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Mamoru Oshii's 1995 critically-acclaimed anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow's famous manga Ghost in the Shell will return to Japanese theaters on July 12, in a newly-dubbed, digitally-remastered version. Soundtrack editing will be done by Oscar-winner Randy Thom, and general sound editing will be produced by Skywalker Studios. Most of the original (Japanese) voice actors will reprise their roles, though the mysterious "Puppetmaster" will be redubbed. Most importantly for many fans, this new version will also feature brand-new CGI animation in some scenes, produced by Ghost in the Shell mainstays Production I.G.
In a clear move to cash in on both titles, Ghost in the Shell 2.0 (as it is being called) will release almost a month before Mamoru Oshii's newest feature film: The Sky Crawlers. A trailer for 2.0 can be found HERE.
Ghost in the Shell seems to be experiencing a revival of sorts, what with the success of spin-off series Stand Alone Complex on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block and Dreamworks and Steven Spielberg's recent announcement of a CGI adaptation of the manga. It also seems like digitally-remastering your old anime is all the rage over in Japan right now. Theatergoers in the Land of the Rising Sun are now gearing up for three more editions of Gainax's Rebuild of Evangelion, as well as Ghost in the Shell 2.0. Who knows what is next... I for one am certainly not making any premature assumptions... *cough* Akira *cough*
[via Anime News Network]
Topics: Bandai Entertainment, Ghost in the Shell
Well, as it goes for any good anime movie released in America, otakus have found something wrong with the release. This prompts other companies to take the opportunity to ride the beaten horse for another round. Bandai Entertainment, while undergoing site maintenance, released the news that they would be handling a dub of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, previously released by Dreamworks. It will feature a brand-new voice cast, proper subtitling (which was a major issue with the previous release), and the biggest news is that it will be also released on Blu-Ray. Quite exciting! Now you can watch anime on that PS3 of yours in slightly better quality! That's sure to give some people closure for buying it! No other details have been released at this time, but news will be posted as it comes.[via Bandai Entertainment]
Just months after announcements of such films as the live-action Akira, Dragonball, and CGI Astro Boy, and mere weeks before the release of the Wachowski Brothers' Speed Racer live-action film, Dreamworks and Steven Spielberg have revealed plans to helm a computer-generated film adaptation of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga (not the 1995 anime film).
Plans are still vague, but the little that is known includes that Spielberg will have some sort of part in the film (direction or production is unspecified). The screenplay will be written by Jamie Moss (Street Kings, Last Man Home), and Ari Arad (Spiderman 1-3, X-Men, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man), among others, will produce.
So, what's your opinion of this development? Do you think that Ghost in the Shell and Akira can establish themselves as serious contenders amongst such shallower films as Speed Racer, Dragonball Z, and Astro Boy? Could Spielberg possibly mess this up!?
[via Variety]
Media: Anime Film
Genre(s): Action, Cyberpunk, Science Fiction
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Studio: Production I.G
Ghost in the Shell is one of those rare films that can bring together everything that people love about anime. What begins as a very cool-looking action-oriented anime becomes a story that truly examines the meaning of thought and being human.
In futuristic New Port City, Motoko Kusanagi is a member of the special police force known as Section 9. She is also a robot, with only a small portion of her body being human. In this world of advanced robotics and AI, the body is referred to as the "shell," while the "ghost" is undefinable by any single word. It is at once the mind, soul, and identity of its owner. When a powerful and infamous hacker attacks in Japan, Motoko, her partners Togusa and Batou, and their Chief Aramaki, must find the hacker and stop him from causing chaos and political problems.
Animation is instantly noticeable in Ghost in the Shell. Everything from the characters to the weapons to the machinery to the buildings is crafted with amazing attention to detail. Every piece of machinery and building is so realistic and detailed that one can often forget that they are even watching a "cartoon." One of the most stunning scenes of this type comes in the opening credits, as we watch the creation of Motoko as her metal parts are assembled and activated. It is obvious that Oshii made sure to pay close attention to the accuracy of the creation of a "Shell." Even so, the character designs can sometimes be a little undetailed and awkward, particularly when people's eyes get unnaturally wide.
Even though Ghost in the Shell establishes itself as an action thriller, it still manages to infuse philosophical musings with the explosions. At times, these complicated conversations can really confuse the viewer, especially if they are watching it subbed. However, when you stop and think about what is being said, GitS really has a lot of interesting points to make. This is the film that inspired works like Serial Experiments Lain, The Matrix, and other science fiction plots based on the ambiguity of autonomous thought. Luckily, the philosophy and action are balanced well, so that they very rarely feel contrived or tacked-on.
The English dub is listenable, but still has some problems. Most notable is Motoko's mostly emotionless voice actress, Mimi Woods. While I understand the desire to make Motoko seem like a doll, her lack of emotional acting does not help the film. Togusa as well, played by Christopher Joyce, is not very believable. The music takes the same path as Akira, attempting to combine choral chants and African drums to stress humanity in a sea of inhumanity. In one of the most powerful scenes in the film, we simply watch the city go about its ways, staring at buildings, boats, and people. All the while, drums beat in a background beneath the sound of overlapping tribal singing.
Ghost in the Shell is an anime that can truly be seen as art. From the unusual opening credits to the simple background musical scenes all the way to the film's action-packed and thought-provoking conclusion, Ghost in the Shell is unforgettable. While it may suffer from dub problems, Mamoru Oshii's exquisite attention to detail, both artistically and story-wise, definitely shows. The shell may seem shallow and action-based, but the ghost gives us so many different things to think about.
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| Animation: | 3.5 |
Average:
(3.5 stars) |
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| Plot: | 3.5 | |||
| Voice Acting: | 3.0 | |||
| Sound: | 4.0 | |||
| Overall: | 3.5 | |||
