Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex

In the not so distant future, mankind has advanced to a state where complete body transplants from flesh to machine is possible. This allows for great increases in both physical and cybernetic prowess and blurring the lines between the two worlds. However, criminals can also make full use of such technology, leading to new and sometimes, very dangerous crimes. In response to such innovative new methods, the Japanese Government has established Section 9, an independently operating police unit which deals with such highly sensitive crimes.

Led by Daisuke Aramaki and Motoko Kusanagi, Section 9 deals with such crimes over the entire social spectrum, usually with success. However, when faced with a new A level hacker nicknamed "The Laughing Man," the team is thrown into a dangerous cat and mouse game, following the hacker's trail as it leaves its mark on Japan.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit

Background

Winner of the Excellence Award on the 6th Japan Media Arts Festival.

Edit

Related Anime

Adaptation:	Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex, Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex, Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man
Alternative setting:	Koukaku Kidoutai
Sequel:	Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
Spin-off:	Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex - Tachikoma na Hibi
Summary:	Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man
Side story:	Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex - Tachikoma na Hibi - Interval

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Kusanagi, Motoko

Main

Tanaka, Atsuko
Japanese

Batou

Main

Ootsuka, Akio
Japanese

Togusa

Main

Yamadera, Kouichi
Japanese

Aramaki, Daisuke

Main

Saka, Osamu
Japanese

Tachikoma

Supporting

Tamagawa, Sakiko
Japanese

The Laughing Man

Supporting

Saito

Supporting

Ookawa, Tooru
Japanese

Ishikawa

Supporting

Nakano, Yutaka
Japanese

Aoi

Supporting

Yamadera, Kouichi
Japanese

Pazu

Supporting

Onozuka, Takashi
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Maseba, Yutaka

Producer

Kamiyama, Kenji

Director, Script, Storyboard, Series Composition, Series Production Director

Wakabayashi, Kazuhiro

Sound Director

Nakamura, Ryuutarou

Episode Director, Storyboard

Edit

Opening Theme

	1: "Inner Universe" by Origa
	2: "GET9" by Jillmax (Japanese Terrestrial Broadcast)

Edit

Ending Theme

	1: "Lithium Flower" by Scott Matthew
	2: "I Do" by Ilaria Graziano (Japanese Terrestrial Broadcast)

More reviews

Reviews

Sep 28, 2009

Archaeon

Recommended

Many anime fans consider the 1995 movie "Ghost in the Shell" to be a classic of the first order so when the Stand Alone Complex series was released six years later, many were sceptical as to how good it would actually be (and I will admit to being one of those people). Production I.G. managed to put everyone's fears to rest though, just not in the way we all expected (I'll explain in a bit).

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a series that really doesn't need any introduction. The original movie proposed a disturbingly plausible future for mankind that is akin to the ...

Open

Gift

Dec 9, 2014

Fleure

Recommended

The relationship between man and machine is one often fantasized by artistes in diverse mediums. It’s a subject matter that fully intrigues and it's not hard to deduce why: it parallels heavily with our own society. The unwavering quench to advance collective technologies and the relative dependency on machines has drastically grown with the ages. Authors, artists, social critics, and scholars from all walks of life have adopted this framework and produced some of the most imaginative works that not only entertain, but step beyond the fictional realm to perhaps foreshadow a similar tomorrow not too far away…

One such examination is the Ghost in the ...

Open

Gift

Aug 19, 2013

GonzoLewd

Recommended

Science Fiction has come a long way from stories involving the unknown reaches of space by the works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells to stories that draw social implications of our society from famed authors George Orwell and Phillip K. Dick. There is little doubt that anime productions have tackled a lot beneath the limits of the genre ranging from Space Opera to Cyberpunk. One series that is often considered one of the most popular in the anime Sci-fi genre is Ghost in the Shell. After the movie's success, directed by celebrated director Mamoru Oshii, we now have Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ... Complex, but this time without Mamoru Oshii involved with the production. Considering how well Oshii directed Ghost in the Shell, people were skeptical about whether Stand Alone Complex could get the best out of the movie in quality storytelling and animation. Long story short, it did almost every aspect correctly.

The way the story sets up isn't just following one main story: the Laughing Man plot arc. Instead, it follows a formulaic style that makes us support the Section 9 team going after various cases worldwide. An argument against the show's credit is that the Stand Alone episodes deviate from the main focus of the Complex episodes that chronicle the Laughing Man plot arc. I would argue that the Stand Alone episodes are essential to deal with a considerable amount of character development for our main characters. Some of the episodes offer memorable story arcs that aren't important to the overall narrative. Still, they continuously show how immensely well crafted the writing is in not only the dialogue but of how well put together the world is in the show. What's so great about the world of Stand Alone Complex is the writers' subtle details in the account, such as the political and social plateau of how the world works that genuinely make it a living, breathing world and not a superficial one.

As character development goes, Stand Alone Complex stands out because it gives a lot of time to put forth plenty of depth with each on-screen character. It doesn't just apply to the main characters. Many of the side characters in each episode that we come across have a deep level of characterization to where they aren't just these one-sided antagonists who do evil. They're just ordinary people who are in this situation because of the society they're living in. Each specific main character has their own uniquely written personality that shows their presence in the show. Handled with great care and precision, they all play out so well with each other that they make you care so much for their struggles and relationships as coworkers trying to handle any given situation they meet. Chemistry is crucial in tying together a well-rounded cast of characters and Stand Alone Complex hits the nail on that part exquisitely. Batou and Kusanagi are especially two of the best characters, only by how well the chemistry is between the two from their interactions and personalities.

Many consider the most poignant Ghost in the Shell saga is its music. Outcomes to famed composer Yoko Kanno producing all the music in Stand Alone Complex and providing a profoundly layered texture to the overall atmosphere in the show. Shows typically set in a futuristic setting rely heavily on electronic-sounding orchestration mixed in to feel more natural within the landscape of the environment. While there are indeed a lot of that to experience through the ears, Yoko's brilliant blend of Jazz, Electronica, and Classical musicianship combine each other amazingly well to give the soundtrack its unique style that she is widely known for. I find Kenji Kawai's score in the Ghost in the Shell movie left more of a profound impact on me in how it incorporates a lot of dark ambiance into the atmosphere. However, there is no denying the creativity that Yoko put into the score, and ignoring it would be insane when discussing the show.

Usually, anime movies have the upper hand as having stellar animation and art, while TV anime have a limited capacity in the level of budget that film studios have. There are, of course, exceptions to this, and Stand Alone Complex is one of them. Sure the animation isn't as fluid as the movie. Still, how the art's quality perfectly compliments the ascetic vision that the artists were going for it's a real accomplishment to experience. How the city looked, the characters all having a distinct look that makes them recognizable the moment we see them, and how the 3D models of the machines flow with the 2D animation of the characters work with each other sublimely.

It is haphazard to call Ghost in the Shell an action show since it relies heavily on Noir aspects of tone and pacing, unlike in your typical action show, where the pacing is more fast-paced. However, once it does delve into action territory, that is where the animation and sound take it to the next level of technical genius. The fluid motions involving characters fighting each other still hold more to this day than many other action anime in terms of animated fighting sequences and gunfights. The sound effects of machines and gunfire feel authentic and genuine, which puts you on the edge of your seat as you're transported into the scene. So yeah, as I said, the show on the technical level is surprisingly still amazing to look at as it once was ten years ago.

One other aspect of Ghost in the Shell that is often noted when discussing the series is its profound philosophical themes. The movie delved into the ideas of consciousness and ethics of A.I. At the same time, Stand Alone Complex is mainly centered on political corruption and conspiracy theories that involve the book "The Catcher in the Rye." The one part where it does delve deeper into is when we follow the Tachikomas and how they describe the "Ghost" in each machine through their A.I. Oddly enough, it works even though these childlike voiced machines seem as though they were there for comic relief. The political themes thrown into the plot don't have nearly as much impact as the writers thought they would have. The way it's told through a conventional storytelling style does not try to seem as though they wanted to make a big political statement. That's not the same as saying that it's a significant knock on the show, but it's something that I felt would've been much stronger.

Whatever the case, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will surely leave a strong impression on people on what makes a story stand-out as one of the most well-crafted entries in writing great characters and a large detailed world. It is by no means a show that you can like for the action or the great animation because that is only one-third of what makes Stand Alone Complex so deep in its overall philosophy and story. Well-written character progression, great world-building, and fantastic animation all combined into one glorious experience that will inspire anyone who wants to get into writing stories for years to come.

Grade: A

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

Underrated need more attention

by AlitComs

45 Entries · 20 Restacks

Laincore Anime

by PorthosMoonPower

14 Entries · 12 Restacks

Kenji Kamiyama

by Ionliosite2

24 Entries · 2 Restacks

More recommendations

Recommendations

View All

More news

Recent News

NHK Announces Best 100 Anime

To commemorate one hundred years of Japanese anime history, NHK has announced a list of 100 Best Anime on Wednesday at NHK BS Premium. The list is based on the audi...read more

May 3, 2017 7:07 AM by tsubasalover | Discuss (542 comments)

'Ghost in the Shell' Franchise Receives New Anime Adaptation

The official website of animation studio Production I.G announced on Friday that Masamune Shirow's Koukaku Kidoutai: The Ghost in the Shell (The Ghost in the Sh...read more

Apr 6, 2017 8:29 PM by Vindstot | Discuss (68 comments)

More discussions

Recent Forum Discussion

Continuity Mistake Sokapod - Mar 23	11 replies	by Lelouch11783 »» 1 hour ago
Poll: Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Episode 26 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) OranSolus - Jul 17, 2008	149 replies	by SwedderW3dder »» Yesterday, 7:01 PM
Poll: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Episode 16 Discussion ( 1 2 ) aero - Sep 6, 2008	69 replies	by Simo_o »» Mar 22, 10:19 PM
Poll: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 ) aero - Aug 9, 2008	93 replies	by Simo_o »» Feb 16, 3:51 AM
Poll: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 ) aero - Sep 6, 2008	87 replies	by bizor »» Feb 11, 9:30 PM

Recent Featured Articles

11 Anime Starring Grown Adults!

These 11 entertaining anime put adults in the limelight.

by Unnamedhero

122,256 views

15 of the Best Adult Anime of All Time

You've always known that anime is a medium that breaks down boundaries. Now, we're going to be taking a look at the best adult anime which push things beyond the limit!

by MisterD98

2,156,822 views

Recommendation Collection Action Cute Girls Cute Guys Despair Horror Supernatural

Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Kusanagi, Motoko

Batou

Togusa

Aramaki, Daisuke

Tachikoma

The Laughing Man

Saito

Ishikawa

Aoi

Pazu

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-