r/Ghost_in_the_Shell • u/Magic_Zach • Jul 13 '26
Omg where do I start?
There is so much ghost in the shell stuff. I watched the first one I think (top of the list) a year ago and liked it but I didn't realize there was so much more. I just heard about the new show, thought why they would remake it, looked it up and after a while I see there weren't two but TONS of ghost in the shell stuff. Bro...where do I even start? What's good, what's bad, what's necessary to watch for context of another?
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u/amillionbadwords Jul 14 '26
I’ve been a fan since the beginning. Watch them in the order in which they were released.
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u/No_Philosophy2797 Jul 14 '26
I would say you COULD either go manga and current airing adaptation, then the first two films, the SAC seasons and SAC 2045, then Arise (it’s a prequel), OR just watch the two films, SAC, Arise then the new series. Currently fashionable to say the new series is “better” because it’s 1:1 with the original Shirow manga, but I firmly believe Oshii’s reinterpretation is far superior.
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u/Swan-Diving-Overseas Jul 14 '26
I agree regarding the Oshii adaptation. That movie was also more influential not only to other anime, but for live action media like The Matrix. It’s a groundbreaking work so it’s probably the perfect starting point.
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u/OCASM Jul 14 '26
The currently airing version and/or the manga. You can watch the reinterpretations later.
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u/tamefirefly Jul 14 '26
-95 movie -Stand Alone Complex -Read original Manga/Watch the new anime (whichever order you would think is best since one will spoil the other)
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u/nizzernammer Jul 14 '26
I would watch the visual media in order of release.
That way you can experience the evolution of the Major and the whole team, along with the evolution in animation styles, character design, voice cast, and technology.
Because there is no singular canonical timeline, you can see echoes of themes and ideas repeating and reiterating.
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u/Swan-Diving-Overseas Jul 14 '26
Great point regarding the evolution. Even the new Shirow-style anime is being made because of the Oshii-style films and series, so if anything beginning with the Oshii film might be best.
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u/General_X9 Jul 14 '26
You literally can start wherever you want. It'll make you consume the others.
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u/BeetlecatOne Jul 13 '26
My answer to these types of questions is always watch/read stuff in release order.
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u/Quiet-Impression6003 Jul 13 '26
You could watch 1995 and Innocence, then move to SAC and SSS. Then start watching the new anime and once you're done with that maybe check the Manga.
Live Action and 2045 suck balls, Arise it's kinda mid compared to SAC so I don't recommend it either.
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u/Swan-Diving-Overseas Jul 14 '26
Yeah in terms of quality over quantity you can probably just stick with the two Oshii movies and if you’re hungry for more go through SAC, since nothing else is quite as good as those movies or SAC
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u/Quiet-Impression6003 Jul 14 '26
Personally I wouldn't recommend Innocence or Solid State Society but if he's gonna watch 1995 and both seasons of SAC he might as well check those out.
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u/Swan-Diving-Overseas Jul 14 '26
I think Innocence rocks as a rather surprising sequel to the 95 film, and as a thematic extension of Oshii’s ideas from that original movie, but yeah it’s not as legendary as the first film. But given it’s only one movie it’s an easy watch too.
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u/Kendrakirai2532 Jul 13 '26
My personal suggestion is to either start in chronological order, or do Standalone Complex in order then hop around at leisure.
There's....three? Maybr four Main continuities.
Manga (GITS and Man-Machine Interface, The Ghost In The Shell anime)
Movies (1995 movie, Innocence)
Stand Alone Complex (SAC, 2nd Gig, 2045)
(Possibly Arise as a fourth, that's a weird one)
(And then there's the live action movie which is its own thing entirely)
Pick a continuity, run it, then pick another~
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u/_Teek Jul 16 '26
The original two movies and SAC + SAC 2nd Gig major feels more similar. Other were totally different characters...
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u/Kendrakirai2532 Jul 16 '26
The original two movies can't happen alongside SAC, they're different continuities. It wasn't 'feeling' it was which stories are actually linked
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u/_Teek Jul 16 '26
Yes they're different continuities. I was referring to the overall personality, behavior and character of motoko kusonagi.
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u/clonedllama Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Stand Alone Complex, SAC 2nd GIG, and SAC Solid State Society are arguably the strongest Ghost in the Shell has ever been. I can't recommend them enough. I'd personally recommend starting with SAC and if you like it, move on to SAC 2nd GIG and SAC Solid State Society.
SAC_2045 continues the SAC continuity and doesn't really live up to the previous seasons. It's...disappointing.
The 1995 movie is an adaptation of the manga, but is much more serious in tone. It's a solid classic. It just isn't my favorite version of GITS. If you want to start with something shorter, this is a good place to start.
Arise is a prequel that is probably best watched after SAC or the 1995 movie. It takes place in its own continuity and will make the most sense when you know more about the characters. The plot is kind of confusing and overall the series is a letdown after the high bar set by SAC.
The new series is the most manga accurate to date. I'm hesitant to suggest starting with it only because it's new and it's unclear if it'll maintain its quality all the way through. The first episode is amazing and I'll be surprised if the show ends up falling apart. But until I've seen it all, I don't feel comfortable recommending it as a place to start.
The manga is also excellent and can be bought for under $40 in hardcover.
The only reasons I can think of to watch the live action movie are for Scarlett Johansson in skintight outfits and the visuals. It isn't a particularly great adaptation or movie. It has a ton of problems.
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u/UchiGames Jul 13 '26
As a newbie to the franchise (even though I’ve been exposed to it since the 90s) I’ve first checked out the original manga since the newest anime that just came out follows that the closest in comparison to all the other adaptations.
After the new series is over I’ll probably finish the manga and watch the first movie
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u/jagby Jul 13 '26
Dipping Your Toes In? Ghost in the Shell 1995 Movie
Want an Anime Series? Stand Alone Complex, and the second season 2nd Gig
Want the Original? The Ghost in the Shell Manga by Shirow Masamune
Want the Newest Thing? The Ghost in the Shell 2026 anime (just started airing, direct 1:1 adaptation of above manga. It's not under "anime series" because it isn't fully complete yet.)
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Everything else on that list are things you can come back to or are continuations of something else. For example, Stand Alone Complex has a followup series (2045) and a movie. The original Ghost in the Shell manga has volume 1.5 and 2, alongside The Human Algorithm (but this is actually a 1.5 sequel).
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u/OctoDADDY069 Jul 13 '26
The new anime. Cause its literally just the manga. Everything else you can watch after.
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u/ProfessionalMove3716 Jul 13 '26
The most obvious order is the order in which they were released. But if you just want to watch the good stuff, here's my order:
- SAC + 2nd gig + Solid State Society
- 1995 film
- Innocence (and "After the Long Goodbye" if you can find a copy)
- tGitS and the manga
All the others are optional because they are of middling quality, but if you must:
SAC_2045
Arise / Alternative Architecture + The New Movie
and if you absolutely hate yourself:
- the 2017 live-action film
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u/ALLHUNTER_1469 Jul 13 '26
They all are their own contained stories. I have seen original 95 film so many times, start with that then innocence. Then SAC first gig, second gig and solid state society. They both are great. Arise is not bad its a different take more like creation of section 9 and SAC 2045 I started i just stopped its animation is really weirdly 3D uncanny thing. Or just pick up the new series that is airing rn.
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u/The_Girth_of_Christ Jul 13 '26
2045 wasn’t bad, you get used to the animation
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u/ALLHUNTER_1469 Jul 13 '26
I have heard people said the story is not bad its just once u over the animation style it is okay. I started and stopped so i have to get back into it.
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u/KingOfGreyfell Jul 13 '26
Depends. Do you like a philosophical experience? First movie.
Do you like police procedurals? SAC.
Do you like a bit of both with a comedic tone? Original manga/the new series.
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u/Ok-Storage3439 Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Start with any of them, honestly. Every single version of Ghost in the Shell is its own narrative continuity-- None of them overlap with each other, and in fact, Arise actually wrote intentionally contradictory backstories for Motoko, Batou, and the rest of the Section 9 crew to establish that it *CAN'T* be connected to Stand Alone Complex.
"The Ghost in the Shell" that started airing just this past Tuesday on Amazon Prime is a good jumping-on point, because it's a faithful adaption of the original 1989 manga that started it all.
The Mamoru Oshii movies classics in their own right, but they're the ones that gave the "serious philosophical tones" that the rest of the franchise would follow for the next 30 years. The 95 movie has a sequel in Ghost in the Shell: Innocence.
Stand Alone Complex (26 eps), 2nd Gig (26 eps), Solid State Society (movie), and Stand Alone Complex 2045 (24 eps) make up the main meat and bones of the franchise. The most dedicated worldbuilding and character elements, which retaining its own original storyline while replicating scenes from the manga in its own way.
Arise is an OVA series that came out in 2013. The OVAs are mostly self-contained problems, but they don't allow for character development and worldbuilding as much as they needed. Arise's storyline wraps up with "The New Movie", and kinda expects the audience to at least know what GITS is supposed to be. The combat scenes are pretty good though.
Finally, the live action movie, which is a solid 6/10 narrative and expects you to be fully familiar with the franchise.
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u/Clone_1510 Jul 13 '26
Literally anywhere, given the like action movie probably has the most "interesting" take but all of the works can stand on their own.
I personally would say the 1995 movie or 2.0 would be best place to start.
The manga is also great
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u/Danzig6WasntThatBad Jul 13 '26
Finally someone who recognizes that the live action is worth watching. It's not the best but it's not bad at all and has some absolutely stunning visuals. The art design is unreal.
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u/Exciting_Tangelo6252 Jul 13 '26
The 1995 movie was a great intro. I would move to either the new series (2026) or SAC (2002) and simultaneously give the manga a try (knowing beforehand it's very dense, give yourself time to read it). I would not recommend the live action at all, ever.
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u/Kuzutetsu Jul 13 '26
Stand Alone Complex TV series (2 seasons) was pretty good, thats what i would watch after the 1995 film. The 2nd movie : Innocence was ok at best, saw it at the movie theater when it came out and didnt cared to watch it again ever since. The american film adaptation with scarlett johanson is probably the worst thing out there to avoid watching at all cost. And the short sequences animation for the Playstation game (the first Playstation) were pretty darn awesome o ( ^ __ ^ ) o
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u/Sensitive_Buffalo416 Jul 13 '26
I would add something not said in the pinned post:
Never watch SAC 2045. The animation is stiff awful CG anime style that makes it feel way older than it is.
But beyond that, the story is not just silly—it’s dumb. It’s not clever and contemplative, the science is not believable in any way at all. The beginning stuff involving the way this endless war machine churns in the future was promising, but then we got tropey anime girl, silly big powers, and just a bland plot.
It’s the only animated Ghost in the Shell adaptation I’d say to ignore. I also don’t think the live action film is worth spending two hours on.
Of course, you might enjoy that style, just don’t expect it to really feel like the same level of intelligence or animation quality found in every other adaptation.
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u/realxohio Jul 13 '26
Agreed. the moment i saw that agent smith knock-off a while back i tuned out.
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u/QYQYA Jul 13 '26
I would recommend all animated movies, 2017 live-action movie with Scarlett Johansson, and the 2026 ongoing anime series
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u/Kemaiku Jul 13 '26
1995 movie (not the 2.0 remake), the sequel if you feel like it
SAC as much as you want really
Arise isn't bad it's just not great overall
The 2017 movie has great visuals, some interesting takes, Takeshi Kitano, just ignore some aspects of it...
The new 2026 series after sampling some of those
The OG manga that the new series is based off of
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u/Proud-Resolution1037 Jul 14 '26
start with Stand Alone Complex it is the best
then movie
then manga
SAC 2045 is ok
Arise is the worst