Ghost In The Shell

[SacremPyrobolum]

Hello Escapists
So, I was recently looking into an anime called Ghost in the shell and it seems like something I could really get into. Problem is when I go to look it up online I find their are multiple spinoffs of the series and I don't know where to begin. I also dont know where to watch it. Any suggest?

 

[Anarchemitis]

Ghost in the Shell is the original movie, very well done.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is the first season of the TV series that came from it. It's slightly different but retains the excellent intrigue and dialogue.

Ghost in the Shell SAC: 2nd Gig is the second season of the same TV series. Also very excellent.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is the second movie, which takes place in an alternate canon to Stand Alone Complex.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

Ghost in the Shell is the original movie, very well done.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is the first season of the TV series that came from it. It's slightly different but retains the excellent intrigue and dialogue.

Ghost in the Shell SAC: 2nd Gig is the second season of the same TV series. Also very excellent.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is the second movie, which takes place in an alternate canon to Stand Alone Complex.

Do you know where to find them online?
Do you need to watch the movie to get the tv version?

 

[Anarchemitis]

Ghost in the Shell is the original movie, very well done.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is the first season of the TV series that came from it. It's slightly different but retains the excellent intrigue and dialogue.

Ghost in the Shell SAC: 2nd Gig is the second season of the same TV series. Also very excellent.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is the second movie, which takes place in an alternate canon to Stand Alone Complex.

Do you know where to find them online?
Do you need to watch the movie to get the tv version?

If you can find them online, they will probably be Japanese versions which may or may not have English dubs. You can probably order or find at some specialty store the English dubs on DVD of the TV series.
Both movies stand relatively separate from the TV series. There are interleaving elements but they are very minor. Said elements make more sense if you watch at least part of the Series first.

The First movie is largely about a crime The Major solves, the TV series, both seasons are about the Major and her team of specialists fighting various kinds of Cybercrime, and the second movie largely concerns the efforts of two specific members of that team on one specific grouping of cybercrime (namely Batou and Togusa).

 

[ThriKreen]

Chronologically it's along the lines of:

Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shell : 2nd Gig
Ghost in the Shell : S.A.C. Solid State Society movie
Ghost in the Shell - the original manga graphic novel
Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface, sequel to the graphic novel

Both Ghost in the Shell movies, GitS and Innocence, take place in an alternate reality and merges some storylines from the original graphic novel.