Ghost in the Shell / Major Kusanagi / Mamoru Oshii

Ghost in the Shell 2 - "Innocence"

Innocence (100 min) was produced

in 2004 and again featured the

genius of director Mamoru Oshii.

Innocence was at the cutting edge of both computer animation and sound technology when it was released. It was a breath taking Master piece. The music features the talent of Kengi Kawai and it is a smooth blend of "Jazz Fusion" and "Techno".

Kusanagi still retains her humanity after losing her body (shell) and finds a host for her existence in the depths of the computer networks.

The Gabriel music box from the "Dog Box", which came with a dvd of "Innocence" and was sold in Japan.

A rare Japanese collectors doll from "Innocence" awaiting her costume and hair to be added.

Detail of invitations to the Sydney Japan Foundation's fabulous Production I.G exhibition which featured GITS

Handbills and publicity photos from Japan.

*The Future -

In 2008 Dreamworks acquired the rights to make a live action version of
"Ghost in the Shell".
The project will involve Stephen Spielberg and the screenplay will be created by Jamie Moss.

*The film will be released in 2011.

Ghost in the Shell / Major Kusanagi / Mamoru Oshii

Ghost in the Shell - On TV

French advertising hand-bill for "Stand Alone Complex"

Between 2002 and 2004 the TV series of "Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex" and "Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex - 2nd Gig" appeared on Japanese TV, this time directed by Keji Kamiyama (also famous for "Blood: The Last Vampire", "Jin-Roh" and "The Wolf Brigade").

Japanese handbill

Major Kusanagi in Ninja costume

In 2004 and 2008 Kenji Kamiyama also directed three movies based on the TV series; "Individual 11", "The Laughing Man" and "Solid State Society".

Kenji imparts a solid interpretation of characters and stories and brands his own unique style across his works.
He also produces an arguably wilder and more sexual representation of Major Kusanagi.

The moody Pop music of Yako Kanno (who also produced the music for "Cowboy Bebop"), is a powerful addition to the "Stand Alone Complex" series.


Kenji's works tell of Major Kusanagi's role within section 9, prior to the happenings in the original "Ghost in the Shell" movie. In the world of Kenji's "Ghost in the Shell', section 9 has been formed as an elite counter terrorism and anti crime unit to deal with the growing threat of terrorism through the Net.

The "Ghost in the Shell" works of Kenji Kamiyama were co-produced by "Manga Entertainment" and "Bandai Entertainment".



The Artwork featured is from the collection of Geoffrey Clifton.

Ghost in the Shell / Tachikoma / S.A.C

Ghost in the Shell / Stand Alone Complex
- Tachikoma -
A Perfect Piece Model by Megahouse / 2008

Mini Tachikoma made by the Kodansha company for SEGA

Ghost in the Shell / Major Kusanagi / Mamoru Oshii

I regard Ghost in the Shell as one of the greatest achievements within Anime. This is because of its pioneering technology of combining cel and computer animation and because of its influence apon other films such as "The Matrix". It is also because of its sheer beauty as an animated masterpiece.

Ghost in the Shell rivals other great Anime masterpieces such as Akira (Kasuhiro Otomo 1988) and the latter two "Appleseed" feature films (also from the Manga of Shirow Masamune).

The Many Faces of Major Kusanagi

*from Geoffrey Clifton's collection

Ghost in the Shell / Major Kusanagi / Mamoru Oshii

Major Motoko Kusanagi's character clearly challenges and in many ways surpasses her male counter-parts, in her physical and mental abilities.


It is perhaps her physical abilities that connects with a younger male audience, in much the same way that the character of "The Bride" (Uma Thurman) in "Kill Bill" (By Quentin Tarantino) hit a chord over a decade later.


It may just be that a womens physical and interlectual ability has become the "New Sexy", especially when it is melded with a dark seductive beauty as in the case of Major Kusanagi.


Detail from the original Australian cinema handbill / 1995.

It is both Shirow's character design and Oshii's screen vision that truelly brings this character to life.

*Shirow has gained great acclaim in the past for his female character and "Mecha" designs.

The storyline is both complex and intriguing. It deals with existential concerns relating to the nature of humanity.

Major Kusanagi is represented as still being human despite the fact that most of her body has been replaced by artificial components, (some of which remain the property of the government).

It is in fact her Ghost or soul which is the only truelly remaining remnant of her human form. Her existence draws a fine line between man and machine; it is "Man/Machine Interface" (Shirow).

Major Kusanagi from "Stand Alone Complex", 2002

Within the narrative the antagonist "The Puppet Master", has the ability to hack into the minds of other characters and rewrite their memories. It is these actions of the Puppet Master which form the basis of the storyline.

Shirow truelly challenges his audience to ponder on what the true nature of the human being is.

Fellow "Section 9" Cyborg, Bateau

An almost fully human member of "Section 9", Tosuga

Cel and Drawing of Major Kusanagi shown together.

This sequence was part of a section of the film which was re-filmed in the USA using computer techniques.

*All images are from Geoffrey Clifton's collection.

Ghost in the Shell / Major Kusanagi / Mamoru Oshii

Major Motoko Kusanagi

*All images are from Geoff Clifton's private collection

-Ghost in the Shell-

(攻殻機動隊　･　Kokaku Kidoutai)

Original Manga - Masamune Shirow - 1991 - Young Magazine

Anime - 83 min - Mamoru Oshii (Director) - 1995 - Production I.G

Kenji Kawa (Music)

*Partly funded by Manga Entertainment

Video Release - 1996 - Manga Video


Birth of Major Kusanagi

Sexy, sensual,

independent, intelligent,

strong, sensitive, assertive ...

........ a born leader

........ and a woman who is part human and part machine (cyborg).

Major Motoko Kusanagi a group leader of "Section 9", symbolises much of what woman have worked to become over the past decades.

She has overcome the stereotype of the beautiful but physically helpless heroine of old.

Model of S.A.C/2nd GIG Kusanagi

Sculptured by Takahashi Tsuyoshi

Model produced by - Vice -

Ghost in the Shell / Major Kusanagi / Mamoru Oshii

Atsuko Tanaka voices Major Kusanagi, in All of the Japanese productions of Ghost in the　Shell.

Major Kusanagi / Ghost in the Shell

Major Kusanagi / Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex

－日本で製作された攻殻機動隊では、声優の田中敦子さんが草薙隊長の役を演じた。

Kusanagi Models

　

　　　　　

Ghost in the Shell / Major Kusanagi / Mamoru Oshii