[Music]

Tindamax For Sale

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell, Yoko Kanno]

The second helping of Yoko Kanno's music written for the GitS: SAC Tindamax For Sale, series proves to be of equal quality alongside the first album, if slightly different in style and atmosphere. Once again it's a typically Kanno-esque mixture of styles and genres that borrow from numerous times and cultures; incidentally it makes for excellent driving music, canada, mexico, india. Purchase Tindamax online, Cyberbird starts the record off at a brisk pace and features ethereal-sounding vocal harmonies from that mysterious Gabriela Robin to give it that almost magical quality that Kanno's vocal tracks often show. It doesn't so much say anything by itself as set up a feel for what the album sets out to achieve; the atmosphere that a soundtrack provides is an important factor in how effective I consider it to be but fortunately this tune also sounds great taken out of context and played on its own, online buy Tindamax without a prescription. Tindamax trusted pharmacy reviews, The full version of the second season opener Rise is featured here too, expanding the TV-sized arrangement with additional verses and a guitar-driven breakdown/middle eight section, Tindamax forum. It lacks that stratospheric vibe of Inner Universe but the pulsating beat makes it sound more insistent and Origa's superb vocals give a great sense of continuity, Tindamax For Sale. Tindamax without a prescription, Jazz has been a recurring theme in Kanno's back catalogue and is represented here in the form of Ride on Technology and the more playful 3 Tops. Those familiar with the use of horns, Tindamax class, Tindamax photos, virtuoso percussion (I have an immense amount of respect for jazz drummers, what with the challenging time signatures they so often work to) and smatterings of electronic sounds used in a jazz-derived context in her more recent offerings for Darker than Black will know what to expect from them, is Tindamax safe. Purchase Tindamax online no prescription, Idoling in contrast is what I'd expect a song from a futuristic series to be: the lonely-sounding horns feel like they're echoing across a decaying metropolis and the drum and bass-sounding drum beats clatter and build on that thick, dark atmosphere, Tindamax brand name. Tindamax from canada, Ilaria Graziano's contributions are not left out on this album either, as she lends her vocal and lyrical talents to the marvellous I Can't Be Cool, where can i find Tindamax online. Tindamax For Sale, I can't place any of the songs in this selection to a particular moment of the series but this one is an exception: I recall it being used in a really suspenseful brain-dive scene and those vocals, that remind me very strongly of early Lacuna Coil, are every bit as evocative as I remember. Tindamax overnight, Her ability to perform tender ballads is also reiterated with I Do, which is almost entirely comprised of her singing with only a piano accompaniment, australia, uk, us, usa. Where can i buy Tindamax online, Other mellower moments give this album a more relaxed feel than the harder-edged first disc, such as the wistful What's it For (featuring the dulcet tones of Emily Curtis) and the muted strings and piano lines of To Tell the Truth, Tindamax from mexico. Buy Tindamax from mexico, To lighten the mood, a full edit of the ‘hip-hopadelic delight’ of Get9 provides a great mixture of rock, taking Tindamax, Tindamax canada, mexico, india, funk and even a bit of rap. Pet Food is a frantic and percussive acoustic guitar number that makes use of flamenco-style chords and hints of oriental melodies, get Tindamax. Psychedelic Soul offers more guitar work, this time along with a stadium-sized crescendo of percussion and strings with Scott Matthew's voice riding over it all, Tindamax For Sale. Tindamax pictures, One final full-length edit of a theme song, that of the second season end tune Living Inside the Shell, ordering Tindamax online, Herbal Tindamax, is yet another fine example of Steve Conte's vocals and the effectiveness of a good end theme. Most songs of this type are in contrast to the op themes, Tindamax results, My Tindamax experience, which are used to draw the viewer in and get things moving, in that they provide a cool-down effect and are often weaker or at least less memorable, Tindamax no rx. Online buying Tindamax hcl, This song however is very memorable indeed and is strong enough to feel like an opening theme tune in itself.

Some parts exhibit Kanno's more, Tindamax dangers, Buy generic Tindamax, how shall I say, eccentric aspects, buy Tindamax from canada, Where can i order Tindamax without prescription, such as Go da Da (which sounds like a procession of militant insects and can't really be taken seriously) and the eclectic electronica of We Can't Be Cool, although few are of the same level of oddness as the Be Human OST, Tindamax coupon. Tindamax For Sale, Even her strangest and most experimental moments give a break from the more serious material and have a peculiar charm of their own. Order Tindamax online c.o.d, Summary

It goes without saying that fans of the first disc will love this album too - it features a number of notable songs and interesting bits of background music that helped made the SAC such an outstanding show. What makes this album so worthwhile as a separate production is that it offers something for everyone and in addition the listener doesn't need to be a fan of the show to appreciate it, Tindamax forum. Kanno's enviable reputation has given her an opportunity to collaborate with some extremely talented fellow songwriters and performers, whose talents add even more to what is already a highly recommendable record to add to your collection.

Track listing:

1. サイバーバード (Cyberbird)


2. Rise


3. Ride On Technology


4. アイドリング (Idoling)


5. I Can't Be Cool


6. 3 Tops


7. Gonna Rice


8. Get9


9. Go da Da


10. サイケデリックソウル (Psychedelic Soul)


11. What's It For


12. Living Inside the Shell


13. ペットフード (Pet Food)


14. Security Off


15. To Tell the Truth


16. I Do


17. We Can't Be Cool

.

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[2 Comments]

[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

GitS SAC Solid State Society

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
I was going about my updates as normal but all of a sudden I had writer's block earlier this week. With no other reasons apparent, I've decided that a contagious Hiatus Disease is spreading through the blogsphere with the unwanted virulence and speed of a 4chan meme. To kick my butt back into gear I've decided to take on the new feature film from the GitS SAC franchise in the hope that things will return to normal, if only for me. Solid State Society is an odd beast: it's part of Kiriyama's SAC timeline but takes on the format of Oshii's feature films. As a result it inherits aspects from both but is obviously a break from the norm in that the SAC's approach has never been given the feature-length treatment before. To sum up then, SSS is pretty much a feature-length SAC episode. Interestingly, it makes a few knowing nods towards Oshii's efforts: an opening scene of Motoko's trademark jump-and-disappear stunt reminded me of the first film and the premise of Batou, Togusa and the others getting on without her that is reminiscent of the Innocence movie. This time it's a case of a master hacker called the Puppeteer, old people plugged into the 'net and an untold number of missing kids - a pleasantly convoluted and complex plotline that stretches Section Nine's capabilities nicely.

Batou stoically provides the Huerrgh! factor once again As much as I respect Production I.G.'s treatment of the GitS franchise, I can still find some (albeit minor) faults with this film. In dropping in numerous references to the films, SSS feels a little formulaic and does little to push the boundaries in what the franchise is and does. Artistically it's great but the op theme tune lacks a certain 'oomph' that Inner Universe and Rise had, which is odd since it features the same collaboration between Kanno's writing and Origa's vocals. Fortunately the background music and the end theme make up for this so I can safely add the OST to my 'to buy' list.

Togusa makes a surprisingly strong head of division Storyline-wise, I can't say much that isn't spoilerific but it's topical, convincing and unpredictable stuff. As the title suggests, the 'solid state society' is the old transistor that has been superseded by the shinier, new technology; the old are left behind, outdated and devoid of purpose, in this brave new world. The issue of supporting the elderly and dependent is already part of election candidates' manifestos worldwide now, but true to form GitS extrapolates this scenario, pressing fast-forward and letting the results run their course. The film deliberately refuses to offer an answer to the question of what to do with them, instead pointing out that the demographic pyramid IS changing, and sooner or later someone has to decide how best to address it. After dealing with assorted terrorism and immigration themes, it's reassuring to see the franchise examine yet another social-political issue and leave plenty of food for thought for us to get our teeth into.

Aramaki is still shrewd and not to be trifled with As outlined earlier, SSS falls between the episodic SAC series and the two feature films; it has the atmosphere and storytelling style of the former within the format of the latter. The upshot is that the plot is contained in less time than a series (with the investment of time and money that goes along with buying a whole series on DVD) but is able to explore the themes more fully than one of the 'stand-alone' episodes could. The pacing is a little uneven though, almost as if the writers were getting used to the breathing room offered by the extended running-time - no fewer than three sub-plots are running parallel before tangling together in a cryptic finale that favours head-scratchery after the gunfire and explosions.

The token futuristic techie shot The film plods along at first but does improve: there are plenty of twists and turns to test the viewer's attention and the final half hour or so offers plenty of pay-off for action junkies with a raid on a government building offering ample opportunity for the Tachikomas to make a welcome return. Actually, the violence seems a bit more brutal than that of the series run too, possibly benefiting from no longer being constrained by the schedules and regulations that govern TV broadcasting.

Did you seriously think I'd do a SAC review without including a Tachikoma ownage pic? In Summary Solid State Society delivers nothing more and nothing less than a feature-length Stand-alone Complex episode. On the downside it lacks the epic feel of Oshii's films despite clocking in at a similar running time, but is more accessible in the same way that the SAC series were. It doesn't take the franchise as a whole into new territory but at least maintains the enviable standards set by the previous two seasons; 'more of the same' is always a good thing as far as GitS is concerned, so despite being dogged by the recurrent spectre of advertising hype this show is still at the cutting edge of mature sci-fi animation.

[8 Comments]

[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
The seminal feature film that was Ghost in the Shell has long been lauded among fans as a landmark production, combining jaw-dropping visuals that combined cel and CGI animation, blistering action and a plot laden with philosophical musings concerning the nature of the human soul. It is perhaps one of the most hyped animated feature films as a result but there's no denying its historical significance. Mamoru Oshii returned to the director's chair almost a decade afterwards to revisit the futuristic world that manga artist Masumune Shirow created to give us another thought-provoking and occasionally shocking tale.

Questions, questions, questions With the Major vanished into the expanse of the Net, a new case concerning the deaths of high profile public officials at the hands of female cyborg 'gynoids' falls into the laps of Section Nine. Batou is paired up with Togusa to solve the case which leads them on the trail of master hackers, corrupt businessmen and all manner of other unsavoury characters. Although it's not as obtuse as his early effort Angel's Egg, Oshii delivers a very cryptic and straight-faced interpretation of the GitS universe.

Batou in action: Huerrgh! It goes without saying that Innocence is visually stunning enough to warrant the attention of any film fanatic, whether they are 'into' Japanese animation or not: computer-generated animation can't exactly be invented twice so Production I.G. have settled for merely pushing the envelope in what is technically feasible once again. I expect Innocence to follow its predecessor in being the standard by which its rivals will be judged for years to come: from gritty cityscapes to shimmering mecha and visceral action, it certainly does not disappoint from a technical standpoint, complete with with numerous layers of intellectual commentary that cover themes that are equally at home in hard science fiction, psychological horror or philosophical discussion.

A typically impressive cityscape In some ways though Innocence is a little too clever for its own good. Action junkies will find much to enjoy but Oshii is characteristically stubborn about putting what HE wants into a movie, which is not what the audience necessarily wants or expects him to do. There are moments during the film in which Batou and Togusa are standing around talking about What It All Means in a pretty pretentious-sounding fashion, which may leave more casual viewers lost and bored with the multiple interpretations. To be fair, it never pretends to be anything other than an intellectual headscratcher of a production but this aspect is nevertheless more pronounced than it was in the original GitS feature film.

It wouldn't be complete without one of Oshii's beagles Artistically and technically Innocence is cutting-edge but for those of us who are looking forward to meeting some familiar faces there is some interesting characterisation lurking beneath it all. The barely-mechanical Togusa is more cynical and laconic compared with his naive 'rookie' persona of earlier days, highlighting the passage of time since the first movie and showing him develop a little (by 2032 it appears that a man can finally wear a mullet and still look cool). The scenes featuring Batou alone are even more touching still, exploring his innermost feelings and insecurities more thoroughly than the 1995 film, or even the Stand-alone Complex, did. The loss of Kusanagi has affected him more deeply than he lets on: with his physical body almost completely mechanically enhanced he turns to his beloved pet dog to re-affirm his humanity. As for the disappearance of the Major herself, the number 2501 is all hardcore fans need to know! ;) Summary If 1995's Ghost in the Shell woke cinemagoers up to the fact that animated science fiction can be serious and meaningful as well as looking pretty, Innocence makes a thorough job in reminding us. At times it is potentially too bleak and inaccessible to a significant poportion of its audience but overall it is a work of art that delivers its albeit cryptic messages in spectacular style. If you're in the mood for some mindless fun this isn't the film for you but given time the intelligent and polished Innocence will be rightly remembered as yet another modern classic.

[1 Comment]

[Music]

Be Human OST

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell, Yoko Kanno]

"There's no danger, we're just killing time again why they order up new parts..." This post's song quote is from a modern concept album which, coincidentally, is I suppose a fair way of describing Be Human, the GitS SAC soundtrack album that revolves around the idea of, well, 'being human'. The tachikomas of the SAC, like Ray Kurzweil who indirectly inspired the lyrics above, were prone to discussing what it means to be human in a world of computers and AI - a recurring theme of the series that forms the concept of this record. Basically, it's a concept album that's dedicated to the endearing little 'think tanks' - if it hadn't been penned by Ms Kanno I probably would have given it a go on that reason alone. The cover art, that of a tachikoma taking to the microphone, is reflected in the rest of the inlay booklet that places them in a variety of real life situations (i.e. not art taken from the series) in an photographic style reminiscent of the sleeve art for Pink floyd and The Verve's early stuff. It means you don't know what to expect from the album from a musical point of view, beyond the fact that it's a bit strange. The title track starts things off nicely as a slow ballad with half-heard background noises behind a wistful vocal in which the performer lists the little things in life that make 'being human' so precious and special. It's pretty deep and heartfelt but has a quirky oddness to it that prevents it being too downbeat. The rocking Trip City on the other hand lands between the psychadelic country-ish rock of the Screaming Trees (due in no small part to Scott Matthew's vocal style) and the stadium-sized riffs of the Who; it's an energetic tune that's a highlight of the record. Taken as a whole Be Human is Kanno at her most experimental - in terms of style it's all over the place! Going from soothing ballad to guitar rock and then to pulsatic electronica is a textbook example of 'eclectic', although it does make the album a little inconsistent overall. Some songs are too strange or too short to warrant any special mention on their own but others are great examples of why some of us rave over Kanno's songwriting talents with so much enthusiasm. Some tracks, because of their contrasting styles and influences, shouldn't be expected to work but somehow do: Bang Bang Banquet sounds like a bossa nova piece recorded on a cheap synth keyboard with its tinny horns section and honky-tonk piano; the dirty techno of Patch Me could probably fill a nightclub dancefloor if only a DJ was gutsy enough to play it. Fax Me is possibly the weirdest song on the album (which is saying something), beginning as it does in the traditional way of a classical piece arranged for strings; it is in fact either an experiment piece of modern classical or a cheeky joke aimed at the stuffy and formal approach to performing classical. The Mozart-style violins start up just as beeps, pips and all manner of electrical noises play in time with the strings - the idea sounds as inappropriate as someone's mobile going off during a Mozart recital (which isn't far off what it sounds like) but because the noises are in time they fit perfectly, as if they'd always been there - it's a bizarre effect but altogether fascinating and quite addictive! Good By My Master and Rocko no Doko? are more 'serious' tunes that, like the title track, convey genuine feeling - the latter changes in mood and tempo during its duration, as if it's real background music to the search of Rocky, whoever he or she is. Most of the songs have a very electronic and home-recorded feel to them, almost as if a group of Tachikomas got themselves inebriated on natural oil in the studio and decided to record one of their philosophical duscussions before playing around and having fun. In some ways it reminds me of Kanno's efforts on the second Macross Plus OST, in which she experiments with samples, unusual instrumentation and fusion of disparate styles. What Can I Say? is quite frankly a bit annoying (imagine a kid singing in a school musical, as the proud mum and dad manage to overlook how damn cloying it is) but the latter part of the record offers some treats to those of us who remember the 'Tachikomatic Days' shorts. Pro Bowler Tachikoma and the inevitable concluding track Ciao! (that bleepy cover of a snippet from Scott Joplin's 'The Entertainer' that ended every Tachikomatic Days instalment) send things into Tahikoma comedy territory, and there's the cutesy Jpop of AI Sentai Tachikomans too, which must have been a lot of fun for the musicians and vocalists to record. Summary The vast range of styles and genres is something that has been a Yoko Kanno trademark for years, giving us some of her best work as well as some that is...well, pretty darned strange. Be human is a record to approached with an open mind, purely because you'd miss some real gems if you skipped certain tracks because the sound 'weird' or 'random'. Many are whimsical novelty numbers that make you wonder whether they are making a serious point or not but rest assured it's bound to have at least something to your taste, no matter how unlikely that may seem! Tracklisting

1. Be Human
2. Trip City
3. Patch Me
4. Tachikoma no Ide (Runaway Tachikoma)
5. Osanpo Tachikoma (Tachikoma out for a walk)
6. Bang Bang Banquet
7. Fax Me
8. Rocky wa Doko? (Where's Rocky?)
9. Spotter
10. Let's Oil
11. Cream
12. Spider Bites
13. Good By My Master
14. Piece By Ten
15. What Can I Say?
16. Hi!
17. I'm Not Straight
18. AI Sentai Tachikomans (AI Combat Team Tachikomans)
19. Pro Bowler Tachikoma
20. Don't Sponge Me
21. Po'd Pod
22. Ciao!

[2 Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

GitS SAC 2nd Gig episodes 24-26 and Final Thoughts

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
And so the second season of the SAC finally draws to a close...it's a moment I didn't really want to see so soon but it's a satisfying and gripping conclusion to the current story arc. Ladies and gentlemen, the proverbial shit has hit the fan! The crisis in Dejima boils over into a full-on military assault, prime minister Kayabuki is the subject of a political coup and the members of Section Nine are split up as they try to prevent Nagasaki disappearing under a mushroom cloud. Again. With only a few minor criticisms, this is a good ending to a very good series.

The political side of things is resolved, as Kuze tries to initiate a revolution from the refugees. There are a lot of very angry people, very much armed and very much willing to fire upon the military; meanwhile, Kayabuki is under house arrest and it's up to good old Togusa to bust her out and enable her to regain control of the government. There's intrigue, double-crossing and diplomatic dealings that Tom Clancy would be proud of - all the way through the series I was impressed with the complexity of this new element, which lifts it above what the show achieved in the first season.

Another change for the better with the Second Gig was that of the characterisation: the Major, Batou and Togusa inevitably take centre stage but their comrades, namely Saito, Boma and Paz are a lot more fleshed out. Even the Tachikoma's engineer plays an important role before the end - I didn't realise until now that his name was Proto! Kuze was a pleasant surprise in that respect: the first time we see him he is a nameless thug who was hellbent on assassination; thanks to glimpses into his background and crucially a lengthy exchange of words with Motoko in this final volume he is a much more sympathetic character. Sadly Gohda doesn't fare so well: initially he shows much promise but by the end we still don't know much about him or his motives. All I could deduce was that some unknown event had given him his distinctive James Bond-villain appearance, but even that may not explain why he had gone on that immense power-trip of his; I see his character as something of a wasted opportunity.

Another small niggle with the series is that it relies heavily on long strings of dialogue that require patience and no doubt were a pain for the seiyuu to record. While this is nowhere near as noticable as that of the two feature films, it slows the pace down at times and demands quite a lot of concentration from the viewer (concentration that is better spent on keeping up with the notoriously complex storylines for instance). A constant feature of the GitS franchise is that it tries to be more clever than it either is or needs to be; at the end of the day, the SAC is a high-tech science fiction thriller with enough going on already to keep viewers occupied.

I can't go without saying a few words about the adorable Tachikomas though, whose final scenes on this disc surpassed those of the first season's. They play an even more pivotal role in the way that the events play out and cement the notion that their AI has raised them to a status above that of mere machines. By taking their own initiative in the heat of the moment, they exhibit free will and show how even mechanical entities can have what it takes to understand the value of life; Aramaki's description of their actions afterwards was particularly telling when he describes them as "my men".

Summary Although it still allows itself to go off at tangents occasionally with the philosophical posturing and lengthy exposition, the Second Gig winds up as a thoughtfully written and well-presented science fiction thriller that manages to maintain the high standards the franchise has set for itself. Politics, mystery, action and a convincing view of the future are all represented along with cutting edge visuals and a top-notch soundtrack. All in all it's a solidly entertaining series that I've enjoyed from the first episode to the last. When is Solid State Society out again...?

[6 Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

GitS SAC: 2nd Gig episodes 21-23

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
It's fair to say that Section Nine have come unstuck. For once, their mission has failed and things show no sign of getting any better. Kuze escapes and it appears he has a consignment of plutonium with him; a crisis looms in Dejima's refugee camp and Gohda seems to be running rings around pretty much everyone.

The opening instalment here is a really action-packed affair: Batou's face-off with Kuze for once gives him an opponent worthy of his skills. They start with guns, then knives and finally a good old-fashioned fist-fight with no clear-cut victor until the end. Saito and his Tachikoma also have to deal with the cyberpunk equivalent of a zombie and in the fog of it all Kuze does a runner to Dejima after slipping through the coastguard's net.

After all this the change of pace to quiet tension and exposition is quite jarring, as Boma has to deal with diffusing an atomic bomb; the really interesting part of this episode though is the very diaogue-heavy discussion between Batou and Gohda atop the building where the Individual Eleven took their own lives. While it is undoubtedly tedious for action junkies, this segment explains a lot and finally cements the connection between Kuze and Gohda. I never really thought Kuze acheived what he did on his own - after all, a hero who can't even move his mouth lacks that certain charisma required - so it's good to see the pieces begin to fall into place. Even more intriguingly, Batou keeps his temper long enough to find out what he needs to know.

The last episode shows the political situation escalate but it's another dialogue-heavy and action-light offering before the big finale. Kayabuki is shown to be little more than an attractive figurehead rather than someone with much in the way of real influence here too - her attempts to maintain control over her subordinates and find a way to diffuse the situation don't seem to be working at all. Meanwhile, the cordon around Dejima begins to tighten but my last nagging question was this: is there really a connection between the Major and Kuze...?

Summary Although it starts off with a bang, this volume mostly consists of explanations and political chess moves; while that isn't what viewers necessarily want at this stage in the series, such things are no doubt necessary in understanding the bigger picture. My overall impression is that the series is taking a few deep breaths before running all guns blazing down the final furlong, headlong into a very explosive situation indeed.

[No Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

GitS SAC 2nd Gig episodes 17-20

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
The fifth outing kicks off in rather sedate style with a couple of episodes that take Motoko and Batou out of their usual territory. It's back to business in the second half though, as Section Nine go into Dejima to track down Kuze in the refugee camp - overall this is another refreshingly varied instalment that keeps things tense and fast-moving.

I quite enjoyed the opening episode, which was a bright and almost jovial break from the norm. The Major seems to get the lion's share of screen time but when it's as good as this I don't have much cause for complaint; her chance meeting with a streetwise urchin and subsequent run-in with the local mafia offer a few more small insights into how she looks at life, especially as a person with a cybernetic body. Soon after her little 'holiday' she joins Batou in Berlin, as part of an international operation to track down a terrorist. This isn't quite as engaging story-wise but the visuals are superb and the laconic Batou gets his time in the spotlight. For this reason it reminds me of the Innocence movie again, if only for his introspection and tenacity.

The second half of the disc gets things very firmly on track as Section Nine take on Kuze again, now with a little more info at their disposal. This doesn't prevent the Major getting a nasty surprise during a mind hack that is reminiscent of Boma's near-mind fry experience back in volume three though, which adds even more questions to who and what he really is. There is also a bit of tragedy in this volume, as Section Nine experience their first loss of one of their number in the field.

Needless to say, things seem to be getting much harder for them now, as Kuze and his men somehow seem to be one step ahead pretty much all the time. The tension is wound up progressively towards the end, as some pesky arms dealers from Russia turn up and the possibility of nuclear material being thrown into the mix. I'm getting the feeling now that the series is making its run-up to the big finale, as the situation for our heroes worsens and Gohda is suspiciously nowhere to be found.

Summary This is another consistently entertaining volume that takes the time to examine its characters but pitches in enough intrigue and action to keep the pace. Enjoy the characterisation while you can though, because it looks like it's going to be an action-packed rollercoaster ride from here on in and there won't be much time for filler or introspection!

[No Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

GitS SAC: 2nd Gig episodes 13-16

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
After the third instalment that provided some much-needed attention on the characters, disc 4 seems to continue the trend with two more of the supporting cast members, Paz and Saito, getting their own episodes dedicated to them. Then there's the token Tachikoma episode followed by some more details concerning the Individual Eleven: overall it's a fairly well-balanced, if not flawless, set of episodes that carry the series through the notoriously tricky midpoint of the episode run.

Paz and Saito are much like Boma and, to a lesser degree, Togusa in that we have learned little about them to date. Paz winds up being apparently framed for a murder connected with the Individual Eleven terrorist Kuze, while Saito recounts the time immediately prior to his days with Section Nine during a poker game. I really enjoyed the Saito-orientated episode: it explains how he came to have a bionic eye, and the background artists are able to show off their ability to draw landscapes that differ from the high-rise urban environments that we've come to expect from the series.

The episode featuring Paz is nearly, but not quite, as enjoyable. In a similar way to Togusa in the previous volume, he has to clear his name thanks to the 'bad guys' who can probably by now be identified as Gohda and/or Kuze (not that there's any way of knowing if the two of them are connected). Unfortunately Gohda only rears his ugly head once or twice in this volume, which is a bit of a shame.

The Tachikomas on the other hand have an entire episode devoted to them, which isn't really as good as it sounds. Sure, they are some of the most endearing and entertaining supporting characters in the entire show but their lengthy discussions had me tuning out a bit at times. It is as close to filler as the series has got so far and quite honestly at this stage in the game trivial details such as who engineered them and their thoughts on mortality are a bit of a hinderance to the flow of the story.

The volume finishes on a high though, with Ishikawa unearthing the backstory to Kuze; it involves some typically lengthy GitS: SAC exposition segments but the effort on the part of the viewer pays off in the end. His tale is quite a sad one considering the hardships he experienced, and adds more to the history and political climate of the series' worldview. I'm hoping for some more of the same in the next volume, hopefully with the Tachikomas entertaining us in the supporting roles where they belong.

[No Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

GitS SAC: 2nd Gig episodes 9-12

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
This part of the series seems to focus more on the characterisation side of things, which I feel is both welcome and quite important. The volume kicks off with a very interesting encounter with the troublesome Gohda, followed soon after by Togusa getting some screentime again when he lands himself in trouble...with the law, ironically.

I'm still not sure what to make of Gohda even after the interesting exchange during episode 9 - I suspect these scenes are an effort to make the series appear clever through confusing the viewer because it succeeded in making me feel lost and baffled more than anything else. That episode does however offer some action-packed terrorist hunting to give my poor brain a bit of a rest and highlights a new feature for the second season: the tachikomas now operate in the online environment as well, thanks to their newly-granted access during missions. There are an increasing number of occasions during this season in which they make themselves useful during hacking missions; and believe me, Section need all the help they can get these days.

The next episode is a surprising change of pace and theme, as Togusa winds up in the dock after an unfortunate incident in which he is in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The worst of it is, he gets into this mess by doing what can only be described as the 'right thing' - a problem as common in our own day and age as it is in Togusa's (another recurring theme of the GitS universe). The issue of prejudice within a society that sees more and more people mechanically enhanced is a significant 'take home' message, but it is eventually revealed that the whole situation is a set-up...no prizes for guessing who's pulling the strings!

The episode that follows shifts the spotlight from Togusa to the Major, when she quite literally takes a trip down a memory lane. The lane in question ends at a bizarre 'repository' of lost memories - not unlike the dreamlike sequences in the second GitS feature film actually. Maybe Mamoru Oshii or even Masumune Shirow himself had a hand in writing the scenario for this episode...? Either way, it is a short break from the Individual Eleven arc and fleshes out one of the main characters - namely the Major and her little-known early life - considerably more.

The final helping on this disc gives some much-needed screen time to Boma and Paz, two members of Section 9 who up until now had sat on the sidelines. It reveals a bit more about the Individual Eleven too, along with some nail-biting moments when Boma's normally exemplarary hacking and snooping around doesn't go to plan. It might end the disc in a manner we've been accustomed to, but overall this outing tells as much about the main cast as it does about their mission; sometimes it's good to slow things down for a bit and look at the human element. Although background music is by definition intended to go unnoticed, I couldn't help but be especially impressed with the vocal and melodic work on offer this time around - with little more than a week to go before my next pay packet arrives I'm already shopping for the second OST album!

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[Anime Reviews]

GitS SAC: 2nd Gig episodes 5-8

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
The Second Gig continues in great style with some tantalising new details concerning the identity and nature of the Individual Eleven, Togusa gets some time in the spotlight for a change, the Tachikomas blast the hell out of some bad guys and Gohda causes all manner of mischief. Good stuff all round.

It would appear that the question Section Nine should be asking about the Individual Eleven is not 'who?' but 'what?' - looking at the roll-call of enemies they've faced in the past the new pieces of evidence hint that Section Nine's new adversary/adversaries is/are very different. What continues to be a pleasant surprise to me is how it still hasn't become stale or repetitive: we are in the second season of a TV spin-off that is itself an adaptation and the ideas still keep on coming! Of course, we're still a long way off finding out too much about the Individual Eleven but enough details are dropped in to keep my interest throughout. Yep, I'm addicted to this show.

Gohda (pictured above) is, as predicted, proving to be a very interesting character and an altogether different type of threat to Section Nine and the way they work. The way in which he strings them along is strangely compelling: this manipulative bastard is using them for his own, as yet unknown, ends yet the sight of our heroes being treated this way doesn't spoil my enjoyment. As explained in one of the interview featurettes, the writers were keen to introduce an element that prevents things going in Section Nine's favour every time; I have to say it's an approach that I approve of. What is especially interesting from a characterisation point of view (the SAC does more with the characters than the movies did, but so far still hasn't done as much as it could in my opinion) is how Gohda's interference affects the group. Aramaki is content to play along, biding his time; Motoko is also reluctant to retaliate, hiding her suspicions; it is the straightforward, no-nonsense Batou who takes the bait every time. It is clear that Gohda knows which buttons to push in order to get a rise out of Batou and his position in the intelligence service gives him leverage over Aramaki, but I don't think he has found a chink in Motoko's psychological armour yet: right now he still can't figure her out. Quite franky, her past is so shrouded in mystery it's no surprise; in contrast Batou is the down-to-earth ex-soldier type whose behaviour is a little easier to predict.

As mentioned earlier the mullet-wearing and eternally likeable (possibly because of his more obvious humanity) Togusa gets his chance to play the hero as he branches out on his own when investigating a disappearance which ties into a corporate cover-up. As well as being another interesting aside into his character, it sets up the subsequent episode in which Section Nine are led down the garden path in a big way. What else is there to say? Not much without giving away some serious spoilers, so here is another pic of a Tachikoma instead.

 

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