Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a series of episodes that were spun off the wildly successful, eponymous cult hit from all the way back in 1995. The original movie and a follow-up subtitled Innocence were based on manga from Shirow Masamune, but there was still plenty of great subject matter to mine. If you are a little confused as to where this UMD fits in, it's not surprising. There are now two seasons of Stand Alone Complex with the original (this UMD reissue) dating back to 2002. So, if the UMD reissue follows its large-format cousin, there are six more volumes of the original Stand Alone Complex on the way. And that's just the first collection!
This collection is notable for a mature and often political subplot. If you liked the coolness of Cowboy Bebop, but wanted more robots and gadgetry, you'll find Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. very much to your liking. The characters are well developed, and if they seem a little cliche, it is probably because the style that was original ten years ago has now been copied over and over again. There are four episodes here, ranging from those that drive the story arc forward to freestanding tales that develop the characters. What impresses me about Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. is that even the most geeky topic, such as having one's brain implanted in a giant, mobile battle tank, can be infused with human emotion and warmth. It's a neat balancing act that very few anime series have come close to mastering.
The UMD packs some nice features such as the ability to watch real previews of upcoming releases and choose individual episodes. Along with the four main episodes, there are 'teaser' clips featuring the mechanized battle tanks that Section 9 goes into battle with, the Tachikoma. As a break from the tightly wound political/psychological themes covered in each episode, the Tachikoma episodes are almost pure slapstick. Little extras show a reverance for the fans, as opposed to just throwing four episodes on a UMD.
