Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG review: Deepening the series and new appeal

"Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG": A masterpiece that questions the nature of future society and humanity

Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG is a TV anime series based on the original work by Masamune Shirow, and aired from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2005. Produced by Production IG under the direction of Kenji Kamiyama, this work is a masterpiece that draws viewers in with its complex storyline and deep themes. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

■Overview of the work

Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG tells the story of the members of Public Security Section 9 facing off against a new enemy. While confronting refugees and political plots surrounding nuclear weapons, they will also battle the Cabinet Intelligence Agency and terrorists calling themselves the "Individual Eleven." The series, which consists of 26 episodes, follows a one-off format but has a consistent theme and storyline throughout.

■ Story

The battle of Public Security Section 9 is about to begin once again! Public Security Section 9, led by Kusanagi Motoko, is an offensive organization that seeks out and eliminates the seeds of crime. While confronting invited refugees and political plots surrounding nuclear weapons, Section 9 will face new enemies, the Cabinet Intelligence Agency, and terrorists calling themselves the "Individual Eleven." This story unfolds with suspenseful action and a detailed plot, while delving deeply into social issues and the true nature of humanity.

■Explanation

"Ghost in the Shell" is based on the original manga by Masamune Shirow and was made into an animated film by director Mamoru Oshii in 1995. It was followed by a TV series, "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex," directed by Kenji Kamiyama, which aired in 2002 and garnered a great response. "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex," which aired in 2004, captivated audiences with a detailed storyline that surpassed its predecessor, as well as high-definition and 5.1 channel surround sound broadcasting. For this series, director Mamoru Oshii provided the story concept and it was also the first time he collaborated fully with director Kenji Kamiyama.

■Cast

The main characters are voiced by:

• Motoko Kusanagi: Atsuko Tanaka
• Daisuke Aramaki: Osamu Saka
• Batou: Akio Otsuka
• Togusa: Koichi Yamadera
• Ishikawa: Hiroshi Nakano
• Site: Toru Okawa
• Puzzle: Takashi Onozuka
• Boma: Taro Yamaguchi
• Tachikoma: Sakiko Tamagawa

These voice actors express the characters' rich personalities, enhancing the appeal of the work.

■ Main staff

The key staff include:

• Original story and cooperation: Masamune Shirow
• Planning: Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Shigeru Watanabe
• Director, Series Composition: Kenji Kamiyama
• Story concept: Mamoru Oshii
• Character design: Takayuki Goto, Tetsuya Nishio
• Original character design: Shimomura Hajime
• Mechanical design: Kenji Teraoka, Yoshinobu Tsuneki
• Art director: Yusuke Takeda
• Art setting: Hiroshi Kato
• Color setting: Yumiko Katayama
• Special effects: Masahiro Murakami
• Edited by: Junichi Uematsu
• Director of photography: Hiroji Tanaka
• 3D Director: Makoto Endo
• Sound Director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi
• Music: Yoko Kanno
• Music producer: Toshiaki Ota
• Music Director: Yoshimoto Ishikawa
• Music Production: Victor Entertainment
• Producers: Yuichiro Matsuie, Hisanori Kunizaki
• Production: Production IG
• Produced by: Production IG, Bandai Visual, Bandai Entertainment, Dentsu, Nippon Television, Tokuma Shoten, Victor Entertainment, Manga Entertainment

These staff members work together to improve the quality of our work.

■ Main Characters

Details of the main characters are as follows:

Motoko Kusanagi

Height: 168cm

The de facto leader of Public Security Section 9. She is also the creator of Public Security Section 9, which seeks out and eliminates the seeds of crime - she is a cyborg with almost all of her body prosthetic, except for part of her brain and spinal cord. Since she was cybernetic and prosthetic from a young age, she is one of the world's best cybernetic and prosthetic users, and her skills are said to be "a rare talent that is rarer than espers." She is also an excellent commander, with a clear distinction between when to attack and when to withdraw, and she gives precise instructions to her members. She has a past membership in the military, and the other members call her "Major."

Daisuke Aramaki

Height: 153cm

He is the chief of Public Security Section 9, which has direct ties to the Prime Minister. As he is originally from the military intelligence department, he has many acquaintances in that field and is well-known in the government. He is a righteous man who makes quick and unwavering decisions, has an iron will, ruthless decisiveness, and is calm and collected. He is active and often goes out into the field. In order to maximize Section 9's execution power, he often finds ways to circumvent national procedures and interpret clauses in his own way, but he always and always organizes these activities as legal (whether they are official or unofficial is another matter). It is no exaggeration to say that the uniqueness of Public Security Section 9 is a manifestation of the unique personalities of Kusanagi and Aramaki.

Batou

Height: 187cm

A large man with prosthetic eyes. He is a cyborg with most of his body made artificial. He is a good supporter and inherits Kusanagi's abilities, but while Kusanagi and Aramaki have police-like behavior, he acts more like a soldier (shooting to death rather than arresting, and minimizing damage rather than zero). Although he is rough and vulgar, he treats Kusanagi with a certain distance, sincerity, and affection, so it seems that he has feelings for him that go beyond just being a close friend. He has an extraordinary affection for machines in general, such as guns and cars, and even though Tachikoma is supposed to be characterized by the lack of individual differences, he only pilots one Tachikoma.

Togusa

Height: 178.5cm

He was recruited from the main office by Kusanagi and is an unusual presence in Section 9, where no one has prosthetic bodies except for his cyberbrain. He is the only member of the section who is married and has two children, a daughter and a son. Although he is an excellent detective, he is still an amateur when it comes to combat and sometimes rebels when Kusanagi and others act like soldiers. He seems to have a preference when it comes to guns and prefers to use a Mateba revolver.

Ishikawa

Height: 180cm

He is skilled in cyber warfare and information gathering, and provides support for Section 9 on various matters, including looking after the entire organization. Although he has a wealth of experience as a veteran, he never interferes with Aramaki or Kusanagi, even if they make a wrong decision. He has known Kusanagi for the longest time out of all the members.

Site

Height: 172cm

He is second only to Togusa in terms of physical fitness, is an excellent sniper, and has a typical military temperament. Although he is not particularly suited to group activities, he works with Kusanagi and Batou because he believes them to be the few excellent commanders who can effectively utilize his talents.

Puzzle

Height: 177cm

He is a quiet, cool smoker, and has the appearance of a typical public security officer. He is the type who gathers information on his own two feet and is good at undercover investigations, but sometimes he goes to the front line and fights hand-to-hand with Kusanagi.

Boma

Height: 200cm

Like Batou, he is a large man with a prosthetic eye. He takes advantage of his large size and is sometimes in charge of large-caliber firearms, but contrary to his appearance, he excels at cyber warfare. He often acts as a backup alongside Ishikawa, so he is mostly active in the Dive Room at Section 9 Headquarters.

Tachikoma

Specs unknown

A small, thinking tank, nine of which are deployed to Public Security Section 9. It is equipped with a chain gun in its right arm and a grenade launcher in its mouth, and can also use thermo-optical camouflage. There is a cockpit in the rear where a person can sit, but the advanced AI control of the neurochip allows it to act independently without a pilot. After completing one unit of work, the computers of all the machines are parallelized, and adjustments are made to eliminate individual differences between machines.

■ Main robot items

Details of the main robots and items that appear in the work are as follows:

Cyborg - Prosthetic Body

An extension of prosthetic limbs, prosthetic bodies are artificial bodies made to replace lost physical bodies. People who have undergone prosthetic body transformation are collectively called "cyborgs." Although they are both prosthetic bodies, there are different meanings: partial cyborgs, where only a part of the body is prosthetic, "replenish human abilities," while full-body cyborgs like Kusanagi "create something more than human." Unlike androids, even non-human prosthetic bodies are called cyborgs if they were originally human. It is said that by 2030, there will be 1.86 million people with more than 10% of their body made into cyborgs, and thanks to the Paralympics, public awareness of this is high.

Android

Cyborgs are human, but there are also androids, humanoid robots, that are created using the same technology. Their bodies are the same as those of cyborgs, but instead of a cyborg's brain, they are equipped with AI. Their appearance is the same as that of a fully prosthetic cyborg, and they can move autonomously, but the crucial difference between them and humans is that they do not have a ghost, which is also the limit of AI.

robot

There are a wide variety of robots, from box-shaped to humanoid and non-humanoid, but in this world, most are equipped with AI and operate on the premise of being connected to the Internet. Interaction with humans also varies from basic keyboard input to conversation, and wired connection types. The distinction between androids and robots is vague and there is no definition, but as a general convention, anything that is humanoid is called an android. In a broad sense, Tachikoma is also classified as a robot.

ghost

Even if it becomes possible to create an identical body to the original in the form of a prosthetic body, ghosts cannot reside in it - paradoxically proving the existence of factors that define an "individual", the term "ghost" is used. Words currently in use with a similar meaning include "soul" and "spirit". It is something that defines the self rather than distinguishing it from others, evidence that proves that one is oneself.

Cyber

A cyber brain is a brain that can directly exchange thoughts with the outside world by injecting micromachines into the brain and implanting an input/output interface in the neck. It may be easier to understand if you think of it as a system where the functions of a modern cell phone are embedded in the body. Not only can a cyber brain control machines without using a keyboard or mouse, but it also allows people to learn by sending information directly to the brain. This technology is possible only because the structural analysis of the brain has been completed, and it was developed technically after prosthetic bodies. There are cyborgs who are not cyberized, but in Japan in 2030, almost everyone is cyberized. In a broad sense, cyberization is also a type of prosthetic body, but since cyber brains are more common than prosthetic bodies, the two are distinguished.

Cyber ​​Communication ~ Ghost Hack

Cyber ​​communication is the communication using a network formed by cyber-comrades. However, connecting to a cyber network is synonymous with exposing your ghost to others, and if a malicious person breaks through the ghost barrier, your individuality will be taken over. Breaking through the ghost barrier is called ghost hacking, and it is a serious crime because it puts another person under your complete control.

Offensive Barrier, Barrier Maze

To counter ghost hacks, technology has been developed to strengthen ghost barriers, collectively known as "barriers." An "offensive barrier" is one that searches for the enemy ghost when it is ghost hacked and attacks it in return, while a "barrier maze" is one that creates an impenetrable maze inside the barrier and traps the enemy ghost.

Shinhama

Niihama City, Niihama Prefecture, is a marine city off the coast of Kobe. It is also called Newport City. Government buildings are scattered around the city, a vestige of the time when Niihama City was the capital (the current capital is Fukuoka). Although it is a completely artificial city, it has a complex layout of office districts and residential areas, and is flexible in many ways, so it tends to be the stage for advanced information warfare such as that handled by Section 9. Section 9's headquarters is also located in Niihama City.

The Laughing Man Incident

On February 1, 2024, Ernest Serano, president of Serano Genomics, was kidnapped. At the same time, the criminal demanded 10 billion yen in cash and 100 kg of gold bars, but communication with him was cut off. On February 3, amidst press blackout, Serano and the criminal with a gun suddenly appeared on the other side of a TV monitor. Serano was threatened by the criminal in the middle of a live broadcast. As he fled the scene, the criminal overwrote the Laughing Man mark in real time on the camera's AI, passersby, and even TV station staff. This was the beginning of the theatrical crime commonly known as the Laughing Man incident. After his shocking first appearance, he continued to threaten the company by injecting a deadly virus program into the MM (micromachine) manufacturing line. The threats stopped when Serano's stock price crashed, and six other MM manufacturers were subsequently threatened using the same method. When the government introduced public funds to the victimized companies, the Laughing Man declared its end and disappeared into the darkness of the Internet.

Public Security Section 9

In the midst of social turmoil where information networks are rapidly developing and crimes are becoming more complex, an offensive organization was established to find the seeds of crime in advance and eliminate them. This is Public Security Section 9, an independent unit directly under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, commonly known as "Ghost in the Shell." It is responsible for protecting VIPs, uncovering corruption, indiscriminate murder, cybercrime, terrorism, and all other crimes, but its main mission is national security, secrets, and information, and unlike ordinary police organizations, it performs intelligence missions. Although it is a functional government agency established in accordance with the times, it is an extremely special entity, and it places the utmost importance on taking action before an incident occurs in order to prevent criminals from doing something wrong, and responding offensively to crimes. It is composed of a small number of elite specialists who are skilled in information and cyber warfare, which are characteristic of crimes in this era, and who also demonstrate remarkable abilities in physical combat using high-performance prosthetic bodies, and they will not hesitate to fight with violence to achieve their own justice. In order to always be offensive against crime, the members are all-out recruits, there is no rank, and the organization is headed only by the Prime Minister.

■Subtitle

The subtitles of each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Reboot
• Episode 2: The Gluttonous Me, NIGHIT CRUISE
• Episode 3: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning CASH EYE
• Episode 4: Natural Enemy
• Episode 5: Induction
• Episode 6: Potential heat source EXCAVATION
• Episode 7: Rhapsody is the tune of a lost country Pu239
• Episode 8: Vegetarian Dinner FAKE FOOD
• Episode 9: Hope in the Name of Despair AMBIVALENCE
• Episode 10: Ikareru Otoko TRIAL
• Episode 11: Grass Labyrinth Affection
• Episode 12: To the Nameless SELECON
• Episode 13: Face Makeup
• Episode 14: Watch out for that left eye! POKER FACE
• Episode 15: Afternoon of Machines PAT.
• Episode 16: Being There - Another Chance
• Episode 17: Friendship mother and child RED DATA
• Episode 18: Angel's Poem TRANS PARENT
• Episode 19: Chain Reaction
• Episode 20: Chaos in the North End FABRICATE FOG
• Episode 21: EMBARRASSMENT
• Episode 22: Uninhabited town REVERSAL PROCESS
• Episode 23: The Day the Bridge Collapses MARTIAL LAW
• Episode 24: Dejima, Air Raid, Nuclear Power
• Episode 25: Beyond Paradise - This Side of Justice
• Episode 26: Return to Patriotism ENDLESS∞GIG

■ Related works

The following works are related to Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG:

• GHOST IN THE SHELL
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
• Innocence
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex The Laughing Man
• Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG Individual Eleven
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society
• Ghost in the Shell SAC SOLID STATE SOCIETY 3D
• Ghost in the Shell ARISE
• Ghost in the Shell ARISE PYROPHORIC CULT
• Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie

■ Theme songs and music

Details of the theme song and songs are as follows:

OP1

• Song name: rise
• Lyricist: Tim Jensen, Origa
• Composer: Yoko Kanno
• Arrangement: Yoko Kanno
• Sung by: Origa

ED1

• Song title: living inside the shell
• Lyricist: Shanti Snyder
• Composer: Yoko Kanno
• Arrangement: Yoko Kanno
• Sung by: Steve Conte

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG" is a work that draws viewers in with a tightly detailed plot and tense action while depicting profound themes that question the nature of near-future society and humanity. Director Kenji Kamiyama's skillful storytelling, Yoko Kanno's beautiful music, and Production IG's high-quality animation all combine to create a work that is visually and aurally satisfying.

Of particular note is the story development, which is set against the backdrop of social issues and political intrigue. It skillfully incorporates themes that are debated in real society, such as refugees and the nuclear issue, making the viewer think. In addition, the portrayal of character growth and human relationships is very realistic, making it easy to empathize with the characters, which is also highly rated.

This work is recommended not only for those who like science fiction and cyberpunk, but also for those who are interested in social issues and philosophical themes. It will provide you with an opportunity to think deeply about your own existence and the state of society while enjoying a complex story. In addition, it is highly recommended for those who want to enjoy the quality of animation and the beauty of music.

"Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG" is a masterpiece that will make viewers think and be moved. Please give it a watch.