• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Ghost in the Shell 2.0 anyone seen this?

Amazon has it for sale right now ( though it appears the uncensored version is indeed out of print ).

Might take advantage of it, come next payday. I'm wondering if either of the 2 Kodansha Published volumes includes the "Volume 1.5" though, or should I buy that as well? I don't want miss anything but I don't really want to buy it twice if they also include it.
 
What person who actually wants enjoyment out of their anime actually watches cheap American dubs?

I came to Ghost in the Shell through the brilliant Stand Alone Complex, and like zakkrusz, when I eventually saw the original film, it did not do a whole lot for me. Innocence was amazing, though-- visually magnificent if nothing else.
 
What person who actually wants enjoyment out of their anime actually watches cheap American dubs?

How about expensive American dubs?

How about people who can't read very fast? Or are dyslexic to varying degress? Or have poor eyesight and have trouble seeing the subtitles on a TV across the room? Or would rather watch the beautiful artistry of the images than read subtitles and miss much of it? Or people that really don't give a shit about the original actors? Or people who get enjoyment out of it regardless of the dubbing? Or people who watch anime for the art rather than the acting? Or people who aren't snobs?
 
Last edited:
This is essentially how I feel about watching pretty much any movie that is dubbed. Losing the original actor's performance just robs the movie of so much. My friends always say they "want to watch the movie, not read it" but dubbing actors voices pulls me right out of a movie faster than any subtitle.

With anime, I generally watch both versions when available, dubbed and subbed. I find it improves my understanding and gives me a fuller experience. Particularly for something intellectually complex and dense with ideas like GitS or Serial Experiments Lain. Hearing the same ideas expressed in two subtly different ways (since English translations often alter the phrasing to fit the lip movements) -- sometimes three different ways if I hear Japanese words I recognize -- can clarify them for me.

And sometimes the English dubs include actors I like. Indeed, there's been at least one case where I found the lead Japanese voice actress's performance to be painfully annoying and pretty much had to go with the English dub instead.
 
I've enjoyed many anime movies dubbed by well-known English-speaking actors. I bet they weren't "cheap Amercian dubs" either, comsidering the salaries many of them normally get.
 
And sometimes the English dubs include actors I like.

Though it isn't Japanese anime, I must confess that I insist on watching the film Renaissance with the English voice cast.

There's just no way I'm going to dis Daniel Craig and Jonathan Pryce. :D

zakkrusz said:
I'm wondering if either of the 2 Kodansha Published volumes includes the "Volume 1.5" though, or should I buy that as well?

As far as I know they are separate publications, but I'm not certain.
 
Last edited:
Ghost in the Shell 2.0 replaces some of the original animation from the first movie with CGI animation that looks cheaper and has a jarring change from 2d animation to cg. Ghost in the Shell 2 Innocence is a good movie.
 
What person who actually wants enjoyment out of their anime actually watches cheap American dubs?

How about expensive American dubs?

How about people who can't read very fast? Or are dyslexic to varying degress? Or have poor eyesight and have trouble seeing the subtitles on a TV across the room? Or would rather watch the beautiful artistry of the images than read subtitles and miss much of it? Or people that really don't give a shit about the original actors? Or people who get enjoyment out of it regardless of the dubbing? Or people who watch anime for the art rather than the acting? Or people who aren't snobs?

I have no problem with expensive American dubs; that is why I specifically mentioned cheap ones. Stand Alone Complex and Patlabor (the two animes I watch the most) are both painful to watch in English because the voice actors are stilted and awful.

I've enjoyed many anime movies dubbed by well-known English-speaking actors. I bet they weren't "cheap Amercian dubs" either, comsidering the salaries many of them normally get.

Yes, so have I. What is your point exactly? I'm not complaining about all dubs, just bad ones.
 
Okay, it seemed you were being an anime snob and denigrating people who preferred dubs, in general.

If not, never mind. :)

Personally, I don't read so fast and I'm a tad dyslexic (I was kinda describing myself in my post). So I can't always read every sub as it goes by, and I really hate having to be distracted from the pretty pictures. I'm an artist - seeing it is more important to me.
 
I agree the dub cast on GitS:SAC is a little stilted with the line readings, but some of them have very nice voices, particularly Mary McGlynn.
 
hey all, i've never seen any of these movies before but apparently they have a big following so i was hoping someone could help me out.

i just found a DVD of Ghost in the Shell 2.0 which is in english, but i'm not sure if this is the right movie to start with in the series? i found this on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell_2:_Innocence

it says it cost $30 million to make so i'd love to watch it but is there an english version?

like i said, i haven't seen japanese anime in a decade so i'd appreciate any feedback on if i'm making the right decision.

thanks

There is a re-edited version of the first movie called 2.0! The one you linked to is a sequel, it has some pretty good CGI in it, but overall it felt a bit overdone compared to the original movie. The DVD version should have different audio tracks. Like the others, I recommend the original Jaopanese language version with English subtitles.

1)Here is a comparison of the original film and 2.0 version(same film, but updated by the producer): http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/200...shell-20-trailer-poster-und-vergleichsbilder/

2)The sequel, titled "Innocence". http://www.asianblurayguide.com/detail/292/ghost_in_the_shell_2_innocence_anime_usa/
 
Last edited:
Okay, it seemed you were being an anime snob and denigrating people who preferred dubs, in general.

If not, never mind. :)

Nope, just people who persist in watching bad ones for no apparent reason. (I'll admit I hadn't thought of the dyslexia thing.) I'll watch a dub if I've heard it's good. (Though whoever told me that about Princess Mononoke lied.)
 
I agree the dub cast on GitS:SAC is a little stilted with the line readings, but some of them have very nice voices, particularly Mary McGlynn.

Actually, the creators of Stand Alone Complex went out of their way to make a detective show that's as talky and cerebral as it is action-packed. I don't see any stilted-ness as the actors' fault. They're all very good.

But yeah, especially Mary McGlynn.
 
ok, so which ones do i watch so it's in the right order?

Believe it or not, I don't think it really matters. Personally though, I'd watch the films (GiTS & GiTS II: Innocence) first then work my way through the series and end on Solid State Society. SO basically in the order in which they were released.

As others have pointed out though, they're two very different animals. The films tend to be more focused on the main characters' introspection and are both replete with not terribly subtle symbolism while the actual plot takes a back seat. Also, despite the fact that the first film inspired more than one iconic action scene from The Matrix, both the films are surprisingly slow paced. There's a whole 10-15 min sequence right smack in the middle of the first film where the main character literally does nothing but watch passers-by.

The SAC series on the other hand is a more typical action/sci-fi/anti-terrorist cop show in terms of pacing. It still has allot of the cyberpunk themes of the movies, but it the episodic nature of the series allows it to be presented in a more balanced way. Plus they have blue tanks that talk in high pitched, childlike voices...trust me, it make more sense in context. ;)

As far as the Ghost in the Shell 2.0 thing is concerned...I think it was unnecessary and you won't miss anything by skipping it. While at the same time if you don't have access to the original version, I don't think 2.0 will detract from the experience either. Think of it this way: imagine if all George Lucas did for the Star Wars Special Edition was to re-render the animation from the Rebel briefing and Luke's targeting screen and change the colour of the wire-frame from green to orange...that's about it. :shrug:
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top