Ghost In The Shell: Arise Volume 1

“For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three.” – Alice Kahn

Ghost in the Shell: Arise is the first new addition to the long-running cyberpunk crime anime since the film Solid State Society back in 2006. Having begun as a manga by Masamune Shirow back in 1989, the series has been adapted into three films, two TV series, and now as an OVA. This is a prequel to the original anime, dealing with Major Motoko Kusanagi’s life after returning to Japan after a time abroad serving in the army, and the beginning of her forming her team in Public Security Section 9 in Newport City.

This collection contains the first two of the four OVAs or “borders” in the collection. The first, “Ghost Pain”, begins in 2027 AD with public security chief Aramaki investigating the murder of an arms dealer, but as they recover the corpse, he and his men are attacked by Motoko. The victim was someone connected to 501 Organisation that she is a part of. However, when they open the coffin, the victim is not inside it. Instead they find a robotic girl that attacks Motoko. Aramaki decides to hire Motoko to investigate the crime. All the time, however, she is being watched by other people who suspect that she herself is a criminal. Amongst those looking into her are ex-soldier Batou and police detective Togusa.

In the second film, “Ghost Whispers”, there is chaos in Newport City when the entire transport system appears to slowly grind to a halt. The cause of this is a man currently arrested for war crimes, who plans to hack into the Japanese government’s database that contains highly dangerous secrets that could wreck the nation. Motoko, now working under Aramaki, tries to take on the case, but Batou is also trying to solve the case too.

These two episodes are an entertaining and thrilling watch, especially if you are already familiar with the GitS franchise. If you are new to GitS, however, it still makes for a good watch. After all, you are watching it from the earliest point so you seeing the anime in chronological order. It is a nice way to experience an interpretation of the origins of the main characters, and we begin to see some of the earliest elements of the story come into being, such as the mentioning of the “Ghost”. The fact that the series is set earlier in time allows the designers to re-design the characters, with the younger Motoko the most different in terms of her looks (clothes, hairstyle etc.). The cyborg looks grand. The only slight problem comes with some of the casting in the US dub. For example, the head of the 501 Organisation is voiced by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, who previously provided the voice of the Motoko in the Stand Alone Complex TV series, which might be confusing for some.

Both the computer animation and the traditional animation both work in tandem brilliantly. Also the ambient soundtrack makes for great listening. The main theme by Cornelius, and the two end themes “Jibun Ga Inai” by salyu x salyu and “Soto wa Senjo da yo” by Cornelius’s Ichiko Aoba are all enjoyable to listen to.

Another highlight of this collection is the vast amount of extras included. There is textless opening and closing, interviews, audio commentary, mini-documentaries, trailers, and several mini-films including both the main characters and the “Logicomas”, the predecessors of the “Tachikomas”. These later films may be short, but are still funny.

This collection might be short, but it is still an entertaining addition to the GitS universe.