Ghost within the Shell – The place to Begin and What’s Price Watching (and Studying)

Again in 1995, Shirow Masamune was already famend within the West for his manga (and their respective anime diversifications) Appleseed and Dominion Tank Police. Fan pleasure was excessive for his subsequent massive manga, Ghost within the Shell (GitS), first revealed in English by Darkish Horse Comics in month-to-month installments 4 years after its 1991 Japanese tankobon publication—and swiftly adopted by Mamoru Oshii‘s film model. Few followers on the time would have predicted that Shirow’s goofy techno-geek manga would tower over his earlier work, spawning a world-conquering media behemoth, deeply influencing fashionable tradition — even Hollywood films.

Virtually thirty years after its Western debut, the sheer variety of GitS manga, anime, novels, artwork books, and video video games appear overwhelming to the uninitiated, particularly with the current announcement of yet one more new anime adaptation from Science SARU due in 2026.

The place on Earth do you begin? How a lot is even price experiencing? Taking my cue from fellow ANN author Lauren Orsini’s wonderful Cellular Swimsuit Gundam franchise overview, here is an exhaustive checklist of every part GitS that is ever been out there in English (and some issues that are not…)

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The Fundamental Manga Continuity

What it’s: The place higher to begin than with the manga that kicked every part off? Initially revealed in Japanese by Kodansha between 1988 and 1997, GitS‘ three volumes, together with Shirow’s earlier manga, have been localized into English by legendary translator/editor Toren Smith and his Studio Proteus. Darkish Horse distributed their wonderful work after the unique writer Eclipse Comics went bust within the early Nineties. The continuity between volumes is not at all times apparent and the varied later anime diversifications emphasize very completely different features of the supply materials.

What it is about: In late 2020s Japan, biochip know-how has superior, so many individuals now have cyberbrains: bodily implants permitting direct mind-to-internet connection. Such interfaces are sadly weak to distant “cyberbrain hacking” by criminals. Even victims’ “ghosts” (a catch-all time period for thoughts/persona/soul) are prone to corruption, harm, or being overwritten.

Public Safety Part 9 is a clandestine particular ops staff, answerable solely to the Japanese Prime Minister, whose function is to unravel home (and generally worldwide) cybercrime and cyber-terrorism. With unparalleled hacking abilities and sharp navy acumen, Cyborg Main Motoko Kusanagi is the cool, succesful chief of Part 9’s small job pressure. Her solely remaining natural part is her mind. Thus, she typically ponders simply how human she stays.

What ought to I learn first?: Begin with the primary quantity, merely titled Ghost within the Shell.

Ghost within the Shell

What it’s: The unique 11-chapter manga was first revealed in English as eight month-to-month flipped “floppy” comics with two extraordinarily specific pages depicting a lesbian cybersex ménage à trois eliminated by Shirow himself. These have been later reinserted by Darkish Horse in a single uncensored commerce paperback version that is now very out of print. English-language editions are actually revealed by Kodansha USA (in commerce paperback and on Okay (manga), and so they stay censored. Actually, we’re not lacking something of worth.

Price studying?: Sure.

Why: It is easy to see why GitS impressed so many spin-offs and diversifications. For a manga that started serialization in 1988, it is extremely prescient—particularly because the world regularly catches as much as Shirow’s impressed imaginative and prescient. Fundamental characters Kusanagi, Batou, Aramaki, and Togusa are iconic—as is the idea of “The Puppeteer”. GitS is often very humorous, along with being thought-provoking and thrilling. It must be learn two or 3 times — slowly — to completely comprehend Shirow’s complicated ideas, rewarding the reader’s persistence. This is not a manga to idly flick by.

Readers unfamiliar with Shirow’s idiosyncratic artwork fashion could discover the abrupt switching from full-color pages to B&W artwork firstly of most chapters to be somewhat jarring—and the frequent comedy-deformation of character designs throughout in any other case intense, critical scenes to induce some tonal whiplash. There’s additionally Shirow’s fixed, extraordinarily sexy objectification of feminine characters juxtaposed with prolonged exposition dumps of semi-incoherent technobabble which some readers could not take pleasure in.

Ghost within the Shell 1.5: Human Error Processor

What it’s: Shirow’s aborted first try at a GitS sequel. It is extra of a normal police procedural drama. First revealed in English over eight floppy points by Darkish Horse in 2006, it is now out there in commerce paperback from Kodansha USA and digitally on Okay manga.

Price studying?: Possibly.

Why: At solely 4 chapters, and round half the size, Human Error Processor is a much less satisfying learn than its predecessor. It is very episodic, focusing primarily on Batou and Togusa. Kusanagi solely seems in a single chapter, and it is simply the perfect of a mediocre bunch. Shirow’s artwork has matured, trying extra critical and fewer playful. There’s much less humor generally, much less shade, and Kusanagi’s absence rips the soul from the story. There’s little marvel Shirow deserted it to rethink all the factor. It is a disgrace that some lingering plot threads are by no means resolved, although.

Human Error Processor is not less than partly invaluable for introducing new Part 9 recruits Proto and Azuma who present up later within the S.A.C. 2nd GIG TV present and a few themes and story components are used within the Stable State Society film. The scene of Kusanagi ripping her personal arms aside as she tries to pry open the cover of an armored tank is straight referenced within the 1995 film and Stand Alone Complicated.

Ghost within the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface

What it’s: Shirow’s second go at a sequel, launched in a number of revised variations George Lucas-style, earlier than belatedly coming West in 2003. First revealed over eleven month-to-month brief floppy comics by Darkish Horse, it is now out there in commerce paperback format from Kodansha USA and digitally on Okay manga. The unique Japanese printing comprises an much more horrifying cybersex scene than the primary quantity and Shirow himself eliminated it from all subsequent Japanese printings plus the English editions. Finest to faux it does not exist.

Price studying?: No.

Why: Sadly, Man/Machine Interface (MMI) is the place Shirow disappears up his personal I/O port. Overblown, impenetrable, and troublesome to comply with, it is wonderful how such an in depth manga can endure from an nearly complete absence of a coherent plot. There is a motive that each animated adaptation since has nearly utterly ignored the existence of MMI. It is terrible. There are a staggering variety of full-color pages however the CG backgrounds and clumsy compositing look awkward and dated now—they distinction with the extra conventional B&W pages much more jarringly.

I’ve learn MMI a number of occasions, and I nonetheless do not know what Shirow is attempting to say about it. Any attention-grabbing concepts are drowned beneath dense technobabble. There aren’t any sympathetic characters with identifiable objectives. MMI focuses closely on the digital avatar “Motoko Aramaki”, utterly neglecting Part 9’s different characters. The “dialogue” reads like somebody fed a tech textbook right into a malfunctioning generative AI and revealed the garbled outcomes, accompanied by tons of of images of generously endowed, scantily clad ladies contorted into closely sexualized, horribly uncomfortable positions. Generally I am unhappy Shirow left the manga enterprise. Then I keep in mind MMI.

Ghost within the Shell: The Human Algorithm

What it’s: Primarily Ghost within the Shell 1.75, written by Junichi Fujisaku and illustrated by Yuki Yoshimoto. It is a multiple-volume non-Shirow manga collection designed to fill within the gaps between 1.5 and MMI. It started in 2019 and remains to be ongoing, with 4 English and 6 Japanese volumes in print. The newest translated chapters are sadly locked to Kodansha‘s Okay manga app.

Price studying: Sure.

Why: Fujisaku is a GitS franchise veteran who’s written much more about Kusanagi and colleagues than authentic creator Shirow himself. The Human Algorithm continues 1.5‘s plot of a Kusanagi-less Part 9 investigating cybercrimes. The story arcs are lengthy, multifaceted, and complicated, with Yoshimoto’s clear, detailed, hyper-realistic artwork much like Hiroya Oku‘s work on Gantz. The primary arc takes some time to get began, and I discover recruit Tsunagi to be extraordinarily annoying, however as the one currently-running GitS media property, it makes for a compelling and thought-provoking learn. The latest sub-Saharan Africa-set arc is superb and Fujisaku finds attention-grabbing methods to tie even the absurdly esoteric MMI extra tightly into the sooner manga continuity.

Ghost within the Shell (PlayStation Video Sport)

What it’s: A 1997 PlayStation 1 sport from developer Precise that fuses ideas from the manga with the film’s cinematic sensibilities with artwork design that hews nearer to the manga. Now not available for purchase, it has by no means been re-released. Second-hand copies are costly.

Price enjoying?: Sure, if yow will discover it.

Why: Should you ever wished to regulate one in all Part 9’s cute, agile, and probably extremely damaging Fuchikoma “suppose tanks”, then here is your probability. Functioning as an “further” story that includes Main Kusanagi and colleagues, it is a fairly enjoyable motion sport. It retains among the manga’s humor, whereas additionally that includes (fairly grainy, low-res) animated cutscenes from Manufacturing I.G.—the identical studio that made the movie. It isn’t a really prolonged sport and the low-res, pixelated, and dithered graphics look terrible when blown up on a contemporary HD TV. I want I would by no means misplaced my copy when transferring home years in the past, as I am unable to justify the price of re-buying it… If anybody needs to purchase my empty authentic PAL sport case with directions (however sadly no disc), let me know…

Intron Depot 1

What it’s: A dual-language (Japanese and English) Shirow-drawn artbook from 1991, specializing in his Nineteen Eighties shade artwork, from manga together with Dominion, Black Magic, Orion, Appleseed, and Ghost within the Shell. It turned out there within the West even earlier than Darkish Horse revealed the GitS manga, providing followers a tantalizing peek at Shirow’s subsequent work. The English translations have been by Toren Smith‘s Studio Proteus!

Price studying?: Sure.

Why: Shirow’s first artwork guide was a preview of issues to come back from him. Whereas he continued to sporadically produce manga volumes all through the Nineties, ultimately he gave up after MMI and targeted as an alternative on producing high-quality artwork books. Intron Depot 1, which is miraculously nonetheless in print, moderately priced, and comparatively simple to import, is worth it for any Shirow fan. Whereas GitS materials contains solely a small portion of the guide, Shirow’s little explanatory paragraphs are definitely worth the value of admission alone—plus there are drafts and different unpublished artworks nearly inconceivable to amass wherever else.

Ghost within the Shell Tremendous Graphic Assortment: Cyberdelics

What it’s: A 1997 Japanese assortment of ten giant foil-embossed posters of Shirow’s Ghost within the Shell shade art work.

Price studying?: Should you’ve cash to burn, certain.

Why: These are among the many most fascinating gadgets for critical followers of Shirow’s art work. Though copies of this poster assortment do pop up on-line, they’re hideously costly. As a result of foil part, they do not reproduce with typical CMYK printing, so that they’ve maintained their uncommon standing. All shouldn’t be misplaced, nevertheless…

Items Gem 01 (Ghost within the Shell +Alpha)

What it’s: A smaller, hardcover, newer (2014) artwork guide than Intron Depot 1, amassing a large number of uncommon GitS shade pictures.

Price studying?: Sure.

Why: For one, the entire Cyberdelics pictures are right here, which means it is a less expensive option to purchase copies (although smaller, and sans foil highlights). A lot of the quantity can also be given over to prolonged interviews with Shirow about his artwork and profession generally. A few of his anecdotes are intensely private and supply a lot perception into his mindset and work course of. It is solely in Japanese although…

Ghost within the Shell Official Artwork Ebook

What it’s: An 84-page (principally) Japanese-language artwork guide overlaying the manufacturing of the 1997 Ghost within the Shell PlayStation sport.

Price studying?: Sure, if yow will discover it.

Why: A comparatively slim quantity that includes a number of stunning illustrations by the sport’s animation director/key animator Toshihiro Kawamoto (who would, in 1998, turn out to be co-founder of Studio Bones). The guide options character and mecha designs, storyboards, screenshots, and lots of stills from the varied Manufacturing I.G.-produced in-game animation sequences which hew nearer to the manga’s aesthetic than the 1995 film. Photographs representing Shirow’s artwork are additionally present in his Cyberdelics assortment, however that is the one quantity I’m conscious of that options artwork straight related to the sport. There is a cheap quantity of Japanese textual content, although titles and headings are in English. It is an attention-grabbing curio if nothing else.

Ghost within the Shell: Burning Metropolis and Ghost within the Shell: Star Seed

What they’re: Two tie-in novels by writer Endo Akira, revealed in November 1995 and January 1998 respectively. They’ve by no means been translated into English, formally or in any other case, and details about their content material is nearly inconceivable to search out on the English-language internet.

Price studying?: I’ve no thought.

Why: If yow will discover copies—and you may learn Japanese… possibly these are price your whereas. Should you’ve learn them, I would love to listen to what they’re about…

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The Fundamental Film Continuity

What it’s: Famed director Mamoru Oshii (Urusei Yatsura, Angel’s Egg, Patlabor) directed two theatrical films based mostly on the primary quantity of Shirow’s manga.

What it is about: Sharing setting, characters, and plot with the unique GitS manga, these are big-budget, landmark, influential movies.

What ought to I watch first?: Ghost within the Shell, Oshii’s 1995 film.

Ghost within the Shell

What it’s: Oshii’s first, 1995 GitS film. Half-funded by the UK’s Manga Video, it debuted on UK screens shortly after the Japanese premiere, earlier than a U.S. launch early the next 12 months. Touted because the “subsequent massive factor” after Katsuhiro Ōtomo‘s Akira (1988), it turned for many individuals a gateway drug into anime, and their first expertise with Shirow’s tales. It is inconceivable to overstate how influential Oshii’s movie was for Western fashionable tradition. I imply, simply check out the tone, look, and content material of the Wachowski siblings’ Matrix films.

Price watching?: Sure.

Why: Whether or not you vibe with Oshii’s gradual, contemplative, and medical directorial fashion or not, it is arduous to disclaim that his cinematic imaginative and prescient for Ghost within the Shell is something wanting exceptional. This can be a gorgeous-looking film with a particular, atmospheric (even barely eerie) Kenji Kawai soundtrack. Taking a honed paring knife to Shirow’s comparatively bloated and unfocused manga, Oshii hacks right down to the core ideas and central battle of the primary quantity — the connection between an existentially troubled Motoko Kusanagi and the mysterious Puppeteer.

This model of Kusanagi lacks the humor and whimsy of Shirow’s authentic—and Oshii’s tackle the fabric is critical, philosophical, and even barely chilly. It succeeds in streamlining and clarifying Shirow’s central thesis, with Oshii including his standard Biblical allusions. An extremely concise film, in solely 82 minutes it achieves a miracle of complicated narrative and existential contemplation—together with temporary however spectacular motion sequences. Personally, I miss Shirow’s goofiness—and the absence of the Fuchikoma “suppose tanks” hurts—nevertheless it’s an unbelievable movie that deserves its place within the anime Corridor of fame.

Ghost within the Shell 2.0

What it’s: Mamoru Oshii‘s 2008 George Lucas-style “redo” of his 1995 Ghost within the Shell film, with added CGI visuals and a brand new rust-colored filter.

Price watching?: No. Watch the unique as an alternative.

Why not: Generally administrators must be forbidden from revising their previous masterpieces. Ridley Scott bought away with it for Blade Runner, however this isn’t the case for this pointless train of splicing incongruously easy and glossy CG with hand-drawn animation—and smearing every part in a horribly queasy orange filter. Supposedly this was completed to match the aesthetics of the sequel film Innocence however please simply watch the unique. The additions do nothing however detract from the purity of Oshii’s authentic imaginative and prescient.

Ghost within the Shell 2: Innocence: After the Lengthy Goodbye

What it’s: A prequel novel to the second film Innocence, following Batou as he copes with Main Kusanagi’s disappearance. Written by Mamoru Oshii‘s SF writer pal Masaki Yamada, it was launched just a few days earlier than the theatrical premiere of Innocence in Japan. Good luck discovering a replica although, the hardback English translation from Viz is lengthy out of print, and there is not any e book model.

Price studying?: Sure.

Why: An in depth, melancholic character examine of a broken man, After the Lengthy Goodbye is an applicable companion piece to its related movie. This model of Batou is a far cry from the grinning, wisecracking one-man-army of different franchise entries. Nevertheless his introspection and unreliable narration discover some deep materials in regards to the ideas of affection and loss. Its tone (and considerably completely different interpretation of cyberbrain know-how) is in contrast to the rest within the franchise.

Ghost within the Shell 2: Innocence

What it’s: Oshi’s belated 2004 sequel to his 1995 movie, loosely adapting two center chapters from the manga’s first quantity. With Main Kusanagi having disappeared following the occasions of the primary movie, prosthetic-eyed Batou is the principle character this time round. Along with ex-cop Togusa, the pair examine a disturbing cybercrime.

Price watching?: Sure. Possibly. It is difficult.

Why: Innocence is a movie I need to like . The visuals are placing with (at-the-time) cutting-edge CG. Furthermore, the underlying story ideas are fascinating however… Oshii drowns his movie in ponderously lengthy and round philosophical mumbo-jumbo that strangles the already skinny plot. Aside from a few actually wonderful motion sequences, Innocence is disappointingly torpid.

Main Kusanagi has at all times been GitS‘ most attention-grabbing character, but as an alternative of constructing a movie about what she did after her post-human apotheosis on the finish of the previous film, Innocence principally removes her from the narrative—barring just a few scenes in direction of the conclusion. Poor, depressed Batou is not fairly so charismatic a lead. Maybe Oshii cannot be too criticized for this as Shirow’s makes an attempt to sequelize his personal manga did not go nicely both. Seems that making films about disembodied, decentralized, ascended, gestalt organisms is fairly damned troublesome. Who’d have thought?

GHOST IN THE SHELL: Archives

What it’s: A 288-page black-and-white outsized paperback artwork guide that includes storyboards, key artwork, and manufacturing sketches from Oshii’s 1995 film. Printed in 2014, the minimal textual content is in Japanese.

Price studying?: Presumably.

Why: This can be a comparatively costly Japanese import nevertheless it’s stuffed with high-quality manufacturing sketches you will not discover wherever else—a few of that are actually stunning. There is not that a lot textual content, so the language barrier is not an enormous subject right here. Followers of Oshii’s work who need extra visible perception into the creation of his landmark film could be well-served by this simply-presented, no-nonsense, but exhaustive quantity.

Ghost within the Shell 2: Innocence: The Ani-Manga

What it’s: A four-volume set of enticing slip-covered paperback books, revealed in 2005 by Viz Media, using over two thousand stills from the film to assemble a manga retelling. Is available in a pleasant field. Very out of print.

Price Studying?: Sure, in case you favored Innocence.

Why?: Innocence has beautiful visuals. Every ani-manga quantity is sort of a high-quality, pocket-sized artwork guide filled with among the finest manufacturing design and cinematography ever put to animated movie—plus it offers some further perception into Kenji Kawai‘s tune lyrics. Should you care in regards to the story, then you possibly can relive it over the course of 600 pages. Alternatively, you possibly can simply stare on the fairly footage (two thousand stills!) to your coronary heart’s content material.

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What it’s: Stand Alone Complicated is, for my part, the easiest iteration of Ghost within the Shell. Comprising two 26-episode TV anime seasons, two compilation movies, a sequel film, and two belated CG-animated sequel seasons, it is also essentially the most meaty. Mainly written and directed by Manufacturing I.G.‘s Kenji Kamiyama, it is also blessed with story enter from each Shirow Masamune and Mamoru Oshii.

What it is about: Set in a future Japan between 2030 and 2045, Stand Alone Complicated follows a model of Main Motoko Kusanagi who by no means met the Puppeteer, and by no means mixed with them to turn out to be a brand new entity and go away Part 9. It is an alternate universe adaptation of the manga that tells its personal story, but integrates many features, characters, and ideas from each manga and film. That is Ghost within the Shell as Excessive High quality SF Police Procedural.

What ought to I watch first?: Stand Alone Complicated

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated

What it’s: The 26-episode first season of Stand Alone Complicated (SAC) first broadcast two episodes per 30 days through Japanese pay-per-view Satellite tv for pc TV from 2002 to 2003. Proven on Grownup Swim within the U.S., it is nonetheless available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray.

Price watching?: YES.

Why: Stand Alone Complicated holds up as one in all the finest anime of all time. With fascinating characters nearer to their manga counterparts than their film iterations, we spend a lot extra time attending to know them. Main Kusanagi is a implausible protagonist, regardless of her typically… impractical… clothes fashion. She’s at turns dryly humorous, coldly terrifying, mysterious, and engaging. It is little marvel that in each model of the story, Batou follows her round like a pet. Theirs is a vastly understated not-quite-romance.

Alternating between principally self-contained “Stand Alone” episodes and closely serialized “Complicated” episodes, SAC explores an extremely well-realized future world that feels nearer and nearer with every passing minute. Though SAC‘s future will not arrive by 2030 in our world, absolutely we’re solely a few a long time behind? Whereas the central plot doubtless takes a couple of viewing to completely soak up, I like this present, and revisiting it just lately solely bolstered my appreciation for it. It is a TV anime masterpiece.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated – The Laughing Man

What it’s: Director Kenji Kamiyama‘s 2.5-hour-long digest of the first-season-spanning “complicated” Laughing Man arc plot. It is out there on DVD and Blu-ray.

Price watching?: No. Watch the primary season as an alternative.

Why: Whereas it makes for an honest sufficient movie in its personal proper, in closely streamlining The Laughing Man arc, this film removes a lot of the important connective tissue discovered within the “Stand Alone” episodes. You miss out on a lot by solely watching this model and it is utterly extraneous to skilled SAC viewers.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated 2nd GIG

What it’s: The 2032-set second season of Stand Alone Complicated, with a brand new, much more difficult season-long arc. First broadcast over 2004–2005, it is nonetheless out there on DVD and Blu-ray.

Price watching?: YES.

Why: Reasonably than the extra typical cyberpunk/hacker-focused first season, that is Ghost within the Shell gone full-blown navy espionage battle drama, and I like it. Its refugee-focused plot has turn out to be solely extra related with time, and the sneaky antagonist Goda is a superb anime villain. Hideo Kuze, an essential determine from Main Kusanagi’s previous makes his debut right here. This time the much more closely serialized episodes are break up between “Particular person”, “Dividual”, and “Twin” classifications—and the ultimate eight episodes make for a relentlessly intense finale.

Ghost within the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG: Particular person Eleven

What it’s: One other 2.5-hour-long compilation film from director Kenji Kamiyama—this time streamlining 2nd GIG’s Particular person Eleven arc. It is out there on DVD and Blu-ray.

Price watching?: No. Watch the second season as an alternative.

Why: Whereas Kamiyama does a superb job of reducing down an in any other case unwieldy and complicated plot into such a comparatively tight runtime, a lot narrative connective tissue is misplaced. Except you are brief on time, there are just a few causes to decide on this model.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated: Stable State Society

What it’s: The 2006 film sequel to 2nd GIG, set two years later, in 2034. It is out there on DVD and Blu-ray.

Price watching?: Sure.

Why: Whereas not as immediately traditional as the 2 full previous TV seasons, this follow-up crams nearly a season’s price of plot into about 4 episodes’ price of runtime. Main Kusanagi is doing her personal factor and Part 9 has moved on with out her. I actually like how the story integrates Roujin Z-esque social commentary on aged care, whereas additionally that includes a very disturbing youngster abduction sub-plot that hits near dwelling for doting father Togusa. There are many nods to the primary GitS film as SAC will get its personal “Puppeteer” equal. It is undoubtedly price watching because the “finale” to SAC in its authentic kind.

Tachikomatic Days

What it’s: A 52-episode (plus three specials) collection of one-minute comedy shorts starring everybody’s favourite sentient blue weapons of mass destruction, Part 9’s lovable Tachikoma cell suppose tanks!

Price watching?: Sure.

Why: Tacked onto the tip of each SAC season one and 2nd GIG episode—with particular episodes accompanying the DVD launch of all three SAC movies—every Tachikomatic Days installment is a concentrated dose of comedian madness. Untethered from the intense tone of their progenitor present, the child-voiced automatons trigger chaos of their enthusiastic pursuit of recent experiences, solely generally referencing the previous SAC episode. 

Set in an odd clean white void, the CG Tachikomas cavort round comedically, musing on the which means of life and existence, whereas enjoying pranks or blowing one another up. Though the humor could also be somewhat hit-and-miss, these pleasant shorts are price watching, particularly once they hit an unsuspecting viewer with shocking SAC plot-related pathos. Tachikomatic Days was by no means broadcast on U.S. TV however fortunately appeared on bodily SAC releases and VOD companies.

Ghost within the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 1

What it’s: Fifteen years following the discharge of Stable State Society, author/director Kenji Kamiyama belatedly adopted up with a CG-animated sequel, set in 2045. The world has modified however Motoko Kusanagi has returned to steer her now-independent staff. Now she’s going through off in opposition to an infinite “sustainable battle” conspiracy in addition to the emergence of harmful “post-humans”. That is the primary batch of twelve episodes streaming on Netflix. A U.S. Blu-ray launch (sub-only, Netflix is jealously guarding its English dub) was launched on July twenty ninth, 2024.

Price watching?: Sure. Please stick with me right here.

Why: The very first thing everybody notices about SAC_2045 is the horrible plasticky CG animation that makes each character appear to be a soulless Barbie doll. Ilya Kuvshinov‘s beautiful character designs cannot make up for this unbelievably terrible aesthetic misstep. Look, I can perceive the oldsters who dropped this present however in case you half-close your eyes and squint, it is the identical previous SAC because it ever was—with the identical characters, the identical rattling author and director, and the identical complicated and complicated plots. The brand new character, Purin Ezaki, is nails-down-a-chalkboard annoying, however… she’ll get higher. Sincere. Visuals apart, SAC_2045 has an interesting story and it is actually good to have the previous gang again in motion. I’ll have an unpopular opinion on this however I principally love SAC_2045—regardless of its flaws.

Ghost within the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable Battle

What it’s: A 118-minute edit of the primary twelve-episode season of SAC_2045.

Price watching?: No.

Why: Not like the 2 earlier Stand Alone Complicated compilation films, this doesn’t hold collectively very nicely as a coherent movie. Should you actually cannot stand watching a full season of plasticky CG animation however nonetheless need the story fundamentals, then it is satisfactory. In any other case, watch the total twelve episodes as an alternative.

Ghost within the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 2

What it’s: The second batch of twelve CG-animated episodes. Following straight on from the primary season, this season remains to be written by Kenji Kamiyama, however this time, Shirow adaptation veteran Shinji Aramaki (varied variations of Appleseed) takes over as director. It at present streams solely on Netflix.

Price watching?: Sure. Please imagine me.

Why: Regardless of an actual head-scratcher of an ending that made me each confused and unreasonably irritated, the concluding half of SAC_2045 is usually a very good time. The brand new character Purin’s arc is taken in a horrifying and tragic course that raises all types of recent existential questions—and the first post-human risk is each compelling and bizarre. The animation has considerably improved, too (even when everybody nonetheless appears to be like like low-cost shiny collectible figurines). It isn’t as important as the unique SAC, however I am glad it exists—even when I want they’d caught with conventional 2D animation.

Ghost within the Shell: SAC_2045 The Final Human

What it’s: A 126-minute edit of the second twelve-episode season of SAC_2045. Apparently, it has a distinct ending to the present.

Price watching?: Unknown.

Why: Regardless of releasing theatrically in Japan in November 2023, Netflix has proven no indication of when it intends to stream this internationally. The Japanese Blu-ray was launched on August 28, 2024, so maybe we’ll get it on streaming someday quickly?

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated (Manga)

What it’s: A five-volume manga written and drawn by Yū Kinutani from 2009–2012, adapting a single season one episode per quantity. (Episodes tailored: 1: SECTION 9, 2: TESTATION, 7: IDOLATOR, 13: NOT EQUAL, and 14: ¥€$.) It is out there in print from Kodansha USA and digitally on Okay manga.

Price studying?: No.

Why: These 5 volumes are a totally pointless train in stretching out single episodes’ price of content material into over 250 pages every. They’re like storyboards with the script added. They’re far too slow-moving and so they add little or no further perception. Why does this even exist? Simply watch the anime as an alternative and do not hassle with this extraneous print model.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated – The Laughing Man (Manga)

What it’s: 4 volumes adapting season one’s overarching Laughing Man arc, additionally written and drawn by Yū Kinutani from 2013–2016. Surprisingly, there is not any English translation of this one.

Price studying?: Most likely not.

Why: It is solely potential to learn in case you perceive Japanese and are prepared to import the print volumes. Given the previous 5 volumes and their pointlessness, I do not think about that is any higher.

Ghost within the Shell: S.A.C. — Tachikoma na Hibi

What it’s: An eight-volume comedy spinoff manga from Yoshiki Sakurai and Masayuki Yamamoto, that includes everybody’s favourite little blue sentient Tachikoma tanks. Printed by Kodansha between 2010–2015 in Month-to-month Younger Journal, there is not any English translation out there.

Price studying?: Most likely, in case you can learn Japanese!

Why: Just a few chapters have been translated as bonuses for among the Stand Alone Complicated manga volumes and have been fairly enjoyable. It is a disgrace we bought that manga as an alternative of this one.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated novel 1: Misplaced Reminiscence

What it’s: The primary novel written by SAC TV collection veteran Junichi Fujisaku. It is set throughout season one and was revealed in English by Darkish Horse in 2006. It is out of print however comparatively simple to search out second-hand.

Price studying?: Sure

Why: Fujisaku’s writing feels so “proper” for SAC that this reads precisely like an unmade first-season episode. For followers eager for extra of the identical high-quality SF storytelling, this novel is a superb selection.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated Novel 2: Revenge of the Chilly Machines

What it’s: The second quantity written by Fujisaku, this time that includes three linked novellas set throughout season one however integrating plot and theme components from 2nd GIG. Printed in English by Darkish Horse in 2006, it is also out of print however comparatively simple to search out second-hand.

Price studying?: Sure

Why: Fujisaku’s writing high quality stays wonderful with spot-on characterization and these three shorter tales tie collectively on the finish in a super-clever style.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated novel 3: White Maze

What it’s: Fujisaku’s third and ultimate SAC quantity, set throughout the first season’s timeline but in addition that includes components from each 2nd GIG and the earlier novel. Printed in English by Darkish Horse in 2007, it is out of print like the opposite two books within the collection nevertheless it’s comparatively simple to search out second-hand.

Price studying?: Sure

Why: A Kusanagi-centric quantity, Fujisaku manages to take care of her mystique whereas giving us insights into her thought processes. Encompasses a quickly blinded Main remote-hijacking the visible inputs of the individuals round her so she will proceed to combat. It is completely badass.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated Official Log 1 DVD/Information Ebook

What it’s: A guidebook to the primary nineteen SAC episodes, revealed by Bandai/Manga Leisure in 2005. It is bundled with a 90-minute DVD full of interviews and documentaries in regards to the present. Out of print however out there second-hand on-line for round its $50 really useful retail value. A second quantity (Official Log 2) overlaying episodes 20–26 was initially scheduled for publication in English in 2006 however sadly by no means materialized. Official Log 2 stays out there on-line in untranslated Japanese, together with two subsequent Japanese-only volumes: Ghost within the Shell: SAC - Final Archive and Tachikoma’s All Reminiscence.

Price studying/watching?: Sure!

Why: Oh my goodness, speak about data overload! This small-sized but hefty quantity is densely filled with background particulars in regards to the manufacturing and story of Stand Alone Complicated‘s first season. Possibly I am getting previous, however the teeny-tiny writing could be very arduous to learn! Each the guide and accompanying DVD are stuffed with interviews and engaging anecdotes—plus explanations for among the extra complicated features of the present. This is a useful useful resource for followers who wish to dig deeper into the themes and world of SAC. My solely grievance (apart from now apparently needing studying glasses) is that the promised second quantity by no means appeared in English. Disgrace on you, Bandai.

Ghost within the Shell: SAC_2045 Official Visible Ebook

What it’s: A 96-page outsized softback artbook from 2020 highlighting the SAC_2045 work of character designer and illustrator Ilya Kuvshinov.

Price studying?: Sure

Why: Regardless of the plasticky look of the characters within the SAC_2045 anime, I adore Russian artist Ilya Kuvshinov‘s designs for them. His designs for director Keiichi Hara‘s Birthday Wonderland and Lonely Fort within the Mirror—plus the music video for Cyberpunk Edgerunner‘s ending tune, Let You Down—are equally great. Should you additionally respect Kuvshinov’s distinctive and alluring visible fashion, this guide—and its mixture of beautiful full-color illustrations and B&W drafts—is for you.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated (PlayStation 2 Video Sport)

What it’s: A 2004 PlayStation 2 third-person motion sport developed by Cavia (Drakengard, NieR Gestalt/Replicant) with a narrative set between the primary season and 2nd GIG.

Price enjoying?: Possibly.

Why: Releasing to mixed-to-middling critiques, this adaptation by now-defunct studio Cavia in all probability is not a must-play for anybody however essentially the most ardent completionist followers. Second-hand copies are climbing in value and it is by no means been re-released.

Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Complicated (PSP Video Sport)

What it’s: A 2005 PlayStation Transportable first-person shooter sport developed by G-Artists. A sequel to the 2004 PS2 sport, its story can also be set between the primary season and 2nd GIG.

Price enjoying?: Most likely not.

Why: As soon as once more receiving middling critiques, that is one other one for the completionists. The PSP’s single analog stick actually hampers the fiddly and over-complicated controls of this mediocre FPS-style sport. I do not like this one in any respect.

Ghost within the Shell: First Assault — Stand Alone Complicated On-line

What it’s: A 2016 free-to-play on-line PC first-person shooter from Korean developer Neople.

Price enjoying?: Sadly, it is now inconceivable to play.

Why: Though this was a enjoyable on-line shooter I briefly dabbled with, the worldwide model closed service in December of 2017.

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What it’s: A collection of OVAs from Manufacturing I.G. and chief author Tow Ubukata launched theatrically between 2013 and 2015, a 2015 TV present re-editing the OVAs, and a 2015 concluding film.

What it is about: Pitched as a Ghost within the Shell prequel set in 2027, this iteration of the franchise stars a youthful, much less certain of herself Main Motoko Kusanagi as she regularly builds her staff of specialists who will ultimately turn out to be Public Safety Part 9. Every story investigates instances associated to the mysterious “Firestarter Virus”.

What ought to I watch first?: Ghost within the Shell Come up Border 1: Ghost Ache

Ghost within the Shell Come up

What it’s: Initially launched as a four-episode OVA collection, with every episode named “Borders”, the primary is Ghost Ache, second is Ghost Whispers, third is Ghost Tears, and fourth is Ghost Stands Alone. Later, a fifth OVA, Pyrophoric Cult, was launched —however not in English. It streams on Crunchyroll.

Price watching?: Possibly.

Why: Come up is a controversial constituent of the GitS franchise. Each Japanese and English variations use a wholly new voice solid, and the character designs are vastly altered. Tow Ubukata is a really completely different author to SAC‘s Kenji Kamiyama and it appeared he was discovering his toes right here . Come up is far messier and fewer completed when it comes to readability of writing than his later Psycho-Cross 3 and its related movies. Whereas Come up poses some fascinating questions and options actually intriguing ideas, none of those are given sufficient time or focus to be explored in depth.

By making her persistently extra weak, the Come up model of Main Kusanagi strays dangerously shut to creating her a damsel in misery. The brand new antagonists are unmemorable and the preliminary lack of connection between our beloved major characters implies that all-important Part 9 camaraderie is sorely missed. Come up additionally needlessly breaks continuity with Stand Alone Complicated, starting yet one more separate timeline with its irreconcilable modifications to character histories. Additionally, composer Cornelius is a poor substitute for SAC‘s incomparable Yoko Kanno.

Come up appears to be like implausible, nevertheless, with some top-tier animation and design work. The prototype Logicoma suppose tanks are numerous enjoyable and Kusanagi will get to experience a slick crimson motorcycle whereas carrying super-cool leathers to match.

Ghost within the Shell Come up: Various Structure

What it’s: A re-cut of Borders 1–4 into eight TV-length episodes that needlessly reorders them non-chronologically and provides two ultimate episodes that comprise Border 5 — Pyrophoric Cult. It streams on Crunchyroll.

Price watching?: No, aside from episodes 9–10 (Pyrophoric Cult).

Why: Slicing up the OVAs into TV-length format whereas sacrificing footage was a baffling sufficient choice— however then re-ordering them in order that Border 4 could be adopted by Borders 1, 2, 3, after which 5 was incomprehensible. SAC author Junichi Fujisaku’s Border 5: Pyrophoric Cult is not that essential to the general plot nevertheless it’s an honest sufficient watch.

Ghost within the Shell: The New Film

What it’s: A film directed by Kazuchika Kise and Kazuya Nomura, written by Tow Ubukata. It concludes the storyline begun in Come up: Borders 1–5.

Price watching?: Sure (provided that you have watched Come up, clearly).

Why: The New Film is a surprisingly stable movie compared to its predecessor OVAs. It does not do an amazing job of clarifying the general murky meta-story nevertheless it stays compelling and covers some fascinating ideas. Whereas not an enormous step up visually from the already handsome Come up OVAs, it nonetheless appears to be like fantastically easy and shiny—and has some implausible motion scenes. Most plot traces are tied off satisfactorily and it might nearly be seen as a direct prequel to Oshii’s 1995 film (which can have been intentional).

Ghost within the Shell Come up: Logicoma Specials

What it’s: 4 brief three-minute specials accompanying every of GitS: Come up Borders 1–4, much like SAC‘s Tachikoma Days, however this time that includes the less-advanced cell suppose tanks, the cumbersome crimson Logicomas. These can be found on the Come up DVDs and Blu-rays.

Price watching?: Sure.

Why: These are humorous little CG shorts the place levity is the order of the day fairly than critical SF drama. The episode titles are: Logicoma Beat, Logicoma Court docket, Logicoma Coronary heart and Logicoma Root. There’s one other 3-minute brief referred to as One other Mission that acts as a prologue to Come up nevertheless it does not appear to have ever been launched in English.

Kōkaku Kidōtai Nyumon Come up

What it’s:A 2014 collection of 26 4-minute promotional shorts broadcast on Japanese TV to promote Ghost within the Shell Come up. They have been additionally bundled onto the Japanese Border 5: Pyrophoric Cult blu-ray. They’ve by no means been subtitled in English or made legally out there outdoors of Japan.

Price watching?: No.

Why: I discovered of the existence of those shorts the day earlier than this information was attributable to be revealed, demonstrating the primarily bottomless rabbit gap GitS has turn out to be. A frenzied web search upturned the primary few unsubtitled episodes had been uploaded to YouTube. It seems to be an inexpensive, flash-animated collection of promoting promos that includes anthropomorphic Logicoma ladies Komako and Logiko (plus a grumpy, super-deformed model of Main Kusanagi) that options clips from varied GitS exhibits and flicks. Some episodes characteristic cameos from different GitS characters. Sadly, it is incomprehensible to non-Japanese audio system—although appears to be like boring and pointless anyway.

Ghost within the Shell Come up: Sleepless Eye

What it’s: Junichi Fujisaku and Takumi Ōyama‘s 2013–2016 seven-volume manga retelling of GitS: Come up additionally contains all-new prologue and epilogue volumes.

Price studying?: Sure!

Why: I instructed you we would see Fujisaku’s identify pop up once more. The veteran SAC author lends his authorial pen to the Come up universe, beginning with a superb Asian Battle-set prologue arc relating the story of Main Kusanagi and Batou’s first assembly. We then run by diversifications of Come up: Borders 1–4 however this time seen by Batou’s perspective, fairly than the Main’s. This provides wonderful perception into some story features the anime left obscure, clearing up just a few plot holes very properly. Oddly, Fujisaku does not adapt his personal Border 5 for the manga, as an alternative writing his very personal, utterly authentic epilogue. It is also wonderful—and Takumi Ōyama‘s artwork is tremendous detailed and actually stunning.

I would say that the Come up manga was important studying to benefit from the anime-watching expertise. It is a disgrace that English-language entry is region-locked to US-only readers on the Okay manga app. A VPN (for non-US readers) and an excessive amount of persistence to cope with gated entry to chapters through Premium Tickets and Factors are required to learn this manga in its entirety. Please publish this in print, Kodansha! Or not less than subject a correct e book model to save lots of us from app-induced hell.

Ghost within the Shell Digital Actuality Diver (VR 360 Video)

What it’s: A 15-minute VR expertise from 2019, animated by Manufacturing I.G., directed by Hiroaki Higashi, and with a narrative by author Junichi Fujisaku, set throughout the Come up continuity.

Price watching?: Sure

Why: I had no thought this existed till just lately. It is an extremely slick and immersive VR video that is a bit like wandering by an prolonged high-quality videogame cutscene. There’s an English dub that makes use of the Come up solid, and the story follows Main Kusanagi as she’s woken up from a routine tune-up to fight a terrorist whose pretend reminiscences brought on by the Firestarter virus are driving him to trigger havoc. The brief movie contains an intense mech battle in “actual” life, interspersed with flashy digital world ghost-hacking. The viewer has full freedom to look in any course always as the easy however efficient story unfolds. I’ve by no means watched something like this in my life. It is actually, actually cool, if a bit gimmicky!

The Artwork Of Kazuchika Kise

What it’s: A Japanese language outsized paperback artwork guide with over 200 pages full of shade illustrations and keyframe drawings, overlaying a number of anime exhibits with enter from animator/director Kazuchika Kise. Along with Patlabor 2: The Film, Blood: The Final Vampire, and xxxHOLiC, a bit of the guide is devoted to Ghost within the Shell Come up.

Price studying?: Most likely not.

Why: For the asking value (someplace between $80–100 on eBay), this is probably not price it for the comparatively small part that covers Kise’s Come up contributions. I am not an enormous fan of Come up‘s character designs, so it is not for me however followers of his different work may discover it worthwhile. There is not a lot textual content, so do not be postpone by the truth that there’s solely a Japanese model.

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The Ghost within the Shell Stay-Motion Film and Miscellaneous Books

What it’s: Hollywood’s model of Ghost within the Shell and the flurry of tie-in guide publishing it precipitated. None of those match neatly into the opposite continuities, so I will group all of them right here.

What it is about: Hollywood’s ill-judged try to recapture hearth in a bottle with a poorly-received live-action film and its related spinoffs.

What ought to I watch/learn first?: Does not matter, none of those are straight linked with each other.

Ghost within the Shell

What it’s: The Rupert Sanders-directed live-action Ghost within the Shell adaptation that takes its cues primarily from the 1995 Oshii film, whereas additionally incorporating features from Innocence, Stand Alone Complicated, and Come up. Launched theatrically in March 2017, extensively out there on DVD and Blu-ray.

Price watching?: No.

Why: Though WETA achieved undeniably spectacular visible outcomes, with wonderful sensible results combined with hyper-detailed digital imagery, their contribution is about the one optimistic side of this whole endeavor. Ghost within the Shell (2017) visually references the franchise’s breakout scenes continually—re-enacting and re-interpreting such iconic features because the cyborg physique manufacturing opening sequence, the Main’s one-on-one battle with a spider tank, and her waterlogged thermoptocam-powered combat in opposition to a brainwashed cyber-hacker (amongst many different examples). Sadly, regardless of such apparent care and a spotlight in direction of the superficial look and content material of the story, Sanders and his committee of writers forgot to impart an oz of intelligence, philosophical thought, and even soul to this disappointingly empty manufacturing.

Complicated casting controversies apart, Scarlett Johansson not less than appears to be like the a part of the Main, however her character is a poor shadow of the manga and anime authentic. This Main is a victimized, amnesiac waif with no identification of her personal. There is no Puppeteer on this model, as an alternative, there is a pathetically bastardized model of 2nd GIG‘s Hideo Kuze, who provides the Main a watered-down model of digital ascension, that she declines. In doing so, she invalidates all the philosophical underpinning of the collection—making this an infuriatingly pointless train in audience-patronizing, dumbed-down, generic sci-fi motion film guff. What a disappointment—and a fully unparalleled masterclass in Hollywood Spectacularly Lacking The Level.

Ghost within the Shell: The VR Expertise

What it’s: A 4-minute lengthy CG animation VR “expertise” for Oculus Rift.

Price studying?: No.

Why: Desperately inferior to Come up‘s superficially related Ghost within the Shell Digital Actuality Diver (VR 360 Video), this “VR expertise” is an ultra-janky, low-cost CG monstrosity that appears laughably beginner. Do not hassle with it.

The Artwork of Ghost within the Shell

What it’s: A hefty, outsized film tie-in hardcover artwork guide, launched in March 2017 that is now out-of-print and more and more troublesome to search out at an honest value.

Price studying?: Sure.

Why: Whereas the film as a complete could have been disappointing, for many who can respect the unbelievable manufacturing work that made the movie not less than look spectacular, this stunning quantity supplies a useful concentrate on the behind-the-scenes artists and their creations. It isn’t their fault the script was terrible. It is price imagining what if these great designs had been made in service of a greater film.

Ghost within the Shell: Comedian Tribute

What it’s: First revealed by Kodansha Japan in March 2017, it is a assortment of GitS tribute manga from different Japanese manga creators. It is unpublished in English (why, Kodansha USA, why?) however out there in French, Polish, or Italian.

Price studying?: Sure, nevertheless it’s troublesome for English readers.

Why: Should you’re multilingual, or do not thoughts gazing fairly footage whereas ignoring incomprehensible dialogue, it is a nice quantity, stuffed with eclectic and enjoyable manga tales from a wide array of creators. Dr. Stone‘s Boichi supplies some extremely detailed almost-hentai artwork (possibly that is why there is not any English launch?) and the marginally unhinged Tony Takezaki channels the spirit of early Nineties Masamune Shirow to an nearly upsettingly correct diploma. I like this anthology and need it was extra simply out there.

Ghost within the Shell: 5 New Quick Tales

What it’s: Printed in English by Vertical in April 2017. These 5 brief tales do not look like set within the film universe.

Price studying?: Sure, principally.

Why: This can be a pretty slim quantity with tales of variable high quality—not all of which straight characteristic the core Part 9 solid. By far the perfect is Heterochromia by Gakuto Mikumo which seems to be set in the way forward for both the unique manga or 1995 film universe. Delicate and White by Kafka Asagiri is the longest entry and can also be a superb learn. It ties very cleverly into the Stand Alone Complicated universe.

Ghost within the Shell: The Official Film Novelization

What it’s: A novel written by James Swallow and Abbie Bernstein, based mostly on the screenplay by Jamie Moss and Ehren Kruger. It was launched in September 2017.

Price studying?: No.

Why: Whereas Swallow and Bernstein’s prose is totally ample for the duty, there’s little else of worth right here. Strip away the film’s unbelievable visuals and all that is left is a skinny, empty, philosophically desolate story with nothing to say. There’s little further character perception, no further scenes, and the dialogue comes ripped straight from the script with little embellishment. The descriptive textual content is like having somebody continually narrate the movie to you as you watch! You may as nicely watch the film, or higher but, learn or watch something else on this information.

Ghost within the Shell README: 1995–2017

What it’s: An English-language hardcover espresso desk guide from Kodansha USA, mainly a translated model of the equal Japanese Excellent Ebook 1995–2017. Printed in November 2017 and now out of print, it goes for hilariously inappropriate costs on-line. Covers the whole lot of the TV and film franchise, from Oshii’s 1995 movie as much as the 2017 live-action model.

Price studying?: I am unsure. Most likely.

Why: That is the one English-language guide I have been unable to supply for this overview due to the unreasonably costly on-line reseller asking costs. From YouTube movies and screencaps I’ve seen, it seems to be a good-looking quantity stuffed with fascinating perception. I would like it, however I am not spending 100 kilos (or extra!) for the pleasure.

The Ghost within the Shell: World Neural Community

What it’s: Printed in hardback by Kodansha USA in July 2019, it is a second compilation of GitS tribute comics, this time from non-Japanese comedian creators.

Price studying?: Sure

Why: Though it is a disgrace Kodansha USA selected to publish this quantity fairly than the superior Comedian Tribute, that is nonetheless an attention-grabbing assortment. Though the artists are multicultural — one is American, one Greek, one Spanish, and one Italian, each author is an American. The tales are principally US-centric too, which I suppose provides a distinct viewpoint on the GitS universe. One of the best story, with beautiful artwork, is undoubtedly Star Gardens by Brenden Fletcher and LRNZ—although I additionally like Redbloods by Alex de Campi and Giannis Milonogiannis for its nearly manga-esque artwork.

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That is lastly the tip! This has been an unbelievable detective journey to search out completely every part related to the discerning Ghost within the Shell fan that is ever been out there in English, or is not less than worthwhile to have a look at in Japanese. Each time I believed I used to be completed, extra issues appeared! I am certain there are different Japanese-only gadgets I’ve missed out, however I feel this checklist has been definitive sufficient, sure?

Virtually each single one of many above gadgets has been intensely examined, intimately, by me, alone weblog. Should you’re so inclined, you would be so welcome to come back on over and peruse my monumental checklist of Ghost within the Shell (and different) critiques. Thanks for studying! I feel I am all cyber-brained out for now…

Here is an image of my absurd assortment accrued throughout the writing of this text, sans a few artbooks and video video games…

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Kevin Cormack is a Scottish medical physician, husband, father, and lifelong anime obsessive. He writes as Doctorkev at https://medium.com/anitay-official and seems commonly on The Official AniTAY podcast. You can too discover him on Twitter @Herrdoktorkev. His accent is actual.