Product Description: Based on the manga by Masamune Shirow and directed by Kenji Kamiyama GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX takes viewers to a futuristic society where technology has saturated citizens' daily lives. Along with the new technology comes new types of crime that exploit it but female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her team of police Section 9 devote their lives to chasing criminals both on land and in cyberspace. In this complete collection of episodes from the epic show's second season (also known as 2nd Gig) Major Motoko Husanagi and Section 9 continue to battle terrorists in the actual world and in cyberspace. This season gives a new spin to Masamune Shirow's popular concept by combining the talents of directors Mamoru Oshii and Kenji Kamiyama and the animators at Japanese studio Production I.G.System Requirements:Length: 360 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMATION/ANIME Rating: PG-13 UPC: 669198252679 Manufacturer No: 25267
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
A wonderful epilogue If you've seen the series you will love this sequel. A whole new mystery, slightly different character relations (considering what happened at the end of the series). The story goes in a different direction than you may expect at any point! Plot twists make this a must have for any Ghost in the Shell fan!
Stands Alone as a Great Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig is a great anime series and a great television show period.
Although I personally enjoyed the first season's classic detective yarn slightly more, the monologues were heavy and the action sparse. SAC 2nd Gig ups the action this time around as it is more of an espionage and political intrigue story, although the elements of mystery litter throughout. This should please fans who were iffy about the films and the talkiness of the first season.
The Box is a heavy duty casing with magnetic latching flap. Whereas the first season box set was wrapped in a flimsy disposable wraparound, 2nd Gig gets it right for the truly serious collectors.
Rarely does a television show captivate me as much as this one. With the exception of the new Battle Star Galactica, I can't think of any other series which has blown my mind and entertained me at the same time as much as this one. If you like cop drama with a hint of sophistication and a bit of action, then this series is for you.
Confusing, odd and just plain hard to watch After all the positive reviews and my wife away for a few days I thought I'd geek out on some animated sci-fi goodness but . . . yikes! I couldn't tell what was going on about. . . 90% of the time. The "animation" most of the time consisted of slightly panning stills where only the character's bottom lip would wiggle slightly. . . Robot nurses with dental floss for uniforms? Robots that act like little kids and get NO reaction from anyone with this behavior!?! People putting "cyber" parts in their brain that can be hacked just by receiving a call phone call? Did none of you watch this? It was utter stupidity. . . Big thumbs down for me.
Practically Perfect When I first saw the "Ghost in the Shell" film back in the nineties, I was not impressed. I simply did not get why the film was so lauded, as I found it boring and the characters unappealing. What a change 10 years and a different format can make (not to say that Stand Alone Complex is a mere rehash of the movie). I am now a "Ghost in the Shell" fanatic, and the 2nd Gig is the best thing to come out of the franchise.
After the success of the first season of the GitS TV series, a second season was commissioned, and this stellar series is the result. The first season laid all of the groundwork (beautiful animation, a complex plot, a fascinating near-future world, and characters you really felt for), and the 2nd Gig takes everything to the next level. The already solid production values have been improved upon, and the slick animation and detailed designs give the impression of a feature film. This is especially noticable in the wide shots and the action sequences (which are thankfully more frequent and more visceral).
All of the members of Section 9 are back (including the Tachikomas!), and despite their gruff exteriors they really grow on you. You can feel the comraderrie between Major Matoko Kusanagi, Batou, Togusa, and the rest, and you find yourself really investing in these people's lives. This time around, the story begins with a group calling itself the Individual Eleven taking over the Chinese embassy in Japan. Yet there's something bigger afoot, and by the end of the series the political intrigue and terrorist actions have convincingly and seemlessly escalated to a point where war in emminent. The 2nd Gig also introduces two fascinating advesaries for Section 9, a governmental information specialist named Ghoda (who has an awesome character design) and an intriguing rebel name Kuze who may not be all bad.
As before, the main story episodes are broken up by a series of stand-alone episodes that help to expand and explain the world of Ghost in the Shell while providing plenty of solid character moments. The thing I love most about 2nd Gig is how at their heart, most of the stand alone stories are simple police procedurals that can be enjoyed as just that. However, every single one of these standalone episodes raises ethical and moral questions that will really get you thinking about the world we live in today and what it means to be human. And sci-fi geeks will have lots of fun deciphering what all of the technobabble refers to, as it is never explained to the audience (but its meaning is readily apparent to anyone who really pays attention).
"Ghost in the Shell SAC - the 2nd Gig" is a rollercoaster of a ride that provides plenty of thrills and political intrigue. But what elevates it to a must-see is the way it challenges you to think about life and the direction our world is headed (the show raises so many fascinating questions about technology's increasing role in our society) while still providing first-rate entertainment. It is also populated with characters you truly to get attached to without realizing it. In fact, I almost cried at not one but two episodes, which I never do. Not too shabby for a sci-fi cartoon, huh?
If you have any interest in science fiction or anime, this set is a must-purchase. It's a great deal, and the DVDs have a good amount of extras in the form of cast and crew interviews.
Nice addition to collection, but not a necessary purchase. Fits well with the series, though it can feel like little more than an elongated episode. The DVD I ordered from Amazon was defective; however, Bandai replaced it without giving me any static. If you enjoy the other movies and the 2 seasons this is a nice addition to your collection, but do not expect too much from this movie.
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