Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Huh... Turns out that whole movie thing never happened. Imagine that...
Review by: Craig "Black Seventeen of Nine" Norris
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Action, sci-fi
Watched: 1-26, subbed
Since this series takes place in an alternate universe apart from the movie, I was worried about the quality of the story line. After all, I'm sure many are still recovering from all the alternate universes that Tenchi Muyo! spat at us, most of which left a very bad taste in my mouth. However, the most important thing is to remember that this series has nothing to do with the movie, so don't even consider it when watching. In doing so, I think you will find that this series is of astounding quality.
Plot synopsis: In the year 2030, cybernetic technology has made amazing advancements to improve the quality of life for many citizens. Unfortunately, this improvement extends to criminals as well. When crime becomes too sophisticated even for the police to handle, the call is made to Public Peace Section 9. Led by the grandfatherly Aramaki and the tough as nails Major Kusanagi, Section 9 battles corporate espionage and political corruption to help restore order to society.
Artwork: Not since Blood: The Last Vampire have I been this completely blown away by the quality of animation. The artwork surpasses the quality of most movies and all series I have seen to date. The show relies heavily on CG animation, but it blends in seamlessly with the cel artwork and the backgrounds. The character designs, the lighting, the pacing; everything works. The animation staff should definitely receive a bonus for putting out something this brilliant and raising the bar on what should be considered good animation.
Music: Two words: Yoko Kanno. Once again she has succeeded in arranging a very diverse and unique soundtrack that fits the series perfectly. The opening theme is hauntingly powerful, and sung in what I think is Russian, but don't quote me on that. The ending theme, mixing light rock with English lyrics, is also worth listening to. The in-episode music ranges from techno to piano ballads to rock, and I personally can't think of a single track offhand that misses the mark. The care and precision in the choice of music really shines through, and it didn't take me too many episodes to realize that Yoko Kanno has struck gold once again.
Characters: The characters seem interesting, but they're not really developed to the degree that they should be in a 26 episode series. Major Kusanagi is still the same person we know and love from the movie. She's a hard-nosed cyborg who expects results from herself and her teammates. I was hoping to find out what makes her tick, but instead was treated to merely a few snapshots of her past. With all that happened around her, I was very disappointed that she very rarely had an opportunity to take things personally. Aramaki is the political face of Section 9, and as such is very intelligent in matters of bureaucracy. He has a personal relationship with all the members of Section 9, but he seems to be closest to Kusanagi. Batou is another main player in Section 9, and works often with Kusanagi. He has cybernetic eyes (as well as other parts) and is more prone to taking a bust-down-the-door-and-rain-hellfire-on-them-sons-a-bitches approach to things. Togusa has the least cybernetic parts of any member of Section 9, and carries a throwback revolver on the job. He's the only one on the team who has a family, a fact that Aramaki takes into consideration sometimes when assigning tasks. And he's the only anime character I've ever seen sporting a mullet. There are other members of Section 9, but they don't get much screen time and are only around to fill a hole when more personnel is required. Some of the most interesting characters that the show gives us, however, aren't even human. Section 9 often uses robotic tanks, called Tachikomas, to provide artillery support. These tanks sometimes act a lot like children, and take it upon themselves to investigate human philosophies. Of all the characters, they are the ones who seem to grow and mature the most through the course of the series. They definitely succeed in bridging the gap between real and artificial intelligence, perhaps representing a missing link in technological advancement.
Plot: Contrary to the title of the series, many of the episodes are not "stand alone." Many episodes have to do with a cyber criminal known only as the Laughing Man, and this central issue comes back in later episodes to have a profound impact on Section 9. Unfortunately only about ten episodes deal with this central issue, and the rest is just straight filler. As entertaining as it is, it really pales in comparison to the Laughing Man episodes. Another problem I have found with the series is that it sometimes gets far too political for my tastes. It's hard to keep track of who knows what and who's trying to stab who in the back, and as such that element detracts from where the show really shines: action sequences and showing off technology. However, as a whole the plot is very well put together and had me on the edge of my seat more than once.
CHICKS!: Stand Alone Complex is very light on chicks. In fact, the only one we get to see with any regularity is Major Kusanagi. She, however, is the embodiment of everything that is "babe." She's tougher than just about any person in Section 9, and for that matter just about any other character in any other anime. She's a very practical thinker and doesn't subscribe to many creature comforts. I'm sure she wouldn't bother with anyone who wasn't as independent or as street-wise as her, but that doesn't prevent the rest of us from leering at her. She usually wears a leather jacket with short shorts that showcase mile-long legs and an ass you could chop firewood on. I don't need mechanical enhancements to tell that she is one smoking hot cyborg.
Overall: From a production standpoint, this series is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences I could ever ask for, and even a few glitches in the plot can't convince me that this is not one of the finest animes ever made. It may lack the depth or psychology of the movie, but taken at face value (as a Stand Alone Complex) it surpasses the vast majority of series in a long list of ways. You owe it to yourself to see this audio and visual feast for yourself. So stop reading this review and get going!
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Amazing animation
+ Great soundtrack
+ Sleek and stylish
+ Very engaging
- Little character development
- Lots of filler
Rating: 9/10
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