A Short Guide to Ghost in the Shell


Only diversity wins in the game of evolution

A cult movie by the cult director - is probably what comes to mind when you hear "Ghost in the Shell". But Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film is only the tip of the iceberg. By the date (2018) the franchise includes:
  1. [1] Angel's Egg by Mamoru Oshii (1985)
  2. [2] The original manga by Masamune Shirow (1989)
  3. [1] The original movie by Mamoru Oshii (1995)
  4. [3] The Standalone Complex TV by Kenji Kamiyama (2002)
  5. [3] The Standalone Complex TV 2nd GIG by Kenji Kamiyama (2004)
  6. [1] GitS Innocence movie by Mamoru Oshii (2004)
  7. [3] GitS SAC: Solid State Society movie by Kenji Kamiyama (2006)
  8. [1] GitS 2.0 (renewal of the original movie) by Mamoru Oshii (2008)
  9. [4] Arise OVA by Kazuchika Kise (2013)
  10. [4] Koukaku Kidoutai ARISE: Alternative Architecture TV by Kazuchika Kise (2015)
  11. [4] Koukaku Kidoutai: Shin Gekijouban by Kazuya Nomura (2015)
If you are not familiar with GitS, it is better to follow the chronological order. The numbers in square braces are (tentative) lineages. Although the lineages incorporate the same fictional world and characters, they are elaborated by different authors and offer barely connected stories. You may wonder, why I have included "Angel's Egg" into the franchise, and what these feathers from the iconic Floating Museum may mean at the picture above. It may be hard to guess, but the feathers are what connects "Angel's Egg" to Oshii's "Ghost in the Shell". Let's speak about this (and about a little bit more) below.