Title: Appleseed XIII: Tartaros and Ouranos 

Director: Takayuki Hamana

Studio: Jinni’s Animation Studio / Production I. G.

Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 25th. 2014

Formate: DVD / Blu-ray / 2 Feature Films / 168 minutes

Genre: Sci Fi

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: C-

Synopsis:

In the wake of destruction from a worldwide non-nuclear war, the city of Olympus has become the control center of the world. As humanity adopts biological enhancements in attempts to achieve perfection, a terrorist organization uprises to prevent what could be the eventual extinction of the human race. Two former LAPD SWAT members join a special mech-piloting, military force to take down the leader of the terrorist organization.

These two movies are a summarized take on the 13-episode Appleseed TV series.

Commentary:

If we take way the animation and stick solely to the story there is a lot to be said for the overall concept be hid these two films. To be honest with you I found the story to be much stronger when it was stretched out in 13 episodes. The two films Tartaros and Ouranos  do a fine jog of telling the story but do leave plenty on the cutting room floor.

Once you set the story aside you have to get past the animation. Being a fan of early Computer Generated Graphics (CG) I can only say that this makes me want to cry. Every time I sit and watch any of the movies or the series for Appleseed XIII I just cringe and wish I didm’t have to sit through this. I have no idea why this particular styling was chosen because it neither comes across as good CG or hand drawn work. The heavy handed drawing and rather overblown highlight marks just ruin the animation. The false stress lines in both human and machine just make it come across sophomoric and almost looking like a underclass art school project.

Overall Grade: C-

The stores have something to say and uphold the solid sic fi vision of Appleseed and appleseed Ex Machina. Both films do a fine job of giving us a synopsis of the series but the 13 episode series told the story well enough and because it was long enough to fill on some gaps. If only there was some other animation vision to the story that help us sit through either the films or series. I am a little miffed as to why they had to tell this story in 3 different ways. I get that it was to give us different viewpoints, but it just comes across as a waist of time and maybe way to indulgent.

If you are looking for a solid sci fi story and don’t really care about how it looks then you will really enjoy these films. If you are a fan of Appleseed and want more of the franchise I suggest you prepare yourself for disappointment. For me I am happy to have had the chance to get more of this complicated story I just wish it looked better.