Forum - View topicEP. REVIEW: Ghost in the Shell
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Greed1914
 Posts: 5411 |
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It's definitely different from the iterations I've seen, but you can see where those other versions pulled from, whether it's specific shots or just in general. Probably the part that is the hardest to get used to is the Major being goofy. Stuff like being embarrassed that the team saw some of her memories, whereas in SAC, she probably would have calmly warned them about the attack barrier after that just to spook them. But things like her telling Togusa that she didn't need his help but appreciated it anyway very much felt like where that version came from.
When it comes to translating on-screen text, I guess we'll have to resort to pausing it when the explanatory text hits. It goes by fast, the translation is done like regular subtitles, and moves on fast, especially if there are more than one in a scene. I've always liked that aspect of having explanations for these terms that get thrown around, but it's pretty clunky here, both because Amazon doesn't care to do more than jam a square peg into a round hole, but also because it's something that would be no problem in manga format where the reader has full control over how much time they get to read it vs. a constantly moving animated format. |
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Flared
 Posts: 124 Location: United Kingdom |
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This adaptation feels like Science Saru brought a 1990s OVA into the current day, and I am all for it. Seeing this much colour injected into Ghost in the Shell is honestly refreshing and goofier renditions of the characters are a blast to watch.
Yes, this tonal shift won't be for everyone (especially those who are strict adherents to SAC and the 1995 film). But if you go with it, it's going to be a great ride. |
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Gem-Bug
 Posts: 1534 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada |
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The main caveat for folks is this is a faithful manga adaption, and not the 1995 film/SAC/Arise, et al. There's a lot of silly "discourse" going on right now that can be boiled down to "fans of previous installments have no object permanance". I'm personally loving everything Science Saru is doing with this adaption, and am slowly reading the manga along with each episode.
I love the colors and the lighter overall mood/goofiness of things. I enjoy that the technology feels "raw"; in Stand Alone Complex the technology is seamless and defined. Cyberbrain communication is full of pretty interfaces and prosthetics seem better than the original parts. In this new series Cyberbrain communication is messy, with flashes of memory not locked away or compartmentalized. Kusanagi complains about a recent audio part installation that isn't working out and Batou complains about a lack of air conditioning in the Fuchikomas. These tech issues combined with the casual atmosphere makes the world and characters feel real. My only real gripe so far(and is especially apparent in Episode 3) is the information/history subtitles in the English dub going way, way too fast to read without pausing each sentence. Relatively minor, but it breaks my immersion slightly. |
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Cardcaptor Takato
 Posts: 5995 |
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As much hay has been made about how drastically different the new GITS is from previous incarnations, I feel like this version isn't really that huge of a difference from SAC. Yeah Motoko was maybe not as over the top goofy but she still had moments where she was cracking sarcastic jokes with the cast and even SAC also heavily implied her sexuality in the show. The new series feels much more in line with SAC than that direct Netflix CGI sequel did. Even Atsuko Tanaka had commented before in the interviews on the SAC DVD extras how she had to play the Major differently than she did in the movie and how much lighter in tone SAC was from the Oshii films. I feel like this perception SAC was always super serious is a bit of fans misremembering and conflating the show with the Oshii films.
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Joe Mello
 Posts: 2575 Location: Online Terminal |
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The way I've phrased it elsewhere is expecting, say, Law & Order and getting NCIS instead. |
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Kruszer
 Posts: 8017 Location: Minnesota, USA |
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Wow, it's tough going from the other series' sleek technology and mostly realistic looking character designs of Production IG to the ultra retro-looking Dragonball Z/Slayers era of crazy hair designs of this latest incarnation...no complaints on the story or the characters though.
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tintor2
 Posts: 2738 |
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It does look too comical, but it still carries the depth many people found in the 90s anime that Osshi directed with so many liberties. The scene that made me realize this is when Motoko casually says that she has doubts about her being a fake Motoko created by some sort of AI and her friends react depressed in a comical fashion, This is one of the line Osshi kept in the 90s film when Motoko is talking to Bato. It's basically Spike's commentary about whether or not life can be a dream from Cowboy Bebop.
The part that did catch me offguard was the usage of sexual relationships between cyborgs. Stand Alone Complex had a scene where a kid asked Motoko if cyborgs could have sexual relationships but I don't remember such TV series going further. |
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Cardcaptor Takato
Posts: 5995 |
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Silver Kirin
Posts: 1798 |
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I mean, I wonder if Japanese audiences have the same trouble reading on-screen text, especially if it goes too fast and is very tiny, I've heard that some Japanese people have to carefully read some kanji to figure out its meaning. This is where I kind of miss old Spanish dubs where instead of using text, they have a voice reading all the foreign text and signs out loud, yeah, it kind of breaks the immersion and it couldn't be done if there was a lot of dialogue in the same scene, but it helped a lot. Nowadays it's much more easier to insert text to translate on-screen text, but sometimes it moves too fast for me too read it without pausing. |
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jdnation
Posts: 2534 |
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I'm digging the show so far, but for me the Oshii and SAC versions are far superior.
If I was going to introduce GITS to anyone, it wouldn't be this. But saying that, it also depends... For anyone into sci-fi or more serious films, Oshii and SAC are the way to go... But for anyone else who is more into comedy and entertainment than ponderous philosophical arthouse, Science Saru's might be the ticket. And I'll say with regards to the soundtrack, so far it facilitates the show, but Kenji Kawai's scores for the films and Yoko Kanno's OSTs for SAC are a high bar to outdo. Sadly, this adaptation is nothing to write home about, though the ED is growing on me. Should overall be a good show, but I doubt this will achieve the success or acclaim of other hit franchises by Saru. But it is early, and I'm eager to be proven wrong! |
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WatcherZer
Posts: 531 |
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I find it really hard to watch subs on streaming platforms like Amazon and Netflix because the quality of the sub presentation is so bad. Sometimes they just put Closed Caption subs up and call it a day, other times the text is bouncing all over the screen too fast to read or not synched with the dialog.
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#yoobik
Posts: 80 |
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I saw the movie thirty years ago, but never read the manga, so this one's been a bit tough for me to follow but I'm hanging in there. I realize I wouldn't necessarily be the target audience so it's fine if I don't know what some of it means. I love the show's style. I think it looks fun not goofy. Fun is important. I'd credit that for making me want to get into this show, even if it does take some work.
This is a good review. Helped me understand the context of this version better. Thanks. |
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jr240483
 Posts: 4883 Location: New York City,New York,USA |
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i was more concerned that the stand alone complex community would auto dislike the new english dub cast. especially with batou considering that his VA richard epcar was around since the 95 movie (he more or less confirmed that he was voicing batou as well as the major's VA was under alias names during a panel back in anime nyc years ago) so its great that the new cast knocked it out of the park. also NO ONE should be surprised that shirow's infamous lesbian scene would get the tv censorship cobsidering that the man himself quit doing hentai artwork decades ago. especially after GITS became a global hit and most of the artbooks that are sold now were heavily edited compared to the original R18 artbooks. its almost feels like if he is hell bent on erasing his previous life as a hentai artist in a similar way to what former taimanin asagi / lilith soft artist rei hiroe did after his black lagoon manga became a global sensation as well |
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Rence54
Posts: 6 |
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As someone who is going to watch, or read anything titled "Ghost in the shell", I was going to watch this regardless of the art style or tone. I was also, unless they went out of their way to make it suck intentionally, going to at least enjoy it if i didn't love it. 3 episodes in and I'm not disappointed. I haven't fully decided exactly how much I like it yet, I'm probably going to wait until it's done, binge it again and then decide. But all signs point to "it's very different, but I'm here for it! Bring on s2!"
NOT where I would suggest newcomers start if they're new to the IP, but that's largely just because of the deep love i have for the first 2 movies, SAC, and SSS. So far I like it more than Arise and SAC_2045, but let's face it, that's not a negative lol |
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Flared
Posts: 124 Location: United Kingdom |
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This is the most balanced take I've seen on this. Usually it's people going #notmymotoko or the opposite side calling fans of 1995/SAC "tourists". Though I am recommending this to my friend's son (who has never seen anything GITS) as he likes more goofy comedic action shows like DandaDan and Delicious in Dungeon (or anything Trigger really), with the caveat that if they find the philosophical aspects interesting then watch SAC and/or 1995 afterwards.
That's like trying to go up against anime Mozart (in Kanno especially), so it was always going to be a tough ask as you say. However I feel as though some of the best tracks have already not been very well utilised. The cool track played in the second teaser trailer was present in episode 1 but it was a bit muted so it didn't have the opportunity to shine, so hopefully we can hear more of it later. |
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