Appleseed
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Book 1
This article contains information that applies to ALL interpretations of the Appleseed saga.
Differences will be clearly marked or placed in the Notes and References section.
1988 DVD cover


Anti-gravity, also sometimes referred to as antigrav, is a general term that describes the (as-of-yet impossible) practice of making a heavier-than-air object levitate in earth-atmosphere, thus allowing other forces (typically jet-propulsion) to move the object around freely in any direction or axis. Unlike traditional jumpjets or VTOL technologies which work by overcoming the weight of an object by forcing disproportionate energy in the opposite direction, antigrav is typically theorized to work by neutralizing weight, and/or gravity, either via means of some kind of harnessed energy, or process.

Anti-gravity and Appleseed[]

In the Appleseed universe, anti-gravity is said to be a perfected technology, again a product of Poseidon, which, depending on whether you're following the manga or anime interpretations, has patented the device under the trade name "Hermes" and "Damysos." Although the manga doesn't bother with trying to explain the process behind the Hermes units found in many of the book series' aircraft and Landmates, the 2004 movie briefly passes off the similar Damysos system as a vibrational anti-gravity technology, credible in that Poseidon is a pioneer of harnessing the power of vibrations, [1] but pseudoscientific, since this concept of antigrav was apparently disproven as far back as the 1970s. [2]

In any application, anti-gravity units found in Appleseed are typically depicted to emit a vibrant green or aquamarine glow as a result of ordinary operation. They do not appear to follow a rigid design, but frequently are incorporated into long fins, or "rails" as they are sometime referred to as. Where there are space constraints, in this example on the back of a Landmate, the rails fold in half when not in use, and then unwind like a clockwork key, typically rotating clockwise, when gravity control is required.

Large scale applications[]

Interestingly enough, in both interpretations of the saga, [3] the technology is supposedly potent enough to levitate an entire city, and durable enough to continue operating after a long period of disuse. [4] The manga never depicts this, but such a backdrop is used for the climax of Ex Machina.

Other applications[]

After experimentation in smaller applications, Hermes/Damysos systems see rapid incorporation [5] in many Landmates, [6] the massive Mobile Fortress, [7] some cars, [8] and some airplanes. [9] While unconfirmed, Deunan Knute's sidesword, as seen in Ex Machina, may employ small-scale gravity control to make the edged-weapon totally weightless, since the blade glows aquamarine, is wielded effortlessly, yet has enough brunt to easily pierce (and penetrate by several inches) an armored cyborg's scull. [10]

Notes and References[]

  1. In the Appleseed Hypernotes, ES.W.A.T. makes mention of whip-like vibra-cutters, made exclusively by Poseidon, which are later seen used by three cyborg assassins in the 2004 movie, rehashing a scene also found later in the Hypernotes.
  2. See the Wikipedia article on anti grav concepts.
  3. In the short story 26 Called Game found in Appleseed ID, ES.W.A.T.'s Commander Lance makes numerous references to "floating Poseidon cities," and appears to suggest there are at least eight of them around the world.
  4. In Ex Machina, Poseidon's emissary Yoshino informs Deunan that the Halcon levitating city was sold off (and presumably allowed to decay by it's purchaser) after the subsidiary company was dissolved after Elizabeth Xander's death, about fourteen years prior.
  5. In the manga series, this occurs post 2126, wheras in the CGI movies, it's post 2131.
  6. The Guges D-Type, for example.
  7. As per a footnote written by Shirow Masamune, found in Prometheus Unbound.
  8. Hitomi's specifically, in both of Shinji Aramaki's CGI movies.
  9. The Wasp Insertion Aircraft.
  10. Seen during the cathedral combat scene during the movie's introduction.
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