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Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2045

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045
Japanese promotional poster
攻殻機動隊 SAC_2045
(Kōkaku Kidōtai: SAC_2045)
GenreAction, science fiction
Created byMasamune Shirow
Original net animation
Directed by
Produced by
  • Haruyasu Makino
  • Kengo Abe
  • Natsuko Tatsuzawa (season 1)
  • Daichi Sasa (season 2)
Written byKenji Kamiyama
Music by
  • Kazuma Jinnōchi
  • Nobuko Toda
Studio
Licensed byNetflix
Released April 23, 2020 –
May 23, 2022
Runtime24 minutes
Episodes24 (List of episodes)
Anime film
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045
Sustainable War
Directed by
Written byKenji Kamiyama
Music by
  • Kazuma Jinnōchi
  • Nobuko Toda
Studio
  • Production I.G
  • Sola Digital Arts
Licensed byNetflix
ReleasedNovember 12, 2021 (2021-11-12)
Runtime118 minutes
Anime film
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045
The Last Human
Directed by
Written byKenji Kamiyama
Music by
  • Kazuma Jinnōchi
  • Nobuko Toda
Studio
  • Production I.G
  • Sola Digital Arts
ReleasedNovember 23, 2023 (2023-11-23)
Runtime126 minutes

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (Japanese: 攻殻機動隊 SAC_2045, Hepburn: Kōkaku Kidōtai: SAC_2045) is a Japanese original net animation (ONA) series based on the 1980s Japanese manga series Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow, set in the Stand Alone Complex sub-continuity.

The first season premiered exclusively on Netflix worldwide on April 23, 2020. It received generally negative reviews, with critics considering it inferior to previous Ghost in the Shell media due to multiple factors. A second season was released on May 23, 2022, to similarly negative reviews. Two compilation movies of the series were released in 2021 and 2023.

Premise

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In the year 2045 (11 years after events of Solid State Society), after an economic disaster known as the Simultaneous Global Default which destroyed the value of all forms of paper and electronic currency, the "Big 4" nations of the world are engaged in a state of never-ending "Sustainable War" to keep the economy going. In this world, Motoko, Batou, and other members of Public Security Section 9 have contracted themselves out as mercenaries under the group "GHOST," using their cybernetic enhancements and battle experience to earn a living while defusing hot-spots across the globe. However, the emergence of "Post Humans" and a conspiracy uncovered by former Chief Aramaki force Section 9 to reunite.

Voice cast

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Character Japanese voice actor[1] English voice actor[2]
Motoko Kusanagi Atsuko Tanaka Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Daisuke Aramaki Osamu Saka William Knight
Batou Akio Ōtsuka Richard Epcar
Togusa Kōichi Yamadera Crispin Freeman
Ishikawa Yutaka Nakano Michael McCarty
Saito Tōru Ōkawa Dave Wittenberg
Paz Takashi Onozuka Bob Buchholz
Borma Taro Yamaguchi Dean Wein
Tachikoma Sakiko Tamagawa Melissa Fahn
Purin Esaki Megumi Han Cherami Leigh
Standard Kenjiro Tsuda Keith Silverstein
John Smith Kaiji Soze Roger Craig Smith
Chris Otomo Tate Shigeo Kiyama Armen Taylor
Takashi Shimamura Megumi Hayashibara Max Mittelman
Phillip Kukushkin Tarusuke Shingaki Euguen Leon

Production

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See also: List of Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2045 episodes

Kodansha and Production I.G announced on April 7, 2017, that Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki would be co-directing a new Ghost in the Shell anime production.[3] On December 7, 2018, it was reported by Netflix that they had acquired the worldwide streaming rights to the original net animation (ONA) anime series, titled Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, and that it would premiere on April 23, 2020. The series is in 3DCG and Sola Digital Arts collaborated with Production I.G on the project.[4] Ilya Kuvshinov handled character designs.[5] An English dub was not available until May 3 due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing production delays for its recording.[6] It was stated that the series will have two seasons of 12 episodes each,[7] with the second set released on May 23, 2022.[8][9]

In July 2021, it was announced that the first season would be adapted into a compilation film, subtitled Sustainable War, which premiered on November 12, 2021.[10][11][12] Netflix released the film worldwide on May 9, 2022.[13] A compilation film of the second season, The Last Human, was announced in March 2023, and premiered on November 23, 2023.[14][15]

Marketing

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On May 22, 2024, official social media accounts of Hyundai Japan and Ghost in the Shell announced a collaboration to promote the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.[16] The Shibuya Tsutaya store hosted the Ioniq 5 N from June 3 to June 22.[16]

Reception

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The first season of the anime received generally negative reviews from critics, garnering a 13% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, while the second has a 29% approval rating.[17][18]

Max Genecov of Polygon wrote that the series had "none of the visceral aesthetics or mood that made Ghost in the Shell an indelible element of how we think about our interconnected lives."[19] Writing for The A.V. Club, Toussaint Egan rated the series a C−, calling the action sequences "awful" and opining that "as wonderful as it is to return to this series’ interpretations of Major Kusanagi and company after more than a decade away, you'd be better off dusting off Stand Alone Complex DVDs and give this one a pass."[20] Kayla Cobb of Decider wrote "time and time again SAC_2045 ignores the deeper path and chooses instead point and drool."[21] Theron Martin of Anime News Network wrote that the series was "easily the weakest entry in the franchise so far, even below Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence".[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Anime Reveals Trailer, New Cast, April 23 Debut". Anime News Network. March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  2. ^ "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (2020 TV Show) - Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ^ "Ghost in the Shell Gets New Anime From Kenji Kamiyama, Shinji Aramaki". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Netflix's New Ghost in the Shell Anime Debuts First Trailer". 23 October 2019.
  5. ^ Lee, Egan (June 11, 2019). "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 3DCG Anime's Characters Designed by Birthday Wonderland's Ilya Kuvshinov". Anime News Network. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Netflix Lists Ghost in the Shell: SAC _2045 As "English Dub…Pending" On Day Of Release". Bubble Blabber. April 23, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 20, 2020). "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Anime Reveals New Clip, Confirms 2nd Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Anime Season 2's Teaser Unveils Staff, Millennium Parade's Theme Songs, May Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Anime Season 2's Trailer Reveals Insert Song, May 23 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "『攻殻機動隊 SAC_2045』劇場版 2021年公開決定！". 攻殻機動隊 SAC_2045 公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  11. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 7, 2021). "1st Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Anime Season Gets Compilation Film This Year". Anime News Network. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  12. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 8, 2021). "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Compilation Film's Teaser Reveals Title, November 12 Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  13. ^ Dempsey, Liam (April 20, 2022). "Netflix Unveils Visual and Trailer for Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War Compilation Film". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  14. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 24, 2023). "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Anime Gets 2nd Compilation Film (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "2nd Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Compilation Film's 1st 12 Minutes Streamed". Anime News Network. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "The Future Has Arrived with Ghost in the Shell's Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Electric Vehicle Ads".
  17. ^ "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045: Season 2 (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  19. ^ Genecov, Max (24 April 2020). "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is an action-heavy sequel to a once-thoughtful anime". Polygon. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  20. ^ Egan, Toussaint (21 April 2020). "Netflix's Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045 is a tepid, techno spy thriller". AV Club. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  21. ^ Cobb, Kayla (23 April 2020). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045', Netflix's New Take on an Anime Classic". Decider. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  22. ^ Martin, Thereon (27 April 2020). "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045". Anime News Network. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
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