Ghost in the Shell (1995)

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Ghost in the Shell (1995) – M. Oshii

Landmark anime film (based on the manga by Masamune Shirow) directed by Mamoru Oshii (and yes, this was recently remade live-action style with Scarlett Johannsen). I never watched the original 25 years ago but surprisingly, its sci-fi plot does not feel out-of-date (as far as I understand it – somewhat complex!).  Major Motoko Kusanagi is a (frequently nude) cyborg working for Section 6, presumably government special agents, although she does have some natural biological brain cells which may make her different from the film’s bad “guy”, the Puppetmaster, later revealed to be Project 2501 (who may have no biological origin at all).  When Section 6 has finally captured the cyborg body of the Puppetmaster, Section 9 turns up to bargain for it – but soon the cyborg is out of the building and a big chase ensues. I don’t think the plot is the real reason to watch this (although there are some interesting philosophical questions about souls – “ghosts” -- within artificially intelligent bodies). Instead, it is the melancholy tone and the cinematic direction of the animation – sometimes just pictures of computer screens (that green font foreshadowing The Matrix, 1999), sometimes sad cityscapes. There’s something reminiscent of Blade Runner, 1981, too, in that you’d expect a private detective to walk these grey futuristic (2029) streets.