Ghost in the shell. The very word brings to mind a myriad of technical magic and wander. The anime version which was released in 1995 has gone down in history as being one of the greatest animated films of all time, the very definition of what Japanimation should be. Unlike most futuristic films, Ghost In The Shell spent more time trying to deal with the social issues of technology in the future than with using it in mindless combat with a non-profound goal. Very few animated films have come close to emulating the richness and complexity of the storyline
It appears that many want the magic to continue. In a recent press release, Manga Entertainment, Palm Pictures, and a host of Japanese animation distributors will all work together to produce Masamune Shirow's masterpiece in a series subtitled Standalone Complex, which will be shown worldwide in a collaboration with Bandai Entertainment. The series will be based on Masamune Shirow's work, and has been produced by Production IG, a powerhouse company in Japan which has worked on such projects as Kill Bill, Blood: The Last Vampire, and Jin Roh: Wolf Brigade. The series will be consistent of 26 episodes which run roughly a half hour each. All episodes will be released this summer on DVD in conjunction with a US cable broadcast.
CEO of Manga Entertainment, Marvin Gleicher, had this to say: "We are very excited to join with our friends at Bandai Entertainment in releasing this excellent new anime series. There is no title that better represents the bright future of Japanese animation than Ghost in the Shell."
In Standalone Complex, there is a new view of the future, one in which Major Motoko Kusanagi, a female cyborg agent, and the rest of Section 9 must track down criminals in the physical world and the digital one. In Standalone Complex, technology plays a vital role in virtually every aspect of life. The series uses cutting edge CGI graphics combined with a very engaging story, characters, and not to mention action. Also, the mecha design are equally impressive, highlighting Shirow's emphasis on mechanical design.
The animated feature was produced by an equally impressive team. Yoko Kanno who also worked on Cowboy Bebop, worked on the series, as well as Kenji Kamayama(Blood: The Last Vampire) and the staff at Production IG. To check out some of Production IG's upcoming projects, check out our other article in this week's Mangalocity News.
Ghost In The Shell: Standalone Complex will be released on 06/27/2004, and will be supported by a marketing campaign between Bandai Entertainment and Manga Entertainment.
