Ghost in the Shell (Koukaku Kidoutai, which translates into English as Mobile Armoured Riot Police) is a Japanese futuristic cyberpunk thriller. Its main character is Motoko Kusanagi, often referred to as Major (Motoko's past rank in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces), a member of Section 9, a covert operations division of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission. The body of Motoko Kusanagi is almost completely mechanized: only her brain and a segment of her spinal cord are organic.
Ghost in the Shell was originally created by Masamune Shirow as a manga, which was published in 1989 (in 1991 a collected edition was released). Mamoru Oshii adapted the original manga in 1995 anime film with the same title, which is a masterpiece and a gem among all later adaptations. In 2002 a sequel to the original manga, Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface, was released (the material left out of the sequel was published in 2003 as Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor). From October 2002 to March 2003 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, an animated television series directed by Kenji Kamiyama was aired on Animax, with a total of 26 episodes (a compilation movie based on the Laughing Man episodes was released in 2005). The second season (Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. 2nd GIG) was aired from January 2004 to January 2005, 26 more episodes (as with the first season, later a compliation movie was released with the title: Ghost in the Shell: Individual Eleven). In 2004 also a sequel to the anime film, with a budget of about $20 million, was released by Mamoru Oshii with the title Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. Alongside the film a book After the Long Goodbye by Masaki Yamada was published. The book is a prequel to Innocence. In 2006 an anime film Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. Solid State Society directed by Kenji Kamiyama and based on his earlier work, the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series, was released. The sub-universe of this series also became the basis for a trilogy of novels by Junichi Fujisaku: The Lost Memory, Revenge of the Cold Machines and White Maze (all three published in 2006). In 2008 the original film by Mamoru Oshii was redone updating the graphics and re-recording the sound in 6.1 surround sound (by Randy Thom). This version is known as Ghost in the Shell 2.0. The same year DreamWorks acquired the rights to produce a live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell with Steven Spielberg. It is set to be released in 2011.
As for chronology, the anime films and anime series are set in alternate contexts: the original Ghost in the Shell film is set in 2029, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is set in 2032. Both seasons of the anime series are set in 2030. The third film, Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. Solid State Society, follows up on the events that ended the second season of the series.
Ghost in the Shell was originally created by Masamune Shirow as a manga, which was published in 1989 (in 1991 a collected edition was released). Mamoru Oshii adapted the original manga in 1995 anime film with the same title, which is a masterpiece and a gem among all later adaptations. In 2002 a sequel to the original manga, Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface, was released (the material left out of the sequel was published in 2003 as Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor). From October 2002 to March 2003 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, an animated television series directed by Kenji Kamiyama was aired on Animax, with a total of 26 episodes (a compilation movie based on the Laughing Man episodes was released in 2005). The second season (Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. 2nd GIG) was aired from January 2004 to January 2005, 26 more episodes (as with the first season, later a compliation movie was released with the title: Ghost in the Shell: Individual Eleven). In 2004 also a sequel to the anime film, with a budget of about $20 million, was released by Mamoru Oshii with the title Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. Alongside the film a book After the Long Goodbye by Masaki Yamada was published. The book is a prequel to Innocence. In 2006 an anime film Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. Solid State Society directed by Kenji Kamiyama and based on his earlier work, the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series, was released. The sub-universe of this series also became the basis for a trilogy of novels by Junichi Fujisaku: The Lost Memory, Revenge of the Cold Machines and White Maze (all three published in 2006). In 2008 the original film by Mamoru Oshii was redone updating the graphics and re-recording the sound in 6.1 surround sound (by Randy Thom). This version is known as Ghost in the Shell 2.0. The same year DreamWorks acquired the rights to produce a live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell with Steven Spielberg. It is set to be released in 2011.
As for chronology, the anime films and anime series are set in alternate contexts: the original Ghost in the Shell film is set in 2029, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is set in 2032. Both seasons of the anime series are set in 2030. The third film, Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. Solid State Society, follows up on the events that ended the second season of the series.
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Excellent chronology, and summarizations of the movies, T.V. series, books, and manga series. As to the new 3D movie it seems to be a flip of the coin 50/50 % on the best mesh into the original content set's. Also to the post topic of what is ghost in the shell. It refers to the soul/ghost trapped in a cyborg/computer system, and the question of does one retain ones individuality, and does one stay relatively the same, or do they become more or less after the integration of man machine interfacing or a man machine symbiosis, or form a super structure symbiosis of some type. Are we symbiotic to the machine, or is the machine a symbiotic to man? To laugh with the cosmos, as the irony is here and now, and the cosmic irony laugh's at many, even me at times. Great job keep up the great post's with the parallel link's and references to real japanese culture and reflective nostalgia of that culture, with the mix of many cultures and how they try to keep the old cultural way's alive. I look forward to more post's from you soon.
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