Amazon.com: Major Kusanagi and the rest of Public Security Section 9 hit the ground running as the second season of Stand Alone Complex (2004) begins: Their new adventure centers on a complex mystery even more dangerous than the case of the Laughing Man. Terrorist incidents linked to the mistreatment of Asian refugees after World War IV threaten to ignite a powder keg in Japan. Kusanagi, Batou, and even Chief Aramaki chafe when they're drafted to protect Prime Minister Kayabuki from would-be assassins. But the threats to the government are linked to the Individual Eleven, a cell that recalls the May 15th Incident. (On May 15, 1932, a group of junior naval officers and army cadets assassinated Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, ensuring that power would remain in the hands of the militarists.) The members of the Individual Eleven--except for Hideo Kuze, their charismatic leader--commit mass suicide in a bloody spectacle that recalls the theatrical death in 1970 of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. Kuze's campaign to win political freedom for the refugees grows increasingly violent, involving suicide bombers, Russian mobsters selling stolen plutonium, and strained relations between Japan and an Imperial America that is trying to reassert its military dominance in the face of economic weakness. And what role does the devious, hideously scarred intelligence officer Kazundo Gohda play in these actions? The Tachikoma robots speculate that as they are abandoning collective consciousness and developing individuality, a dependence on the Net is leading humans in the opposite direction. That trend makes people more vulnerable to cyber-viruses involved in the plot--unless Section 9 acts in time. Most of the adventures take place in bleak, gray and brown settings, which contrast effectively with the bright, colorful cyberworld the Major and the Tachikomas visit. S.A.C.--2nd Gig continues the tight plotting, dynamic action sequences, and interesting character relationships that made the series a hit. (Rated 13 and older: violence, violence against women, brief nudity, alcohol, drug, and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
Absolutely brilliant This animated series puts most live action drama films & TV series to shame. The animation is excellent; the stories are even better. Every episode is an absolute gem, much like a little techno-thriller feature film.
It's a real pity cyberpunk fiction never really made much impact in the film world - but this series makes it all work.
Apparently set in a world where Motoko Kusanagi never met the Puppet Master, this series involves complex political intrigue, cyber-crimes, people being hacked as one would hack a computer nowadays, etc.
If you even remotely liked the Ghost in The Shell feature film, check this out if you get the chance.
Still good though not as good as 1st season Loved SAC the 1st season. Felt that the 2nd GIG didn't quite hold up though it's still pretty good.
Spectacular In my opinion, 2nd GIG is not as good as Stand Alone Complex, and it can be a little more complex, but anyone who enjoyed Stand Alone Complex owes it to themselves to see 2nd GIG, and this set is an excellent collection.
Second gig comes in a close second 2nd gig of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a good continuation of where the first collection left off. The stories are interesting, exciting, and some of them even deeply moving. This series goes a lot deeper into the character's back stories as well for fans of Ghost in the Shell. The only problem I had with this one is that it takes itself way too seriously and the socio-political-techno babble is over done and gets really old, really fast and just detracts from both the stand alone and multi-episode stories.
Ghost In The Shell: Solid State Loved it, loved it, loved it. If you're a GOS fan, while it's different from the series, it's still fun to watch. It's an alternative story line to the series and the other movies but it's still GOS no matter how you look at it. Motoko is just as fiesty as ever, the Tachis - well, they're different but they still have that sense of fun about them, especially in Tachikomatic Daze that is available on the dvd.
If you're new to GOS - watch it and watch all the other GOS series. I think you'll enjoy it... especially the Tachikomas.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
