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(More customer reviews)I originally saw this series on the Cartoon Network Adult Swim segment back in 2005. Unlike most American cartoons this Ghost in the Shell (GITS) is geared towards a mature audience. It offers a good mix of police drama, philosophy and sci-fi all rolled into one.
The 26 episodes are divided into two categories Stand Alone and Complex. Stand Alone episodes are simply that, a self contained episode that is entertaining, but doesn't contribute much to the overall arcing storyline. These episodes can be skipped and you will still be able to follow the Laughing Man storyline. Complex episodes are part of the overall Laughing Man storyline; miss one episode and you miss some information.
GITS takes place in the year 2030; which is after the 4th World War, and revolves around Public Security Section 9, or simply Section 9. It is an elite anti-crime organization that specializes in cyber terrorism. The team is mostly comprised of cyborgs with the exception of one; Togusa who's only cyberization is a brain implant. Many of the initial episodes are Stand Alone, but eventually the main story arc begins to emerge when an unresolved six year old case called the Laughing Man case.
GITS is geared towards a mature audience because of the serious dialog. There are no "cute" talking animals like in other animes. However, to introduce a sense of innocence into an otherwise serious organization comprised of former military, Yakuza (organized crime), and police members are the Tachikomas. Tachikomas are lightly armored tanks with autonomous AI used by Section 9. When they speak they have the voice of small children which is in contrast to the more mature sounding adults. The Tachikomas represent an innocence that all members of Section 9 (or any adult for that matter) no longer have.
The basic philosophy around Ghost in the Shell is what a human being is and how your humanity will change as you upgrade your body using cybernetics. The title speaks for itself; "Ghost" is your soul, "Shell" is your body whether it is biological or cybernetic. A word of warning, unlike most cartoons made for the US audience, the dialog can become quite complex especially when dealing with philosophical issues and certain aspects of the Laughing Man case. Imagine the dialog between Neo and the Architect in The Matrix: Reloaded. Not something to hear every day; especially in cartoons geared towards kids. Speaking of the Matrix, the movie borrows a lot from Japanese anime and manga, including Ghost in the Shell.
The main story arc revolves around the Laughing Man. Who is he/she? Why did he/she initiate a series of industrial blackmail and suddenly disappear? Are there more than one Laughing Man? The companies that were blackmailed by the Laughing Man also received money from the government to maintain stock prices; is there some type of collusion taking place? What is the significance of the quote, "I thought what I'd do was, pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes" from the book Catcher in the Rye? As the main story arc unfolds, some answers are provided, but many new mysteries open up.
Not sure if it's worth buying? Then watch it or record it on the Cartoon Network who typically broadcasts the series at 2:00am and 5:00am Monday through Thursday. Unfortunately as of is writing (10-15-06) the Cartoon Network has re-broadcasted all episodes of GITS SAC season 1. They are currently broadcasting the episode of Ghost in the Shell - S.A.C - 2nd Gig which is season 2 of the series. A very good continuation of the series with an even more complex storyline.
Can't wait for the next movie (not season 3), Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society, to be released in 2007 outside of Japan.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Ghost in the Shell SAC Complete 1st Season Collection Box Set (2004)
The Smash First Season Anime Extravaganza in one complete set!Major Motoko Kusanagi is a beautiful but deadly cyborg that is squad leader of Section 9-the Japanese government's clandestine unit assigned to battle terrorism and cyber warfareSurrounded by an expertly trained team, Motoko faces her ultimate challenge- the Laughing Man- a terrorist who orchestrated a kidnapping and extortion plot many years ago and has suddenly reappeared. In order to discover the identity of this enigmatic criminal, Motoko and Section 9 are drawn into a deadly labyrinth and they'll have to use all their expertise to surviveThis acclaimed anime series is from Production I.G (Kill Bill) and features the amazing music if Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Behop) with stories by Kenji Kamiyama (Blood, Jin-Roh) and Dai Soto (Eureka SeveN)
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