Ghost in the Shell is the latest anime adaptation by Hollywood featuring Scarlett Johansson. But unlike previous attempts we shall not talk about, this time it not only includes a lead with a huge name, but also has the budget of a big production.
Plot:
Trailer 1
Trailer 2
Trailer 3
First 5 minutes
The whole universe of Ghost in the Shell is based on the manga of Masamune Shirow. Shirow used to be known for his dystopian futuristic mangas like Appleseed, Dominion Tank Police or Ghost in the Shell. Today however he is more active in the field of hentai and kinky stuff.
The movie is visually heavily influenced by 1995 anime adaption of the Manga directed by Mamoru Oshii. This movie is still regarded as one of the best anime movies and also as an interesting vision of a future where humanity and technology start to merge. Mamoru Oshii was also an adviser for the Hollywood movie and even parts of the original soundtrack were included.
The plot of the movie not only took inspiration from the Anime, but also from the Stand Alone Complex series, which was released from 2002 till 2005. If you are interested in the Ghost in the Shell universe, this is a god starting point, because it not only shows a lot more of the universe than the anime or even the manga, it also included a lot of very interesting topics which are becoming more and more relevant as technology progresses.
The Ghost in the Shell universe also includes several other adaptations, like a second anime movie, a series titled Arise, tons of art books and several videogames.