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Click here to visit the Official Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG site! Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG was one of the best series of 2006, and shortly after the final volume hit the shelves came a complete box set of the whole series. For those who have been buying the full price release this may be a bit annoying, but for everybody else it's a bargain. After the excellence of the first series of Stand Alone Complex (which came out in box set form back at the end of 2005), it was hard to see how Production IG could top it. However, top it they did with an excellent series that widened the scale and scope of the Ghost in the Shell world. This time round Kusanagi and Section 9 have a lot more on their plate than just a local terrorist when a mysterious group calling themselves the Individual Eleven break into a government building. The Individual Eleven demand equal rights for the refugees who helped restore Japan after World War 3, but are now second class citizens who are mostly annexed on the island of Dejima. However, this siege is just the beginning. Civil unrest is growing |
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amongst the refugees and an enigmatic leader rises
amongst them. Kuze is a ex-soldier with a mission, and he aims to
free them from the shantytowns and lives of squalor. He is a
clever opponent for Section 9, but he isn't all they have to deal with.
A hideously scarred government agent called Gohda appears to be
manipulating the conflict from behind the scenes, with the dual threat
of him and Kuze, plus the growing danger of an all-out war, Section 9
certainly has their work cut out... |
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When people think about Ghost in the Shell the
focus is often the sci-fi, the action, the story, the confusion... but
one thing usually overlooked is the consistency. The fact is that
every anime incarnation of Ghost in the Shell has been excellent.
The quality has never dropped. The animation and music have always
been great, the story has always been great, the characters have always
been interesting. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd
GIG is no exception, in fact it's even better than the first series.
One of the main reasons is the scope, instead of just concentrating on
the city this series brings the Ghost in the Shell world to life.
You learn more about its history, the importance of technology and the
politics of the new world. It sounds dull, but it's not at all.
In fact it opens up huge possibilities for the story, bringing in new
characters and bigger consequences for all of their actions. |
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As with all the incarnations of Ghost in the Shell, the plot is big, complex and slightly convoluted. However, it is also hugely gripping and incredibly intriguing, always keeping you guessing by weaving several stories around each other. If anything the story in this series is even more interesting than that in the first, not only increasing the scale and scope of the world but also exploring the characters and really drawing you in. The director of the two Ghost in the Shell films - Mamoru Oshii - is credited in a creative role and his input shows |
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in the complexity of the plot and numerous references to the previous Ghost in the Shell films. However, the plot isn't all Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG has, there's also tonnes of action, drama and more character development than ever before. Many of the previously peripheral characters are brought to life by episodes focusing on them, and we get to see a glimpse of Kusanagi's background too. The action comes thick and fast throughout, and the tension and drama in places is palpable. The animation and music is great as always, and the ideas are awesome. Bring it all together and you end up with a package of pure anime goodness at a great price. £40 for a 26 episode series is an absolute bargain, and when it is one this good there is absolutely no question that it should be in your collection. This is an absolute must purchase for any anime fan that doesn't already own it. Extras Each disc carries interviews with the Japanese cast and crew, as well as trailers and several other audio options. Impressive. Ratings Feature:
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