Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: SA: Public Security Section 9 – SECTION-9   Rewatch 
July 28, 2014 4:08 PM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe

Section 9 is called in to resolve a hostage crisis at a geisha house staffed by android geisha.
posted by Pendragon (9 comments total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
The Major is my favorite character of anything... ever
posted by RainyJay at 5:18 PM on July 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


I always liked Aramaki and the Tachikoma of course.
posted by Pendragon at 5:27 PM on July 28, 2014


God this was such a stylish show. The Yoko Kanno soundtrack had a lot to do with it.

I don't remember if anyone ever directly comments on the Major's choice of, uh, office wear. I'm sure the design was entirely male gaze fanservice, but I like to think that she's decided to aggressively underline just how irregular her position is by flaunting police and military dress codes and everyone is too scared of her to ever mention it.
posted by figurant at 6:26 PM on July 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


I loved both films and the manga. I've been curious about the television programs, but I don't really understand how the different series interrelate. Setting aside the rewatching, would Stand Alone Complex be a good place for a GITS fan to start?
posted by cribcage at 11:13 PM on July 28, 2014


Think of the TV series as an alternate universe, they have some of the same characters as the films and manga but different story lines. Solid State Society is a movie in the same continuity as the TV series set after both seasons.
posted by Pendragon at 2:47 AM on July 29, 2014 [1 favorite]


It's also helpful to think of SAC as a remix of the manga and films. It has its own largely original major arcs, but there are frequent callbacks and repurposings of material you would have seen before. For example, the second episode stages the scorpion tank fight sequence of the film (and the manga, but it's quoting the visuals of the Oshii film) except in a very different context. The show definitely doesn't fit into the timelines of either the manga or the movies.

For that reason, it might not be the best GITS media to start someone off with just because you'll appreciate these little nods back if you can recognize them. Personally I think the movies are a good place to start, and the fact that the show uses virtually all the same Japanese cast (I don't know about the English dub) gives a nice sense of continuity between them.
posted by figurant at 7:20 AM on July 29, 2014 [2 favorites]


I think the tv show is a great way to introduce them to the show, as the movies are far more dense and contemplative. They're not necessarily something to jump in, quickly understand and encourage someone to further engage in the universe - albeit, from at least a non-Anime viewing fan. I've always thought, get used to the universe in the tv show, then dive into the movies like they're novels. Personal preferences apply, but one can always go back and re-watch to enjoy the callbacks or references.

Yoko Kanno's music for the series rocked. Plain and simple.


I don't remember if anyone ever directly comments on the Major's choice of, uh, office wear. I'm sure the design was entirely male gaze fanservice, but I like to think that she's decided to aggressively underline just how irregular her position is by flaunting police and military dress codes and everyone is too scared of her to ever mention it.


I want to say at some point, there's a formal affair where a superior reminds her to wear her more official attire, but I can't recall if there's a real statement on her usual outfit.

And now...I need to go re-watch this so I can make more specific commentary!
posted by Atreides at 9:49 AM on July 29, 2014 [2 favorites]


The outfit is much better in Arise, but there are still moments of fanservice.
posted by Peccable at 11:23 AM on July 29, 2014


When I did a rewatch of this show in anticipation of Arise, Kusanagi's get-up was a huge black mark for me. Oshii managed to strip all the sexism from Shirow's manga and made a film about gender, identity, and the nature of consciousness, amongst other themes. It felt like a step backwards towards Shirow's "erotic art". Anyway.

- Still like the title sequence but will admit it's looking a bit dated.
- Cue the militarized vehicle of some sort flying overhead.
- So it's a run-of-the-mill night for Motoko looking badass on top of a skyscraper because why not. She'll probably put in a little time stopping that guy trying to blow up a wind vane that's on top of the building. Because that's how she do things.
- The characters/team introductions are weaved right into the moving action. Love it.
- I like how Kusangi praises Togusawa's uniqueness through his choice of weapon rather than criticize his choice of weapon as she does in the movie.
- Also the fact that Togusawa is pretty much the brains behind Section 9 is pretty great.
- That was obviously an "I love it when a plan comes together" ending.
- Okay, ouch, I just listened to a bit of the dub and I was just wondering if they could've old-manned up Aramaki just a smidge more?
- Tachikoma Days!
posted by P.o.B. at 7:04 PM on July 29, 2014 [3 favorites]


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