"Favorite Ghost in the Shell Media?" Topic

With a new, live-action film coming out at the end of this month, I thought that it might be fun to see which version of Ghost in the Shell is the popular favorite.

1. The Comic -- (Masamune Shirow, 1989-90) Two additional volumes were also published, Man-Machine Interface and Human-Error Processor.

2. The Animated Film -- (dir. Mamoru Oshii, 1995) A sequel of sorts, entitled Innocence was released in 2002.

3. Stand Alone Complex TV series -- (dir. Kenji Kamiyama, 2002-2005) Two series were produced, and a tie-in movie (Solid State Society).

4. Arise film series -- (dir. Kazuchika Kise, 2013-2014)

5. PlayStation game -- (1997)

6. Stand Alone Complex novels -- (Junichi Fujisaku, 2004) The Lost Memory, Revenge of the Cold Machines, and White Maze.

7. The Live-Action Film -- (dir. Rupert Sanders, 2017)

8. Tabletop Gaming -- I don't know of any official tabletop games or minis, but surely someone has done this on their own?

Right now, I would be hard-pressed to give an answer; I'm fresh off a re-read of Masamune Shirow's manga. More grounded and serious in tone than his earlier output, the book's near-future setting has aged pretty well. It's good that it has, because Shirow hasn't really followed up with much in the years since, leaving Ghost in the Shell as his magnum opus.

It hasn't been too long since I had revisited Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. For my money, it is one of the best SF television series, period. It's essential viewing for the Online Age, eschewing much of the philosophical baggage of its predecessors in favor of a sharp look at privacy versus public security in the face of cyber – terrorism. In addition, the series format allows for greater character development and exploration of its future world. I think that I would say it's my favorite without too many qualms.

Your thoughts?

Ron

P.S. Kodansha have just released a shiny, new Deuxe Edition of the manga (in hardcover!) It's pretty.

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3

There's also Ghost in the Shell – The New Movie, unless that's part of your #4. #3 gets my vote, though I haven't seen all of it.

Just saw Innocence on the weekend, it was pretty ponderous though it had a more straightforward plot than The New Movie. I fell asleep during the whole "what is life" discussion complete with quotes of the Bible and Milton and was still able to follow along when I woke up to the booms.

So #3, then #2, then probably The New Movie despite the confusion, then Innocence.

3.
And the old Infinity emag 'Bibliotech Files' produced stats for section 9 for use with Infinity (1st edition).

Robert

Scarlett Johansen

9. What is Ghost in the Shell?

Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut 07 Mar 2017 7:55 p.m. PST:

Scarlett Johansen

Ahem, it's Johansson. Otherwise, +1 to that. Followed by #2, with the caveat that I haven't actually seen a lot of the titles mentioned.

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'9. What is Ghost in the Shell?'

This question is close to heresy. The Major has been informed.

3 than 4 than 2

The comic/manga is also cool, but I liked the themes of the animated works better.

Never heard of Ghost in the shell

I like basically all of it but the first season of SAC is my fave anime ever.

Of everything so far, I think enjoyed S.A.C. Season 2 the best, followed by season 1.

Then pretty much everything else in no particular order. Perhaps Human Error Interface last? Loved the art style in MMI … the story less so.

Haven't seen Arise yet.
Loved Innocence.

Really looking forward to the upcoming movie tbh. For the environments if nothing else.

As ZULUPAUL said.

Original movie as I like the Major's character better than the 80's cheerleader in the books (get a hair brush!). Disappointed in Arise version of the major, just not kick ass enough. However, the plot lines of Arise are pretty good.

In the Manga the major is a badass professional, but she can be crazy, smug, vengeful, stupid, sexy, philosophical, emotional, attentive, supportive etc. She's very human despite being a cyborg. And cybernetics is apparently so common nobody bats an eye when somebody has a utilitarian box for a body.

The characters in Oshii's movies are serious and sullen, weighed by overwhelming weltschmerz, and wrestle with transhuman philosophy in a way that would give Sartre a colic. Cybernetics are common but appear to take something from one's greater humanity.

The upcoming movie seems to reduce philosophy to "Machines bad, natural good, government bad. Putting people into machines very bad, people in machines seeking freedom good yay !!!"

The Arise series ( 3 of them) are on Netflix on demand right now.

Arise was pretty good actually. I liked it very much.

I have only seen most of the Stand Alone Complex tv series and the two animated movies. I, too, fell asleep during Innocence, but it may be because I was watching it very late at night.

I don't have a preference between the first film and SAC. I like all three very much. I am now watching the first season on Hulu, and will follow it with the second season.

Existing role-playing games (Cyberpunk 2020 of course comes to mind) could probably be adapted to run games in the setting of Ghost in the Shell. Many of the Infinity miniatures would work well for characters and NPCs.

3, with the movies a close second. haven't seen much beyond one or two episodes of Arise, but it looked interesting.

3 Good series.

I enjoyed Stand Alone Complex, though anime is not really my thing.

Is it wrong that, despite my negligible investment in the property, I'm still fearful that the upcoming movie is going to botch it?

Good to know I'm not the only one that is hesitant to jump on the live movie.
Seen the SAC both seasons, the original movie and Innocence as well as Solid State Society. And the manga oh so many years ago. I don't even think Masume Shiro does manga work any more.

Movies, then TV series (SAC – haven't seen arise and want the time spent watching innocence back, please.)

Never read the comics or manga – but I don't really do comics.

The new movie I'm cautious about – but it's not Kusanagi she's playing, so I'll wait and see.

ScarJo as a blonde: meh.
ScarJo as a Brunette: Wait and see.
ScarJo as a redhead: Yes, please.

Enjoying Arise on Netflix, stories are good and the Major still has curves, just not as pronounced.

Miss the old US voices, but the Japanese ones aren't annoying at least.

2 and 3.

For tabletop gaming try Darkest Star Games 15mm Spec-Sec line.

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