Ghost in the Shell: where to start?

[Vault101]

so this film seems rather interesting..excpet I'm somwhat confused

so its based on a manga? but theres also a TV series? but they arnt related? could I just pick up the movie or am I going to be completly lost?

also any other good anime films from the 90's?

Ive seen Perfect Blue...I'm going to watch Paprika (I feel sad that thr guy who did thease films is dead)

 

[Dags90]

You could pick up at the movie or the beginning of the TV show and still be fine. I saw the TV show/Anime first and felt like it had a good mix of episodes that make you think and episodes that are just action filler.

I'd recommend the TV show/anime because I think the slower pacing gives you more time to process the universe.

Specifically Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, not Solid State Society. The dub is also surprisingly not terrible, good even.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Well I only started watching GITS myself earlier this year and I started with the original movie which was based on the original manga, it's just called Ghost in the Shell. Then after that, watch Ghost in the Shell: Innocence which is the sequel to the original film.

After watching those two, watch the first season to Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, then 2nd GIG (2nd season) and then finally Ghosg in the Shell: Solid State Society. That's what I would recommend, but really you could just watch the TV series first if you wanted to because the original movies and the TV series aren't related apart from setting and characters.

And any other 90's anime? Well i'l just suggest Neon Genesis Evangelion like I always do, just be prepared for a mindfuck and try and make some effort after watching it and the movies to understand it.

 

[Zoe Castillo]

---

 

[Vault101]

thanks for the info! does anyone know if theres any seriouse difference between the original relase of Ghost in the shell and the "ghost in the shell 2.0" edition?

the original movies and the TV series aren't related apart from setting and characters.
.

that...sounds actually pretty related to me

are they just seperate adaptations of the same work? (the manga?)

 

[Zoe Castillo]

--

 

[evilneko]

Note the GITS movies and GITS:SAC series and movie are very different in style.

 

[Zhukov]

I haven't read the comics, so no comment there.

The movies are alright. Plenty of cool ideas but the narrative is kind of muddy, especially in the second one. I guarantee you will be confused.

The TV show is surprisingly good. Once again though, the plot gets pretty convoluted at times. Not as much as the movies, but you'll want to pay attention.

Lastly, be aware that the movies and TV show are unrelated. They're based on the same thing, but the characters are somewhat different and the story is completely different.

So you have Ghost in the Shell the movie, then the sequel movie Ghost in the Shell: Innocence.

Separate from that you have the first season of theTV show, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. That's followed by the second season Ghost in the Shell: 2nd GiG. That's followed by the movie Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society.

So either start with the first movie or the first season of the TV show. Personally, I prefer the TV show.

Hope that helps... and makes some semblance of sense.

 

[FalloutJack]

so this film seems rather interesting..excpet I'm somwhat confused

so its based on a manga? but theres also a TV series? but they arnt related? could I just pick up the movie or am I going to be completly lost?

also any other good anime films from the 90's?

Ive seen Perfect Blue...I'm going to watch Paprika (I feel sad that thr guy who did thease films is dead)

Lots of it is taken from the original manga. It just is. Don't worry about it.

Ghost in the Shell movie 1 & 2 = One continuity.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex seasons 1, 2, and the Solid State Society movie = Different continuity.

All are pretty damn good, especially the show.

 

[Vault101]

so this film seems rather interesting..excpet I'm somwhat confused

so its based on a manga? but theres also a TV series? but they arnt related? could I just pick up the movie or am I going to be completly lost?

also any other good anime films from the 90's?

Ive seen Perfect Blue...I'm going to watch Paprika (I feel sad that thr guy who did thease films is dead)

Lots of it is taken from the original manga. It just is. Don't worry about it.

Ghost in the Shell movie 1 & 2 = One continuity.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex seasons 1, 2, and the Solid State Society movie = Different continuity.

All are pretty damn good, especially the show.

and solid state society is conected to the show...yes?

 

[Zhukov]

so this film seems rather interesting..excpet I'm somwhat confused

so its based on a manga? but theres also a TV series? but they arnt related? could I just pick up the movie or am I going to be completly lost?

also any other good anime films from the 90's?

Ive seen Perfect Blue...I'm going to watch Paprika (I feel sad that thr guy who did thease films is dead)

Lots of it is taken from the original manga. It just is. Don't worry about it.

Ghost in the Shell movie 1 & 2 = One continuity.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex seasons 1, 2, and the Solid State Society movie = Different continuity.

All are pretty damn good, especially the show.

and solid state society is conected to the show...yes?

Yeah, Solid State Society follows on from the second season of the show.

 

[Vault101]

Yeah, Solid State Society follows on from the second season of the show.

I know that the original film deals with "the puppet master"

does solid state society have "the puppet master" in it?

 

[FalloutJack]

Yeah, Solid State Society follows on from the second season of the show.

I know that the original film deals with "the puppet master"

does solid state society have "the puppet master" in it?

Puppeteer, actually. Sorry, dunno why. You'd have to ask the crew.

 

[Zhukov]

Yeah, Solid State Society follows on from the second season of the show.

I know that the original film deals with "the puppet master"

does solid state society have "the puppet master" in it?

Yeah, this is where things can get confusing.

The original Ghost in the Shell movie has "the puppet master" in it.

Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society has "the puppeteer" in it.

Despite the similar names, they're completely different characters in different plots. The only thing they have in common is that they're both hackers. (Which doesn't mean much, basically everyone in GitS is a hacker of some kind.)

 

[Casual Shinji]

The first movie is very good, just don't expect to get most of it during the initial viewing. I'd say avoid the sequel, Ghost in the Shell: Innocence. Mamoru Oshii, the director of both films is let off his leash in the sequel and it isn't pretty. I never saw the TV series.

If you're looking for quality anime movies check out:

- Tokyo Godfathers (by the same guy who made Perfect Blue and Paprika)
- Katsuhiro Otomo's Memories
- Ninja Scroll
- Metropolis (not that great, but still okay)
- Spriggan
- Jin-Roh
- Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (rather dumb, but amazing visuals)

 

[ErwinGodfrey]

so this film seems rather interesting..excpet I'm somwhat confused

so its based on a manga? but theres also a TV series? but they arnt related? could I just pick up the movie or am I going to be completly lost?

also any other good anime films from the 90's?

Ive seen Perfect Blue...I'm going to watch Paprika (I feel sad that thr guy who did thease films is dead)

You really don't need to read the manga if you are just planning to watch the movie, and if you like the film you should then acquire and watch the series.
If I had to recommend you any other series from the nineties I'd recommend Evangelion and Dragonball, as these are arguably two the best or at least most well known shows from that era.

Edit: Some good movies are: Tokyo Godfathers, Princess Mononoke, and the Evangelion films are some off the top of my head.

 

[gunny1993]

Yeah this is like the most confusing series of episodes and films ever ... i'm fairly sure iv'e seen it all but i don't have a clue what the chronology for it is.