Appleseed XIII is an direct-to-video anime "television" series based on the manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow (creator of Ghost in the Shell, New Dominion Tank Police, and Black Magic M-66). While Appleseed has previously been adapted as two CGI films in 2004 and 2008 as well as a 1988 OVA, XIII remains separate from either adaptation, featuring a new storyline using Shirow's characters, settings and themes. The series was released on June 6, 2011. All 13 episodes were compiled into two feature-length films. The first feature film titled Appleseed XIII: Tartaros was released on June 13, 2011. The second film, Appleseed XIII: Ouranos was released on October 24, 2011.
The following firearms are used in the anime series Appleseed XIII:
Deunan Knute's sidearm of choice is a custom 1911 pistol. This particular model resembles the Colt MK IV Series 70 (the variant she used in both the manga and the original OVA), but features a full length guide rod, and has the notches for the slide lock on both the left and right side of the slide. It has been called a "custom Colt Government" and Deunan inherited it from her dad, Karl. One odd thing is when Deunan checked the gun by racking the slide, the hammer stayed down.
One of the police KOTUS robots in episode 1 is armed with a Beretta 92FS. Another 92FS with a two-tone finish is seen in the hands of a Human Liberation Front terrorist in episode 2. Deunan also used on in a flashback and encountered kids with 92s at the Argo.
Lark Ceryne used a Smith & Wesson Model 15 revolver with rubber grips in episode 3. The weapon is oddly rendered, with the frame and triggerguard proportions being slightly off and an absent cylinder release.
As with most renditions of Appleseed, Briareos takes advantage of his size and strength to use weapons designed for LandMates as if they were standard firearms. In episode 2, Briareos is seen using a semi-automatic LandMate pistol as his primary weapon when searching a hijacked plane.
THe Seburo J9, a fiction 9mm submachine gun that originally appeared in the original Appleseed manga as a mainstay of ES.W.A.T, is frequently seen in the hands of both ES.W.A.T. and regular police officers.
As with any Appleseed adaptation, one of the key armaments for ES.W.A.T. is the LandMate, a halfway point between a suit of powered armor and a small mecha. Each of these machines is equipped with a large caliber rifle (ranging from .50 BMG to a 20mm anti-cyborg round).
A "Floating Torch" combat aircraft in episode 2 is armed with a single-barrel, large caliber machine gun reminiscent of the Browning M2 and Browning M3.
