Ghost in the Shell
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2008-07-15T15:27:01Z
J.delanoy
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Time for action|Time for action]] ([[User talk:Time for action|talk]]) to last version by 74.240.66.151
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{{Otheruses4|the manga and anime franchise}}
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Motoko.png|thumb|[[Motoko Kusanagi]] from the manga ''Ghost in the Shell''.]] -->
{{nihongo|'''''Ghost in the Shell'''''|攻殻機動隊|Kōkaku Kidōtai|translated as "Mobile Armored Riot Police"}} is a [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[cyberpunk]] [[manga]] created by [[Masamune Shirow]], and first published in [[1989]] in ''[[Young Magazine]]''. A [[sequel]], ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface]]'', was released in [[2002]].
Over the years, the manga series has been adapted into the following: three [[anime]] films—''[[Ghost in the Shell (film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'', ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'', and ''[[Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society|Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society]]''; and two anime television series—''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' and ''[[Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG|Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig]]''; all produced by [[Production I.G]], along with one [[PlayStation]] game, one [[PlayStation 2]] game, and one [[PlayStation Portable]] game.
==Setting==
[[Image:Gs026.jpg|thumb|left|Cyborg shell]]
''Ghost in the Shell'' is a futuristic [[police]] [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]] dealing with the exploits of [[Motoko Kusanagi]], a member of the [[covert operation]]s section of the [[National Public Safety Commission (Japan)|Japanese National Public Safety Commission]], [[Public Security Section 9|Section 9]], which specializes in fighting technology-related crime. She may be named after one of the three [[Imperial Regalia of Japan]] and Shirow makes reference to them at the end of the second manga. Although supposedly equal to all other members, Kusanagi fills the leadership role in the team, and is usually referred to as "the [[Major]]" due to her past rank in the armed forces. She is capable of superhuman feats, and bionically specialized for her job — her body is almost completely mechanized; only her brain and a segment of her spinal cord are organic.
The setting of ''Ghost in the Shell'' is [[cyberpunk]] or [[postcyberpunk]], similar to that of [[William Gibson]]'s [[Sprawl trilogy]]. More than other cyberpunk authors, however, Shirow focuses more on the ethical and philosophical ramifications of the widespread merging of humanity and technology, the development of [[artificial intelligence]] and an omnipresent computer network set the stage for a reevaluation of human identity and uniqueness. Kusanagi and her colleagues face external threats and also suffer internal conflict over their own natures.
==Works in the series==
''Ghost in the Shell'' has different mediums, all of them having a separate and alternate plot. For example, the theatrical movies do not occur on the same timeline as the Stand Alone Complex movie, which is based on the TV series.
===Manga===
{{main|Ghost in the Shell (manga)|Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface|Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor}}
A continuation of the first manga can be found in the second manga series entitled ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface]]''. ''[[Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor]]'' includes a series of stories originally intended to be serialized in the initial print of ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface]].''
===Films===
''Ghost in the Shell'' has been adapted into numerous anime adaptations, all of which were produced by [[Production I.G]].
The series was first adapted into a theatrical anime film adaptation in 1995, entitled ''[[Ghost in the Shell (film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'', directed by [[Mamoru Oshii]]. The film was followed by another theatrical movie sequel, ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'', produced in 2004, which was also directed by Oshii and places the character of Batou in the lead role.
A third film, ''[[Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society]]'', was created after the TV series and directed by [[Kenji Kamiyama]]. This film, however, is based on the TV storyline and does not connect with either of Oshii's works.
As of 2008, [[DreamWorks]] acquired the rights to produce a [[live-action]] film adaptation of the original manga with [[Steven Spielberg]] tipping the scales in DreamWorks favor. So far, [[Avi Arad]] and Steven Paul are confirmed producers and Jamie Moss will be adapting the manga into a screenplay.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984029.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562 Variety Report], [[Variety Magazine]], Linked Article.</ref>
===Television series===
The series has also been adapted into an [[anime]] television series, ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'', which was carried on into a second season, ''[[Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG]]'', and was followed by a film, ''[[Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society]]'', which premiered on the [[SKY Perfect]] satellite television network on [[September 1]], [[2006]]. The ''Stand Alone Complex'' series is directed by [[Kenji Kamiyama]], and follows an alternate and separate storyline from that of Oshii's theatrical film adaptations and Masamune's original manga. The TV series expands further on the careers of Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9, and also retains more elements from Masamune Shirow's original manga than Oshii's feature films.
===Novels===
* ''[[After the Long Goodbye]]'': Written by [[Masaki Yamada]] is a prequel to ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]''.
* ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Volume 1 The Lost Memory|The Lost Memory]]'', ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Volume 2 Revenge of the Cold Machines|Revenge of the Cold Machines]]'' and ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Volume 3 White Maze|White Maze]]'': A trilogy of novels written by [[Junichi Fujisaku]] set in the ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' sub-universe.
===Video games===
{{main|Ghost in the Shell (video game)|Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (video game)}}
A [[PlayStation]] [[Ghost in the Shell (video game)|game]] was released in [[1997]], developed by [[Exact]] and published by [[THQ]]. A second game bearing the anime TV series title ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (video game)|Stand Alone Complex]]'' was released in November 2004 on [[PlayStation 2]], developed by [[Sony|SCEJ]] and [[Cavia (game developer)|Cavia]] and published by [[Bandai]]. A game of the same name developed by [[G-Artists]] and published by Bandai was released in 2005 for [[PlayStation Portable]], but this is a sequel to the PlayStation 2 game, with a completely different storyline, setting and gameplay. {{main|Ghost in the Shell (video game)|Ghost in the Shell: Darkness Love (video game)}}.
===Anime Timeline===
The movies and TV series are set in alternate universes. [[Ghost in the Shell (film)|Ghost in the Shell]] is set in 2029 AD and [[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]] takes place 3 years after in 2032 AD. The television series starts off in the year 2030 AD. However, the third film Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society follows up on many of the events that ended the second season Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG.
==Impact and influence==
[[Image:Gits-katsuragi-camouflage.jpeg|thumb|Major Kusanagi using thermal-optical camouflage (from ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'')]]
The [[Wachowski brothers]], makers of the ''Matrix'' trilogy, have commented on the influence of ''Ghost in the Shell'' in an interview.<ref>[http://www.warnervideo.com/matrixevents/wachowski.html Interview with the Wachowski Brothers], [[Warner Brothers Studios]], Official Website.</ref> Producer [[Joel Silver]] also stated in an interview on the [[Animatrix]] DVD that he was shown the ''Ghost in the Shell'' movie during a pitch from the Wachowski brothers to indicate the style and look of the film they wanted for ''The Matrix''.
==Academic influence==
''Ghost in the Shell'' was analyzed together with [[William Gibson]]'s book [[Neuromancer]] in chapter 4 "Orienting the Future" of Wendy Hui Kyong Chun's book "Control and Freedom - Power and Paranoia in the Age of Fiber Optics" (2006, The MIT Press). She looks at the aspect of high-tech [[Orientalism]] put forth in both works.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=1590 Ghost in the Shell] (manga) at the [[Anime News Network]]
* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=910 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex] (TV) at the [[Anime News Network]]
* [http://www.production-ig.com/ Production I.G] — Production I.G official English website {{en icon}}
* [http://www.kokaku-s.com/ ''Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex'' official website] {{ja icon}}
* [http://www.ghostintheshell.tv/ ''Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex'' official English website] {{en icon}}
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