The charm and depth of "Innocence": A thorough evaluation and recommended points

"Innocence" - Mamoru Oshii's ultimate question

■ Public Information

Innocence is an animated film released in theaters on March 6, 2004, based on the Ghost in the Shell series by Masamune Shirow. It was distributed by Toho, has an Eirin rating of 116739, a total running time of 100 minutes, and one episode. It was produced by Production IG, with Studio Ghibli as a production collaborator. Copyright ©2004 Masamune Shirow/Kodansha, IG, ITNDDTD.

■ Story

The year is 2032, and the near future is a place where humans, cyborgs, and robots coexist. In this world, eight androids made for humans to keep as pets go berserk for unknown reasons, killing their owners, and then self-destructing and resetting their cyberbrains. This unprecedented incident occurred in just one week. Aramaki of the Public Security Section 9 takes this situation very seriously and orders his team members to investigate the incidents. Batou and his partner Togusa head off to investigate the gynoids in question, where Forensic Medical Examiner Haraway shares his theory on the relationship between humans and dolls. "Why do humans go to such lengths to make likenesses of themselves...?" On their way home, they receive news that a gynoid shipping inspector from Locus Solus has been murdered at a coastal boathouse. It is believed to have been committed in retaliation for the brutal murder of their boss by a gynoid by the yakuza gang "Koujinkai," and the connection between Locus Solus and the Koujinkai comes to light. This murder incident prompted Batou and Togusa to take over the gynoid rampage incident as their sole investigation. In order to lure out Locus Solus, the company believed to be behind the incident, Batou storms into the Kojinkai and engages in a spectacular gunfight. However, Batou then goes berserk after being hacked by someone, and before the next day has passed, he opens fire on a grocery store. This calls into question the very existence of Public Security Section 9, but Shinmaki decides to continue the investigation without organizational support. Thinking that they have no choice but to directly attack Locus Solus, Batou and Togusa head to Etorofu, the northernmost point of the Far East, to uncover the truth behind the incident.

■Explanation

"Innocence" is a visual world created by many of the most talented people in the Japanese animation industry, taking two years of preparation and three years of actual production. Its quality has been praised as the ultimate, never before seen. The theme that Director Oshii tackled in this work is the question, "What do people rely on to live?", addressed to people living in a modern society plagued by various anxieties. While at first glance it appears to be in the form of science fiction, it tackles the ultimate theme of depicting head-on the meaning of human life and the state of life, and can be said to be a culmination of Mamoru Oshii's career as a film director.

■Cast

• Batou/Akio Otsuka
• Motoko Kusanagi/Atsuko Tanaka
• Togusa/Koichi Yamadera
• Aramaki/Tamio Oki
• Ishikawa/Yutaka Nakano
• Kim/Naoto Takenaka

■ Main staff

• Original work: Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell, published by Kodansha)
• Screenplay by Mamoru Oshii
• Music: Kenji Kawai (OST Victor)
• Theme song/Kimiko Ito “Follow Me” (VideoArts Music) Original Version (SMJI)
• Producers: Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and Toshio Suzuki
• Director: Mamoru Oshii
• Directed by Toshihiko Nishikubo and Naoko Kusumi
• Character designer: Hiroyuki Okiura
• Mechanical Designer: Atsushi Takeuchi
• Production Designer: Yohei Taneda
• Layout/Takashi Watanabe
• Animation Director: Kazuya Kise, Tetsuya Nishio, Hiroyuki Okiura
• Art Director: Shuichi Hirata
• Color setting: Kumiko Yusa
• Digital Effects Supervisor: Hiroyuki Hayashi
• Visual effects/Ezura Hisashi
• Recording Director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi
• Audio editing/Hideji Inoue
• Sound Designer: Randy Thom

■ Main Characters

• Batou is a detective in the 9th Public Security Division, and is a cyborg with almost all of his body, including his arms and legs, prosthetically modified. Three years have passed since Motoko disappeared, and he is a lonely man who carries out his duties in silence without saying much. The only thing that soothes his heart is his dog, who waits for him to return home.
• Togusa is a member of Public Security Section 9. While most of the members are prosthetic, he is unique among Section 9 in that most of his body is natural. Under Aramaki's orders, he teams up with Batou to investigate cases. He is a good family man with a loving wife and daughter.
• Motoko Kusanagi A woman who used to belong to the Public Security Section 9 and was called "Major". Her prosthetic body and cyberbrain were government equipment, and all she had were her brain and a ghost. Three years ago, she merged with a program called "Puppet Master" and disappeared into the vast internet.
• Aramaki is the head of Public Security Section 9 and is a capable leader who commands Batou and his eccentric team of members. He entrusts the investigation into the android rampage to Batou and Togusa. Like Batou, he is also mentally damaged by Motoko's disappearance.
• Ishikawa is a member of Public Security Section 9 and is the oldest veteran. He is like an intelligence agent who is skilled at infiltrating the internet to gather information and conduct investigations. He has known Batou for a long time, and sometimes acts as his supervisor... He always approaches situations calmly and coolly.
• A hacker who is an old acquaintance of Kimbatou. He is actually in contact with Locus Solus Corporation, and in order to interfere with Batou and Togusa's investigation into the gynoid incident, he hacks into cyberspace and sets up various traps.
• While investigating the Haraway android rampage, Batou and Togusa encounter a female coroner. She performs her analysis alone in a cold room with low temperature. She presents Batou and Togusa with her unique interpretation of the relationship between dolls and humans.
• Mysterious Girl: A girl who was seen in a hologram that Batou found while investigating the scene of the murder of a shipping inspector from Locus Solus. Sensing a connection to the incident, Batou secretly takes the hologram home with him.

■ Related works

• "GHOST IN THE SHELL"
• "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex"
• "Ghost in the Shell SAC 2nd GIG"
• "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”

■ Review

"Innocence" is a work by director Mamoru Oshii that depicts philosophical questions, and has been praised for its profound themes and beautiful visuals. The story is set in a near-future cyberpunk world, and questions the meaning of human existence and the value of life. In particular, through the incident of a gynoid going out of control, it delves deeply into the boundary between humans and machines, and the existence of human souls (ghosts).

Director Mamoru Oshii has explored the reasons why humans create their own likenesses and the "humanness" that is being lost as mechanization advances. Through Batou and Togusa's investigation, viewers will be confronted with questions about the true nature of humanity and ethical issues. As the story progresses, viewers will also be forced to consider the meaning of their own existence and the meaning of life.

Visually, Production IG's technical capabilities are on full display, especially in the fusion of CG and hand-drawn animation. The color scheme and art direction are excellent, and the near-future world is portrayed realistically. The music, written by Kenji Kawai, is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

The cast is also impressive, with Akio Otsuka's voice as Batou conveying the character's loneliness and strength, Kouichi Yamadera's voice as Togusa bringing out his humanity, and Atsuko Tanaka as Motoko Kusanagi effectively conveying the impact her absence has on the story.

■Recommendation

"Innocence" is highly recommended not only for fans of science fiction animation, but also for those interested in philosophical themes. Director Mamoru Oshii's deep insight and beautiful visuals will pose many questions to the viewer and make them think. It is also a work not to be missed by fans of the original "Ghost in the Shell" series by Masamune Shirow. Watching it together with related works will allow you to understand and enjoy the story more deeply.

Furthermore, this is a work that allows you to experience the technical progress of animation. There are many things to learn from the technical aspects, such as the fusion of CG and hand-drawn animation, color settings, and the work of art directors. It is also a reference work for people who are interested in animation production.

Finally, "Innocence" is not just an entertainment piece, but a piece that encourages viewers to think deeply. By asking questions such as what it means to be human and what the meaning of life is, it offers an opportunity to reaffirm the meaning of your own existence. Please watch it on the big screen at the theater and experience its beauty and profundity.