Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊, Kōkaku Kidōtai, literally "Mobile Armored Riot Police") is a Japanese media franchise originally published as a seinen manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized in 1989 under the subtitle of The Ghost in the Shell, and later published as its own tankōbon volumes by Kodansha, told the story of the fictional counter-cyberterrorist organization Public Security Section 9, led by protagonist Major Motoko Kusanagi, in the mid 21st century of Japan.
Animation studio Production I.G has produced several different anime adaptations of Ghost in the Shell, starting with the 1995 film of the same name, telling the story of Section 9's investigation of the Puppet Master. The television series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex followed in 2002, telling an alternate story from the manga and first film, featuring Section 9's investigations of government corruption in the Laughing Man and Individual Eleven incidents. The year 2013 saw the start of the Ghost in the Shell: Arise original video animation (OVA) series, consisting of four episodes through mid-2014. The series was recompiled in early 2015 as a television series titled Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture, airing with an additional two episodes. An animated feature film produced by most of the Arise staff, titled Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie was released on June 20, 2015. A live action film of the same name is scheduled for release on March 31, 2017.
Ghost in the Shell is a media franchise originally released as a manga by Masamune Shirow. It has since been translated into animated films, anime, prose, and video games with similar titles:
Ghost in the Shell is an upcoming American action crime film based on the Japanese comics of same name. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, and Michael Pitt. The film will be released on March 31, 2017 in 3D.
In 2008, DreamWorks (which had distributed theatrically in North America through its Go Fish Pictures banner in the film Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence) and Steven Spielberg acquired the rights to produce a live-action film adaptation of the original manga. Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Steven Paul were later confirmed as producers, with Jamie Moss (Street Kings) to write the screenplay. In October, 2009, it was announced that Laeta Kalogridis (Alexander, Shutter Island) had replaced Moss as writer. On January 24, 2014, it was reported that Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) will direct the film, with a screenplay by William Wheeler (The Hoax, The Reluctant Fundamentalist). On September 3, 2014, Margot Robbie was in early talks for the lead role. On October 16, it was announced that DreamWorks had made a $10 million offer to Scarlett Johansson for the lead role, after Robbie's talks for role fall apart when she was up for the role in Warner Bros.' Suicide Squad, which was moving fast. In May 2015, Paramount Pictures agreed to co-produce and co-finance the film. On November 10, 2015, Pilou Asbæk was cast in the film for the role of Batou, the best fighter and second in command in the army. On November 19, 2015, it was reported that Sam Riley was in early talks to join the film for the villain role as The Laughing Man, the leader of most dangerous criminals and extremists. But, on February 4, 2016, Variety reported that Michael Pitt is in talks for the role.
Can you see your own face?
Yes, real, true yourself in the mirror is just false
Bilateral symmetry could be made in your memory
The existing reality is no more than fantasy.
Don't you even know who you are?
Don't you even know where you're from?
Can't you hear you calling yourself
From the shell of lead-gray
The voice you've never heard, however it's just you.
Don't you even know what's your name?
Don't you even know why you live?
Ghost in the shell, lost in hell
To take your soul back beyond the deleted past
Ghost in the shell, lost in hell
We live as human, yes, warm blood we can feel.
This world is like a masquerade
Crazy dancing in slow death
Rape your minds of innocence
All of bodies are artificial,
All of souls are over-written
Ghost-hacked humans, you...