KOKAKU KIDOTAI (GHOST IN THE SHELL) franchise (1995-2017)

Here is what I wrote after a recent run through

Kôkaku Kidôtai (Ghost In The Shell) / Mamoru Oshii (2005). Following the failure of the Hollywood 2017 live-action “The Ghost In The Shell,” I decided to go back to the originals. But what ARE the originals? The franchise began life as a Japanese manga which led to an animated feature film which led to more movies, three TV series, original video productions, and video games. I scored DVDs of three of the four animated features so watched those in sequence one-after-the-other. In a world where human physical abilities can be increased a thousand fold by cyber augmentation, even the brain can be fitted with a “cyber brain” that can communicate with “The Net,” an infinite knowledge base. The remaining human element, the organic brain, is called a person’s “ghost.” One of the most successful of these cyber beings is Major Motoko Kusanagi who works for the national security police force, Section 9. With her cyber augmented partner, Batou, she is given the assignment to track down a hacker into the Net who calls himself The Puppetmaster. As the clues mount up that The Puppetmaster is not a human at all but a computer program that has become self-aware, it raises dark questions in the Major’s mind about the nature of reality and identity in the new cyber world. (When she voices some of her doubts, the down-to-Earth Batou, who is no philosopher, simply says, “Bullshit.”) This influential cyberpunk anime is for adults only; not only because of nudity and violence but because of some intricate story telling and of the ideas encountered.

Kôkaku Kidôtai 2: Inosensu (Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence) / Mamoru Oshî (2004). Batou is now head investigator of Section 9 after Major Kusanagi’s retirement and disappearance into the Net. His new partner is the young and cocky Togusa. They go into action when several gynoids, life-like humanoid robots used as sex dolls, have malfunctioned (to say the least) and killed their masters. An autopsy of the guilty gynoids reveal the presence of a “ghost” – a human element but artificially created. This is a strong sequel that, really, can just about stand alone. The Major’s reappearance at the climax is really all that connects this film to the first and dialog early on lays the groundwork for anyone coming to this film first. “Innocence” is rated PG-13 in the U.S. but its complicated tale, witch takes us near noir territory, requires concentration. Good stuff.

Kôkaku Kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society (2006). Time has passed again in Section 9. Togusa is now head of investigations, Batou is semi-retired taking only cases that interest him, and the Major has not been heard from since the Innocence case. A criminal calling himself The Puppetmaster begins using children to spread a “micromachine” virus. Is this the same Puppetmaster that was encountered before? Could the Major be a part of the attack on society? “Solid State Society” takes us even further into cyberpunk noir. Even while the action sequences are still there, they don’t play as much of an important role. The involvement of child abuse and endangerment, the ability of the criminals to alter reality, and Togusa having to make a drastic decision to protect his own family make this film more of a suspense drama that an action movie. To my cyber mind, this is all to the better. This first played in Japan as a feature length episode of the “Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex” TV series. In other parts of the world, including North America, it was released as a theatrical film.