Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a Japanese anime television series produced by Production I.G, based on Masamune Shirow's manga Ghost in the Shell. It was written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, with original character designs by Hajime Shimomura and a soundtrack by Yoko Kanno. The first season aired from October 2002 to October 2003, and was positively received by critics. A second season, titled Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG, aired from January 2004 to January 2005. The series centers on the members of an elite law enforcement unit known as Public Security Section 9 as they investigate cybercrime and terrorism cases. The cases in the first season are often connected to their pursuit of an elite hacker and corporate terrorist known as the "Laughing Man", whose actions create the series' titular "Stand Alone Complex". A series of short comic animations, titled Tachikomatic Days, aired after each episode, starring the Tachikoma “think-tanks”. The first season was adapted into a feature-length OVA titled The Laughing Man (2005), and the series received video game spin-offs. 2nd GIG was later adapted into a feature-length OVA entitled Individual Eleven (2006). A TV-film sequel, Solid State Society, was released in that year. An ONA series, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, released on Netflix (2020-2022), continues the story.