Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Volume 7
(aka; Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 7)
(Manga Region 2 PAL 2-DVD Set)
(2005)
review by Blackgloves

By the year 2030, AI and cybernetic technology has advanced to such an advanced stage that some of the most fundamental age-old philosophical questions concerning the nature of identity and the relationship between mind and body have become of vital significance in the world of everyday politics, medicine and economics. The development of cyberbrain neural augmentation means that many people now have a powerful computer supplementing their thinking processes and providing them with re-playable memories that can be stored and retrieved and erased like computer files; and -- with the development of cybernetics -- even bodies can be replaced piece by piece! In this world, what it means to be human is an increasingly fluid concept with sophisticated AI technology giving machines and humans converging qualities as the Internet operates as a kind of collective consciousness binding them together.

The top secret organisation known as Section 9 has been at the cutting edge of this technology, but must also deal with its consequences. The curious case of "The Laughing Man" has been an ongoing concern for Major Motoko and her team: the kidnapping, six years previously, of Mr Ernest Serano -- the head of a lucrative Genomics corporation specialising in the development of "Machine Therapy" as a proposed cure for cyberbrain scleroses (a rare but lethal disease afflicting a rich and elite section of the cybernetically augmented population) turned out to be the prelude to a series of instances of corporate terrorism in the present day -- all apparently committed by the same, lone "Laughing Man" criminal who hides his face behind a corporate logo and utilises all the tricks of the computer hacker to implement his crimes.

Section 9 have, over the course of the past twenty-four episodes, uncovered a labyrinthine plot that reveals the Laughing Man case to be a front for corruption and intrigue at the highest levels of the Japanese Government! They discover that Dr Chitose Murai developed a vaccine that preliminary trials had revealed to be much more successful in treating cyberbrain scleroses than the much vaunted micro-machine therapy. Because General Secretary Yakushina had invested so heavily in Serano's Company at the time, he ended the Murai vaccine trials and suppressed information about its successes. Now a powerful member of the Japanese Government, Yakushina has been using the Laughing Man cyber-terrorist image -- in reality, a protester who had stumbled upon the Murai vaccine scandal -- as a cover to divert attention away from the real Laughing Man's true motives.

Having uncovered the entire plot and Mr Yakushina's deep involvement in it, Section 9 Head, Mr Aramaki, and one of the organisation's chief investigators, Togusa, drive over to inform the Prime Minister of their discoveries. On the way, they hear that the news has been leaked and that Section 9 are being framed for the entire Laughing Man conspiracy! With elections looming, the PM is unwilling to risk a scandal involving one of his top men, and informs Aramaki that S9 will have to take the rap for now -- while Yakushina will be prosecuted only after the elections have passed off safely! Aramaki is left with no choice but to agree, but manages to send a coded message to Major Motoko, alerting her to the coming threat and charging her with one final mission: get everyone out of S9 Headquarters safely and have everyone go to ground. From here on Section 9 is officially disbanded! As Elite troops and armoured battle suites are sent in to raid S9, Motoko and the rest of the group find themselves outmanoeuvred: one by one, each member of the group is arrested with Saito badly crippled during his arrest. Eventually, only Batou and Motoko remain at large. A deadly trap threatens to end all hope for S9's chances of survival and an assassination order is sent out: Kill Major Motoko at all costs!

With the final episode of the series, we find a confused and bitter Togusa trying to make sense of the previous events. Now unemployed and stripped of his duties, he discovers that all of his colleagues are behind bars while Major Motoko is classed as deceased having been shot in the head by a hidden sniper as she tried to board an escape jet! Mr Yakushina is about to be tried for his role in the conspiracy, and Mr Serano will finally testify against him; but former S9 leader Mr Aramaki has disappeared without trace! Unable to come to terms with the injustice of the situation, Togusa sets out for revenge ... but is in for a massive surprise!

These last three episodes (Annihilation; Barrage; Stand Alone Complex) bring the series to a close with a bang. Since the mystery of the Laughing Man was resolved in the last volume, this one is exclusively concerned with S9's battle to survive against seemingly impossible odds as powerful forces conspire against them. Tense, suspenseful and moving, this is a fantastic end to a series that has been consistently intelligent, thought-provoking and powerfully intense -- as well as occasionally quite funny! This final, two-disc volume features the usual array of audio options (Dolby Digital Surround Sound; DTS and Stereo 2.0 in Japanese and English) with several great featurettes: an in-depth interview with series director Kenji Kamiyama gives a great deal of insight into the intentions behind the show and reveals the Laughing Man case was inspired by real corruption and kidnapping scandals that occurred in Japan during the 1980s. There is also a nice interview with the English designer of the Laughing Man logo, Paul Nicholson, who gives his outsider's perspective on the working methods of Production IG. We also get the usual Quiz and a trailer for the Ghost in the Shell video game.

One of the best of recent anime series, "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" is essential viewing for all anime fans. Look out for "Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2nd Gig. Coming soon!