"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)
(more)

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

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)

(more)

Series Directed by
Masaki Tachibana		(8 episodes, 2002-2004)
Itsurô Kawasaki		(4 episodes, 2005)
Kenji Kamiyama		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Masamune Shirow		(52 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kenji Kamiyama		(2 episodes, 2003)
Mary Claypool		(unknown episodes)
Yutaka Omatsu		(unknown episodes)
Yoshiki Sakurai		(unknown episodes)
Dai Sato		(unknown episodes)
Shotaro Suga		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Marvin Gleicher	....	senior producer (unknown episodes)
Mitsuhisa Ishikawa	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Ken Iyadomi	....	senior producer (unknown episodes)
Yuichiro Matsuka	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Charles McCarter	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Kaoru Mfaume	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Tsutomu Sugita	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Shigeru Watanabe	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Yôko Kanno		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Kôji Tanaka		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Junichi Uematsu		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Yusuke Takeda		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Masaki Tachibana	....	storyboard artist (8 episodes, 2002-2005)
Paul Nicholson	....	logo designer: The Laughing Man (5 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Sound Department
Preston Martin	....	adr recordist (3 episodes, 2004-2005)
Collin McQueen	....	adr engineer (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Shinichi Rembutsu	....	animator (1 episode, 2003)

Series Animation Department
Kyoji Asano	....	animation director (1 episode, 2002)
Nobuhiko Genma	....	mechanical animation director (1 episode, 2002)
Tadashi Hiramatsu	....	animator (1 episode, 2002)
Minako Shiba	....	animation director (1 episode)
Makoto Shimomura	....	character designer (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
David W. Barr	....	digital adr tracking (unknown episodes)
Ken Ohara	....	on-line supervisor (unknown episodes)
Kevin Seymour	....	voice director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Bandai Visual Company
• DENTSU Music And Entertainment
• Kodansha
• Kôkaku Kidôtai Seisaku Iinkai
• Production I.G.

Distributors

• AXN (2009) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release) (on AXN Sci-Fi)
• Animax Broadcast Japan (2002) (Japan) (TV) (pay tv)
• Animax (2006) (Japan) (TV)
• Bandai Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Bandai Visual Company
• Cartoon Network (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Cuatro (2005) (Spain) (TV)
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (2004) (Japan) (TV)
• Perfect Choice (2002-2003) (Japan) (TV)
• YTV (2005) (Canada) (TV)

Other Companies

• Animaze  English adaptation production associate
• Bandai Entertainment  English adaptation production
• Magnitude 8 Post  English adaptation recording facility
• ZRO Limit Productions  English adaptation production associate (as ZRO Limit)

Also Known As:

"Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig" (USA) (second season title)
"Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" (USA) (literal English 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:

In the first episode, "Section 9," during the scene where the foreign minister tries unsuccessfully to read the stolen report, the camera zooms in on one of his cybernetic eyes. Amongst all of the usual symbols and jargon you'd expect on a camera lens, the words "Directed by K.K." can be seen. This is a reference to Kenji Kamiyama, the director of the series.

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 Daredevil (2003)

Soundtrack:

GET9

Anime Evolutionized

Fans of the films might be disappointed. But Stand Alone Complex lives by it's title. Its stands alone from the original movies. But what makes SAC so much more entertaining is the fact it's a series.

In this form GITS becomes more like the manga it was inspired from. Sure there isn't a Puppet Master plot, but now we get to see the inner workings of Section 9 and the role they play in this cybernetic future where the line between the real world and the digital one is too closely blurred.

Everything about this series is top notch. The story's are written in classic science fiction form. The 3-D animation is near flawless. And of course the biggest praise has to be the soundtrack.

But mostly the characters bring out the most in this show. Everyone knows Motoko. But Batou is her complete opposite bringing a little bit of humor to an otherwise serious job. And the old ape, Chief Aramaki, is just superior as the head of Section 9. Also we get to see how the other members of Section 9 make it the elite team that it is.

But really the Tachikoma's bring the most interesting aspect to the show. Since these mini-tanks are controlled by A.I., their experience's help them understand more about the world they live in much like a small child growing up. Overall their playful attitude contrasts the serious aspects of the show. ( and I love their little spots after each episode )

All in all SAC does a great job of showing viewers what a future of great technological advances could bring. The good and the bad. From the hijacked tank, to the Geri's, and even to the terrorist known only as the Laughing Man. Ghost in the Shell SAC shows audiences that anime can be full of action, intelligence, mystery, and humor all rolled into one.

And that makes it a must see for anyone, not just fans of Anime.