I've been through the library many times and always noticed the DVD Ghost in the Shell sitting among the library's vast collection of films. I'm not really a big fan of Manga or Anime with an exception for Myasaki's beautiful movies with intriguing characters. However I've recently made another exception. While on the subject of Cyperpunk, we were shown a clip from Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. After watching, despite it was in Japanese, I was in awe by the story and not to mention animation. Leaving class, I finally made the effort to pick up Ghost in the Shell. After watching, I was hooked. It's storyline is strong, well thought out and incredibly complex, making it a mature animated film. Not only for the story, the movie has some of the best animation (I'm saying this for the whole series) I've seen despite being done made in 1995. The visuals are fantastic and every little detail is never overlooked. Another thing I really liked about this was the role of Major Motoko Kusinagi, the main protagonist - a beautiful cyborg that pretty much kicks major ass throughout the whole series. It seems, after watching a few Japanese films such as Myasaki's, the female plays the main role.
If I had anything negative to say about Ghost in the Shell, it's sequel, and series, I would note the fact that the series doesn't exactly follow up the movie. In the first movie, the setting in a Bladerunner type environment in the year 2029. Section nine is after the "Puppetmaster" who hack into people's e-brains in order to control them to do "his" crimes. It turns out that the "Puppetmaster" is actually project 2501, an entente born in the sea of information. In the end, after a battle, the Puppetmaster merges with the Major just before her body as well as the cyborg the Puppetmaster is in are destroyed by section 6. (note the angel image just before they are destroyed). The Major is then replaced in the body of a young girl, the only thing Batou could place her in, and then the Major vanishes. In the Stand Alone series however, the Major is back, in her original cyborg body you see in Ghost of the Shell while fighting with section nine on the case of the Laughing Man (and the independent 11 in S.A.C Gic series) All this, takes place in 2030 to 2032. In Ghost of the Shell 2, the Major doesn't actually "appear". During the duration of the film set in 2036, the Major is listed as missing and Batou and Tougasa are trying to solve the case or Locus Soulus and their sexoids (these robot geisha dolls that are fused with the souls of young girls kidnapped by the Yakusa) The only time the Major makes herself known is when she takes over one of the dolls via satellite to fight with Batou. And recently, I've come across a third Ghost in the Shell installment called Stand Alone Society, with the Major's original cyborg body and role while taking place in 2034.
Other than that, I would say that Ghost in the Shell and its series is well worth the watch. Though it is gory in some parts, has language, and scenes of intense action - it still has a good balance with more whimsical themes ( for example the Tashikomas) I would highly recommend watching all the films and series - even if you're not a fan of Manga and Anime.
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