Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002-2003)

Ghost in the Shell (2017) got me hooked into Ghost in the Shell. Stand Alone Complex is not same story arc as Ghost in the Shell (1995). In 1995 movie characters were in Section 9 partly because Section 9 owned their cybernetic parts. In Stand Alone  Complex they are totally committed to Section 9 no matter what happens. That is biggest difference between two. There are some other differences too but otherwise both are quite close to each others.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is 26 episode anime tv series. It follows Section 9 as they hunt mysterious Laughing Man. Series has two types of episodes. Complex episodes follow Laughing Man story arch and have stories spanning over several episodes. Stand Alone episodes are short stand alone episodes which contain episode long stories which are never returned.

Series feel like kids' anime at first but soon turn into darker and more complex themes. There is episode where serial killer skins his victims alive. I thought that went bit too far. Other episodes stayed more intellectual level. Some stories suffered from half hour episode length. Some ideas stories had required more time than they got. Series is not as philosophical as the 1995 movie until last episodes and couple moments in earlier episodes. It is must see if you liked the 1995 movie.