"Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex" (2002) TV series 2002-2005

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Director:

Kenji Kamiyama

Writers:

Mary Claypool (american version)
Yutaka Omatsu (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

19 November 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A New Beginning, A New Threat...

Plot:

New government, new office, and a new aggressor... the continuing story of Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex takes a turn towards today's headlines as Section 9 faces a new terrorist cell called the Individual Eleven.

Plot Keywords:

Japan | Terrorist | Cyborg | Major | Counter Intelligence

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15	3:30 AM	TOON	Testation	#1.2
Sun. Nov. 22	3:30 AM	TOON	Android and I	#1.3

Cast

Dino Andrade	...	Children / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kevin Brief	...	Kanzaki / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Loy Edge	...	SWAT / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Barbara Goodson	...	Maruta / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Michael Gregory	...	Reiko / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kate Higgins	...	Children / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Paddy Lee	...	Fom / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Michael McConnohie	...	Commander / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Liam O'Brien	...	Fake Laughing Man / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Peggy O'Neal	...	Girl / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Douglas Rye	...	Litton / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Barry Stigler	...	Foreign Minister / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Doug Stone	...	Matsuoka / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Julie Ann Taylor	...	Miyahara / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kari Wahlgren	...	Sales Person / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Tom Wyner	...	Interior Minister / ... (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Bob Papenbrook	...	Doorman / ... (50 episodes, 2002-2005)

Also Known As:

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (USA) (literal English title)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (USA) (second season title)
Kôkaku kidôtai: S.A.C. 2nd Gig (Japan) (second season title)

Runtime:

USA:25 min (52 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14 | Australia:MA | USA:TV-MA | New Zealand:M | Canada:14+ (Quebec) | Canada:16+ (TV rating) | South Korea:15 | UK:15 (most episodes) | UK:18 (one episode) | South Korea:18 (some episodes) | Japan:R-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:TV-14 (some episodes)

Company:

Bandai Visual Company

Trivia:

There are two sources for the title of the show. The first is the text at the beginning of the first episode, where it describes the psychology of some of those without cybernetic implants. Essentially, they have a "Stand Alone Complex"; they feel that they "stand alone" from the rest of humanity who have cybernetic implants, which allow those with them to communicate at any time with anyone who also has implants. The second source is a reference to the story itself. The term is used to describe an event where multiple people who have no associations with each other and are not part of a common group(thus they "stand alone"), through similar actions, seem to work together towards a common goal. This "complex" is referenced a number of times in the story, mainly about the laughing man case, but also in reference to a few other cases the group encounters.

Quotes:

Major Motoko Kusanagi: [Section 9 is disbanding after being attacked by Government forces] Public Security Section 9 is hereby disbanded. That is all.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "XXXHOLiC: Hanbun (#2.3)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Living Inside the Shell

MMM MMM Good

This has to be the best television anime I have ever seen. As the other reviewer said, the plot centers around a fictional futuristic special operations squad in Japan called section 9 that specializes in computer crimes. The plots are amazing in that they present possible future technologies and crimes in a very compelling way. They also include a good deal of humor, sentimentality, awesome animation and humor. The only warning is that some of the content is mature- one scene showed a brief scene of a character watching an xxx rated movie. However, as long as you understand and enjoy the adult themes the show is a wild ride.

A+