Appleseed (アップルシ－ド Appurushido) is a science fiction manga created by Masamune Shirow which spanned four volumes, released between 1985 and 1989. It was adapted into a one-episode anime OVA, produced by Bandai Visual in 1988, a CGI anime movie, Appleseed, released in 2004, and a series of video games.

Appleseed, like much of Masamune's work, merges elements of the cyberpunk and mecha genres with a heavy dosage of politics, philosophy, and sociology.

Originally published in Japan in 1985, Book One Appleseed: The Promethean Challenge was published directly to paperback instead of being serialized, a rarity in the Japanese manga market. This was soon followed by the publication of Book Two, Appleseed: Prometheus Unbound, Book Three Appleseed: The Scales of Prometheus in 1987, and Book Four Appleseed: The Promethean Balance in 1989.

In 1986, Appleseed won the Seiun Award—the Japanese equivalent of the Hugo Award—for Best Manga.

In 1990, Shirow produced the Appleseed Databook, a detailed look into the history, the people, and the technology found in the world of Appleseed.

From 1988 to 1992, Appleseed was published in English by Eclipse Comics, packaged by Studio Proteus. The manga is currently published by Dark Horse Comics.

Appleseed Hypernotes was released in 1996 as a collected volume in Japan. It consisted of a four chapter story followed by technical information about the world, mechs, and equipment much like Appleseed Databook. Originally published in Comic Gaia in serial form, it was reprinted for readers in the United States in Super Manga Blast (issues 25–36), a Dark Horse Comics publication. According to Anime Tourist, an online manga news site, one of the terms for Hypernotes publication stated that Appleseed Hypernotes could not be released in English as a collected format. The reason for this is because Shirow was unsatisfied with the work and wanted to fix it before releasing it as a complete book for English readers. It has been said that Appleseed Hypernotes was Book Five of the Appleseed series.

February 4, 2007 will see the release of Appleseed ID (short for "Illust & Data") by Dark Horse Comics as the Appleseed Databook replacement (currently discontinued). The book includes the short story released with the original Appleseed Databook, "Called Game".

Shirow has stated that he originally planned the series to be composed of a total of ten books, but currently has made no plans to continue the series.

Appleseed was also the inspiration for two anime adaptations, the first an OVA released in 1988 and directed by Kazuyoshi Katayama, the second a CGI movie released in 2004 and directed by Shinji Aramaki.

Aramaki will also be directing the sequel to the 2004 movie, titled Appleseed Saga Ex Machina, which is set to be released in 2007 in Japan. The movie will once again feature animated computer-generated imagery and John Woo is fully involved in the production. Also planned for 2007 is a more traditionally-animated 26-episode series and a PlayStation 2 game by Sega.

From Wikipedia