Ghost in the Shell: Arise

Ghost in the Shell: Arise

Ghost in the Shell: Arise Borders 1 & 2 cover, which includes both Ghost Pain and Ghost Whispers
攻殻機動隊ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL-
(Kōkaku Kidōtai ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL-)
Genre Science fiction noir, cyberpunk, action, military spy thriller
Manga
Ghost in the Shell: Arise
~Sleepless Eye~
Written by Junichi Fujisaku
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Young Magazine
Original run March 13, 2013 (2013-03-13) – present
Volumes 4
Original video animation
Directed by Kazuchika Kise
Written by Tow Ubukata
Music by Cornelius
Studio Production I.G
Licensed by
Released July 22, 2013 – August 26, 2015
Runtime 50 minutes each
Episodes 5
Anime television series
Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture
Directed by Kazuchika Kise
Written by Tow Ubukata
Music by Keigo Oyamada
Studio Production I.G
Licensed by
Network Tokyo MX, KBS, SUN, TVA, HTB, OX, SBS, TVQ, BS11
Original run April 5, 2015[1] – June 14, 2015
Episodes 10

Ghost in the Shell: Arise (Japanese: 攻殻機動隊ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL- Hepburn: Kōkaku Kidōtai ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL-) is an anime film and TV series that serves as a re-imagining of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell. The series features new character designs and is directed by Kazuchika Kise, screenplay by Tow Ubukata, and music by Cornelius.[2][3]

Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture, a recompilation of the four original films in a television format, aired on nine stations from April 5 to June 14, 2015.[4][5] The AAA broadcast included two original episodes that help tie Ghost in the Shell: Arise with its 2015 animated film sequel Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie.[1]

Plot

The series takes place in the year 2027, where many people in developed countries have become cyborgs with prosthetic bodies. Primarily set in the fictional Japanese Newport City, the series follows a younger Motoko Kusanagi before the formation of Public Security Section 9. At the start of Arise she is a member of the federal 501 Organization, a group who employs advanced infiltration tactics and espionage in order to attack or neutralize enemy threats. The 501 Organization is also the legal owner of Kusanagi's prosthetic body, which is lent to her in exchange for her services to the group. This debt displeases her and causes a disparity between herself and her employer.

In Ghost Pain, a senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kurtz, assigns Kusanagi to a case involving a bomb that sets off in Newport. Along the way she is assisted by an official of Public Security, Daisuke Aramaki, along with ex-Ranger Batou, Detective Togusa of the Niihama Police, undercover investigator Paz and bomb specialist Borma. Throughout the film, Kusanagi is subjected to memory loss that inhibits her progress in the case. It is later revealed that she was implanted with false memories, a product of a failed "Ghost Hack" she had performed on the money-laundering conspirator Mamuro, which was infected with a memory virus. Once she realizes that the 501 Organization was involved with the scandal, she leaves the unit now in legal possession of her own prosthetic body. She is met by Aramaki, who proposes the formation of a new unit within Public Security.

In Ghost Whispers, a former soldier from the Qhardistani War named Kazuya Soga is being tried for "crimes against humanity" by the Japanese government. In order to prove his innocence, Soga sends his men to retrieve evidence of his innocence hidden somewhere in a web of information called "Pandora's Box". This team is led by the former Ranger Batou, who also employs intel officer Ishikawa and Borma as well as the rest of Soga's men. The Major is sent to investigate the matter and becomes subject to an all-out war between Public Security and Kazuya Soga. Along the way, she is allied with Paz from the previous movie as well an American Special Forces member named "VV". Series mainstay Saito is also featured in the film, but is shown to frequently change sides to the one with the greater pay. After the Major invades Soga's cyberspace, she discovers that he was affected by a memory-falsification virus that covered up the truth of what happened in the war, in which he indeed killed the refugees after they had attempted martyrdom on his team. When he learns the truth he decides to kill himself, but the virus he tries to upload to Pandora's Box is still being carried through by none other than VV who reveals herself to be an android. With the help of Batou, she is killed before she can complete the transfer and the battle ends. The Major promises Batou that he may be taken out of incarceration, but only if he decides to join her team.

Cast and characters

Arise features an original Japanese voice cast, with only one actor reprising their role from the Oshii film and Stand Alone Complex television anime series. Maaya Sakamoto replaces Atsuko Tanaka as the voice of Major Motoko Kusanagi, Sakamoto having previously voiced the Major as a child in both the film, and Stand Alone Complex series.[3] Other changes to the cast include Kenichirou Matsuda as Batou, Tarusuke Shingaki as Togusa, Ikyuu Jyuku as Chief Daisuke Aramaki, Tomoyuki Dan as Ishikawa, Takuro Nakakuni as Saito, Yōji Ueda as Paz, and Kazuya Nakai as Borma.[6] Miyuki Sawashiro provides the voice of the series' think tanks now called the Logicoma (ロジコマ Rojikoma), short for Logistics Conveyer Machine (ロジスティックス・コンベイヤー・マシン Rojisutikkusu Konbeiyā Mashin). The Logicoma also feature in anime shorts included on the Blu-ray releases titled Logicoma Beat (ロジコマ・ビート Rojikoma Bīto).

New characters in the first episode include Kurtz (クルツ Kurutsu), voiced by Mayumi Asano in Japanese and by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (the previous voice of the Major) in English, the head of the Army 501 Organization (陸軍５０１機関 Rikugun Go Maru Ichi Kikan), the firm who converted Motoko Kusanagi into a full cyborg and who Kusanagi would replace in the organization had she not joined Section 9; Raizo (ライゾー Raizō), voiced by Takanori Hoshino, a combat cyborg for the 501 Organization that uses electricity as weapons; Ibachi (イバチ), voiced by Masahiro Mamiya, a combat cyborg for the 501 Organization skilled in bōjutsu and armed with hidden machine guns; Tsumugi (ツムギ), voiced by Kenji Nojima, a tactical cyborg for the 501 Organization that has a set of twins' cyberbrains in its head who always talk to each other; and Lieutenant colonel Mamuro (マムロ), voiced by Atsushi Miyauchi, the leader of the 501 Organization who raised Kusanagi but has disappeared, having had something to do with arms dealing.

Character English voice Japanese voice
Kusanagi Elizabeth Maxwell Maaya Sakamoto
Aramaki John Swasey Ikyuu Jyuku
Batou Christopher Sabat Kenichirō Matsuda
Paz Jason Douglas Yōji Ueda
Togusa Alex Organ Tarusuke Shingaki
Saito Marcus Stimac Takuro Nakakuni
Kurutsu Mary Elizabeth McGlynn Mayumi Asano
Mamuro Brian Mathis Atsushi Miyauchi
Ibachi Chris Rager Masahiro Mamiya
Tsumugi Eric Vale Kenji Nojima
Raizo David Wald Takanori Hoshino
Logicoma Jād Saxton Miyuki Sawashiro

Media

Films

Each of the films are known as "borders", and have received national theatrical releases one month before the release of their Blu-ray and DVD versions. A recurring part of the films is the mysterious Fire Starter computer virus, as well as looking into the lives of Public Security Section 9's members before its formation.[7]

The opening theme for the series is called "Ghost in the Shell: Arise", and is performed by both Salyu and Cornelius; the ending themes are different for each episode.

Borders list

No. Title Original release date English release date
1 "Ghost Pain"  June 22, 2013October 21, 2014[8]

Set in the year 2027, a year following the end of the non-nuclear World War IV, a bomb has gone off in Newport City, killing a major arms dealer who may have ties with the mysterious 501 Organization. Public Security official Daisuke Aramaki hires full-body cyber prosthesis user and hacker extraordinaire Motoko Kusanagi to investigate, but on the case with her are "Sleepless Eye" Batou who believes Kusanagi is a criminal, Niihama Prefecture Detective Togusa who is investigating a series of prostitute murders he believes are related to the incident, and Lieutenant Colonel Kurtz of the 501 Organization who also wishes to keep an eye on Kusanagi.[9][10]

The ending song is "Jibun ga Inai" (じぶんがいない, "There is no me") composed and arranged by Cornelius, lyrics by Yura Yura Teikoku's vocalist and guitarist Shintaro Sakamoto, and performed by salyu × salyu. 
2 "Ghost Whispers"  November 30, 2013October 21, 2014

Freed of her responsibilities with the 501 Organization, Motoko Kusanagi must now learn how to take orders from Aramaki. Someone hacks the Logicomas, and Batou enlists the help of former army intelligence officer Ishikawa and former air artillery expert Borma. Kusanagi also seeks to enlist ace sniper Saito and undercover cop Paz into the new Public Security Section 9.[11] The two groups rival each other in a case involving a man who receives false memories of a refugee transport operation.

The ending song is "Soto wa Senjō da yo" (外は戦場だよ, "Outside it's a Battlefield!") composed and arranged by Cornelius, lyrics by Sakamoto, and performed by Ichiko Aoba with Cornelius. 
3 "Ghost Tears"  June 28, 2014[12]October 13, 2015

Motoko and Batou work to try to stop a terrorist organization whose symbol is the Scylla (スクラス Sukurasu).[13] Meanwhile, Togusa investigates a murder of a man who possessed a prosthetic leg manufactured by the Mermaid's Leg corporation.[14]

The ending song is "Heart Grenade" composed and arranged by Cornelius, lyrics and performed by Sean Lennon. 
4 "Ghost Stands Alone"  September 6, 2014October 13, 2015

Motoko and newly forming Public Security Section 9 must track down a virus known as “Fire Starter”, that unleashes an infection that affects cyberbrains.[15]

The ending song is "Split Spirit" by Yukihiro Takahashi and METAFIVE. 
5 "Pyrophoric Cult"  August 26, 2015[16]TBA
Motoko and her squad are finally getting closer to Fire-Starter's broker, but things get tense when they're instructed to take a backseat role on a sting op. 

Manga

A manga original story titled Ghost in the Shell: Arise ~Sleepless Eye~ (攻殻機動隊ARISE～眠らない眼の男 Sleepless Eye～ Kōkaku Kidōtai ARISE ~Nemuranai Me no Otoko Sleepless Eye~, literally "The Man With Eyes That Do Not Sleep") began serialization in Kodansha's Young Magazine's April 2013 issue, released March 13, 2013, and ended serialization on August 26, 2013.[6][17] The manga follows the story of how Batou and Kusanagi met during the civil war.

TV series

Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture (officially abbreviated as Ghost in the Shell AAA)[18] is a television broadcasting of the previously released film series alongside new content. It began airing in Japan on April 5, 2015, broadcasting from the Tokyo MX, KBS, SUN, TVA, HTB, OX, SBS, TVQ and BS11 networks. Funimation's subtitled localization of the series began on April 8, 2015,[4][5] with the digital AAA releases being released under the same Ghost in the Shell: Arise listing for the original tetralogy, but labelled as television episodes to differentiate the two.[19]

The opening theme is "Anata o tamotsu mono" by Maaya Sakamoto (who also plays the role of Major Kusanagi) and Cornelius.[20]

Promotion

On September 19, 2013, Pacific Racing and Production I.G. collaborated on an Arise themed Porsche 911 GT3R model race car labelled the NAC Ghost in the Shell ARISE DR Porsche, which was used for the official Super GT auto race.[21] It was discontinued in March 2014 and replaced with a Love Live! theme. From November 1 until December 31, 2013, a "Ghost in the Shell: Arise Airport AR Event" was held in many Japanese airports, with AR posters scattered around Haneda Airport, Ibaraki Airport and Fukuoka Airport for visitors to scan using an official app.[22] A free admission special event titled "Ghost in the Shell LABO ~ Shinjuku Gitai" was held in Eastern Shinjuku on November 29 to November 30, 2013, where attendees received special promotional material designed after the prosthetic wiring in the series created by renowned makeup artist JIRO.[23]

Releases

A Porsche 911 GT3 branded with Ghost in the Shell: Arise imagery

On June 14, 2013, Funimation announced that it had acquired the rights for the series for a North American release.[24] Funimation released parts 1 and 2 on Blu-ray and DVD to North America on October 28, 2014.[25] Netflix has parts 1 and 2 available for streaming in English[26][27] and part 3 in Japanese audio with English subtitles in selected territories.[28] On January 8, 2015, it was announced that Arise would be adapted into a "TV series" in the spring of 2015.[29][30] This was later confirmed to be a recompilation of the first four films into a television format, with two original episodes, collectively titled Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture (Ghost in the Shell AAA).[1]

An original episode titled Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Pyrophoric Cult, was given a standalone home video release in Japan on August 26, 2015. Pyrophoric Cult has a runtime of 50 minutes, alongside 30 minutes of extra content on the disc.[31] This was reduced and split in two for the AAA broadcasting. The plot involves the "Fire Starter" virus explored Arise previously, and introduces the new character Pyromania. The episode will have ties to the upcoming film Kōkaku Kidōtai Shin Gekijōban.[32]

Reception

Overall reception of Ghost in the Shell: Arise has been largely positive. Online review aggregator website IMDb has combined overall audience scores for every episode out of 10, with Ghost Pain receiving a 7.3, Ghost Whispers receiving a 7.4, Ghost Tears receiving a 7.3 and Ghost Stands Alone receiving a 7.4.[33][34][35][36] Initial reactions upon announcement of the series were mainly centered on the visual redesign of the cast, particularly Major Kusanagi.[37][38]

Upon release of the first episode, Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku has called Arise "a worthy addition to Ghost in the Shell" and assured viewers that "the changes to the series are only skin-deep".[39] However, he stated that the episode's themes are "things you have at least somewhat seen explored before in the other iterations of the franchise". Hugo Ozman of Twitch Film has stated similar opinions, calling Ghost Pain "interesting, but not spectacular".[40]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ghost in the Shell: Arise's Broadcast to Add 2 New Episodes". Anime News Network. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "「攻殻機動隊」の新作アニメプロジェクト「攻殻機動隊ARISE」製作決定". Gigazine. 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  3. 1 2 "『攻殻機動隊ARISE』全4部作で6月劇場公開　コミカライズ版も3月スタート(日刊SPA!) - IT - livedoor ニュース". News.livedoor.com. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  4. 1 2 "Funimation Licenses Ghost in the Shell Arise: Alternative Architecture". Anime News Network. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 Michelle. "FUNimation acquires the rights for Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture". Funimation. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  6. 1 2 "6月22日から映画「攻殻機動隊ARISE GHOST IN THE SHELL」全4部作公開". Gigazine. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  7. ↑ "Production I.G / 作品紹介 / 攻殻機動隊ARISE / ストーリー". Production-ig.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  8. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell Arise English Dub Trailer Streamed". ANN. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Production I.G / 作品紹介 / 攻殻機動隊ARISE / ストーリー". Production-ig.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  10. ↑ "Introduction | 攻殻機動隊Arise -Ghost In The Shell". Kokaku-a.com. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  11. ↑ "Introduction | 攻殻機動隊ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL". Kokaku-a.jp. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  12. ↑ Green, Scott. "Third "Ghost in the Shell: Arise" Episode Scheduled for June 2014 - UPDATED". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "Characters". Kotaku-a.jp. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  14. ↑ "Introduction | 攻殻機動隊ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL". Kokaku-a.jp. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  15. ↑ Tran, Can. "Video: 'Ghost In The Shell — ARISE' Ghost Stands Alone 1st 9-Min". digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  16. ↑ Shikabane. "New Episode 'Pyrophoric Cult' Ties 'Ghost in the Shell: Arise' and New Movie". Tokyo Otaku Mode. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "「攻殻機動隊ARISE」コミカライズ 月刊ヤングマガジンで連載開始 公安9課以前を描く". Animeanime.jp. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  18. ↑ "「AnimeJapan presents 謎解きゲーム」にて、TV新番組「攻殻機動隊AAA」の未公開機密情報が明らかに!!". Kokaku-a Blog. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell: Arise Anime Episodes Streaming on FUNimation". Funimation. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "新TVシリーズ　オープニング曲決定！". Kokaku-a Blog. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  21. ↑ ""NAC Ghost in the Shell: Arise DR Porsche" Revealed!". Otaku Mode. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "「攻殻機動隊ARISE」　国内3空港でARプロジェクト開始". Anime Anime. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "『攻殻LABO～新宿「義体化」計画～』　イベント決定！". Kokaku-a Blog. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "Funimation Acquires Ghost in the Shell: Arise Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell: Arise: Borders 1 & 2 Blu-ray 攻殻機動隊ARISE / Blu-ray + DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
  26. ↑ "Ghost Pain". Netflix. Retrieved 2015-02-12.
  27. ↑ "Ghost Whispers". Netflix. Retrieved 2015-02-12.
  28. ↑ "Ghost Tears". Netflix. Retrieved 2015-02-12.
  29. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL-". Official site. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  30. ↑ Frontalspy. "Ghost in the Shell Arise TV Anime Announced for Spring". Otaku Tale. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  31. ↑ "攻殻ARISE新作エピソード「PYROPHORIC CULT」が8月BD化。新劇場版へ繋がる物語". AV Watch. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  32. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell Arise Pyrophoric Cult Episode Slated for August on Home Video in Japan". Anime News Network. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell Arise: Border 1 - Ghost Pain". IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  34. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell Arise: Border 2 - Ghost Whisper". IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  35. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell Arise: Border 3 - Ghost Tears". IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  36. ↑ "Ghost in the Shell Arise: Border 4 - Ghost Stands Alone". IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  37. ↑ Eisenbeis, Richard. "My, My, Major. How You Have Changed.". Kotaku. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  38. ↑ ""Ghost In The Shell ARISE" Motoko Key Visuals". Seventh Style. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  39. ↑ Eisenbeis, Richard. "The First Film of Ghost in the Shell: Arise is True to Its Roots". Kotaku. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  40. ↑ Ozman, Hugo. "Reel Anime 2013 Review: GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE: BORDER 1 - GHOST PAIN Is Interesting But Not Spectacular". Twitch Film. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
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