‘Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence’ is the 2004 anime directed and written by Mamoru Oshii. Based on the manga by Masamune Shirow.
Major Motoko Kusanagi went missing after her involvement with Project 2501. Section 9 wants her safe return. Rival government agencies just want her mind. It holds invaluable data.
The cyborg corporation Locus Solus is running an illegal side business. They created machines to ghost dub the souls of kidnapped children to upload into gynoids. These androids have been used for sex by politicians and rich businessmen.
Gynoids have run amok killing their clients and police before committing suicide. All to bring attention to their ordeal. Hoping someone will investigate and uncover the truth.
Gynoids gone wild has been kept secret from the general public. The victims’ families have settled out of court. Since one of the victims was a Public Safety official Section 9 has the assignment.
Batou has a new partner in Togusa. The trail leads them to Locus Solus. An entire city was converted into a technology center for this organization. Their ghost dubbing machines are slowing killing the hosts. Section 9 must race against time to save the survivors.
The good: The upgrades to Section 9’s tech. Especially the holosuite conference room. Aramaki’s holographic mural. Love Haraway’s computer lab. Togusa fancied Haraway. Batou’s awesome car collection. The love song expressing Batou’s feelings for the Major. Revealing more of Batou’s personality through his home life.
Batou going Terminator whenever the mood suited him. Highlights are Locus Solus, the parade sequence, the massive church HQ of Locus Solus and the interior of Kim’s mansion. Technology as religion.
Parallels to the gynoids being sex slaves. Does the host retain any of the experiences performed by their gynoid? Or are they completely separate entities? What are the long term effects to the surviving hosts?
Hacks that caused Batou to freak out and trap Togusa in a loop. Shades of Blade Runner and the Matrix. Killer gynoid army vs Batou. The Major dropping by to help him. Her hacking the Locus Solus tech vessel.
The bad: Would’ve been nice to see hosts pleading for help through their gynoids. Having someone report the strange malfunction. First contact with Volkerson. Too little of Major Kusanagi. Was Section 9 still looking for the Major? Or waiting for her to walk through the main entrance?
When did Section 9 suspect Batou was compromised? How long were the children missing? Who else was freaked out by Togusa’s present for his daughter?
The ugly: No real explanation of events after Project 2501. What happened to the Major? What has she been doing since her last appearance? She had an extended cameo here. She’s ascended to a higher plain of existence and doesn’t care what happens to humans? Sounds like she lost her humanity in the deal with Project 2501.
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