Anime Review - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

GHOST ^{IN THE} SHELL

Stand Alone Complex

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

Production IG
26 episodes
Age rating: 16+

Stand Alone Complex is set some time before the events of the critically acclaimed film. In a future where man and machine have become seamlessly intertwined, its upto Public Peace Section 9 to resolve complex cases involving homicide, hostage situations and of course, cyber hacking. However, the re-emergence of a 6-year old case involving the enigmatic master hacker and industrial terrorist simply known as ‘The Laughing Man’ brings to light the disturbing depth of the corruption that runs rampant through the very bureaucracy that has employed them.

With the series being based on such a celebrated cult phenomenon, GITS SAC had a lot to live up to. The original movie was one of the few that pushed the whole anime extravaganza further into the limelight - does its episodic counterpart do the same?

Well, for me, not entirely. However, it’s still one of the best cyberpunk thrillers I’ve watched since the film itself.

For starters, there’s the plot. It can be occasionally confusing but that’s the point. I liken the whole thing to a puppet-master controlling a complex marionette; in order for the whole show to proceed almost all the strings must be used, but it has to be done a few or one at a time with each movement setting up subsequent ones, for now or for later. That’s exactly how the plot ‘strings’ here work and that’s exactly what makes the show gripping. Allusions are made, theories are surmised and seeds are planted and then left untended to for quite some time. Just when your curiosity reaches a peak, the next tier of revelations commence. The dialogue here is rather interesting since much like the animated iteration there are intriguing discussions particularly regarding the human ‘soul’ and its place in the mysterious opera of ‘life’. The show won’t express anything as a definite or certainty, instead it allows the viewer to ponder the points by himself/herself and then come to his/her own conclusions. Suffice to say if you’re a fan of intricately orchestrated plotlines peppered with a healthy dose of philosophical musings, you’ll find a lot to love here.

‘Character development’ is a phrase that’s thrown around in reviews all the time. In terms of anime, many believe that without it, the characters lack personality or appeal and especially so if we haven’t thoroughly explored each and every nanometre of their past. Those reviewers must hate GITS SAC for that! However, I see that as a strength. Since we see only the briefest of snippets of their previous accomplishments we are left to concentrate on what they’re doing now: their current thoughts, their current actions, et al. It gives them a sense of spontaneity and leaves us piecing together their personalities from our own perspectives.

The animated movie was also popular for its incredible artwork and while Stand Alone Complex doesn’t quite reach those lofty standards, it’s still simply breathtaking in its own right. The animation is fluid, everything is lushly detailed and there’s a pretty atmospheric use of lighting that gives it a brilliant sense of mood. While a lot of the more gratuitous scenes from the film have been removed, SAC still stands a visual masterpiece. The music is masterfully composed by none other than the great Kanno Yoko. The beauty of it was that I didn’t notice the music until it was no longer present in some scenes. It goes to show how seamlessly and perfectly it segues with the action and drama. I particularly enjoyed the haunting intro song which was vocalised in Russian I believe.

The second season of Stand Alone Complex (called “The 2nd GIG”) has already begun, so hurry up and watch the brilliant first season before you start on that one!