The setting of Appleseed is in the aftermath of World War III, where the General Management Control Office built a new experimental city called Olympus that houses humans, cyborgs, and bioroids. These genetically engineered humans are responsible for governing the administrative functions of the city to maintain its utopian state. However, some citizens feel that life in Olympus has become more restrictive than free. Calon Mautholos, a police officer, is one of these citizens after his wife committed suicide due to the strict rules imposed on the citizens. Calon teams up with a terrorist named A.J. Sebastian to dismantle the Legislature of the Central Management Bureau, which they believe is responsible for the rigid constraints. Calon's vengeance is cut short when he learns that Sebastian's intention is to eradicate the bioroids, not the oppressive rules. This realization prompts Calon to go rogue. City officials send ESWAT counter-terrorism unit agents Deunan Knute and Briareos to apprehend Calon and Sebastian. They are authorized to use any means necessary to accomplish their mission.