Appleseed EX Machina Advance Notice; Warner Serve All But Japan.

Although I still say that a large part of the interest in animation lies not just in the ability to express things on relatively little money that would otherwise be impossible for financial and other practical reasons, there was something at work in Appleseed which falls firmly into ’must try harder, shows promise’. It’s that CGI generated movement which looks like too much assistance and not enough human skill - no biggie, necessarily, as the history of animation is littered with other time-saving techniques which amount to as much - but it tipped over from impressive to feeling lazy. The clinical, metalic, ultra-vibrant colors (although quite individual) felt too clean, a little void of character and soul, but still somehow preferable to the cliched grime and chrome you might expect from modern productions.

This time around, as we’ve seen in brief clips, the animation certainly looks more interesting, though also more skillful and potentially too similar to other things. Still interested in seeing it though, and I’m glad Warner are giving us advance notice they’re the ones to be dealing with the release of the film outside of Japan. Now, although we’re often crying out for such notice, it can backfire for a couple of key reasons - too much notice and anticipation becomes frustration, and too much concern over how it’s handled with regards our perceptions and expectations to what we could expect and be able access given the chance to buy into the domestic editions, incarnations, presentation.

If you want your now obligatory Blu-ray Versus HD-DVD argument, you can start it here - there’s a mention of an HD presentation for the film during 2008 from Warner but no specifics on which format, so perhaps they’re hedging their bets and covering their assets. Now, although the PS3 isn’t selling that well right now (even beaten by GBA until this past month), it is Sony and their (until recently) relatively unblemished console record, it is expected to cheapen sufficiently to increase the user base pre-Xmas and includes a BR drive of course, and it will be supported by both increasing bias towards BR from major studios and now Blockbuster are Blu-Exclusive in the USA - if not the globe, according to what I’ve been told. That, for me, along with Blu Incarnations likely for Paprika, Winds of Honneamise, and hopefully Tekkon Kinkreet too, is more than enough persuasion for me right now.

Appleseed EX Machina doesn’t open in Japanese Cinemas until October 2007, if you’re wondering. {Source : Anime Online, Anime On DVD].

Appleseed EX Machina Official Japanese Website; trailer within.