Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Rewatch)

[Professor Irony]

Had fallen behind a bit there, but I'm nearly caught up again now - should be back on track by the end of today. Due to my working schedule, I'll probably have trouble following episodes on wednesday - friday, but I was thinking I'll just try to watch ahead a little bit to compensate; should stop me falling behind like last time.

Anyway, Ep5:

Again, not much to add for this one. As Godot pointed out, the animation during the fight with Kuze was really nice, and I liked the little quip from the Tatchikoma about hooking up to someone during meditation in order to download enlightenment.

I was a little disappointed to find that the Individual Eleven essays are fictional though - I wouldn't have put it past the writers to have been referencing something completely genuine. If nothing else, it's an excellent way of carrying on the 'stand alone complex' concept without it feeling like a blatant re-run of series 1.

Ep6:

Already quite a bleak episode, but rather an uncomfortable watch in light of recent events. The final scene with Togusa trying to call the woman and her discarded phone ringing on the platform was particularly poignant.

Based on my recollection of the series from watching it through the first time, I think the 2nd Gig is a noticeably darker and more melancholic series than the first season was. Can't help wondering if it's Mamoru Oshii's influence that might be at work there.

 

[HdE]

I dunno - I never really found the 2nd GIG to be any more melancholy. I think it's just that it deals with a scenario where the stakes are infinitely higher than they were in the 1st GIG.

Whenever I get into discussion of the differences between the two series, I can't help but think 'oh, but what if there'd been a 3rd GIG? And a 4th? And a 5th!

The series definitely has that feel to it that it could have gone on and on. Maybe not without straying away from the ideas in the manga, but I digress...

 

[Professor Irony]

Once again, this is where I really wish I was more familiar with the manga.

Certainly from watching the Solid State Society film, I felt they could easily have built that into a 3rd series if they'd had the funding and the inclination to do so. If nothing else, after SSS getting that 3D remake, I'm still optimistic we may yet get more GitS anime at some point down the line.

As for it being more melancholy, well I dunno - maybe seeing it through again might make me see it differently. It just runs in my mind that the first series was rather more gung-ho on the whole, where as I remember the second being more interested in the very human issues and regrets faced by the characters, (spoilering just to be safe) delusion, loneliness, lost love and so on.

 

[HdE]

Dude, if you don't have the manga, track it down.

Speaking as the forum's resident comics guy, I can attest that it's a STELLAR experience. If you come to it fresh from having seen SAC, you'll spot all the inspirational parts for certain scenes. Nobody does design and action like Shirow.

As for the possibility of more GITS anime in future... I'd stake my life on it! This is one franchise that's NEVER gonna die!

 

[Professor Irony]

If I'm buying the manga, which version should I be looking for? I remember the original dark horse edition was censored, but I'm not really clued up on any of the subsequent printings (searching amazon shows at least two: 2005 & 2009).

I'm not desperate to see the famous sex-yacht (it's in Intron Depot anyway :wink, but if anything else has been tinkered with, I'd rather have an uncut version if at all possible.

Also I see amazon lists the recent Stand Alone Complex manga for an English release in May

Anyway, S2 EP7:

A very tense episode which really underscores the extent to which Goda is an oily bastard. I can only assume he did something to the army officer that would make him more suggestable while they were connected by data link.

It surprised me though that the episode title screen describes the man taking part in the arms deal as Kuze. I can only assume he's meant to be heavily disgused as he looks nothing like the way he did in ep5. Saying that though, I think there's a bizarre sideways move with the artwork in general for this episode - I'll get some screens up later.

S2 EP8

Definite plot development here; not a whole lot of action, but I found it gripping all the same. I particularly like the notion of ideas being disseminated via the cyberbrain collective unconscious. While I'm not an avid follower of such things, I feel you could draw an interesting parallel with the 'anonymous' raids we have today.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I found it rather intriguing that the Section 1 operative should refer to the Major by her first name as well...

 

[Hokum]

S2 EP7 too (late)

Yes an episode to display how dislikeable and manipulative Goda is. Taking the "green" JSDF soldiers was obviously a ploy to make the operation go badly and give some “killed civilians to ignite the refugees.

As for the art, hmm its ok but no worse than ep 3's badly drawn fest.

I think they may have different teams working on different episodes which shows at times.

 

[HdE]

If I'm buying the manga, which version should I be looking for? I remember the original dark horse edition was censored, but I'm not really clued up on any of the subsequent printings (searching amazon shows at least two: 2005 & 2009).

I own the Dark Horse edition. It hasn't been censored or tinkered with at all.

The basics: Dark Horse released trade paperbacks of Ghost In The Shell, Ghost In The Shell 2.0 : Man Machine Interface and a collection of shorts titled Ghost In The Shell 1.5: Human Error Processor.

As far as I know, those editions weren't messed about with, although curiously, Human Error Processor is the only one of thsoe editions that reads right-to-left.

Dark Horse lost the license to the manga when Kodansha started publishing manga in the West. I've only seen the first book in shops with the Kodansha imprint on the spine, in a larger format. Pretty certain that one was censored.

My thoughts on the books: Ghost In The Shell is a classic, the direct sequel is a gorgeous looking (if ecchi-tastic) but confusing mess, and the stuff in Human Error Processor is really quite good. Probably the closest in terms of tone and feel to the SAC anime, for my money.

 

[Hokum]

GITS 1.5 is pretty good, I have that and the non censored GITS Manga by Dark Horse. I don't have 2.0, is it worth looking for?

Btw which EP is it supposed to be today? I was going to watch 8 and 9?

 

[HdE]

GITS 1.5 is pretty good, I have that and the non censored GITS Manga by Dark Horse. I don't have 2.0, is it worth looking for?

I'll expand on what I said earlier:

2.0 is a STUNNING looking book. It quite honestly has some of Shirow's most detailed work in it to date (and if you're out there fella, more comics would be supremely nice!)

The book is of considerable interest to me, as it really shows off the feats that are possible with digital comic book colouring. That aside, Shirow's already formidable skills are well in evidence. There are some jaw dropping action scenes.

The downside is, I found the actual story to be a bit of a mess (and that's putting it kindly). There's enough there to sink your teeth into, and it's not an unenjoyable ride. It just feels VERY forced and convoluted. Really a case of the guy's best artwork with some of his weakest writing, in my opinion.

 

[Hokum]

S2 EP8

You really get a feeling of wading through all lies and counter arguments while searching for the truth. Interesting to see the “infected” journalist and Goda's reaction to it. Overall a plot laden episode. You also get to see the Tachikoma in their web guise.

 

[Hokum]

S2 EP9

Hmm my knowledge of the social structures means that some of Godas ideals are lost on me. However the cyber attack is quite interesting. The visualisation of a denial of service attack and using viruses and dummy viruses to fool a security system while you literally walk in is a novel approach.

The Bomb plot part of the is good, but only window dressing I feel? Batou has a scary level of knowledge in suicide bombs to realise the trigger was in the tooth?

 

[HdE]

Batou has a scary level of knowledge in suicide bombs to realise the trigger was in the tooth?

He'd likely have picked that up in his professional career. He was a ranger before recruitment into Section 9 remember.

And the whole point of the guys and gal in Section 9 is that they're ESPECIALLY knowledgeable and proficient in their specialised fields.

Yes, even Togusa!

 

[shira]

Episode #7 (Late)

Love this episode - well, I love all the Goda episodes if i'm honest. He's a fantastic character, and really makes the Second GiG special. It was so cruel how he manipulated the soldier to fire upon the refugees, but Batou doing a homer on him made it worth it ("Why you little!" Does anyone remember that? )

I'll be playing catch up over the next couple of nights!

 

[Professor Irony]

Before I forget, a screen from ep7: the Major's eyes seem to have grown much larger and her nose is almost completely undefined. I wouldn't say it was bad art per se, but it seems like the team were subconsciously drawing a different show...

I own the Dark Horse edition. It hasn't been censored or tinkered with at all.

Ah, I must have had that the wrong way round. Looking more closely at amazon, I see there's one edition published by Titan with a 'mature content' type sticker on the front, but the Dark Horse ed. is still available and also cheaper, so I'll probably just stick with that.

 

[HdE]

I own the Dark Horse edition. It hasn't been censored or tinkered with at all.

Ah, I must have had that the wrong way round. Looking more closely at amazon, I see there's one edition published by Titan with a 'mature content' type sticker on the front, but the Dark Horse ed. is still available and also cheaper, so I'll probably just stick with that.

You do that. You'll get the same version I have, I'd wager.

 

[Professor Irony]

S2 EP9

Nice to see Chroma again. Looking back at the comments on S1 EP9 ("Chat! Chat! Chat!"), I was quite intrigued by the notion that she might represent the 'true' version of Kusanagi, especially in light of Goda's speech in this episode about how one's ghost can change to reflect their body. Presumably Goda must have reached this conclusion based on his own ghost showing his injured face, as opposed to the way he was before his accident.

Coming back to Chroma, I suppose she does provide the Major with a convenient disguise for the likes of the chatroom environment, but I definitely think there's more to it than that. If it was purely about not being recognised, why would the Major choose an avatar so close to the way she looks in real life? She doesn't attempt to alter her voice or speech pattern either, so surely if she was just trying to hide her identity, she'd be better off disguised as a squeaky-voiced man. Added to that, when she breaks into the office block during the Cash Eye episode, she barely tries to disguise her physical self at all, yet still no-one at the party seems to suspect her as the burglar.

Dunno where I'm going with this really, but I think it's kinda interesting. I'd agree as well that the bomb plot is pretty secondary in this episode though. It seems almost like they felt the need to add some sort of action that the episode would otherwise have lacked. It's a shame though as I felt the ddos attack was interesting enough to carry the episode on its own.

Also: "Tucky Strike"

 

[Hokum]

S2 EP9

Added to that, when she breaks into the office block during the Cash Eye episode, she barely tries to disguise her physical self at all, yet still no-one at the party seems to suspect her as the burglar.]

Distracted by the boobs maybe? The Letch seemed to suggest she has a fairly standard appearance?

One thing interesting about the episode, is that Goda seems to feel the Major hack the system? Also he said that it was late? IE he expected them to hack in?

 

[shira]

Episode #8 (Late)

Faaaantastic episode. Was really gripped by it. I almost wish we could have read Goda's essay though, actually. These are the best types of Ghost in the Shell episodes I feel; developing the plot, while pushing the characters along too. Beautiful on the eyes too, I found.

Will be watching #9 too later

 

[HdE]

S2 EP9

Nice to see Chroma again. Looking back at the comments on S1 EP9 ("Chat! Chat! Chat!"), I was quite intrigued by the notion that she might represent the 'true' version of Kusanagi, especially in light of Goda's speech in this episode about how one's ghost can change to reflect their body.

Dude, you have no idea how much I squee at Chroma's appearances! I'm a major geek for Chroma.

Your comment set me thinking about how it has been suggested a few times that Kusanagi is actually older than her prosthetic body makes her look. Maybe the Major is big on the idea of idealising her appearance. I dunno.

 

[shira]

Episode #9 (Late)

A great episode, but I definitely preferred #8. Goda really does make this series so special - he's a fantastic character. I'm really enjoying the Second GiG - everything feels a lot more tied together now that the Stand Alone episodes develop the plot too.

It is #10 today, right? So hopefully i'll watch #10 and #11 tommorow and I'll be back up to date!