Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 just dropped on Netflix and it is a departure from past GitS series. So far the latest chapter in the beloved anime has not been well received by many fans of the franchise. But is the hate warranted for the new anime series? My answer is an empathic NO. Let me explain why.
I’ve loved every iteration of GitS (other than the terrible ScarJo live-action film, of course). The plots of Ghost in the Shell have long been complex and dark. There have been times where plot points were so deeply complicated and philosophical that it felt like I was reading Proust. The totality of GitS sometimes takes work to hang on, even though it’s always worth it in the end.
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 raises some very interesting concepts and there is an underlying mystery that defies understanding in the first season. However, this is the most approachable Ghost in the Shell series, in my opinion.
GREAT AND SUDDEN CHANGE
Much like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, GitS: SAC_2045 is an evolutionary step toward a wider audience. It’s not surprising that legacy fans of both franchises are upset. They represent a marked change from the past. As Mary Shelly wrote, “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is a sudden change. The plots are easier to follow and more focused on the characters IRL than on a deeply metaphysical level. The socio-political milieu is a lot more relatable too. The global events in the series align closer with our current state of world affairs with perpetual war and the growing probability of global credit default.
There’s no way the directors of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 could have anticipated the COVID-19 pandemic, but the events in the series, namely international strife, “Global Simultaneous Default” and “sustainable war,” feels relevant.
EMBRACING 3DCG ANIMATION
Now about the animation. Animated in 3DCG, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 doesn’t have the painstaking complexity of traditional anime. I loved the dark grittiness of the original Ghost in the Shell film and subsequent series. However, 3DCG enables animators to be even more creative. And for the younger generations, 3DCG is a familiar animation method they grew up with.
Another aspect of the animation that is subtle until you think about it, are the many daytime scenes. GitS has long embraced the film noir darkness of the cyberpunk genre. However, even covert teams have to work during the day. It was great seeing the team doing what they do best under the glare of the sun.
The animation in Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 doesn’t always work. Some of the close-ups and silhouettes of characters are too boldly simplistic. For the most part, however, the 3DCG animation brings new life to these beloved characters. And there are action scenes that are absolutely beautiful, which could not have been achieved with traditional animation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Netflix already greenlighted a second 12-episode season before the first season dropped on the streaming service, so the content execs see potential. That’s good, because the first season of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 ends with a major cliffhanger.
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 isn’t perfect. But the few rough spots with plot points, character motivations, and animation are minor. Even though I’m a fan of the original film and series, I was hooked from the first episode of GitS: SAC_2045. My interest grew throughout the 12 episodes. The Episode 12 cliffhanger is one of the best I’ve ever seen in anime.
The series is definitely worth a look.
P.S. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is only available in the Japanese language. English dub fans will need to wait until society opens back up and voice actors can get into the sound studio.
