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/32610/appleseed-ex-machina/) The Sound & Vision reviewer rated the sequel a step up from the 2004 film in story and animation, though he noted that the action and dialogue at times resembled video game cut scenes, and he criticized the Blu-ray's video presentation for line twitter, jaggies, and banding.[13](https://www.soundandvision.com/moviereviews/022808appleseed) AVForums scored the film 8 out of 10 overall, calling it an entertaining sci-fi anime with glorious visuals and plenty of John Woo action, while observing that the story borrows from sources up to and including *The Matrix*.[7](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/appleseed-ex-machina-movie-review.5416/) On aggregate databases, AniList lists a score of 6.7, and the Japanese service Filmarks records a user rating of 3.2 out of 5 from 1,681 reviews.[6](https://technosports.co.in/anime/title/appleseed-ex-machina-2969/) • [14](https://filmarks.com/movies/7285?vod=21)\n\n## References\n\n1. [APPLESEED: EX MACHINA (アップルシードサーガ　エクスマキナ), Japanese Film Database (JFDB)](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/694)\n2. [Appleseed: Ex Machina product review, KiwiReviews](https://www.kiwireviews.nz/review/2416-appleseed-ex-machina)\n3. [APPLESEED EX-MACHINA, Australian Classification](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/appleseed-ex-machina)\n4. [Where to watch Appleseed: Ex Machina (2007) in India, WhichOTT](https://whichott.com/in/movie/appleseed-ex-machina-2007-13981)\n5. [APPLESEED SAGA EX MACHINA エクスマキナ, WOWOWオンライン](https://www.wowow.co.jp/detail/020960)\n6. [Appleseed: Ex Machina (2007), TechnoSports anime database entry](https://technosports.co.in/anime/title/appleseed-ex-machina-2969/)\n7. [Appleseed: Ex Machina Movie Review, AVForums](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/appleseed-ex-machina-movie-review.5416/)\n8. [Appleseed Ex Machina DVD review by Justin Felix, DVD Talk](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/32610/appleseed-ex-machina/)\n9. ['Appleseed: Ex-Machina' review by Mark Schilling, The Japan Times, October 19, 2007](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2007/10/19/films/film-reviews/appleseed-ex-machina/)\n10. [Appleseed: Ex Machina entry, SIGGRAPH 2008 Electronic Art and Animation Catalog](https://history.siggraph.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SIGGRAPH-2008-Electronic-Art-and-Animation-Catalog-CAF.pdf)\n11. [Interview With Joseph Chou, Part II, ICv2, March 20, 2008](https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/12268/)\n12. [Appleseed: Ex Machina Blu-ray Review, AVForums](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/appleseed-ex-machina-blu-ray-review.3642/)\n13. [Appleseed Ex Machina, Warner Bros. Blu-ray review, Sound & Vision](https://www.soundandvision.com/moviereviews/022808appleseed)\n14. [エクスマキナ Ex Machina ー Appleseed Saga, Filmarks](https://filmarks.com/movies/7285?vod=21)\n15. [Writer: Shirow Masamune, Dark Horse Manga Guide](https://images.darkhorse.com/common/salestools/catalogs/DH_Manga_Guide.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Films by genre, form, and subject › Animated and short films › Japanese anime features › Released 1999 to 2013*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/appleseed-saga-ex-machina", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/appleseed-saga-ex-machina.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/appleseed-saga-ex-machina. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina](https://www.edgepedia.org/appleseed-saga-ex-machina)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/appleseed-saga-ex-machina](https://www.edgepedia.org/appleseed-saga-ex-machina). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/appleseed-saga-ex-machina. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina is a 2007 Japanese full-CG animated science fiction film directed by Shinji Aramaki, with action filmmaker John Woo among its producers." }