Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Original title: Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex

TV Series
2002–2005
TV-MA
24m

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

21K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:31

Adult Animation Anime Cyberpunk Seinen Action Animation Crime Sci-Fi Thriller

The futuristic adventures of a female cyborg counter intelligence agent and her support team.The futuristic adventures of a female cyborg counter intelligence agent and her support team.The futuristic adventures of a female cyborg counter intelligence agent and her support team.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

21K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,920

466

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win total

Episodes52

Browse episodes

TopTop-rated2 seasons4 years

Trivia
There are two sources for the title of the show. The first is the text at the beginning of the first episode, where it describes the psychology of some of those without cybernetic implants. Essentially, they have a "Stand Alone Complex"; they feel that they "stand alone" from the rest of humanity who have cybernetic implants, which allow those with them to communicate at any time with anyone who also has implants. The second source is a reference to the story itself. The term is used to describe an event where multiple people who have no associations with each other and are not part of a common group(thus they "stand alone"), through similar actions, seem to work together towards a common goal. This "complex" is referenced a number of times in the story, mainly about the laughing man case, but also in reference to a few other cases the group encounters.

Quotes
Major Motoko Kusanagi: Look at the bright side, if this doesn't work, we can all go drown our sorrows at a nudie bar.

Connections
Edited into Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man (2005)

Soundtracks
Inner Universe
(opening theme - 1st season)
Performed by Origa featuring Ben Del Maestro
Music by Yôko Kanno
Lyrics by Origa and Shanti Snyder

User reviews45

Review

Featured review

10/10

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Season 1)

This is a beautifully animated series format derived from the characters of the philosophically oriented movie 'Ghost in the Shell'. The animation is closer to the original concepts for the manga and adds amazingly gorgeous music to produce a show that is an instant draw. The characters draw some of the aspects familiar in the movie... Motoko's commitment to her job, Batou's casual-tough guy attitude, etc... though it adds some surprisingly refreshing characters like the blue child-like mini tanks Section 9 rides around in so much.

The same philosophical elements of the movie -consciousness in a cyber-oriented world- are present, but definitely take a back seat to plots focused on political wranglings, terrorism, and general lawlessness. The series seems to be more "all in a days work" themed than the cerebral current of the first film.

Overall I highly recommend this series to all fans, though hope they watch the movies as well.