In the not so distant future, mankind has advanced to a state where complete body transplants from
flesh to machine is possible. This allows for great increases in both physical and cybernetic prowess
and blurring the lines between the two worlds. However, criminals can also make full use of such
technology, leading to new and sometimes, very dangerous crimes. In response to such innovative new
methods, the Japanese Government has established Section 9, an independently operating police unit
which deals with such highly sensitive crimes.
Led by Daisuke Aramaki and Motoko Kusanagi, Section 9 deals with such crimes over the entire social
spectrum, usually with success. However, when faced with a new A level hacker nicknamed “The Laughing
Man”, the team is thrown into a dangerous cat and mouse game, following the hacker’s trail as it
leaves its mark on Japan.
(Source: MyAnimeList)
STORY 10/10 In the not-so-distant future (2030), a complete body transplant from flesh to machine is possible. Main protagonists are agents of “Public Security Section 9” (an elite secret police squad of 7 people) whose level of prosthetic enhancements ranges from minor modifications to full cyborg. Section 9 specializes in cyber-crimes (that became a major threat to public security with the recent technological developments). They deal with rogue AI’s, hackers possessing another’s body, remote controlled robots, information theft, data manipulation and even organ trafficking. Offenders they’re after are not your usual bad-guys, as most of them are either socially desperate, pursue a noble political agenda or simply confused in the fast-changing world they live in. The protagonists are more often than not facing a thin line between law and ethics. So, if you take GitS:SAC at face value, it may appear to be your usual crime-action series (with sci-fi elements) with plenty of gunfights, combat tactics and dynamic twists in investigations. The incredibly vivid world of Ghost in the Shell serves as a perfect stage for many interesting philosophical, psychological and sociological themes. • Where is the line between man and machine? • What is the definition of selfhood and can AI’s achieve a state of self-awareness in which they can be treated as sentient beings and, more importantly, should we treat them as such? • How does the easily-accessible global data transfer influence human behavior? • Existence of a “Ghost” (soul/consciousness) and the possibility of its digital transfer between bodies (cyberbrains)? • Body and mind in the context of one’s identity: which is more essential? Is it my body (my corporeal worldly representation) what defines me? Will I remain myself if my body is replaced but my memories are preserved? If my physical representation completely changes (its every part replaced) but my “Ghost” survives, is my identity still intact? How much of one’s form can you alter without affecting one’s essence? (The series is brimming with philosophical references. An example is an Ancient Greek paradox called "The Ship of Theseus". Plutarch questions would the ship remain the same if it was replaced in its entirety piece by piece) Those are some of dominant questions this series tries to unravel never giving one definite answer, because, well, there is no one unambiguous explanation. NARRATIVE 9/10 Stand Alone Complex is also used as wordplay for the two types of episodes in this series: __Stand Alone episodes __– Although a part of a coherent timeline, plots of these episodes are independent from one another. The protagonists are usually faced with a crime, a mystery or a mission which isn’t directly related to the overarching narrative but through them the viewers are better acquainted with the GitS universe and characters. Almost every stand alone episode has a twist ending and usually leaves a lingering question for you to think about when it’s finished. The episodes are of varying quality; while some are brilliant, others are fine. __Complex episodes__ - The plot of these episodes focuses on the "Laughing Man", a mysterious hacker whose actions have shaken the corporate world of futuristic Japan. The narrative is interspersed by stand alone episodes providing you with a realistic experience of a long-term investigation. Its incredibly contrived plot is inspired by works of J. D. Salinger (in particular "The Laughing Man" short story, and "The Catcher in the Rye"), which are introduced naturally and with subtlety, so that you never get the feeling of forced pretentious quoting. The narrative is consistent and free of plot-holes and fillers. Dialogues are masterfully written and even the complex philosophical themes are seamlessly introduced into characters’ dialogues. No themes are over-discussed and the characters rarely repeat themselves (which is why you have to watch it thoughtfully). CHARACTERS 9/10 The manner in which the characters are established is sort of unique compared to most anime. Instead of forcefully telling you who the characters are, the series will introduce fragments of their personalities through subtle gestures and hints of their backgrounds. Even then, the characters remain partly mysterious, because, like real people, they are not always honest and they don’t walk around while endlessly talking about themselves until the audience figures who they are. Furthermore, if you want to fully grasp the characters you have to pay attention on their gestures (which are never exaggerated), the overall atmosphere and all the little details. Nevertheless, they are deep, thoughtfully designed and self-consistent. Even minor characters seem thoroughly developed and that is extreme anomaly in this media. One of the best things about the characters is that, even though they are skilled and use implants to exceed their human possibilities, none of them is unnaturally powerful. They still face human barriers, they make mistakes, they are intelligent but not indisputable and that makes them lifelike. Their relationships are believable, logical, complex and never overstated. If there is anything you could criticize, it would be Motoko’s attire. Why would someone in their right mind casually walk around wearing nothing but underpants, boots and a leather jacket? Although it is explained during the series, it seems silly and inappropriate considering her job description. Clearly there are better ways to express your individuality. Then again, you can’t argue that she is quite an eye-candy wearing that. ART & ANIMATION 8/10 Art style is absolutely gorgeous. Each character has a completely unique design with varying body anatomies and facial characteristics. Their mimics are realistic, subtle and distinctive. While uncommon in the cyberpunk genre, the perpetual intentional use of bright colors in the series (many events occur in broad daylight) is in contrast with dystopian themes and it creates a unique appeal. This also helps visually emphasize emotionally intense scenes whose gloomy atmosphere then have a stronger impact on the viewer. This series doesn’t really shine in the field of animation, especially when compared with its predecessor, the original Ghost in the Shell movie. There is an abundance of static scenes with nothing more than just dialogue and sometimes even there the animation is reduced to its bare minimum (when they communicate via their cyberbrains, they do not move their lips), BUT I think they did majestic work with what they had. It is a perfect balance of CGI and hand-drawings, and action scenes are done very well (they managed to save up the budget in static scenes). MUSIC 9/10 One more virtue of this series is music. It was composed by Yoko Kano and it's linked with themes wonderfully. It contributes to the atmosphere of the world and even independently it is very enjoyable. Opening theme “Inner Universe” was performed by Origa, and it is written in Russian, English and Latin, while ending theme is “Lithium Flower” performed by Scott Matthew and I liked them both so much that I never once skipped them. OVERALL 9/10 I count GitS: SAC among my most favorite anime of all time, and I believe everyone who likes cyberpunk should watch it. It looks great, sounds great and it has great story and voice acting (in sub version, I never watched dub). What more do you need?
TL;DRs INCLUDED WHERE NEEDED. #~~~__OVERVIEW__~~~ Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (which I'll just refer to as SAC) is an exemplary cyberpunk tale which reminds us of why we fell in love with the genre in the first place. With its beautiful aesthetics well ahead of its time coupled with the deep messages it offers that always resonate within us, not only has it stood its place as the high point for the GitS franchise, but also for the entire genre. Before I dive into what makes this show so special, I'll provide an FAQ. #~~~__FAQ__~~~ >Do I need to watch the original movie to understand the plot? No. Many say that you must watch the original 1995 movie to appreciate the series, but I'd argue the opposite. SAC is a great entry point for newcomers and is an entirely self-contained story. The original's pacing is quite slow and it emphasizes more on the philosophical aspects. While it is by no means bad (in fact, I rate it a solid 10/10), it tends to bore off some viewers. SAC serves to satisfy all your action and philosophical cravings, therefore it is more suited for a wider audience. If you thoroughly enjoy SAC, then I recommend you watch the original 1995 movie. Also, we don't talk about the live-action remake. TL;DR: No. >I've not seen many philosophy-heavy anime. Can I watch this? Yes. Although this show does not hold your hand, it's very comprehensible given that you pay more attention to the plot than your average anime. >Sub or dub? Both are great. Although I prefer watching dub for serious shows so I'm biased towards it. >Will my IQ increase after watching this? Ehhhhhh... sure? #~~~__REVIEW__~~~ Quite a few people have already reviewed it so I'll keep it as brief as possible while providing information geared more towards newcomers to the franchise and those who haven't had much exposure to science-fiction as a genre, especially cyberpunk. #__WHAT IS CYPERPUNK?__ It's hard to describe. Some, including me, call it a genre but others call it a culture. This causes a lot of confusion so I'll give you a concrete answer. It is a style and a medium of themes. Cyberpunk stories are usually set in the near-future in large oppressive cities reminiscent of Hong Kong streets. But just because a story is set in a futuristic city doesn't necessarily make it cyberpunk. This is where it acts as a medium of themes. Cyberpunk delivers messages relating to the interactions and relationships between humans, technology, and society. TL;DR: Stories which involve how humans adapt and react to technology and society. #__OPENING SONG__ The [opening song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxkMzn4et2U) is entirely in CGI so love it or hate it, but most agree that the song is absolutely beautiful. Read the comments if you don't believe me. Seriously, go watch it. #__VISUALS__ It's really hard to believe this show was made in 2002. It happens to look better than most anime today. It captures the cyberpunk aesthetic nicely with its huge sprawling city along with oppressive yet beautiful and vivid lights and skyscrapers. [Check out the opening scene for the first episode.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po7FsOATd0g) While on the topic of visuals, let's talk about CGI. It's used quite often in this anime but trust me, it's done really well. Unfortunately, CGI has a bad reputation for sticking out like a tornado in a cornfield and just looking ugly in general. That is not the case here. I'll leave it up to you to decide what you think of the CGI, but I guarantee you it will not hinder your enjoyment. TL;DR: Beautiful cyberpunk aesthetic with a frequent use of well-crafted CGI. #__MUSIC__ The GitS franchise is known for its unique music, which mixes traditional sounds with modern electronic beats. Take the [music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RsE8Q7_89o) of the clip provided in the previous section for example. The philosophy of the shrinking dichotomy between humans and machines is reflected in the soundtrack, with the traditional instruments and vocals representing human nature and the electronic beats representing, well, machines. The soundtrack never failed to amaze and immerse me in the plot. It's always refreshing to hear music that's not a generic orchestral score. TL;DR: [Music from the clip above.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RsE8Q7_89o) It succeeds in reflecting the central theme of the anime of the blurring lines between man and machine. #__PLOT__ Word of advice, don't google the plot-points you don't understand or check the wiki as there are a lot of spoilers. The episodes of SAC are divided into Stand Alone (SA) and Complex (C). SA episodes are self-contained stories whereas C episodes contribute to the main arc following the mysterious Laughing Man. Without spoilers, it's really difficult to highlight the ingenuity of both, the SA stories and the main arc. Antagonists are unique and seldom bland. They have well-defined and developed motives. My only real complaint with the plot is how repetitive the process watching Section 9 solve crimes becomes. It usually just boils down to hacking to find the criminals' coordinates, confronting them, fighting them, and taking them into custody. Although SAC tries to make the process interesting by making the crimes affect one of the members at a personal level due to their circumstances/past each time, it's always superficial and doesn't really change the characters in the long run, or beyond the episode for that matter. Where SAC really shines is in its C episodes, which center around the Laughing Man incident. It's an engaging mystery and the show invites the viewers to try and solve the case themselves too, as they know as little about it as Section 9 up until a certain point. But even then, the case isn't completely solved, allowing for further investigation. Of course, it is completely possible to just watch the show without trying to solve the case. All in all, the main arc is one of the best stories I have experienced, not just in anime, but in storytelling as a whole. TL;DR: Main story arc is amazing. Stand alone episodes are great but get repetitive near the end. #__CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT__ This is where the anime lacks, but that's okay. The superior second season, 2nd Gig, accomplishes that. SAC serves to convey its philosophical ideas and establish the setting, all while providing an entertaining story-line. #~~~__MY RATING SYSTEM__~~~ The ratings I give on my profile page are different from the scores I give in my public reviews. My ratings in the former are purely based on MY enjoyment whereas the scores in my public reviews are more critical in nature and a result of considering various factors. #~~~__CONCLUSION__~~~ 95/100 The only thing stopping this anime from receiving a perfect 100 is its weak character development. Looking past that, this anime provides an entertaining main story arc with fun little stand alone episodes that give life to the cyberpunk world of GitS. Note: This is my first review. Feel free to object and offer advice on improving.
With the new SAC spinoff series coming out, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to revisit this old classic. The original 1995 movie is one of my favorite movies of all time, and back when I first dove into the GitS franchise, I considered this to be right up there with it in terms of quality. Rewatching it proved that this is still the second best adaption of the iconic manga, but it has more flaws than I realized. What really makes this series special is its story and characters. the central story of The Laughing Man is fully engaging, with twist, turns, action, and political intrigue. It's all around pretty well written. Then you have the "Stand Alone" episodes which often serve as a way to flesh out the world and the characters. And the way it does so is fantastic. For all of its exposition and techno-bable, what I always loved about the Ghost in the Shell universe is that nothing is ever completely explained to you. There's no "fish-out-of-water" character so the writers have an excuse to explain how everything works to the audience. The world of the series slowly reveals itself through the actions and conversations of the characters. Much of the same can be said about the characters of the show. The show never beats you over the head or spoon-feeds you with melodramatic character building.Instead, the show will leave you pieces that eventually fit a greater picture. For example, in episode 2 Motoko has a line about how as a child, she had so little control over her robotic body that she broke one of her favorite dolls by accident. It's a small line that isn't important to the plot of the episode, but it reveals a struggle within the character. A struggle between the cybernetic being she is now, the human she once was, and the turmoil she had to endure in order to make that transition.Then, in episode 8, Motoko stares at a small watch on her hand before slowly bending and moving her fingers. There's no external dialogue or internal monologue in this short scene, but through the visuals it's communicated that the watch is an object significant to her past, and it reminds her of the little girl she once was; the little girl who broke her doll because she couldn't control her robotic hands. Its suggested that the watch is what keeps her sure of who she was, and possibly, who she might still be. It's fantastic visual character building. The show also deftly weaves subtle themes about consciousness, death, and technology into its stories. While Oshii's film was primarily concerned with these ideas, and brought them to the forefront, SAC lets these questions sit in the background to add an extra dimension to the story that isn't explicitly addressed, but that sticks in the back of your mind like a thorn. However, for everything the show has going for it, it's far from topping the iconic original movie. There are a number of episodes here that are utterly forgettable, and a one that is downright terrible. There's an episode where Motoko infiltrates the internet to gather information, and the way it portrays the internet is bizarre and completely inaccurate, even for the time. The internet conversation is portrayed as some sort of talk show with contestants and audience members, rather than everyone being a participant in a large exchange of information. This could be forgiven, however, the episode is nothing but a huge exposition dump. There's hardly any genuine dialogue here as characters recount things we already know about the story. Worst of all, the episode, which is supposed to be about gathering new information, reveals nothing new at all. It's a complete waste of the audience's time. While the other weak episodes in the series aren't as terrible offenders, they often don't offer much beyond passive entertainment. This show is also held back by the regular flaws you come to expect with the GitS property. Episodes are so exposition heavy with technical jargon, that, unless you're paying attention to every line of dialogue, it can be hard to follow the story. It doesn't help that sometimes the plots to get a little to convoluted for their own good. Lastly, this first season suffers from a poor conclusion. No spoilers here, but upon rewatch I was thoroughly disappointed in how they resolved all of the conflict at the end of The Laughing Man story. "It was all part of the plan" is one of my least favorite anime tropes because it's often used as a lazy device to explain away any lasting consequences certain storytelling decisions might have had. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens here. Instead of sticking to their guns and making a truly effective ending, the writers take the easy way out in order to set everything back to a status quo. Overall, I still hold this series in high regard, even if my views of have changed a bit. For all it's flaws, it still captures the world and characters of Ghost in the Shell better than any other adaption, and is able to weave those elements together with the philosophical questions this series is known for.
I). Plot Structure/Execution- GITS SAC has two types of episodes- Stand Alone Episodes and Complex Episodes A) Stand Alone Episodes- They can be effectively summed up as being double-edged swords. Ghost in the Shell feels like a lived-in world, as the worldbuilding is intricate and meticulously done. Perhaps the best I have ever seen, which is great and the Stand Alone episodes are responsible for creating this vastness. HOWEVER, the overall quality of stand-alone episodes greatly varies and even though they are extremely intelligent in nature and explore a wide range of topics, they do tend to deviate from the interesting plot which hooks you in, that's why they can get a little bit annoying. However, they are equally necessary, since they serve to make the world of this anime feel more fleshed out and dense. Thus there existence can be compared to a double-edged sword in my opinion. They are necessary but they can be a bit out of place at times. B) Complex Episodes- These episodes encompass the main plot, and they are probably the best-written case of a believable storyline in anime, apart from Urusawa's monster I guess. To put it simply, the mystery is laid out extremely well, the plot feels realistic and believable despite having "blockbuster" action elements. And it's extremely thought-provoking while being entertaining. The pacing is proper and there is enough buildup for the grand moments to be impactful, thus altogether the plot is really great. However, the conclusion can be divisive as it fits into a poorly laid out trope. II). Themes and Philosophy- Ghost in the shell is one of those few anime, whose plot is centred/based around real-life socio-political issues. As in its completely devoid of any tropes and feels extremely realistic and will be engaging even to a person who doesn't like anime. The anime references a lot of thought experiments and literary works and deals with an array of philosophical, political and sociological themes, which were relevant to the time period it was made in and some are or may be relevant even now or in the future. Some themes and ideas explored are, mind-body conflict, the nature of vigilantism, how easy access to information on the internet affects us, corruption, mind-body conflict, AI Sentience, Is there a line between a man and a machine? and the relationship between corporations and politics. To add up to all this, there is much more, to be found in the Stand Alone episodes themselves. As I said earlier the themes explored are extremely relevant and everyone who is even remotely knowledgeable about socio-political issues will find them interesting. Also, unlike other "intelligent" shows, GITS; SAC's premise is not built around its complex ideas, and the main focus of the series is to put forth an addictive and accessible plot with a lot of dimension to it. The themes are weaved in the show, in a subtle manner as the story doesn't explicitly focus on them thus, they add more depth to the story, making the anime not that difficult to get into. III). Characters- I often find reviewers expressing their criticism towards the characters in this anime and it's definitely true. The characters are not developed as well, as I would've expected them to be. However, since it's a highly plot-driven story, there is no real necessity for the characters to be 3-dimensional and they do fulfil their roles really well, so focusing on them heavily is not wise. Overall they are just decent. IV). Music and Art- The opening and ending songs have their own aesthetic and are extremely catchy. The art was way ahead of its time and the animation is awesome. V) Conclusion- Highly enjoyable anime, with a plot leaving room for thought. Polished and meticulously done world-building and spectacular animation. This anime is a cyberpunk classic everyone should watch. My initial score was 90, but the stand-alone episodes were a bit iffy at times, thus the final changed score is 87/100.
When i first watched this a few years ago i thought it was great but nothing special. After watching it again, its a very comfortable 10/10. Almost every episode is great, something which is rare to see in a 26 episode anime. With anime this long, there's usually at least a few weak episodes that feel like filler or just aren't engaging. Even the weakest episode in this series is a good episode. So let me dive into why its good, starting with the characters The main cast are the members of section 9, several of them aren't really fleshed out but it doesnt matter too much. They all have something to offer when they're on screen. The most relevant characters are the chief, Motoko, Batou and Togusa and all four are really good characters. Its always interesting to see the different perspectives they have, like Togusa who is the only that is 100% human. Its not just a superficial aspect of his character, its relevant and carries weight. They all have their own unique personality which helps to set up how the show explores its varying philosophies. What makes them really great is the chemistry they have with each other, they feel like an actual team. The character interactions feel real in the way it utilises their personalities and how their words bounce off each other, the dialogue is smooth and witty. There's no forced drama or lazy use of emotions. The story is great for a number of reasons. It doesn't actually feel like an anime, it has a certain style to it that seems to avoid common anime tropes and explores themes most anime don't. The way conflict is resolved, its portrayal of harsh but mundane reality, complex social structures, the relevance of bureaucracy, its procedural nature which makes it resemble a live action TV show. This also applies to how it handles action and the power of the main characters. A really great aspect of the story is the tension that it evokes due to the fact that the characters aren't that powerful. Like in many action anime, numbers aren't really important, a single character can defeat hundreds of enemies on his own. Although section 9 are full of capable individuals, their abilities and strength is very grounded. The main character Motoko is a genius hacker and a monster combat cyborg but she's still very vulnerable, she can easily get killed or disabled like any human. Going back to my earlier point about this not feeling like a anime, the Tachikoma are a great example of this. They are robots with child like voices who represent the `cute` part of the cast, we see this in many anime. Characters that are just there to meet the cute quota. The tachikoma however are actually really fascinating, the way their characterisation is explored by the plot is fantastic, thought provoking and even emotionally powerful. Great characters who get more likeable as the show goes on, their existence is tied in to the themes of the story.
Science Fiction has come a long way from stories involving the unknown reaches of space by the works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells to stories that draw social implications of our society from famed authors George Orwell and Phillip K. Dick. There is little doubt that anime productions have tackled a lot beneath the limits of the genre ranging from Space Opera to Cyberpunk. One series that is often considered one of the most popular in the anime Sci-fi genre is Ghost in the Shell. After the movie's success, directed by celebrated director Mamoru Oshii, we now have Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, but this time without Mamoru Oshii involved with the production. Considering how well Oshii directed Ghost in the Shell, people were skeptical about whether Stand Alone Complex could get the best out of the movie in quality storytelling and animation. Long story short, it did almost every aspect correctly. The way the story sets up isn't just following one main story: the Laughing Man plot arc. Instead, it follows a formulaic style that makes us support the Section 9 team going after various cases worldwide. An argument against the show's credit is that the Stand Alone episodes deviate from the main focus of the Complex episodes that chronicle the Laughing Man plot arc. I would argue that the Stand Alone episodes are essential to deal with a considerable amount of character development for our main characters. Some of the episodes offer memorable story arcs that aren't important to the overall narrative. Still, they continuously show how immensely well crafted the writing is in not only the dialogue but of how well put together the world is in the show. What's so great about the world of Stand Alone Complex is the writers' subtle details in the account, such as the political and social plateau of how the world works that genuinely make it a living, breathing world and not a superficial one. As character development goes, Stand Alone Complex stands out because it gives a lot of time to put forth plenty of depth with each on-screen character. It doesn't just apply to the main characters. Many of the side characters in each episode that we come across have a deep level of characterization to where they aren't just these one-sided antagonists who do evil. They're just ordinary people who are in this situation because of the society they're living in. Each specific main character has their own uniquely written personality that shows their presence in the show. Handled with great care and precision, they all play out so well with each other that they make you care so much for their struggles and relationships as coworkers trying to handle any given situation they meet. Chemistry is crucial in tying together a well-rounded cast of characters and Stand Alone Complex hits the nail on that part exquisitely. Batou and Kusanagi are especially two of the best characters, only by how well the chemistry is between the two from their interactions and personalities. Many consider the most poignant Ghost in the Shell saga is its music. Outcomes to famed composer Yoko Kanno producing all the music in Stand Alone Complex and providing a profoundly layered texture to the overall atmosphere in the show. Shows typically set in a futuristic setting rely heavily on electronic-sounding orchestration mixed in to feel more natural within the landscape of the environment. While there are indeed a lot of that to experience through the ears, Yoko's brilliant blend of Jazz, Electronica, and Classical musicianship combine each other amazingly well to give the soundtrack its unique style that she is widely known for. I find Kenji Kawai's score in the Ghost in the Shell movie left more of a profound impact on me in how it incorporates a lot of dark ambiance into the atmosphere. However, there is no denying the creativity that Yoko put into the score, and ignoring it would be insane when discussing the show. Usually, anime movies have the upper hand as having stellar animation and art, while TV anime have a limited capacity in the level of budget that film studios have. There are, of course, exceptions to this, and Stand Alone Complex is one of them. Sure the animation isn't as fluid as the movie. Still, how the art's quality perfectly compliments the ascetic vision that the artists were going for it's a real accomplishment to experience. How the city looked, the characters all having a distinct look that makes them recognizable the moment we see them, and how the 3D models of the machines flow with the 2D animation of the characters work with each other sublimely. It is haphazard to call Ghost in the Shell an action show since it relies heavily on Noir aspects of tone and pacing, unlike in your typical action show, where the pacing is more fast-paced. However, once it does delve into action territory, that is where the animation and sound take it to the next level of technical genius. The fluid motions involving characters fighting each other still hold more to this day than many other action anime in terms of animated fighting sequences and gunfights. The sound effects of machines and gunfire feel authentic and genuine, which puts you on the edge of your seat as you're transported into the scene. So yeah, as I said, the show on the technical level is surprisingly still amazing to look at as it once was ten years ago. One other aspect of Ghost in the Shell that is often noted when discussing the series is its profound philosophical themes. The movie delved into the ideas of consciousness and ethics of A.I. At the same time, Stand Alone Complex is mainly centered on political corruption and conspiracy theories that involve the book "The Catcher in the Rye." The one part where it does delve deeper into is when we follow the Tachikomas and how they describe the "Ghost" in each machine through their A.I. Oddly enough, it works even though these childlike voiced machines seem as though they were there for comic relief. The political themes thrown into the plot don't have nearly as much impact as the writers thought they would have. The way it's told through a conventional storytelling style does not try to seem as though they wanted to make a big political statement. That's not the same as saying that it's a significant knock on the show, but it's something that I felt would've been much stronger. Whatever the case, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will surely leave a strong impression on people on what makes a story stand-out as one of the most well-crafted entries in writing great characters and a large detailed world. It is by no means a show that you can like for the action or the great animation because that is only one-third of what makes Stand Alone Complex so deep in its overall philosophy and story. Well-written character progression, great world-building, and fantastic animation all combined into one glorious experience that will inspire anyone who wants to get into writing stories for years to come. Grade: A
Baseado nos trabalhos de Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex, ou Gits Sac, foi um anime produzido pelo Productions IG e que contou com duas temporadas. Situado em um Japão nos anos 2030, após acontecimentos como a III guerra mundial, o show nos arremete às operações investigativas da força policial Seção 9, especializada nos crimes de cyberterrorismo. A história nos apresenta a investigação e o desfecho de diversos casos dando maior ênfase ao The Laughing Man, que vem a demonstrar a ideia central por trás do título, o Stand Alone Complex. Ambientado em um mundo onde a cooperação biológica e mecânica estão presentes no cotidiano, faz-se necessário ter esta força tarefa especializada no combate dos crimes cibernéticos. A Seção 9, liderada pela major Kusanagi Motoko, é a responsável pela proteção dos demais cidadãos que são alvos fáceis destes crimes virtuais. O decorrer dos episódios nos apresenta uma sequência de acontecimentos repetidos: o surgimento de diversos crimes semelhantes. A linha de investigação do setor da Segurança Pública leva à reabertura de um caso antigo pelas supostas relações com os crimes atuais, o caso The Laughing Man. Muito embora realmente haja extrema semelhança entre os crimes cometidos e o já encerrado caso Laughing Man, surgem incoerências na investigação. Ainda que algumas pessoas investigadas no inquerito afirmem serem o próprio Homem Risonho, ao passo que outros alegam terem sidos ordenados pelo criminoso original, não há, de fato, relação alguma com o crime anterior. Soma-se a isto o fato da ascensão de novos criminosos inspirados pelo Homem Risonho de modo que pareçam mais algum tipo de seita, ou organização criminosa, mas sem a existência de um líder ou qualquer ligação entre os casos. Este fenômeno acaba por ser entitulado Stand Alone Complex, que pode ser traduzido como Complexo independente ou autonômo, e que apresenta o surgimento de atitudes replicadas sem a presença de um original. O termo surge como uma crítica ao fenômeno dos copycats. A causa Copycat revela-se como um comportamento mimético causado pela publicidade exagerada nos meios midiáticos. O caso de maior frenesi é o famoso Jack The Ripper, que causou a incidência da réplica dos crimes cometidos pelo serial killer com o intuito de receberem a mesma atenção quanto o anterior. Este tipo de comportamento mimético foi abordado por David Phillips em sua pesquisa. Chamado por ele de Efeito Werther, a pesquisa investigava a relação do crescente aumento de suicídios com características semelhantes. Sua pesquisa surge com a suposição de que uma onda de suicídios proeminentes na europa foram causadas por atitudes replicáveis de homens que se inspiraram no romance As Dores do Jovem Wether. O Japão presenciou algo semelhante com o Caso Glico-Morinaga. Após o sequestro do CEO das empresas alimentícias, Ezaki Glico, diversas cartas, escritas com diferentes caligrafias e dialetos, foram enviadas, de difentes lugares, com conteúdos que provocavam a polícia e a mídia nacional. O caso foi finalizado e nunca chegou a ser solucionado. A última carta enviada fazia referência ao nome Monstro das 21 Faces como sendo um grupo colaborativo que estaria pronto para cometer outros crimes, se provocado. Como uma contraposição ao efeito copycat, o Stand Alone Complex compreende-se como o conjunto de indivíduos independentes entre si que se relacionam a partir de uma ideia abstrata. Como uma cópia replicada sem a presença de uma figura original. Este complexo independente e autônomo que surge de um efeito ilusório que replica algo não real, levando pessoas a agirem de forma mimética sem possuirem as mesmas motivações pessoais, causadas por uma interpretação errônea dos acontecimentos reais. __Independente e Autônomo?__ Para a psicologia, complexo é constituído por um conjunto de imagens, atitudes e ideias, carregados de carga emotiva, dotados de relativa autonomia, ligados a um ou mais arquétipos. Tratam-se de fenômenos naturais que desenvolvem-se, positiva ou negativamente, e que estão associados, ou são derivados, a partir de conteúdos de carga afetiva correspondente. Permanecem, muitas vezes, mergulhados no inconsciente, sem ao menos, serem notados pela consciência. Mas, absolutamente passiveis de ativação por algum estimulo. Esta ideia de condicionar comportamentos humanos através de estímulos foi profundamente abordada por diversos ramos da psicologia. O behaviorismo psicológico compreende o ser humano a partir de comportamentos objetivos sobrepondo-se aos subjetivos de modo que estes comportamentos alienem os aspectos da personalidade humana. Os conceitos behavioristas baseiam-se na parte animalesca do homem sem ter a necessidade de serem aprofundados os aspectos subjetivos da racionalidade. John B. Watson, considerado pai do behaviorismo, entendia que a ciência só poderia ser existir se fundamentada em uma realidade visível. Dessa forma, Watson ignorava os aspectos internos da condição humana, como os pensamentos, e defendia que os estímulos deveriam moldar a psiquê do homem. Através de experimentos humanos, replicados de experimentos feitos em animais, Watson fundamentou sua teoria de que somente os estímulos deveriam serem aceitos no processo de formação da personalidade. Esta ideia de manipulação dos comportamentos humanos através de condicionamentos do inconsciente foi replicada em outras áreas do conhecimento, como a filosofia política. A Câmara de Eco Ideológica é um conceito que implica na repetição de ideias e crenças de modo que sejam reforçadas, ou estimuladas, em determinado sistema. O surgimento de fontes dominantes faz-se necessário para que as ideias, valores, crenças, opiniões, gostos, estilos, hábitos, sejam sutilmente propagados até que se tornem inquestionáveis. A disseminação destas doutrinas em forma de informações sutis seriam disseminadas nos ambientes socioculturais inseridos, como sons que reverberam em câmaras de eco, para que o inconsistente popular fosse condicionado pelas fontes dominantes. Ideias como estas nos levam a questionamentos sobre o que de fato é independente. Este complexo autônomo realmente existe ou é apenas mais uma ilusão que alimentaria condicionamentos socioculturais? Em que ponto a moda muda? Como costumes são substituídos? Quando crimes hediondos tornaram-se comuns? Quando atitudes comuns viraram crimes? >“A aceitabilidade da opinião pública determina a viabilidade política de um fato”. A manipulação sutil através da Janela de Overton demonstram como este enorme Stand Alone Complex, chamado sociedade, na verdade possui uma exacerbada dependência. De comportamentos a sentimentos. De gostos a opiniões. Práticas aceitas e rejeitadas. Todo condicionamento humano é entrelaçado com alguma relação de interdependência. Desse modo, os comportamentos, de fato, são livres? O ser humano é livre. Dotado de inteligência e vontade, sempre pode escolher o caminho que irá seguir. Para viver uma vida própria, não segundo a pretensão de outrem, é preciso tomar consciência do inconsciente condicionado. É necessário descobrir quais os desejos e padrões de comportamento foram condicionados e quais são os próprios. Somente a partir disto o homem é capaz de viver a vida de forma livre e plena. >"A massa mantém a marca, a marcam mantém a mídia e a mídia controla a massa".