Ghost in the Shell (GITS) was a manga series originally created by Masamune Shirow in 1989, which eventually led to a series of films, OVAs, anime, and even a live-action adaptation. The first anime film in the franchise, Ghost in The Shell from 1995, is the one that achieved the most success among both audiences and critics, and it is definitely an indisputable masterpiece of Japanese animation.
Before influencing Blade Runner, The Matrix, and even other unexpected aspects of pop culture, the big ideas behind Ghost in the Shell were completely new and practically no one had any idea of the impact they would have on the cultural landscape.
Even the premise behind Altered Carbon, which was recently released on Netflix and features the transmission of the mind through various bodies, was completely influenced by GITS, which is yet another example of how much the film continues to be a source of inspiration and how relevant it still is today.
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Sinopsis Ghost in the Shell
The film takes place in 2029, which in the 80s seemed like a distant future, but today is only a decade away. It is an era where some multinational corporations have practically dominated the world and the borders between countries are no longer as well-defined as they are today. It is in this world with a poorly defined physical space that humans coexist with robots and some people are so cybernetically modified that the line between man and machine is so thin that it often seems to disappear.
One of these enhanced humans is Major Motoko, who has so many modifications to her body that only her "soul" is still "original." In the film, she and the other members of Section 9 try to investigate how the black hat hacker known as Puppet Master, who is much more than he appears at first glance, uses cyberspace to hack into humans' minds to achieve his goals.
Ghost in the Shell Highlights
The film raises various questions about the true nature of artificial intelligence and the likely future that awaits us if it is indeed developed to superhuman levels.
Various philosophical aspects are addressed regarding how memories make us who we are and what truly makes us human. Without giving too many spoilers, the small arc of the film related to the truck driver is one of the saddest and densest moments that a film has ever been able to show, and it is practically impossible for his story not to remain forever in the mind of anyone who watches the movie.
The entire plot takes place in a future Japan, with some of the most beautifully created shots and camera movements, and the director addresses the issue of identity in space in a way rarely seen, with moments of sublime beauty and a lively, real city that gives certainty of a continued existence even long after the protagonists have left the screen.
The atmosphere and rhythm of the film are also completely extraordinary, with a masterful soundtrack and long moments of calm and philosophical reflections against an amazing backdrop, which are suddenly interrupted by high-quality action scenes that are on par with more modern films.
Ghost in the Shell is one of those rare masterpieces that manages to be both a thought-provoking head movie that is also very entertaining and action-packed. Anyone who enjoys Japanese culture and has at least a bit of interest in science fiction will like the film and be able to say they’ve seen one of the great classics of the genre!
Have you watched? What do you think? Have you seen the other versions to compare? Tell us in the comments and share with friends.