Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Episode 12 Discussion

I remember seeing this when I was 8 or 9 and going "wow, I'm watching a mature anime and I'm understanding things surprisingly well." and then falling asleep after the graveyard scene.

Cutest tank I've ever seen.

Huh...who'd of ever thought a sentence like that could ever be said? Regardless, a good episode in my opinion. Had a very "feel good" feel to it, which was kind of nice.

Good filler. It was nice to the takochima (don't know if spelled right...) reacting to the world. The realisator story was kinda sad too.

Another episode undocked from the main theme, but great to deal with certain issues such as the escape from reality and what makes a man different from the machine. In addition, the plot characterizes even the largest and most Tachikoma.
Motoko seems to do the hard, but in the end he has a heart that beats too.
The Tachikoma nice and cute while crying. Drawings and discrete animations.

Don't think about the how but the why. What was the messages this episode wanted to transmit? Wondering if details makes sense isn't really important. Worldbuilding isnt the most important part of good storytelling imo.

Thought it was pretty solid!

Charming episode. I really love the character building parts of the show more than Laughing Man episodes. I'm really curious about Major's past

I would agree with Major that escapism is a waste of time, and harmful. I can understand its use as a coping mechanism, but it still isn't healthy. Entertainment is indeed meant to be transitory. It isn't meant to encompass one's being.

I liked learning about the tachikomas and the theme setup, but the tone shift into second half was what made this a great episode imo.

The Tachikoma are so cute and inquisitive, I love them. Second half of the episode was awesome.

They should've focused more on Tachikoma i love those mini-tanks lol... the first half was fantastic. The second half on the other hand... I didnt like it... though a movie that doesnt have a beginning or end sounds... interesting.

Loved how that moe robot changed its voice to scare off the dem police dudes. Overall okay episode but it gets better in the second half and near the end.

Hah Batou got turned down

Absolutely stunning episode. This might have actually been one of the best episodes so far, since it pictures extremely well the entire Ghost vs. Shell concept.

Major's philosophy about watching movies is just perfect.

shitty episode is shitty

I'm gonna give this one more episode

Please don't.

Pretty enjoyable episode, Tachikoma was cute to watch.

I'm assuming the person watching Tachikoma and the girl was the mother. What confuses me is how da fuq did she get to the cemetery at the same time as Tachikoma.

Last few episodes have been more philosophical and I don't much mind they are still enjoyable as it gives more life to the characters and setting.

Unnecessary episode, could have been an OVA or an extra episode.
Bad Episode.

At first I thought this would be just an episode of the Tachikoma driving around town. Wonder what movie it was, I found it a bit harsh how the Mayor denied Batou's invitation in the end :P

I think the entire event was a 'dream' the tank was having. Remember that young girl watching over Tachikoma looked a lot like Major. Plus the way people just seemed to embrace the fact a tank was walking down the street. Now it is the 'future' but still...odd.

Hey, it was still a great ep. But then I like everything. Cheers.

It wasn't a dream, the Major was using a younger puppet body to observe the Tachikoma. Also the second half of the episode was the rest of the characters dealing with an object the Tachikoma picked up on its trip.

And the Tachikoma's shape isn't inherently military, there are civillian robots with similar body types, the Tachikoma was first mistaken for a pet robot, and then made up the story about being a wounded war vet who got placed in that body as a quick fix.

Ah okay then.

Thanks!!! :)

This episode featured the third J.D. Salinger reference of the series--very curious to see how that ultimately pans out and if there's any significance to it.

Haha great ep, encompassed all the good qualities of the show into one ep.

Oh I thought it would be a break episode, but we got an escapism theme this episode.

I actually really appreciate episodes like this. It gives GitS the little bits of philosophy and things for you to think on.

Uhh yeah that meat is a bad choice for your dog.. Because it's 100% dog meat
Tachikoma is so cute xD

This episode just made me wonder, how old is the Major? 20-30ish maybe?
I mean she's obviously too wise for youngter xD

Not much to say about this episode, apart from that it was great. It explored Makoto's character and her sense of realism. Enjoyed that, and did feel sorry for the director. I think i'd be one of the fools stuck in there forever :P

I wonder what that girl tailing was all about?

The best part of this episode was probably her conversation with Batou at the end, it said a lot about both of them. Also a part of me kind of wants her to go see a movie with him. ;3

The beginning section of the episode was rather entertaining, we NEED more Tachikomas. And the part when the major cries really hit me, because up until now, she has never shed a tear.
However, what really caught my attention was the poster, "GoSeeBananaFish"

Fun Fact- Banana Fish is an actual manga, about a young man trying to take down a drug ring and the eponymous drug 'Banana Fish'.

Great episode, too bad most people don't like it because it has no action and actually wants you to use your brain.
I wonder what was that movie. Tachikoma mentioned something among the lines of people remembering their life before they die, and Major said something about people's dreams. I guess this movie shows your dreams coming true or something like that and every viewer sees his own version of movie.

Pretty boring episode.

Major in loli version :33

lol !, I did not expect him to change his voice and I would create that story haha

This is what i thought.
She nails it perfectly. Movies should be good and all, but they shouldn't suck you into another reality forever.

Pretty brutal episode to sit through and knowing it was a stand alone, my first thought was "Oh no." Last couple of episodes have been such a downer. I want more Laughing Man!!

The first half if this episode is good and the second half of this episode is good. The problem is, they don't mix. It feels unbalanced. I feel like it should've been just the Tachikoma and the girl throughout the entire episode.

Didn't like the first half but the second half was really good.

Salinger again, love it. not only the goldfish story, but also that poster "GoSeeBananafish" - i'm sure it's a reference to "A perfect day for bananafish", a short story of his.

I liked how the theme of the episode was portrayed by two different stories.

Also interesting converastion at the end.

The perfect movie doesn't exi--

Motoko's tears are the rarest ones you'll ever see in anime.