Driving in the Backseat

I just finished watching the final episode of Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig and I must say I was definitely moved by the series.

For those of you who are unaware of this great series, it is based on the popular comic book by Masamune Shirow. He created Appleseed, Dominion Tank Police, Orion and of course Ghost in the Shell. Most people probably know him through Ghost in the Shell, an anime movie based the comic book of the same name and was the basis for the Matrix Movie. A friend of mine described him as the Umberto Eco of comic books with his attention to detail and references to history and pop culture.

But back to the series, the TV show is somewhat different. For starters, the series does not begin where the movie ends. It's as if the series is the prologue to the movie. While the movie delves into metaphysical question of body and soul, the series adds a little more action, politics and drama to the mix. See Alias meets The West Wing meets Jag. I'm most probably missing something here but I'll get back to it.

We are re-introduced to Public Safety Section 9 picking up after the events of the first season. I won't give any spoilers about this season. You have to watch it to be impressed. There are a lot of references to movies and literature. All I can say is that this season is bigger than the previous. The series is exciting to the very end. We finally see some emotion from the Major. The Tachikomas are as lovable as ever. And we get to see what's in the mind of the other members of Section 9. All I can say is that the last episode is very moving. The feeling is similar when Aeris dies in Final Fantasy 7. Go out and watch it. You'd have to be crazy to miss out on one of the best-Anime every created.