REVIEW: Hot Toys Appleseed Ex Machina 1:6 Scale Figures

Deunan and Briareos come armed and ready for action...

For more information on these and other Hot Toys figures and collectibles, check out HotToys.com.hk.

Be sure to watch the new Appleseed: Ex Machina trailer online HERE and enter to win round trip airfare, hotel, and tickets to next month's WonderCon, a $3000 value, HERE!

For a great selection of 1:6 scale figures, check out HobbyLinkJapan.com, Alter Ego Comics, Urban-Collector.com, MayBang.com, BriansToys.com, BigBadToyStore.com, CornerStoreComics.com, ToyWiz.com, WhiteWizardToys.com, StatueToys.com and the sponsors of OneSixthWarriors.com.

For a great selection of pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.

In 1985, Masamune Shirow brought to life Olympus ESWAT member Deunan Knute and her cyborg partner (and lover) Briareos Hecatonchires in the classic manga Appleseed. Followed by an Original Video Animation (OVA) in 1988 and a CGI film adaptation in 2004, the politically charged plot and blending of cyberpunk and mecha designs impressed fans new and old, even 20 years after its original debut...

Now, with the DVD release of the latest CGI film, Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina this March, Hot Toys brings to life both Deunan and Briareos in 1:6 scale action figure form...

PACKAGING, ASSEMBLY & HANDLING: Both figures come packaged in an extremely attractive and eye-catching box featuring a foil slip-sleeve cover with reflective imagery, the exterior of which is sure to catch the eye. Likewise, the interior packaging features attractive full-color images of the characters (Deunan, below) while securely housing the parts tray which holds the individual pieces needed to assemble the figure. The individual parts are easily assembled following the simple visual instructions.

Following comments in online forums regarding issues with the rubber body suits (which I'll address in the second part of this review), Hot Toys has printed a new set of handling and posing instructions which will be included with the figures from now on. These include the following...

Posing instructions:

- Some poses require assistance by hands and/or re-usable adhesive, such as gun holding, etc.

- Make use of the figure stand for posing and figure display, the assembled figurine might not stand alone without the figure stand because of the heavy weight

Handling notes:

- The body armor and figurine are made of special material of PVC, please pay attention to the maintenance of the body armors

- Do not allow the figurines to be highlighted and come in contact with fire and heat, this could lead to damaging the PVC material

- Do not bend and/(or) stretch the body armor with excessive forces when posing, this might cause damage to the body surface appearance

- Please take ultra care when handling the articulated points

- Do not wipe the figurine with thinner, benzene, alcohol or the like, this could cause damage to the body and armor material

- Do not press and squeeze the surface of body armor, it might (cause) damage to the surface

As you can see from the handling instructions, theses aren't play toys and made for posing and displaying only.

SCULPTING & DESIGN: As previously mentioned, the combination of cyberpunk and mecha designs makes for one hell of a first impression and when first laying eyes on these figures, there's few who'll deny their appeal. Wearing sculpted PVC body armor over a molded rubber body suit which moves with the figures' body, both Deunan and Briareos become the epitome of cool and look like they've stepped right out the Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina CGI film.

Review continues HERE...