Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Anime is a medium that has always remained linear; you're not going to find many stories that experiment with the conventional way of storytelling. Narratives will always have a starting point, and they will always have an ending point, but anime usually follows a straight line. From point A to point B, all the way to point Z, anime is conventional to a fault. However, an experimental gem pops up every once in a while, defying all expectations and creating a new standard in narrative storytelling and experimentation with the plot.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is one of those series. It is an absolute redefining moment in anime history. Ghost in the Shell: SAC is a series so insignificant in the modern era of anime, yet it was also so significant in 2002 when it was first released. A game-changer of sorts, creating a new standard of storytelling and narrative introduction to characters and worlds that nobody had seen before. This was an anime that everybody had to look out for. The pressure was all over Production IG’s shoulders, especially since the 1995 film adaptation of Ghost in the Shell was still considered the most perfect film in anime history at that time.

Here, the story is quite unconventional; it doesn't follow a linear, straight path. It might be confusing for new viewers, though, as they would be expecting a straightforward story, not a series interspersing two different storylines within the same anime. Ghost in the Shell: SAC comprises two utterly different plot elements – The Stand Alone and The Complex. The Stand-Alone episodes focus on the escapades of Section 9 as they investigate various cases. These storylines are different per episode, although they have a recurring theme. While the Complex, which is the main plotline of the series, follows the story of The Laughing Man.

Ghost in the Shell: SAC is quite different from the original two films, primarily because it doesn't focus on the individuality aspects that the two films heavily rely on. Instead, it opts for a more grounded approach, showcasing this world's societal and social workings and how they deal with the daily obstacles they face in this cyberpunk dystopia. It showcases how the Section 9 members fit into the day-to-day workings of the dystopian world, its government, and the collective group. This is where the Stand Alone episodes come in, as they are essential in showcasing how the Section 9 agents are dealing with situations daily within their world.

While on the other hand, the Complex episodes are the series' soul. They are the concrete and structured narrative that viewers follow from point A to point B to point Z. These form the "main" story arc. They can be watched as a thing of their own. Yet, the Stand Alone episodes make them a better viewing experience as you begin to understand the influence of Section 9 and how its leader Aramaki Daisuke affects the political, military, media, and business sectors of the futuristic world. While you can watch the Complex episodes separately, you will miss out on some of the essential details of the plot if you choose to do so.

The series truly shines with the complexity of its characters, whether they are in the Stand Alone episodes or the Complex episodes. Every character within the series is handled with care, love, and passion. The amount of detail put into this world, and its characters exude off the screen when you're watching it, primarily because of the fantastic work that Production IG has done with the world-building and the narrative they have chosen. It is a personal story yet also showcases a generalized view due to many different perspectives being shown. There's always a form of uniqueness in a series when multiple perspectives of characters from entirely different walks of life are displayed and explored to their fullest extent.

Regarding the artwork in the Ghost in the Shell franchise, you already know that it will be fantastic because Production IG is handling it themselves. SAC is no exception to that rule as it brings forth an even larger and more unbelievable view of the dystopian near-distant future. Of course, the production budget is smaller since this is a series compared to a film, yet it doesn't feel that way. The series is just a blueprint for mastery of this art form; it is just as colorful and gritty as the original films were. The characters are super distinct and feature some fantastic character designs to make them feel even more personalized, relatable, and easily distinguishable from one another.

The best thing about this series is its fantastic and fluid animation work, just like the original films. Ghost in the Shell has always been an absolute godsend in that department. Every release of this franchise sets a new standard for animation quality and artwork fidelity. Ghost in the Shell is perhaps the only franchise in anime history to feature fantastic animation in every single series installment. It doesn't matter if it's a spinoff, it doesn't matter if it's a sequel, it doesn't matter if it's a prequel; the animation will always be fluid and buttery smooth.

The soundtrack is just as good as you would want it to be. It could use a little more work to make it have that oomph that we expect from the franchise, yet it was used ideally within the series itself. A few of the overall OST tracks are fantastic to listen to repeatedly. In particular, the opening and ending songs are nostalgic, especially if you had seen this series when it was initially released. The best thing about it is that the soundtrack perfectly fits every moment. The action, drama, intensity, and every aspect are elevated.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex did precisely what it set out to do: create a series that breaks through the mold of sequential anime and derives an entirely own identity. The series did something that had never been done before, let go of the world of conventional anime and experiment with every inch of the production studio’s talent at the helm.

The result is a gripping series that immerses you into its world with fantastic art design, mind-blowing action set pieces, and a furious soundtrack that is sonically pleasing. SAC is thematically poignant and has a story so deep that you can’t help but keep your eyes on the screen the entirety of the time it’s on. This series broke convention and paved the way for experimentation to begin in the anime industry. It might not be the most significant step in anime history, but just like the French New Wave scene, it had enough tricks to change how things worked for the better.