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The Ghost in the Shell refers to the soul in ones body. It is the year 2030 and cybernetics has advanced to the point where not only can people opt for cybernetic enhancements, but severely injured persons can become transplanted into cybernetic bodies. This leads to the question of just ... Read review
Trouble at home and abroad!Major Motoko Kusanagi, the most popular female cyborg in anime ... more
history is back! Together with the rest of the officers of Section 9 and the ever-ready Tachikomas, she continues her mission to hunt down crime wherever it occur...
The year is 2034, and the face of terrorism has changed. No longer restricted to the ... more
limits of the physical world, the war on terror has exploded onto the net. In an attempt to confront this new threat, an elite counter-terrorism and anti-crime unit was formed: Public Security Section 9.Two years have since passed when the team's commander: Major Motoko Kusanagi, resigned from her post. After a rash of mysterious suicides Section 9 is forced to confront the 'Puppeteer,' a dangerous hacker with unsurpassed skills. As their investigation of this terrorist threat takes them deeper into the bowels of a potential government conspiracy, Section 9 once again crosses paths with the Major, but is her sudden reappearance more than a coincidence, or is she somehow connected to the 'Puppeteer'?No one is above suspicion in this feature length continuation of the Ghost in the Shell Saga from the acclaimed production IG Studio.
Major Motoko Kusanagi, the most popular female cyborg in anime history is back!Together ... more
with the rest of the officers of Section 9 and the ever-ready Tachikomas, she continues her mission to hunt down crime wherever it occurs in both the real and online worlds.Section 9 are called in to resolve a murder before it turns into a international incident, they must hunt down a runaway state-of-the-art killing machine and solve the mystery of a defective android. Events are in motion that will lead them on their most challenging and dangerous case yet.An incredible creative staff, including Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop), Kenji Kamiyama (Blood: The Last Vampire) and the talented staff of Production I.G have joined together to create the ultimate anime series that is Stand Alone Complex.Episodes:Episode 1: Section 9 Episode 2: TestationEpisode 3: Android And IEpisode 4: Intercepter
Convinced that the cyber terrorist known only as the Laughing Man has resurfaced, Section ... more
9 accelerates their investigation. Major Kusanagi enters a virtual chat room devoted to the Laughing Man and has an unusual encounter. Are the people there and the views they express simply fantasy or do they speak the truth?Meanwhile, a serial killer emerges who skins his victims alive in the unique pattern of a T-shirt; Section 9 must uncover the killer's identity before he claims his next victim. Togusa then goes undercover at an institution for patients suffering from closed cyber brain syndrome, but he finds more than he expects, including a clue in the Laughing Man case!Episode 9: Chat Chat Chat.Episode 10: Jungle Cruise.Episode 11: Portraitz.Episode 12: Escape From.
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Willow Smith, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson, Alice Braga
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: realistic mecha anime aimed at the more grown up audience, not to mention the themes by Origa Disadvantages: Can't take a real Tachikoma home
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The Ghost in the Shell refers to the soul in ones body. It is the year 2030 and cybernetics has advanced to the point where not only can people opt for cybernetic enhancements, but severely injured persons can become transplanted into cybernetic bodies. This leads to the question of just when does a machine become a living being, acquiring a ghost in the shell, as society recognises that just as the scientific advances have made these ... ...arc, and the second season, Ghost in the Shell: SAC: Gig 2 has its own story arc, so viewers are left with a satisfying conclusion without having to breathlessly await arrival of the second box set.
Kudos go to the studio for the presentation as well. We get a high quality viewing experience thanks to the compression rate not being too high, with the episodes spread out over seven discs. You can choose to view it in the original Japanese, ... more
I have to come right out and say here that this is undoubtedly my favourite mecha oriented anime. It hits all the right spots for me: It features adults rather than kids and teens, the themes are profound and far reaching, and a little levity goes a long way from keeping it too dark. Not to mention an absolutely fantastic soundtrack.
The Ghost in the Shell refers to the soul in ones body. It is the year 2030 and cybernetics has advanced to the point where not only can people opt for cybernetic enhancements, but severely injured persons can become transplanted into cybernetic bodies. This leads to the question of just when does a machine become a living being, acquiring a ghost in the shell, as society recognises that just as the scientific advances have made these medical breakthroughs possible, likewise the same science is producing ever more seemingly aware artificial life forms. The most advanced of these is light armoured tanks, the Tachikoma, used by the Section 9 security force stationed in the Tokyo like fictional city of New Port that the series follows. Extremely childlike in their demeanour, they absorb information like sponges, exceeding the expectations of their creators with often comically serious results.
This box set follows the story arc whereby a terrorist known as the Laughing Man has appeared. A gifted hacker, he not only manages to manifest himself wholly in the virtual world but seemingly is able to manipulate persons around him so that they unwillingly carry out his wishes, seemingly at random. His ultimate aim is unclear, making him difficult to predict, while his hacking ability puts Section 9 at a disadvantage, as to take over persons he hacks into their cybernetic network by unknown means. Section 9 must use all their cunning and resources to track him down and stop him before his plans come to whatever terrible fruition he has in mind. Each episode is not entirely a cyber Mission Impossible type show, with each episode carefully asking and considering the nature of sentient consciousness in an accessible manner.
One of the most outstanding features of the series has to be its approach to presenting the alternate future we see. The reality is carefully crafted, with the science readily graspable and extrapolated from scientific advances we are already familiar with and even encounter nearly everyday. The side effects that can be experienced from the advanced use of the cybernetics is also shown, with no punches pulled for the devastation wrought by adverse reactions suffered by those when the enhancements go so terribly wrong. It is an imperfect future, plausibly extrapolated from our own both by the outgrowth of our own familiar technology as is the turbulence experienced by the society we see. The legal repercussions of the technology and its use (and restrictions thereof) in society are also highly believable. Interestingly enough, just as the fictional tech is extrapolated from actual current advances, the fictional devices themselves have inspired actual research to make them reality; one such occurrence being active optic camouflage. You can actually view live clips of the tests of the resulting technology released by Tokyo University (someone thoughtfully compiled them into a video over on You Tube). Between this research and Osaka University's advances in cybernetics with their robotic child and teacher (both actually in manufacture for the public to purchase by the way), it is all too easy to slip wholeheartedly into this fictional universe, though not unpleasant to do so.
The art itself is very beautiful. Unlike many of the mecha animes where stress is on making the mecha simply look cool and colourful, here the attention is to realistic detail, though light and colour also play a role. Perfectly complementing the art and storylines is the music, which is often considered some of the best music to ever accompany an anime. The music is composed by Kanno Yoko, who is also renowned for her efforts for Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, and Wolfs Rain amongst others. The music alone is well worth listening to and can be heard over on You Tube, as well as various online Japanese radio stations, and appears on no less than 6 dedicated albums and a single, with sales figures well into the millions.
While this 26 episode anime is based upon the manga by Shirow Masamune, it should be noted that the storylines differ so what you get is not a repeat as happens so often with anime. This box set concludes its story arc, and the second season, Ghost in the Shell: SAC: Gig 2 has its own story arc, so viewers are left with a satisfying conclusion without having to breathlessly await arrival of the second box set.
Kudos go to the studio for the presentation as well. We get a high quality viewing experience thanks to the compression rate not being too high, with the episodes spread out over seven discs. You can choose to view it in the original Japanese, with or without English subtitles, or in dubbed English. Personally, I prefer the original with subs rather than the American dubbed voices, as the seiyuu who did the original voices match the characters looks and depicted moods much better. Sound is Dolby Digital 5:1, so all the action sequences are really enhanced by a good sound system. The little bonuses of having cast interviews, character profiles, an interesting piece on the science within the show, and even the little booklet with its essay on the series, all add value to the box set, even if you arnot an ardent fan. Due to its mature themes, I would recommend this anime for those over the age of 15.
Shroud 28.04.2009
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Review of Ghost In The Shell - Stand Alone Complex - Complete Box Set (DVD)
Advantages: great plot, character development, sound track and visuals Disadvantages: a bit slow and hard to follow in the beginning for first time viewers
...the entire collection of the ghost in the shell tv series part 1, it is composed of 26 episodes and includes both an English subtitle and dubbing track which are both equally good I found, as the dubbing is good and never strays to far from the original script, although in the first few episodes the lip sync may not be so good in English but it does get better as their series progresses.
It was created after the original ghost in the shell movie, ... ...characters and story line.
Ghost in the shell is based in the futuristic world of japan where the majority of people have decided to become cyborgs (part prosthetic part human) in order to have easier access to data flows over the web and longer life expectancy, for instance if they are shot and severely disabled in a prosthetic body then they can simply have their brain transplanted to another prosthetic body, or a tank or whatever they so desire.
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chaobreeder16 21.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ghost In The Shell - Stand Alone Complex - Complete Box Set (DVD)
Advantages: It has Everything. Disadvantages: Nothing!
Ghost In The Shell has to be the most definitive Anime / Manga series created. It has vivid ideas that stream in from all angles and it looks Beautiful.
The CGI and Animation in this Series (and others that proceed it) are truly flawless, even for an old Series it offers what some can't to this day. From the opening scene to the closing credits you are left in awe of how amazing the visuals and soundtrack are, each episode draws you in and unleashes ... ...line is Impeccable also you won't be able to guess what happens next or when, and you'll be left on cliff hangers all the time.. Ultimately leaving you to watch the next episode and then the episode after that.. you'll be Addicted, Guaranteed!
Not only does it look and sound pretty it acts pretty too, the Complex use of Words, Phrases and sometimes Political references makes you think and gets you to appreciate this is much more than just a TV Show ...
GMS08 15.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Ghost In The Shell - Stand Alone Complex - Complete Box Set (DVD)
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Advantages: Intelligent, beautifully animated, exciting, intriguing plot, Disadvantages: A tad dense at times
and spider like tanks faced off against the best of Japan's counter-terrorist unit - Section 9.
The original Ghostin the Complex Series 1st gig, produced for Tv in 2002, took the original premises and characters and placed them in a new alternative version of the GIS universe, effectively freeing it from having to be cannon, and allowing it to follow it's own path and story. Allowing the heavier philosophising that was associated with the film to be dropped, and the production of a more streamlined beast, better suited to the 24 minute run time for each episode. It was a cop show that also managed to pull off the kind of action that a Hollywood film would be hard pushed to budget for.
GhostIn the Shell: StandAloneComplex 2nd Gig is the follow up the to the original series, picking up almost directly after the end of the GIS:SAC 1st gig ...
Interview With Cast And Crew, Character Profiles, The Science Of Stand Alone Complex, Trailers, Previews, Episode Synopsis, Booklet And Essay By Jonathan Clements
Aspect Ratio
Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround English Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English Japanese
Animated
Animated
DVD Description
Based on the manga by Masamune Shirow and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, 'Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex' takes viewers to futuristic society where technology has saturated citizens' daily lives. Along with the new technology comes new types of crime that exploits it, but female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her team of police, Section 9, devote their lives to chasing criminals, both on land and in cyberspace. In these episodes, the team must figure out the secret behind a spate of android suicides, stop a far-reaching hacker conspiracy, solve a hostage situation, and much more!
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