Ghost in the Shell is a Japanese cyberpunk media franchise based on the seinen manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga — first serialized in 1989 under the subtitle of The Ghost in the Shell — was later published as its own tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. Here’s what the popular series is all about, and how newcomers can get started by reading the manga and/or watching the various anime adaptations.
The Plot of Ghost in the Shell
In the year 2029, with the advancement of cybernetic technology, the human body can be “augmented” or even completely replaced with cybernetic parts. Another significant achievement is the cyberbrain, a mechanical casing for the human brain that allows access to the Internet and other networks. An often-mentioned term is “ghost,” referring to the consciousness inhabiting the body, known as the “shell.”
Both the manga and the many anime adaptations follow the members of Public Security Section 9, a task-force consisting of various professionals solving and preventing crime, mostly with some sort of police background. The main character of Ghost in the Shell, Major Motoko Kusanagi, is a cyborg who had a terrible accident befall her as a child that ultimately required her to use a full-body prosthesis to house her cyberbrain.
Where to Read the Ghost in the Shell Manga
The original Ghost in the Shell manga consists of three volumes and ran in Japan from April 1989 to November 1990. Their order is Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface and Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor. You can find them at most local comic/graphic novel retailers or on Amazon.
For those who prefer physical copies to read, the Ghost in the Shell Deluxe Complete Box Set can be purchased on Amazon for $44.94. As well as purchasing a bundle, each individual chapter can be purchased separately — also on Amazon — starting at $9.38 and increasing in price per volume. Local Barnes & Noble stores as well as Walmart are also likely to have the manga for sale.
For those short on shelf space or just prefer digital reading, Amazon Kindle provides an e-book version of the manga, starting with The Ghost in the Shell Vol. 1 and continuing in order. Amazon charges around $11.50 for the first volume, and the prices increase per additional volume.
Where to Watch the Ghost in the Shell Anime
Two animated films based on the original manga have been released. Ghost in the Shell was released in 1995 and follows the “Puppet Master” storyline from the manga. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, was released in 2004, with its story based on a chapter from the first manga volume.
The Ghost in the Shell 1995 and Ghost in the Shell 2.0 can be purchased on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. Its sequel, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence can be purchased on DVD or Blu-ray from Amazon for $11.01/$22.09. Meanwhile, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is a Netflix exclusive and while there is only one season currently, a second season has been confirmed and is on the way.
If that wasn’t enough, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex exists in a different timeline to the other movies and focuses more on the inner workings of Section 9. It is currently available on Amazon for $8.72. Like its predecessor, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society can also be found on Amazon for $8.98.
A 2017 live-action Ghost in the Shell movie, controversially starring Scarlett Johansson in the lead role as Kusanagi and directed by Rupert Sanders, directly reimagines the 1995 anime film for a modern audience. Ghost in the Shell (2017) can be rented for $3.99 on Amazon Prime Video or purchased on Blu-ray or DVD, as well as most other online retailers.
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