William Fife and Appleseed (2004 film): Difference between pages

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{{Infobox Film

[[Image:Shamrock_I_&_Shamrock_II.jpg|thumb|right|''Shamrock I'' & ''Shamrock II'' in [[1901]]]]

| name = Appleseed

'''William Fife III''' ([[1857]]-[[1944]]), also known as Wm. Fife, Jr., was the third generation of a family of [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[yacht]] designers and builders. See also, ''[[Fife Yachts]]''.

| image = Appleseed.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Promotional poster for ''Appleseed''

| director = [[Shinji Aramaki]]

| producer = [[Fumihiko Sori]]<br/>[[Hidenori Ueki]]<br/>[[Naoko Watanabe]]

| writer = [[Haruka Handa]]<br/>[[Tsutomu Kamishiro]]

| narrator =

| starring = [[Ai Kobayashi]]<br/>[[Jurota Kosugi]]<br/>[[Yuki Matsuoka]]

| music =

| cinematography =

| editing =

| distributor =

| released = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[2004]]<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[January 14]], [[2005]]

| runtime = 105 min.

| country = [[Japan]]

| language =

| budget =

| gross =

| preceded_by =

| followed_by = ''[[Appleseed EX Machina]]''

| website = http://www.appleseedthemovie.com/

| amg_id = 1:316288

| imdb_id = 0401233

}}

:''For other uses, see [[Appleseed]].''

Fife was born in the small village of [[Fairlie, Scotland|Fairlie]] on the Clyde of Firth. His father and grandfather (both also named William and often referred to as Fife I and Fife II) had also been designers and boatbuilders in Fairlie. The family business operated from a yard on the beach in the village. Fife began building yachts in [[1890]] and soon surpassed the achievements of his father and grandfather and became known as one of the premier yacht designers of the day.

{{nihongo|'''''Appleseed'''''|アップルシ－ド|Appurushīdo}} is an [[anime]] film, directed by [[Shinji Aramaki]] and originally released in [[Japan]] on [[May 17]], [[2004]]. It is based on the characters created by [[Masamune Shirow]] in the original ''[[Appleseed (manga)|Appleseed]]'' manga series that was published in [[1985]]. Although it shares some characters with the original series, this film's storyline is not connected to it.

== Plot outline ==

As the third generation of a venerable Scottish boat building family, William Fife inherited a rich legacy but was quick to establish his own reputation as one of the top designers in the yachting world. Often dominating his chief competitors, Fife was a master of his trade who received commissions from European royalty and from clients as far away as [[Australia]]. Following on the heels of the success of his design ''Dragon'' (1888?), Fife adopted a stylized [[Chinese dragon]] as his trademark. Thereafter, those yachts that took shape on the shingle at Fairlie were known throughout the yachting world by this distinctive scrollwork.

Set in 2131 AD, Deunan Knute, a young legendary female soldier is a survivor of the Third World War which has brought Earth to the brink of destruction. Alongside her former lover and comrade Briareos, who is now a cyborg, Deunan is brought to a Utopian city called Olympus, also inhabited by a genetically-engineered species called Bioroids. There, she integrates into the prestigious ESWAT organization to serve as the city's guardian. But what she discovers is not the promised land of peace, but rather a deadlier, more elusive battlefield than before.

Bioroids have a lifespan much shorter than those of humans, due to the suppression of their reproductive capabilities. When the facilities that were used in the Bioroid's life extension processes are destroyed by a secret faction of the Olympus Regular Army in a terrorist attack as part of its demonstration of fear and hatred for the Bioroids, a crisis which requires immediate resolution is formed, and the Appleseed data is revealed to still exist, even though most thought it destroyed.

[[Image:Shamrock_III.jpg|thumb|left|Launching ''Shamrock III'' in 1903 at Dunbarton, Scotland]]

Fife designed two [[America's Cup]] yachts for grocery and tea magnate Sir [[Thomas Lipton]] who challenged for the cup a total of five times. The Fife designed ''Shamrock'' lost to ''Columbia'' in [[1899]] and ''Shamrock III'' lost to ''[[Reliance (yacht)|Reliance]]'' in [[1903]]. After the establishment of the first International Rule in [[1906]], Fife became a prolific designer of meter boats, designing and building several very successful 15- and 19-meter yachts in the years leading up to the [[World War I|Great War]].

Under the surface, as we can see, Olympus is plagued by conflicting factions. Some believe that Bioroids are a threat to the future advancement of mankind, whilst others believe that humans themselves are the threat. The ultimate question is over everyone's right to life, and whether or not one group deserves life more than the other. At the centre of this battle is Appleseed, the data that is able to extend Bioroid life, by restoring reproductive functions.

[[Eric Tabarly]], the famous [[French]] sailor, two time winner of the OSTAR and owner of the Fife design ''Pen Duick'' (ex ''Yum'', [[1898]]), writing on the designs produced by Fife during the first few decades of the century noted that: "the great designers of the period were [[Nathanael Herreshoff|Herreshoff]], Watson, Nicholson and William Fife. Amongst these, Fife has acquired a particular reputation thanks to the sheer artistry and balance of his designs. Furthermore, those of his designs which took shape in his yard were of unmatched construction."

== Characters ==

While Fife established a leading reputation on the [[yacht racing]] circuit, his work also included a number of fine cruising vessels. Dr. William Collier of Fairlie Restorations in Hamble, UK, writing on Fife's work in the [[1920's]], noted that during this period, ”[Fife] designed and built not only smaller Metre boats but also a series of fine cruisers. This combination typified the inter-war era of the Fairlie yard. Like the [[schooner]] ''Altair'', many of the cruisers echo his turn of the century designs such as ''Cicerly'' or ''Suzanne''; similarly there were few fundamental differences in his [[ketch]] designs spanning this era. Perceived by some as [[anachronistic]], these yachts were considered by many to represent some of the greatest refinements of the auxiliary cruising yacht ever achieved.” Id.

===Deunan Knute===

[[Image:Reliance_&_Shamrock_III.jpg|thumb|right|''Reliance'' & ''Shamrock III'' in the 1903 America's Cup Race]]

The Fife yard also had a reputation for the extremely high quality of the craftsmanship of the yachts built at the yard. Today, it is thought that there are somewhat less than 100 Fife designs still in existence. Of these, there are perhaps fifty or so still sailing. Of the larger vessels, ''Altair, Belle Aventure, Cambria, Halloween, the Lady Anne, Moonbeam of Fife, Moonbeam IV, Mariquita'' and ''Tuiga'' grace the classic yacht circuit in Europe. In [[North America]], the Fife ketchs, ''Adventuress'' and ''Sumurun'', can be found in the waters of [[New England]].

The daughter of Carl and Dr. Gilliam Knute, Deunan, who is considered as a beautiful and highly skilled warrior, has spent almost her entire life fighting in a war that was, for the most part, over. It was not until she was rescued by an ES.W.A.T. (Extra Special Weapons And Tactics) team, led by Hitomi and her former lover Briareos, in the middle of a ruined city just after Deunan had a short but fierce battle with unidentified enemies, 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 when she found that Briareos had lost over 75% of his original body during the last Global War and was now a cyborg.

Fife once said that the secret of a great yacht was that it should be both "fast and bonnie".

The day after she was brought to the city of Olympus, Deunan learned that over half of the population of the city was composed of artificial humans called Bioroids and that her new friend, Hitomi, was one herself. Deunan also discovers that other people are looking for her, mostly because she possesses, without knowing it, the secret of "Appleseed". That interest will become extremely important when Hitomi's life will be at risk and the "Appleseed Data" will be needed to save her and the entire Bioroid population of Olympus. But the discovery of the "Appleseed Data" could condemn the human population to extinction without Deunan knowing about this detail. But that would mean defying the powerful Olympus Regular Army (O.R.A.), composed entirely of humans and under the command of General Edward Uranus III and Colonel Hades.

Fife was awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] for his work. He died in [[1944]], never having married and without an heir. He is buried in [[Largs]]. The yard was continued for some years after his death by his nephew, but never achieved the renown known under Fife's ownership.

{{anime voices|Ai Kobayashi|Amanda Winn Lee}}

== References ==

* ''William Fife: Master of the Classic Yacht'', by Franco Pace, Wooden Boat Publications 1998

===Briareos Hecatonchires===

{{UK-hist-stub}}

At one time, Briareos was Deunan Knute's lover, as well as a comrade-in-arms in battle. During two years of hard separation for both of them, he was severely injured on the North African front. When Hitomi and the Elders saved him, he had over seventy-five percent of his body replaced by state-of-the-art mechanical components, making him a highly advanced cyborg. During Deunan's stay in Olympus he is assigned by his ES.W.A.T. superiors to protect her and also begins to search for the "Appleseed Data." In the original story, Briareos was a black man who lived in the mediterranean who served under Colonel Carl Knute, Deunan's father. In the original manga, Briareos and Deunan are not separated, and she is well aware of his cyborg body replacement.

[[Category:Boat & ship designers|Fife William]]

[[Category:Marine engineers and naval architects|Fife, William]]

{{anime voices|Jūrōta Kosugi|Jamieson Price}}

[[Category:Officers of the British Empire|Fife, William]]

===Athena Areios===

Prime Minister of Olympus, Athena Areios is a first-generation Bioroid created by Deunan's mother, Dr. Gilliam Knute, and served as her lab assistant until Dr. Knute's death. Because Athena is a first-generation Bioroid, she doesn't have the emotional limitations the second-generation has, so she has greater latitude to use "extraordinary" methods to try to find Deunan. Of course, she also runs the risk that either the Council of Elders or General Uranus would find out and take action against her, so she, along with her chief-of staff Nike, have to be very careful.

{{anime voices|Mami Koyama|Mary Elizabeth McGlynn}}

===Nike===

Nike is Athena Areios's chief-of-staff, as well as being commander-in-chief of ES.W.A.T. Although she is a second-generation Bioroid, and being such having her emotions controlled, she is fiercely loyal to Athena, not to mention the Bioroids' prime purpose: the salvation of humanity.

{{anime voices|Miho Yamada|Mimi Woods}}

===Hitomi===

A second-generation Bioroid, Hitomi is charged with recruiting new members of ES.W.A.T.. She had led the rescue mission of Deunan Knute in the Badlands, as well as aiding her getting settled in Olympus. Although her emotions are regulated, she has interest in the emotion of love, and is disturbed by hate, as expressed by the human soldiers of the O.R.A, especially towards the Bioroids.

{{anime voices|Yuki Matsuoka|Karen Strassman}}

===Yoshitsune Miyamoto===

Also a second-generation Bioroid, Yoshitsuni Miyamoto... or "Yoshi" as he is referred to, is ES.W.A.T.'s chief mechanic and Land Strider designer. He also would like to further examine Briareos' cybernetic armor more closely, if Briareos would allow it. His knowledge of mechanical workings would become useful later in the film. Yoshi seems to care for Hitomi.

{{anime voices|Toshiyuki Morikawa|Dave Wittenberg}}

===Edward Uranus III===

Supreme commander of the O.R.A., General Edward Uranus III has a great distrust of the Bioroids, and wishes to either control them or totally eliminate them. But unlike his subordinate Hades, he is not given to irrationality. A friend of the Knute family, Uranus deeply regrets the death of Dr. Gilliam Knute and wants to persuade Deunan to help him in his quest.

However, when General Uranus was made aware about about the Council of Elder's plans to replace humans with Bioroids, then sterilize the humans using the "D-tank", he voluntarily surrendered, rather than be used as a pawn in the Council's plans.

{{anime voices|Yuzuru Fujimoto|Michael McConnohie}}

===Hades===

Colonel Hades is Gen. Uranus's subordinate. Like Uranus, he has a great distrust of the Bioroids. However, his distrust has evolved into an irrational, all-consuming hatred, and wishes to see the Bioroids destroyed.

Originally, Hades served under Carl Knute, Deunan's father, in Los Angeles' S.W.A.T., but was thrown out by Carl because of his extreme methods. He held a grudge with Carl, and is furious that Carl's D.N.A. is in all the Bioroids.

In the end, he is killed by Deuan's pistol, which was her father's.

{{anime voices|Takehito Koyasu|Jack Aubree}}

===Kudoh===

Kudoh is one of the top members of ES.W.A.T. He participates in some training sessions with Deunan and eventually earns her respect. When she and Briareos head to Dr. Gilliam Knute's old lab, Kudoh comes along. After they are betrayed by a fellow ES.W.A.T. member who is sympathetic towards the O.R.A., Kudoh stays behind, keeping his gun trained on Hades so that Deunan and Briareos can escape.

Shortly after this, Kudoh is gunned down by numerous O.R.A. soldiers and collapses dead against the wall of a hallway. Deunan expresses great distress over his death, but Briareos drags her away reluctantly, the O.R.A. hot on their trail.

{{anime voices|Tadahisa Saizen|Jack Aubree}}

===Dr. Gilliam Knute===

Dr. Gilliam Knute was the scientist that created the Bioroids, as well as the "D-tank" virus, which is capable to redering normal humans sterile. It was during the creation of the first generation that she realized that the Council of Elders wanted to use the Bioroids to replace normal humanity altogether. Therefore, she arranged that the Bioroids would not be able to reproduce but kept the formula to activate their reproductive systems - codenamed "Appleseed" - in a pendant, which after she had her assistant Athena evacuated, she had given to her young daughter Deunan, with the promise to give it to Athena if she asked. Dr. Knute was later captured by the military - and mistakenly killed by a soldier in front of Deunan.

{{anime voices|Emi Shinohara|Mia Bradly}}

==Music==

The original soundtrack and music to the series features an [[electronic music|electronic]], [[techno music|techno]] and [[trance music|trance]] theme, with the likes of [[Paul Oakenfold]], [[Basement Jaxx]], [[Boom Boom Satellites]], [[Akufen]], [[Carl Craig]], [[T. Raumschmiere]] and [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] handling the music.

==Sequel==

Director [[Shinji Aramaki]] will also be directing the sequel to the 2004 movie, titled [[Appleseed EX Machina]], which is set to be released in fall 2007 in Japan. The movie will once again feature animated [[computer-generated imagery]] and [[John Woo]] is fully involved in the production.

==References==

*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401233/ IMDB's Appleseed article]

==External links==

*[http://www.appleseedthemovie.com/ Official ''Appleseed'' (2004) movie website]

* ''[http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/appleseed Appleseed]'' at [[MetaCritic]]

*[http://imdb.com/title/tt0401233/ Details of the 2004 anime] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]

{{Appleseed}}

[[Category:2004 films]]

[[Category:Appleseed]]

[[Category:Films broadcast by Animax]]

[[Category:Anime of the 2000s]]

[[Category:Computer-animated films]]

[[Category:Anime films]]

[[Category:Science fiction action films]]

[[Category:Action thriller films]]

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