Ghost in the Shell (1996)

94% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(80,589 ratings)

In the year 2029, the world has become interconnected by a vast electronic network that permeates every aspect of life. That same network also becomes a battlefield for Tokyo's Section Nine security force, which has been charged with apprehending the master hacker known only as the Puppet Master.… More In the year 2029, the world has become interconnected by a vast electronic network that permeates every aspect of life. That same network also becomes a battlefield for Tokyo's Section Nine security force, which has been charged with apprehending the master hacker known only as the Puppet Master. Spearheading the investigation is Major Motoko Kusanagi, who -- like many in her department -- is a cyborg officer, far more powerful than her human appearance would suggest. And yet as the Puppet Master, who is even capable of hacking human minds, leaves a trail of victims robbed of their memories, Kusanagi ponders the very nature of her existence: is she purely an artificial construct, or is there more? What, exactly, is the "ghost" -- her essence -- in her cybernetic "shell"? When Section Six gets involved in the case, she is forced to confront the fact that there is more here than meets the eye, and that the Puppet Master may hold some of the answers she seeks. But little does she know that he has been seeking her as well. ~ Emru Townsend, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Mamoru Oshii
Written By: Kazunori Ito
Genres: Animation, Anime & Manga, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Mar 29, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Nov 18, 2003
Studio: Palm Pictures

Critic Reviews

Laura Evenson, San Francisco Chronicle
Mamoru Oshii's direction deftly merges gritty realism with a dreamlike quality.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I enjoyed its visuals, its evocative soundtrack (including a suite for percussion and heavy breathing), and its ideas.
Clark Collis, Empire Magazine
This is exactly the kind of film that James Cameron would make if they ever let him through the Disney front gates.
Daniel Etherington, Film4
Thrilling, compelling, moving and visually splendid, this isn't just a classic anime, it's a great film.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This cyberpunk policier doesn't make much sense on a narrative level, but the visuals are gorgeously designed and sometimes genuinely breathtaking.
, Time Out
Conjures up a dazzling, futuristic cityscape that, sadly, is not matched by the human landscapes at the heart of the story.
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
A fairly entrancing vision of a human race overrun by evolving artificial intelligence.
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit
Surprisingly less interesting than its sequel
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit
Surprisingly less interesting than its sequel
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O visual e a qualidade da animação são incríveis, e a história é bastante criativa.
Susan Tavernetti, Palo Alto Weekly
Adds an intriguing philosophical dimension to the cyber-thriller genre.
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
Its animation is so rich in meticulous and sumptuous detail that it blows previous Japanese landmarks like Akira simply out of the water.
Joey O'Bryan, Austin Chronicle
Ultimately Ghost in the Shell remains a hard sell, with sluggish pacing and sloppy storytelling effectively smothering the strengths of this lackluster effort.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Matthew R

The film that redefined the cyber-punk genre is complex, resonant and astonishingly animated. Taking the idea of artificial intelligence to a point of human reality and highlighting the emotional turmoil of existence, "Ghost in the Shell" explores what makes humans as such… More
The film that redefined the cyber-punk genre is complex, resonant and astonishingly animated. Taking the idea of artificial intelligence to a point of human reality and highlighting the emotional turmoil of existence, "Ghost in the Shell" explores what makes humans as such and with such a serious, atmospheric and slow-paced structure. Not only a landmark in science-fiction filmmaking, but in animation with visuals that are haunting, extraordinarily detailed and always stimulating to the eye.
Christopher H

I recognize this movies influence, especially in the realms of sci-fi animes and the Matrix movies, but influential does not always make a film good. The animation is very stunning to look at. Their is good amount of visual eye candy to go around, especially shots of the cityscape.… More
I recognize this movies influence, especially in the realms of sci-fi animes and the Matrix movies, but influential does not always make a film good. The animation is very stunning to look at. Their is good amount of visual eye candy to go around, especially shots of the cityscape. If only I can say the same thing for the actual story and characters. The story is very disjointed and at times hard to follow. This is probably the result of shrinking down the original 350 page manga into an hour and thirty minute film. The characters do not really act human, a lot of the dialogue is reduced to exposition and long pseudo-philosophy talk. This makes it really hard to find a character to attach to. The shots of the city are gorgeous, but they serve no purpose to the story. The best scene is a chase scene that takes place in the market place which is a very good action sequences, especially when a cloaked Motoko fights one of the bad guys. A lot of critics place this film beside "Akira" as one of the greatest anime movies of all time, I happen to disagree. "Akira" has quality to back up its legacy, "Ghost in the Shell" does not. However, this movie did spawn the TV show "Ghost in the Shell: A Stand Alone Complex", which I thought was miles above this movie in terms of story and characters.
Sergio G

If you haven't seen Ghost in the shell, then you're not an anime fan. Great work it's hard to believe that it was completed in the 90's. Go for it . Now.
Drake T

An existential journey through a future that's not only inspiring in visual mastery but thought provoking on many levels for a SciFi fan. Although it works with themes visited by various other media, it works with them in such majesty and respect that it often feels like a… More
An existential journey through a future that's not only inspiring in visual mastery but thought provoking on many levels for a SciFi fan. Although it works with themes visited by various other media, it works with them in such majesty and respect that it often feels like a classic no matter how you approach it.
Jacob E

Now THIS is a good film. Ghost in the Shell manages to examine the lines between man and machine very gracefully, and all in the span of 90 minutes. Highly atmospheric and extremely clever, this is one of the best animes I have ever seen. *NOTE: DO NOT WATCH THE DUB. The dub is bad… More
Now THIS is a good film. Ghost in the Shell manages to examine the lines between man and machine very gracefully, and all in the span of 90 minutes. Highly atmospheric and extremely clever, this is one of the best animes I have ever seen. *NOTE: DO NOT WATCH THE DUB. The dub is bad enough that it actually detracts from the quality of the story, visuals, and atmosphere. Watch with subtitles or don't watch at all.
Saskia D

Saw this one again! Visually stunning! In combination with the chilling music and interesting storyline an absolute joy to watch!
xGary X

In a future state where cyborgs are commonplace and everyone has computerized brain augmentations containing their psyches (or "ghosts"), a team of investigators chase a cyber-criminal who hacks the minds of others to do his bidding. One of the cornerstones of Manga and… More
In a future state where cyborgs are commonplace and everyone has computerized brain augmentations containing their psyches (or "ghosts"), a team of investigators chase a cyber-criminal who hacks the minds of others to do his bidding. One of the cornerstones of Manga and Anime, Ghost In The Shell has obviously influenced a lot of Hollywood sci-fi, and this film has in turn been influenced by them in return. Coming across as a hotch potch of ideas from The Matrix, Blade Runner and Robocop, this animated film has a lot to commend it visually, with excellent animation, inventive visual effects and the backgrounds in particular are beautifully rendered. Unfortunately the director was obviously also in awe of these creations and spends far too much time lingering on them while nothing happens on screen. The storyline is also rather too convoluted considering the comparative simplicity of the core idea of the plot and the dialogue little more than a load of existential waffle about the nature of "life". The action scenes are very well done, especially the climactic duel with the enemy tank but as a whole it feels too much like a technophile's wet dream where he gets to give his computer a hot bod, slip on some Barry White and introduce it to his own "hard drive".
Lewis C

"And where does the newborn go from here? The net is vast and infinite." Science fiction can often make you feel like you're in a philosophy class, and sci-fi anime usually does that as a rule. Ghost in the Shell is no exception. Questions of what makes an entity a… More
"And where does the newborn go from here? The net is vast and infinite." Science fiction can often make you feel like you're in a philosophy class, and sci-fi anime usually does that as a rule. Ghost in the Shell is no exception. Questions of what makes an entity a human being and the ramifications of increasing artificial intelligence on what we define as a "person" are all woven into an action story about conspiracies in near-future Hong Kong and a world where human beings connect themselves directly to the Internet and each other. This opens people up to the danger of having their minds hacked by outside influences, and it's just such an incident that sends the cyborg Major Kusaragi and her team of government agents on the trail of a mysterious hacker known as The Puppet Master. It's really a simple story, but it attempts to go quite deeply into some of the areas I mentioned previously. The writing isn't quite up to the task of adequately communicating the ideas that are being presented, but if you like to think along with your sci-fi anime action, you'll be comfortably at home, here. The animation is quite good for 1995, the plot and characters are interesting, and it all moves along at a brisk clip that makes subsequent viewings anything but a chore. I still prefer the two series that were spawned by Ghost in the Shell to the original feature, but it's nice to revisit this from time to time.
Justin Y

Mamoru Oshii brings to life an animation with much to offer in the way of science fiction and action. Ghost in the Shell is an instant anime classic.At just around 80 minutes, the story has a lot going for it. The futuristic setting is just the start.… More
Mamoru Oshii brings to life an animation with much to offer in the way of science fiction and action. Ghost in the Shell is an instant anime classic.At just around 80 minutes, the story has a lot going for it. The futuristic setting is just the start. The only huge problem with the story is the fact that one needs to pay close attention to keep on track with what is going on. At the same time, it also does get a bit technical, however it is unique and interesting.The pacing is moderate, but it is never boring. There is a decent amount of action and the choreography is fantastic. Once again, the futuristic setting is a positive for these scenes.Visually, the characters and settings look great. There is no holding back on the violence and nudity either.The voice acting is effectively chosen as the characters do have voices to match their looks and personalities. The main character of Motoko Kusanagi AKA Major, is one that is highly memorable and a hands down leader for the section 9 task force.Ghost in the Shell, while a bit short, has an engrossing story, great direction, and memorable characters to warrant a watch. This is a must see for science fiction anime fanatics.
Tsubaki S

Getting better with time.
Jens S

A animation classic, they say. It very obviously influenced the Wachowski's to do Matrix, so I expected a lot. Somehow I was very disappointed. The really nice visuals could not make up for a lot of semi-philosophical semi-technical dialogue blah blah, very little action, and a… More
A animation classic, they say. It very obviously influenced the Wachowski's to do Matrix, so I expected a lot. Somehow I was very disappointed. The really nice visuals could not make up for a lot of semi-philosophical semi-technical dialogue blah blah, very little action, and a somewhat pointless storyline. I guess I simply didn't get it.
Gordon A

Spiratual successor to 'Akira' with impressive visuals but the plot gets a bit confusing.
Michael S

One of my favorite anime films.
Michael G

Fantastic animation but the story lacks.
Steve K

One of the best sci-fi films in the last 20 years.
Mark A

This viewer's first foray into Japanese anime, and it is impressive. Philosophical and thoughtful story that questions what constitutes sentience, what defines us as a species, and whether technology will unknowingly create a new life form. The idea is not a new one. The result… More
This viewer's first foray into Japanese anime, and it is impressive. Philosophical and thoughtful story that questions what constitutes sentience, what defines us as a species, and whether technology will unknowingly create a new life form. The idea is not a new one. The result here is very well done, and a visually exciting film. The animation is superb. The scenery is a visual feast. The voice actors are a little stiff and unemotive, but that only enhanced the feeling of other-ness. Makes one want to see what comes next, as the story is left open-ended.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Ghost in the Shell" is a Japanese anime film about Major Motoko Kusanagi who is a cyborg government assassin working for Section 9 in Newport City.(Section 6 is foreign affairs.) She is assigned to track down a legendary hacker who is very, very… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Ghost in the Shell" is a Japanese anime film about Major Motoko Kusanagi who is a cyborg government assassin working for Section 9 in Newport City.(Section 6 is foreign affairs.) She is assigned to track down a legendary hacker who is very, very dangerous. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Ghost in the Shell" is one hell of a convoluted movie. There is never much more at stake than the outcome of a pissing contest. And the odd bit of ultraviolence does not help. But the ending is rather nice, though.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]In short, this film reminds me why I never liked Cyberpunk much in the first place. In books written by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, much more emphasis would be given over to technology and hacking, than characterization. I am never thrilled with this kind of approach to storytelling.[/font]
Matthew Y

The best profiled version of the Ghost in the Shell concept and characters that I have seen so far. Ghost in the Shell is a famous magna series/anime series/animated film which is probably more infamous for inspiring the Watchowky Brothers to make The Matrix. Ghost in the Shell is a… More
The best profiled version of the Ghost in the Shell concept and characters that I have seen so far. Ghost in the Shell is a famous magna series/anime series/animated film which is probably more infamous for inspiring the Watchowky Brothers to make The Matrix. Ghost in the Shell is a futuristic society where animatronic technology has advanced to the point where just about any limp or organ can be replaced. The series follows high-profile field agents, the main character "The Major" has had her body so ravished over the years that she is completely an android with only her soul or "ghost" still remaining in her cybernetic "shell". This film delves deep into the spiritual the theological questions brought about by this haunting concept. If you're so altered from your original state at what point are you no longer human but more of a computer program with memories of the original host? The film also has some spectacular animated action sequences and in my opinion is a masterpiece and one of the greatest anime's of all time.
George M

The sophistication and beauty of the visual aspect is breathtaking. Not many directors, either of anime or of live-action, could pull this feat through. The rhythm is slow and contemplative with some excellent sequences. The narrative is a bit more problematic because of its great… More
The sophistication and beauty of the visual aspect is breathtaking. Not many directors, either of anime or of live-action, could pull this feat through. The rhythm is slow and contemplative with some excellent sequences. The narrative is a bit more problematic because of its great amount of information and techno-gibberish, but this technique seems to be deliberate and enhances the feeling of alienation that the film seems to evoke. Sometimes you get the idea that it's style over substance, but this is a style that creates substance. It's also a style that is a landmark in the cyberpunk aesthetics and the impact can be seen in films like the Matrix (though Ghost in the Shell is a superior film artistically). The soundtrack is great too. This maybe the best film of Mamoru Oshii if we don't count the criminally underrated and unkown Angel's Egg.
Panta O

攻殻機動隊, literally means "Mobile Armored Riot Police" and according to many is one of the best Japanese multimedia franchise composed of manga, animated films, anime series, video games and novels. It is about the… More
攻殻機動隊, literally means "Mobile Armored Riot Police" and according to many is one of the best Japanese multimedia franchise composed of manga, animated films, anime series, video games and novels. It is about the activities of the counter-terrorist organization Public Security Section 9 in a futuristic Japan. Not my "cup of tea". I found that this animation is just a little bit improved manga comic book. Most of the times blank looks were more annoying then expressing and I am not sure what are the fantasies of people watching this but I'll stick to "other" internet sources, because this does nothing for me! I know that these animations have huge numbers of followers and it's not my intention to offend them, but I'll have to say that I was happy when this was over. For everyone who watches these movies maybe is a master-piece, for me is below average animated movie which kids would never understand (in most of the other countries than Japan)...