Ghost in the Shell 2.0 anyone seen this?

[RAMA]

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 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.

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.

It's also true that none of the GITS are really that closely connected, the movies are barely related. The TV series, not at all.

 

[Reverend]

^Broadly true and I did consider suggesting that one could watch the films in any order, but I didn't want to add to the confusion. Having said that, if one were to watch Innocence first, one might be confused when a certain character (you know which one) pops up out of nowhere in the final act. I mean it's confusing enough even if you have seen the first film!

But yes, the plots of the two films are only related in so much as they take place in the same world with some of the same characters (think Raiders of the Lost Ark & Temple of Doom.) Same with the two seasons of SAC. Each has it's own plot arc and you needn't have seen the first to get what's going on at the start of the second.

Put simply, GiTS isn't about the continuity; it's about the ideas, the themes and the concepts of what it means to be human, the significance of individuality and the nature of intelligence.

While we're on the subject of continuity though; anyone know if Appleseed is supposed to take place in the same 'verse as GiTS, but about a century hence? I've heard conflicting ideas on this before.

 

[Set Harth]

the movies are barely related.

Right from the opening text screen which spells it out explicitly, the second film is clearly following in the aftermath of the ending of the first film.

Spoiler: Inosensu

Batou is the main character in the second one because the Major is no longer in Section 9 and seems to be gone for all intents and purposes. When she does reappear, it's in a way which reinforces the end of the first film. Also, as a callback to the first film, the code "2501" was used again in the second film.

 

[Christopher]

ok, so which ones do i watch so it's in the right order?

The first movie is Ghost in the Shell, the second is Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. It doesn't get much clearer than that. Watch those two and you've gotten the complete feature-film version. If you want, you can also watch the TV series, which as we've established is a separate continuity. There, you'd begin with the first season, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, followed by the second season, Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. 2nd Gig -- again, pretty self-explanatory. There's also a direct-to-video movie sequel to the TV series, Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. Solid State Society, which comes after 2nd Gig.

 

[RAMA]

ok, so which ones do i watch so it's in the right order?

The first movie is Ghost in the Shell, the second is Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. It doesn't get much clearer than that. Watch those two and you've gotten the complete feature-film version. If you want, you can also watch the TV series, which as we've established is a separate continuity. There, you'd begin with the first season, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, followed by the second season, Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. 2nd Gig -- again, pretty self-explanatory. There's also a direct-to-video movie sequel to the TV series, Ghost in the Shell: S. A. C. Solid State Society, which comes after 2nd Gig.

They admittedly confused the issue for some people by releasing the 2.0 version of the original movie.

 

[Hound of UIster]

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.

The GITS dub is probably one of the best anime dubs out outside of the excellent Disney ones of Miyazaki's films. Mary McGlynn is probably one of the few American voice actress's whose performance was even better than the original Japanese voice actress for Kunsanagi.

 

[RAMA]

Wasn't there a second, superior English dub? Not sure where I saw it.

RAMA

 

[Reverend]

I'm only aware of one English dub of GiTS. Perhaps you're thinking of Akira?

 

[Christopher]

The GITS dub is probably one of the best anime dubs out outside of the excellent Disney ones of Miyazaki's films.

I take it you mean the GitS:SAC dub, because the dub for the original movie is awful, as I've said.

Mary McGlynn is probably one of the few American voice actress's whose performance was even better than the original Japanese voice actress for Kunsanagi.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I don't remember Atsuko Tanaka's performance that well, but I remember it being pretty good. And while I think McGlynn has a beautiful voice, her delivery in SAC is sometimes more flat and stiff and anime-dubby than would be ideal.

 

[Stevil2001]

If I remember right (it's been ages since I saw SAC dubbed), it was Batou's voice I couldn't get into. He sounded way less thoughtful than his Japanese counterpart, and more like a stereotypical meathead.

This thread is making me realized I never got around to buying 2nd Gig.

 

[Hound of UIster]

The GITS dub is probably one of the best anime dubs out outside of the excellent Disney ones of Miyazaki's films.

I take it you mean the GitS:SAC dub, because the dub for the original movie is awful, as I've said.

Mary McGlynn is probably one of the few American voice actress's whose performance was even better than the original Japanese voice actress for Kunsanagi.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I don't remember Atsuko Tanaka's performance that well, but I remember it being pretty good. And while I think McGlynn has a beautiful voice, her delivery in SAC is sometimes more flat and stiff and anime-dubby than would be ideal.

The actress in the japanese version sounded too old.

Really many of the lines in the second half just didn't translate too well to be read out loud by the English voice actors.

 

[clint g]

When it comes to the original Otomo GitS movie, I emphatically recommend the original Japanese soundtrack with subtitles over the English dub, which is awful. When I first saw the movie, I watched the English dub first, and I didn't enjoy it much because the main character's motivations didn't make any sense to me. Then I watched it again with the original Japanese soundtrack, and it worked so much better, because the voice actress actually emoted and I could grasp what was important to her and why it drove her choices. The lead actress in the English dub, Mimi Woods, gave such a flat and lifeless delivery that the lines that were supposed to spell out the deep concerns and fears that drove the character's whole arc in the story just came off as casual, unconcerned musings. And without that understanding of her motivations, the story makes little sense.

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.

While I agree STRONGLY in records to the Ghost in the Shell movies, I felt the series was done pretty well in english (the Japanese was a bit better though)

As for watching Ghost in the Shell, it's very good. I suggest giving it a shot if you get the chance to do so. All the incarnations of it (manga included) are worth your time with the exception being the recap films already mentioned

 

[Reverend]

The GITS dub is probably one of the best anime dubs out outside of the excellent Disney ones of Miyazaki's films.

I take it you mean the GitS:SAC dub, because the dub for the original movie is awful, as I've said.

To quote The Dude; that's like, your opinion man.
I've never had a problem with the English dub of either films or series.

Mary McGlynn is probably one of the few American voice actress's whose performance was even better than the original Japanese voice actress for Kunsanagi.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I don't remember Atsuko Tanaka's performance that well, but I remember it being pretty good. And while I think McGlynn has a beautiful voice, her delivery in SAC is sometimes more flat and stiff and anime-dubby than would be ideal.

To me that's just the way The Major is. It's her character, or rather a specific interpretation of it. She's not a warm person, nor is she excitable. Her whole character arc in concerned with her feelings of disconnection with the world and questioning her own humanity so it's appropriate that her voice tends to sound more introverted and business like. Despite all that though, she's not unfriendly or humourless. It was clearly an acting choice as it was done consistently in the films and in SAC and I think it works just fine.

 

[ReadyAndWilling]

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/

ok, cool.

is the first one i need to watch this: Ghost In The Shell (Kokaku Kidotai) 1995? what follows that?

 

[ReadyAndWilling]

Basically Ghost in the Shell is divided into two distinct universes. The original Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence comprise the first universe.

ok, thanks so these are the first two i should watch? seems confusing how they order them.

 

[ReadyAndWilling]

ok, i've read through the thread and come to this conclusion:

Ghost in the Shell 1995 version first. Then watch 2004 version. 2.0 is just the 1995 version re-done so watch this last.

 

[Forbin]

There are also compilation movies of each season of GitS: SAC. Each film condenses the main points of each series into a single (very long!) film. I admit they helped me understand the series better, since I originally watched them as they first came out, one disk at a time, with long gaps between viewings.

 

[Set Harth]

The actress in the japanese version sounded too old.

Well, you can't please everyone.

Given that an anti-anime complaint voiced in this forum focused on the typical female anime characters sounding too shrill and childish, I would tend to see this as a plus.

 

[Reverend]

The actress in the japanese version sounded too old.

Well, you can't please everyone.

Given that an anti-anime complaint voiced in this forum focused on the typical female anime characters sounding too shrill and childish, I would tend to see this as a plus.

As with the English performance, I always took the "older" sounding Japanese voice as a deliberate acting choice. Part of the mystery of Motoko is that her chronological age is ambiguous. After all, that's not her original biological body she's occupying (according to SAC it's not even her first cyborg body) for all the audience knows she could be in her late 60s.Or to look at it another way, those aren't her vocal chords, so she could just as easily be in her 20's and just likes to sound older.

 

[Admiral2]

ok, i've read through the thread and come to this conclusion:

Ghost in the Shell 1995 version first. Then watch 2004 version. 2.0 is just the 1995 version re-done so watch this last.

Well, yeah, that's just about right.