Anime Review: Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex

Genre:  action, sci-fi, cyberpunk

Target age:  Older Teen

Content:  Sci-fi violence, gun violence, some adult language, brief non-sexual nudity of an android in a factory in one episode

Episodes:  26

Story:  Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex takes place in Japan in the year 2030.  While the series follows a story arc, known as "complex" episodes, there are breather episodes that follow a "stand alone" storyline.  In the world of Ghost in the Shell, it is commonplace for humans to be cyberdized; in other words, they may have their brains augmented with cybernetic implants.  Sometimes they may choose to have other body parts, or even their whole bodies, replaced with cybernetic parts.  They can access the internet with cyberbrains, or even communicate with each other over the net, which functions like telepathy.

The story is driven by the exploits of Section 9, a covert police force that does not officially exist.  All members have cyberbrains, though their levels of cyberdization vary.  The seven most important members are Kusanagi (known by her comrades as the Major), Batou, Togusa, Pazu, Saito, Borma, and Ishikawa; and each has a field that they specialize in.  For example, Ishikawa specializes in information and surveillance, while Saito specializes in sniping.  They are led by Aramaki, who does mission briefings and gives them their orders.  Though the episodes do feature all of the above eight, the episodes tend to focus mostly on Kusanagi.  A few of the others occasionally have episodes centered around them.  Though the Major is the only woman on the team, the men always give her due respect and follow her orders without question.  They are all very protective of each other, especially towards Togusa because his entire body, excluding his cyberbrain, is still flesh and blood, and he has a wife and children.

The team is supplemented by artificially intelligent tanks called Tachikoma.  Though they are machines, they can speak with each other and with the members of Section 9.  An ongoing subplot is concern over whether the Tachikoma are developing self awareness.  Batou in particular is very fond of the Tachikoma.  They speak with childlike voices and often inspire an "awwww" response.

The plot of Stand Alone Complex can get difficult to follow if the viewer does not pay attention.  Blink and you'll miss it.  There is much intrigue involving politicians, terrorists, and dishonest medical corporations.  Eventually, not even Section 9 is safe from politicians' ulterior motives.  The characters sometimes talk about the meaning of existence, what makes one human, and the nature of the "ghost."  Most of these center around the Tachikoma or the Major.  The Major's situation is especially powerful because she was completely cyberdized at a very young age to survive a terrible accident.  Learning to control her cyberbody was a source of emotional pain for her.  People who are easily turned offed by existential conversation may not be interested in the series, but they may find themselves intrigued by the storylines if they give the show a chance.

There is also a season two known as Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig.  Season two is 26 episodes long and delves more into the Major's history, as well as her coincidental connection to a terrorist group known as the Individual Eleven.

Voice:  Both the Japanese and English voices and dialogue are very good.  Some anime fans may recognize the Major's English voice actress Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, who has an extensive list of anime and video games she has been featured in, as well as performing on video game soundtracks.

Music:

• Season One opening theme "Inner Universe" by Origa
• Season Two opening theme "Rise" by Origa
• Season One closing theme "Lithium Flower" by Scott Matthew
• Season Two closing theme "Living Inside the Shell" by Steve Conte and Shanti Snyder

Another Yoko Kanno masterpiece.  Surprisingly, none of the music is in Japanese.  A lot of the music is instrumental.  Songs with lyrics are in English, Russian, Latin, or gibberish.  Origa is a Russian singer who is very popular in Japan; she performs in both Russian and English.  Yoko Kanno performs some of the songs herself under the name Gabriela Robin.  The soundtrack is varied with multiple musical styles, from R&B to rock and much in between.  Some songs, like "Inner Universe" are beautiful ballads, whereas others like "Lithium Flower" make the listener want to dance, or at least tap his feet.  Some, like "Stamina Rose," are easy flowing, while others, like "Get9," are fast and hard.

Recommendation:  If you don't mind a show that makes you think about life and the nature of humanity versus machine, then Ghost in the Shell may be for you.  You have to be willing to pay attention to the plot, or something that happens in later episodes will make little sense.  Be prepared for a few moments that may make you squirm.

Anime Review: Cowboy Bebop

Genre:  action, sci-fi

Target age:  Teen

Content:  Lots of sci-fi action with guns and spaceships, some adult language

Episodes:  26

Story:  Cowboy Bebop is mostly episodic in nature, meaning that most of the episodes are stand alone and have little to do with each other storywise, though this changes towards the end of the series.  The setting is in the far future, where space travel is common, though there are no aliens in the entire series (except for the food).  The show is about a small group of bounty hunters and their comedic quest for the next job, and something edible.  The entire series is confined to the Terran solar system.  The show carries the atmosphere of the Wild West in space, hence the "Cowboy" in the title.  There's even a television show that caters to bounty hunters whose theme song is a banjo solo.  "Bebop" references the name of the spaceship.  The story is mostly action based, but there is also some situational comedy at the characters' expense.

The story focuses on four bounty hunters and their dog.  Yes, even the dog.  The de facto leaders of the group are Spike Spiegel and his pal Jet Black.  Jet takes his job seriously, but is a tad philosophical.  Spike is more practical.  (The most important lesson he's ever learned is "don't leave food in the fridge" and for good reason.  An entire episode is based on this point.)  He's a former mobster and a highly skilled Jeet Kune Do practitioner.  His history is a source of personal torment for him.  Along the way they pick up Faye Valentine, an amnesiac woman who takes up bounty hunting and gambling to pay off an unbelievably huge medical bill for having spent 50 years in cryostasis.  She has difficulty putting faith in others and often tries to scam her way out of bad situations, though circumstances usually force her to rely on the team quite frequently.  Then there is Edward Wong Hau Pepulu Tivruskii 4th, a tween girl who is also a computer genius.  She is goofy and somewhat dysfunctional, but her computer skills are invaluable, as she's a top notch hacker.  The dog is a Welsh Corgi named Ein, short for Einstein.  His role is mostly to hang around in the background, but he comes off as the most intelligent character on the show.  After all, he was the only one capable of stopping a train once.  He is referred to as a "data dog," but the story never explains what that means.

Voices:  Both the Japanese and English dubbing are well done.  The English voices fit most of the characters, and the dialogue follows the subtitles closely.  The series is easy to enjoy in either language.

Music: 

• Opening Theme:  "Tank" by The Seatbelts
• Closing Theme:  "The Real Folk Blues" by the Seatbelts featuring Mai Yamane

The music was composed by Yoko Kanno.  She is highly regarded in the anime community, and anything written by her is almost guaranteed to be a smash hit.  Her music is very ambient and fits the style of the series very well.  The opening theme is a fast paced jazzy tune with a saxophone solo and even some bongos, but is also contemporary.  The closing theme is also jazzy, but is slow and moody.

Recommendation:  Cowboy Bebop is one of the most popular anime ever.  Almost anyone who watches it is sure to enjoy it.