I absolutely adore Stand Alone Complex, 2nd Gig, and Solid State Society. I also own the light novels, which are nearly identical to the anime, but it seems that the SAC anime came first, and the light novels were written afterwards as a compliment to the anime.
I can recognize some similarity in the art style of this new GitS and Black Magic M-66, which I also own, but I didn’t know that SAC was such a departure from Shirow’s manga.
That said I prefer SAC exactly as it is, and I love the light novels. I like how it takes itself seriously and Motoko is presented as a strong, aggressive bombshell of a woman. I’ll probably skip this adaptation because it just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I just don’t think it holds up to the adaptation which I love and enjoy.
I was living in Japan when the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002) anime first released, and whereas I appreciated the deeper dive into the world of Ghost in the Shell, it was still doing its own thing separate from the original 1989 manga I grew up reading.
Just like the original 1995 movie, which was semi-loyal to the overarching plot of the old manga, but took a much darker tone and new art style. And its sequel film went off in its own direction, ignoring the manga completely.
Then Ghost in the Shell: Arise (2013) came out as a prequel story. A third animated franchise that expands the world with the same characters, but still doesn’t hit on the actual story written by Shirow Masamune back in the '80s.
The 2017 live-action movie was basically just a remake of the 1995 anime film with a slightly altered plot. Still ignoring the source material. And because they cast a white American to play the lead Japanese role (even with an in-universe explanation for the switch), it got “cancelled” and ended up being a huge flop.
The Ghost in the Shell (2026) is the first story that’s actually loyal to the original manga, both in art style and in story. And for that, I’m extremely excited. We’ve seen so many interpretations and recreations of the original work over the years, it’s nice to finally see the original work itself being represented in anime form.
A lot of anime series are fiercely loyal to their original manga. It’s so strange that it’s taken nearly 40 years for Ghost in the Shell to get the same treatment.
I’ve never seen or read any Ghost in the Shell. Would this be something I could watch not knowig anything about the series?
Look at it this way: Why start with something divisive like this adaptation instead of something universally beloved like the 1995 movie? I also highly doubt that anyone not familiar with the setting would be able to follow what’s happening (at least in this first episode).
I think people hold the original movie in high regard for its cerebral nature, and how it directly inspired cyberpunk narratives in the West especially. The Matrix, Cyberpunk Red/2077, and other things take a lot from the 1995 movie.
Yes. It’s not a sequel or anything. It’s fully standalone from other series/movies. Having that said, it could feel confusing, because they throw you right into action, without explaining much, but I assume that this is just a narrative choice and everything will be explained over time.
From Wikipedia:
Set in Japan in 2029, Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg who leads an elite combat unit that includes fellow cyborg Batou. In a world connected by vast information networks, where cybernetic enhancement has increasingly blurred the distinction between humans and machines, Kusanagi seeks to establish a specialized force capable of responding proactively to emerging technological and security threats.
I kinda found futuristic 2029 funny, but I keep forgetting we already live in a dystopian future
japan is too hopeful for the future. like with evangelion they have futuristic city fortress, and a working global govt.
idk if I want manga accurate Major. She’s been stoic on screen for nearly half a century, this new Kusanagi is easily the most talkative and I am not a fan. I think she’s more interesting when her words have weight.
I think we’ve had a lot of straight Motoko and it’s nice to see her given more dimensions and a fuller personality.
Of course, her using a ghost infiltration key to make someone punch themselves in the face works hilariously both with a smirk, and completely deadpan!
It’s nice to see some of her feelings, that were always well written, expressed more visually for the audience. I think it could let new fans connect with her a bit more.
It doesn’t take away from any of her marvellous previous depictions, but god is it a breath of fresh air after the deadness of the Netflix show.
I think the manga starts off really goofy and then gets more serious when it finds its feet. She becomes lots more serious after merging with the Puppet Master, which isn’t so significant in other adaptions, since she’s so serious before as well.
The 1995 anime reorders the plot of the manga a little so that it’s one big story, which to me is an improvement over the “disconnected vignette” style of the original. I wouldn’t want an adaption of that…
Those Science Saru people are on point with translating the art style and vibe. It does trade from the seriousness of Oshii’s movie and SAC for the manga’s more easygoing atmosphere.
Honestly though, the previous Netflix adaptation was so bad, I would give a lot this one a lot of leeway. Turns out it started excellent qnd hopefully ramps things up.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
Well, fuck me I guess.
Available on High Seas!
🏴☠️
I did a glance on nyaa and there are several releases already
look on nyaa
commie subs release for GITS2026
When the world needed him most…He returned
Ghost in the torrents
🏴☠️
It would be the cyberpunk thing to do.
If only I could afford the storage these days.
We should download a data centre.
I can hear the ads music already from just reading this post “You wouldn’t download a data center “
Attend a few conventions, acquire a series of free thumb drives, and turn them into a storage array
With 24 usb dongles that each take 4 keys (or a dongle) and you’re ready to go!
Nah matey, fuck them.
I watched all of Invincible TV for 0¥, because I am not about to support sweatshops.
I definitely prefer the more serious tone of SAC, but I’ll keep watching this new series and see how it goes.
It’s always a pleasure to see the team on another outing! SAC S1 is the GOAT so far, but I enjoy the weird second movie, Arise had its moments, they’re all additive
SAC?
SAC = Stand Alone Complex, the name of the first anime series to distinguish it from the Ghost in the Shell anime movie that was produced before.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex
“stand-alone complex”, the GITS spinoff series
It isn’t a spin off is a different retell like the movie is. They all run in parallel or continuum the manga, the 2d movie, the live action, the shitty 3d one; only the anime sac goes with the ova and would have arise as a prequel but some think it doesn’t fit. The 1997 game would be a retell too but more based on the manga, all of the other games are tied to SaC.
Same, but none-the-less I feel like this series is one that will forever take up storage space in my computers.
I really like it so far. Much better feelings about this compared to, say, Arise or the new 3D SAC.
Was the manga goofy?
A lot more ranma style funny bits, and a lot more lesbian sex.
And the homosexuality wasn’t because the author was progressive for the time or anything, he just wasn’t interested in drawing a man’s ass.
Even if he’s not an ally, I think she’s still a lesbian icon
It’s been a long time since I’ve read it, but it’s definitely goofier. The main story elements made their way into the later film/tv adaptations, so it’s not all jokes and slapstick, but those elements are present in the manga while they’re absent from most of its adaptations (until now)
I dont even understand what’s happening in that first image. I couldn’t even figure out if it was supposed to be read left to right or right to left until I checked the second one.
The first episode of the new series is basically a panel-for-shot adaptation of the manga in both story and style. It’s definitely a lot more cartoony than the previous anime films and series.
It’s pronounced ann- ime.
…if you’re American.
Ah-nee-may if you’re Japanese.
… If you’re someone who doesn’t speak Japanese.
Ah-ni-meh if you speak Japanese.
Anne Eye’m
The only true canon is the 1995 film, everything else is a spin off.
…the manga was first…
Although I can’t say anything. The true Canon for Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is the novels in my heart, even if the radio show came first.
What’s fun about the radio shows is apparently a lot of that performance inspired the characters’ portrayals in the book. I think the first couple of books are probably better for that collaborative artistry, and I think the same applies here.
Every GiTS movie/show is a collab, and some are peak, some are absolute trash. Canonicity, authorial intent, sometimes that’s a pedestal.
That’s a great comparison. I think the 1995 film took the absolute best from the manga. There’s something special about it that has not been recreated.
How are you canonists still alive‽ Get over it boomer, enjoy the slaps!
Most people outside this fandom don’t even know that it is based on a manga, yet even people who don’t usually watch anime know the movie. It’s iconic and, alongside Bladerunner, defined the look and tone of countless other works in the general “cyberpunk” genre.
does it have that scene from the yacht? if not don’t call it faithul
Yacht to be ashamed of yourself
