"Appleseed Ex Machina" is a 2007 Japanese animated CG film and the sequel to the 2004 "Appleseed" film, similarly directed by Shinji Aramaki, and was produced by Hong Kong director and producer John Woo.
In the year 2199, a series of random terrorist attacks perpetrated by cyborgs and humans alike threaten to throw Olympus (a futuristic utopia where humans, cyborgs and bio-engineered human beings called "Bioroids" are attempting to live in perfect harmony) into total chaos. Olympus' paramilitary task force called E.S.W.A.T. (Extra-Special Weapons and Advanced Tactics) must try to prevent more attacks and maintain the peace. Thrown into the action is plucky female E.S.W.A.T. warrior Deunan Knute and her cyborg lover / partner Briareos Hecatonchires who must investigate these bizarre occurrences and solve the puzzle with the other members of their unit.
Hot Toys released these 1/6 scale fully pose-able figures of Deunan and Briareos from the "Appleseed Ex Machina" animated film back then and I am happy to say that the rubber suits are still holding up very well :) I had posted pictures of the packaging and accessories in my earlier post HERE including the targeting scope which Deunan wears over her right eye, sword unsheathed and Hecate P-08 pistol.
In the Appleseed saga first written as a science fiction manga by Masamune Shirow, Deunan Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires are the main characters who were originally former SWAT members of the LAPD. They are found in the desolated city and invited to join the prestigious ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons And Tactics) organization in the utopian city of Olympus, the new world's most powerful state.
I really like how Hot Toys kept the size and scale in mind when they produced these two figures. Deunan being the girl is petite (about 10 inches tall) whereas Briareos, formerly an African man but has since undergone a full cyborg body replacement is big and imposing (almost 14 inches tall, taking into consideration his "rabbit ears").
Their body armor / suits are almost identical in design and very nicely done too. The rubber suits do impede the movement / articulation of the joints somewhat because the rubber tends to want to revert to its original state when you try to pose the figures. But overall, it's still a very nice design because you are definitely not going to make Briareos perform ballet poses and the like. They are lovely figures as they are and knowing that you can make them take up certain poses if you wanted to is still a plus point, at least for me because in the world of 1/6, there aren't any other figures of these anime characters.
Deunan Knute (デュナン・ナッツ Dyunan Nattsu) is the main protagonist from the science fiction manga Appleseed and its adaptations in anime. Along with her partner Briareos Hecatonchires, she is one of ESWAT's most important members. Known for her tendency to anger and lack of patience, Deunan is still widely appreciated by her partners for her professionalism and acumen.
As an ESWAT member, Deunan is a specialist in weapons handling, explosive devices manipulations, hand-to-hand combat and an excellent Landmate pilot.
The daughter of Carl and Dr. Gilliam Knute she is considered a highly skilled warrior and spent almost her entire life fighting in a war that is, for the most part, over. It wasn't until she was captured in the middle of a ruined city by an ESWAT (Extra-Special Weapons and Advanced Tactics) team led by Hitomi and her former lover Briareos, that she was finally evacuated from the Badlands.
When she arrived in Olympus, the change of environment was severe, but it was a greater shock to her to find out that Briareos had lost over 75% of his original body during the last Global War and was now a cyborg.
Scroll down to see more close-up pictures of this excellent female form that is Hot Toys MMS (Movie Masterpiece Series) "Appleseed Ex Machina" 1/6 scale Deunan Knute fully pose-able figure
I couldn't resist adding a third figure into the fray ;p
Standing with Hot Toys "Appleseed Ex Machina" 1/6 scale Deunan and Briareos is FoxBox Studio "God Complex: Hermes" 12-inch figure. The Appleseed saga / story occurs mostly in Olympus (a futuristic utopia where humans, cyborgs and bio-engineered human beings called "Bioroids" are attempting to live in perfect harmony) and in Greek mythology, Hermes is one of the twelve gods residing atop a mythical Mount Olympus when the Olympians gained their supremacy in a war of gods in which Zeus led his siblings to victory over the Titans.
MORE pictures of FoxBox Studio 1/6 scale "God Complex: Hermes" limited edition 12-inch collectible figure HERE and HERE
Also check out the latest Foxbox Studio "God Complex: Hades" figure REVIEWED HERE and HERE :)
NEXT: Hot Toys MMS "Appleseed Ex Machina" 1/6 scale Briareos Hecatonchires fully pose-able figure
0 comments:
Post a Comment