Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

 9/10

Starring the voices of

Atsuko Tanaka

Akio Otsuka

Lemasa Kayumi

 

Directed by Mamoru Oshii

 

When you see this movie for the first time, like I did, you’ll join the cult following of this manga. Ghost in the Shell is a sci-fi, cyberpunk thriller set in the mid-21st century.

Better late than never. When I was in uni, The Stand Alone Complex was released, and all my friends were hooked on it—except me. Truth is, silly me never watched a single episode and didn’t even bother to check out this classic of an animation.

I wonder if I would have enjoyed the complexity of the plot? The whole idea of interfacing between flesh and digital wires, and the consequences of it, is what Ghost in the Shell’s deep narration is about. It’s set in a future where being purely human is becoming outdated, and being a cyborg is the new norm.

The plot takes place in 2029, and we follow the life of Major Kusanagi, who leads a team of security agents as they deal with complex cyber issues. The movie focuses on the most complex case of all: the Puppet Master. Her unit is called Section 9, an arm of the government security agency. Before diving deeper into the plot, let me give you a brief overview. This 1995 anime is based on a manga written by Masamune Shirow between 1989 and 1990. He created this psychological thriller using a concept that was way ahead of its time. Everything in the manga was written with such ingenuity that, even now in 2021, our world still hasn’t quite caught up.

The Puppet Master is a master hacker who manipulates people and uses them to further his agenda. In this future world, almost everyone has some form of cybernetic brain enhancement, and the Puppet Master excels at hacking people and planting false memories.

The Major, as we know, is also a cyborg, but her origin isn’t the focus here. She and her team are tasked with stopping the Puppet Master, but the whole chase causes her to start having an existential crisis. Our entire journey is about the chase and capture of the Puppet Master. Along the way, we uncover his deeper motives and explore the government’s role in everything, along with more existential and psychological questions.

First thing I’d say is, please watch the 1995 version. It’s the same story as the 2008 version, but I prefer the animation style here. Also, the movie embodies the concept of the first volume of the manga, and unfortunately, every animated work done after this 1995 movie concerning the Ghost in the Shell world consists of original stories. The Stand Alone Complex is just as fun as this movie, so don’t be deterred.

After watching this movie, you’ll spot clues that inspired other filmmakers, especially the Wachowskis in their 1999 film, The Matrix.

After seeing this movie, I’d recommend watching The Stand Alone Complex, which is set in an alternate timeline. The second movie, which acts as a sequel to this one (but doesn’t follow the manga), is not that great. After The Stand Alone Complex, you should check out Arise, which focuses on a younger version of Kusanagi working with Section 9.

I should also add that I haven’t seen the live-action movie, so I have no comment on that.