Exploring the Philosophy Behind Mamoru Oshii’s Classic Anime
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Cast/Voices: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Otsuka, Iemasa Kayumi, Koichi Yamadera
Related films: Angel’s Egg, Patlabor: The Movie, Akira, Metropolis, The End of Evangelion
Studio: Production I.G./Bandai Visual
Year: 1995
Verdict: 5.5/6
A Plastic Doll With a Soul | Introducing Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell is more than a movie; it's a mind-boggling experience. At first, the sights, the sounds, and the atmosphere almost take precedence over the story. That is until an array of complex and philosophical dialogue creeps out of the woodwork.
The layers of Ghost in the Shell are seemingly infinite, which might explain its timeless appeal. Even more so, its dive into perennial questions of human existence and identity makes it a classic anime film for the ages.
“After I was told to do Ghost in the Shell, I had to re-read it (the manga) twenty times.”
(Mamoru Oshii - Interview at TIFF)
It's impossible not to think of Blade Runner when you first encounter this world—not just because of the clear-cut parallels, but because Ghost in the Shell carves out a space for itself with an entirely original ambiance that is unmistakably its own.
The narrative is enigmatic and complex, offering patient viewers something new with each viewing. That said, getting oversight and understanding of the story’s intricacies might prove challenging. But if you stick with it and dig further in, an experience of a lifetime awaits.
Contents:
The Making of a Cyberpunk Anime Classic
The creation of Ghost in the Shell is a tale of artistic vision, technological innovation, and a director who would become synonymous with the cyberpunk genre. The journey that brought this anime classic to life began in the late 1980s with Masamune Shirow's manga series of the same name.
Shirow's work, a complex mix of philosophical musings and high-octane action set in a meticulously crafted cyberpunk world, quickly gained a cult following. Before long, a producer at Bandai Visual asked Mamoru Oshii to turn it into an anime film.
Oshii had made a name for himself in the anime industry with the Urusei Yatsura series and the critically acclaimed Patlabor movies. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and his penchant for philosophical depth, he took on the challenge with a clear vision: to create a film that would stay true to the manga yet more accessible at the same time.
Known for his love of classical music and his pet basset hound (which even makes a cameo in the movie), he infused Ghost in the Shell with a deliberate pacing and atmospheric intensity that distinguished it from other anime of the time.
“Without this movie (Blade Runner), Ghost in the Shell would not have been created.”
(Mamoru Oshii - Interview in PR Times)
Oshii cites films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Day for Night, and Blade Runner as essential to Ghost in the Shell’s creation. The latter, he considers one of the greatest examples of world-building in cinema, a skill he sought to replicate in Ghost in the Shell.
At the same time, he humorously admits that he initially took the wrong lessons from it, believing that a strong setting alone was sufficient for a great film. It was only through trial and error that he came to appreciate the importance of story and character as well.
Though Ghost in the Shell wasn’t an immediate success, either in Japan or abroad, the film’s influence on the genre was profound. Today, it is regarded as a seminal work in the anime genre and a cornerstone of cyberpunk cinema.
Ghost in the Shell Plot Explained | The Existential Aspect
When the opening credits of Ghost in the Shell roll, set against the hauntingly ethereal score by Kenji Kawai, viewers are immediately immersed in a world where the lines between humanity, technology, and consciousness blur. Beneath its sleek animation and futuristic settings lies a plot that challenges the essence of identity and existence.
At the heart of the story is Major Motoko Kusanagi. She is a synthetic agent working for Section 9, a covert government agency tasked with countering cyber-terrorism in a sprawling, dystopian city.
From the outset, it's clear that Kusanagi is more than just a high-tech operative. Her body is wholly artificial, save for her "ghost," a term used to describe her consciousness or soul, the only remaining element of her human origin. This blend of human and machine forms the crux of her character and the film's thematic core.
The plot kicks into gear with Section 9 hunting down a notorious hacker called The Puppet Master. This elusive figure has been "ghost-hacking" into the minds of cyborgs, manipulating their memories and identities as if they were mere lines of code.
“It can also be argued that your DNA is nothing more than a program designed to preserve itself.”
(The Puppet Master)
As Kusanagi investigates, she becomes increasingly haunted by existential doubts. The film skillfully uses her internal conflict to mirror the external chase for The Puppet Master, drawing the viewer into a labyrinth of philosophical inquiry.
The narrative reaches a critical juncture when The Puppet Master, captured and restrained by Section 9, reveals its true intentions. It desires to merge with Kusanagi, believing that the combination of their beings will transcend the limitations of them both.
In essence, The Puppet Master wants to evolve, experience mortality and reproduction, and achieve a form of digital procreation. This proposition isn't merely about survival or dominance—it's about the very nature of life itself. It suggests that life, whether biological or artificial, is defined by its ability to change, adapt, and create.
Towards the film’s climax, Kusanagi agrees to merge with the Puppet Master. In this union, she transcends her previous identity, becoming something new—neither human, cyborg, nor machine—but a hybrid entity capable of exploring new frontiers of existence.
Thus, Ghost in the Shell ends not with resolution but with ambiguity. The newly merged entity—Kusanagi-Puppet Master—gazes out over the city, pondering the infinite possibilities of its new existence. The final words leave the audience with more questions than answers: "So, where should we go from here? The net is vast, isn’t it."
Ghost in the Shell Analysis | Ethereal Philosophies
Ghost in the Shell isn’t merely the tale of a cybernetic cop chasing down a rogue cybercriminal or revealing the government conspiracy behind it. It’s a profound meditation on existence in an era where technology doesn’t just replicate human life—it threatens to surpass it.
The film’s narrative dives deep into the essence of humanity, exploring what it means to be alive and to possess a self. Furthermore, it challenges the concept of evolution in a world where bodies become vessels and consciousness floats in the vast sea of information.
“Even a plastic doll can have a soul.”
(Batou)
The film subtly suggests that the body, or "shell," might be irrelevant to our humanity, as epitomized by Major Motoko Kusanagi. She grapples with profound uncertainties about the meaning of her existence, embodying the essence of what it means to be human: the relentless pursuit of self-understanding.
Kusanagi repeatedly questions her sense of self and confronts the concept of existence. In doing so, she appears more in touch with her humanity than any of the biological humans in New Port City, despite the artificiality of her shell.
Concepts of Zen Flowing Through Kusanagi and The Puppet Master
The philosophical exploration is intertwined with the principles of Japanese Zen Buddhism, particularly the ideas of impermanence, interconnectedness, and no-self (Anatta). In Zen, identity is not seen as a fixed essence but as a fluid process shaped by continuous change and the interplay of life and death.
In Ghost in the Shell, Kusanagi and the Puppet Master embody this fluidity. Their identities are not static; they evolve as they confront the impermanence of their existence. The Puppet Master’s desire to merge with Kusanagi symbolizes the Zen idea of interconnectedness—where distinct beings dissolve their boundaries to form a new, more complete existence.
Japanese philosopher Keiji Nishitani, a key figure in the Kyoto School, expands on these Zen concepts by exploring the idea of emptiness (Sunyata) and its implications for self and existence. In the film, Kusanagi and The Puppet Master seek to transcend their limitations—Kusanagi, her doubt about her own humanity, and the Puppet Master, his inability to procreate and die.
By deconstructing and reconstituting themselves into something greater, they reflect Nishitani’s notion that true individuality emerges from embracing nothingness. This theme of transformation and self-overcoming is also closely aligned with the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche.
Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and the Will to Evolve in Ghost in the Shell
In Ghost in the Shell, the Puppet Master posits that reproduction and death are essential to existence. This idea resonates with Nietzsche’s concept of eternal recurrence. According to Nietzsche, life is a perpetual cycle, where each iteration offers the opportunity for self-overcoming and growth.
The Puppet Master’s desire to merge with Kusanagi is more than just a bid for survival; it’s an act of self-creation. He strives to transcend the limitations of his current state and evolve into something more. This mirrors Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch (Overman), who seeks to surpass human limitations through self-creation.
Trancension as central to existence also connects to Arthur Schopenhauer’s concept of the Will to Live. Schopenhauer’s idea emphasizes the drive to survive and reproduce as central to existence, which appears to align with The Puppet Master's goal.
Schopenhauer viewed death as an essential part of life, giving it meaning and motivating the continuation of the species. The film’s suggestion that reproduction and death are fundamental to individuality and growth echoes this view.
“I call myself an intelligent lifeform, but in my present state, I’m still incomplete. Because the basic life cycle process of reproducing and dying doesn’t exist in my system.”
(The Puppet Master)
The Puppet Master’s acknowledgment of his own incompleteness—his inability to reproduce and die—underscores his yearning for the full experience of life, which he seeks to achieve through merging with Kusanagi.
As such, the merging becomes an act of embracing the Will to Live. The synthesis of two beings allows for a more complete form of existence, capable of growth, change, and renewal.
In short, Ghost in the Shell is a rich tapestry of philosophical inquiry, weaving together themes from Zen Buddhism, the Kyoto School, Nietzsche, and Schopenhauer. The film invites viewers to ponder the nature of existence, identity, and evolution in a world where the distinctions between human and machine, life and death, are increasingly obfuscated.
Its characters and narrative challenge us to consider what it truly means to be alive. They question whether our identity is bound to our physical form or if it can transcend it, existing instead in the vast and infinite network of consciousness that connects all things.
Behind the Scenes of Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell envelops you in a world where sight, sound, and mood create an experience that transcends the narrative itself. This was no accident. Oshii meticulously crafted this ambiance to serve as a conduit for the film's deep philosophical questions, using images and sounds to enhance the themes of existence, identity, and transcendence.
To achieve this, he took a pioneering approach—blending traditional hand-drawn animation with computer graphics—a process which was dubbed "digitally generated animation" (DGA). This combination allowed for a visual style that was both grounded and ethereal, perfectly suited to the film's exploration of the boundary between human and machine.
The stark, detailed cityscape of New Port City, with its towering skyscrapers and neon lights, evokes a sense of isolation and alienation, reflecting the inner turmoil of Kusanagi as she grapples with her identity.
The film's sound design is equally crucial in creating its unique atmosphere. Kenji Kawai's haunting score, blending ancient Japanese lyrics with Bulgarian-style harmony, uses a wedding song meant to ward off evil. Unable to find Bulgarian singers, Kawai employed a Japanese folk choir, achieving a sound that feels both ancient and futuristic.
This fusion of sound not only complements the film's visuals but also underscores its themes of interconnectedness and the fluidity of identity. The music ebbs and flows like a tide, echoing the Zen Buddhist concept of impermanence and the idea that identity is not a fixed essence but a process of continuous change.
“The only thing that makes me feel human is the way I am treated.”
(Major Motoko Kusanagi)
Moreover, Oshii's use of silence is just as deliberate as his use of sound. In many scenes, dialogue is sparse, allowing the visuals and ambient sounds to take center stage.
This absence of dialogue isn't just a stylistic choice; it's a reflection of the film's philosophical underpinnings. Silence creates space for contemplation, inviting the viewer to engage with the film on a deeper level, to ponder the same existential questions that haunt Kusanagi.
In moments of quiet, when the camera lingers on the cityscape or the ripples in the water, the film asks you to consider what it means to exist in a world where physical dependencies are gradually whisked away.
Even the film’s narrative flow contributes to its atmosphere. The deliberate pacing forces the viewer to engage with the movie on its own terms, to settle into its rhythm, and to consider the philosophical questions it raises.
Every visual and auditory choice was made with the intent of drawing the viewer deeper into the film’s philosophical exploration. As such, Ghost in the Shell is not just a story but a meditation on what it means to be alive in a world where the boundaries between the organic and the artificial, human and machine, are fading.
Final Verdict | Ghost in the Shell Review
Ghost in the Shell is as thought-provoking and relevant today as it was upon its release. It didn’t exactly turn out accessible, as Oshii intended, and might demand several re-watches to peel back its apparent convolution. Yet, from the intricate dialogue, a mindblowing narrative emerges from the sea of information.
On the other hand, the drawing and cell shading are instantly compelling, while the score perfectly sets the tone for one of the most brooding sci-fi tales in anime history. Despite its complexity, it’s an experience that leaves a lasting impression, sticking with you forever after.
In the end, Ghost in the Shell leaves us with more questions than answers—a deliberate choice by Oshii, who believed that the artist's role was not to provide solutions but to provoke thought.
The film's atmosphere, haunting visuals, and ethereal soundscape all work together to create a space where these questions can linger, inviting viewers to return to the film again and again, each time discovering something new in its layered and intricate world.
“Your longing to remain yourself will continue to restrict you.”
(The Puppet Master)
PS: Avoid the Ghost in the Shell 2.0 Redux edit, which is a travesty of overlaid 'updated' animations and 'modern' CG. The original Ghost in the Shell is a sci-fi classic and an institution that works best in its original form.