Ghost In The Machine.
12 Episodes. Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka & Kōichi Yamadera. Created By: Masamuns Shirow.
Millennium Parade's 'Fly With Me' takes us away like money making the world go 'round, as the opening credits milk mechanic, 3D printer assemble and fall in an explosive crescendo reminiscent of the original 1995 'Ghost In The Shell'-an anime movie as major as 'Akira'-and the neon dive of Scarlett Johansson's live action 2017 'Ghost In The Shell' movie that was cultural appropriating accused, but actually amazing. As this 'Lucy' lost in translation even blade ran better skyline skyscraper shots and artistic advertising in this new Tokyo than '2049'. With all due respect to the dune of Denis Villleneuve's vibrant and redefining 'Blade Runner' sequel arrival starring Ryan Gosling and of course the one and only, Harrison Ford. But it's '2045' here. 'SAC_2045' to be exact for Netflix's new 'Ghost In The Shell' series which 'Arise' stands next to all the 'Stand Alone Complex's' like 'The New Movie' for another adaptation of the manga to anime Japanese classic that has more iterations than Warner Bros and DC has Batman's (BTW FYI I'm as excited for Paul Dano's Riddler rolling out duct tape as I am Robert Pattinson's Batman rolling up on some villains and calling himself vengeance). This punk Parade as classic as the closing credits of Mili's epic and beautiful 'sustain++' proving once again like 'Tokyo Ghoul' and all those 're's' anime can make contemplative compelling, soothing sounds to end their shows just as well as they can make big booming ones to set it off and get us in the mood like live Saturday nights. Yet the amazing artwork of this curtain call in credits reminds us of what we're missing in the great genre of anime and its manga matching art. 'Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045' uses CGI to paint its pictures. So much so it made this writer and 'Shell' shocked fan ghost this season longer (apologies for the late review) than that person you were messaging on Bumble. With the hallmark art that is the 'Studio Ghibli' production company turning to computers too I was livid. What is this 'Toy Story'?! That works wonders for that, but not this. Anime is as pure an art form and Japanese tradition as neon and temples. Still I was wrong. I was ignorant. The CG animation is just different and in it's own way definitive. Once you get past that, this new 'Ghost In The Shell' like Static is major.
United States, 2045. We find ourselves between the palm trees of a deserted American military city with Yokosuka feels and our Japanese heroes rolling 'round in those endearing Tachikoma's, complete with a voice box and more character development than those cultural appropriating 'Transformer' mini 'bots. In this 'Sustainable War' complete with desert island like buggies and chugged beer bottles (Fudweiser instead of Budweiser like a Duff beer off 'The Simpsons') are scene is set whilst Togusa's agent-who ends up rolling round in a car straight out the 'Fast and Furious: Spy Racers' (another Netflix CG movie adaptation) cereal box when he's not running round shadowed shipping containers, escaping henchmen-takes a call back in Tokyo that looks terrific in this computer generated and enhanced animation. Some drone strikes and a Mr. Smith who suits, shades and shadowy character tie cribs some off 'The Matrix' of Agent Smith follow. But in this post-human world battling 'bots halfway between crash test dummies and Ultron, the big, free-ballin' Patrick Huge episode really is a 'Gift From God', delving into the amazing animated mainframe of the mind for this cyber link after he unleashes his Demidog like hounds. Still, one of the best installments belong to the 'Pie In The Sky' of iconic sidekick Batou's bank job solo episode that really checks into more, affording this show the sort of storytelling that takes it higher than the graphics that mark this animations special effects. Sure it looks like a video game at times, but one that consoles you with amazing action. Like the 'Elysium' like enhanced soldier boxing people's heads off like Bane from the shadows. And if you thought that was scary, just wait until you stroll the moving walkway of an airport and see the hoard of wax like, featureless 'Net People' that hybrid theory represent the mob mentality of toxic trolling wired in online. Just when you thought there was more terminal things that could infect you when trying to catch a flight right now in this age of punctuated paranoia. But what's with that frog king with a Burger King like cardboard crown? Have it your way.
Epic, emotional stakes punctuate the penultimate episode of 'SAC_2045' as a mother's love for her lost boy takes you back to the sobering subplot of the Scarlett Johansson 'Ghost In The Shell' movie. As some schools out lessons taught by the gun and gangs of kids really show you the dark side of what lurks behind lockers and creeps down corridor, showing those who are supposed to serve us really aren't protecting us. All the way to a classic cliffhanger alone in traditional Kyoto for this neon that will synth stir you into streaming for more, as another outstanding origin story concerns the heartbreaking hurt we often find behind those "villains" that do the same to our heroes. As this epic, episode mixes everything from family matters to the "freedom is slavery" notion from George Orwell's '1984'. The Japanese version a perfect prop for this plot like when Haruki Murakami called back to it in his massive 1500 plus page plus magnum opus, '1Q84', because of the bad omens that come with that number in Japan. War seems to be the only peace here for Major and her men and with Atsuko Tanaka reprising her Motoko Kusanagi voice like Akio Ōtsuka's bold Batou, or Kōichi Yamadera's scene stealing Togusa, all hands are back on deck. Sure with a 17% attack on the killer Rotten Tomatoes, this show by Masamuns Shirow may seem like a shell of its former self, but this ghost still haunts. The soul still stirs, even if the heart doesn't always net human beat for a story that's still not lost in CGI translation. It still stands alone, even if it's not as complex. This new movie still cyberpunk rocks like a breathtaking Keanu Reeves in C.G.I. Its just time for the second season to become a solid state in this society. The age of innocence is over. Arise. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Ghost In The Shell (1995)', 'Ghost In The Shell (2017)', 'Ghost In The Shell: The New Movie'.
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