Film Analysis - Week 19
Ghost In The Shell (1995) - Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi and Akio Ôtsuka
Ghost In The Shell (1995) - Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi and Akio Ôtsuka
This film is a Sci-Fi/Action Anime set in a world where technology has reached the point in which humans and computers are integrated among each other, even though it isn’t explicitly stated, the audience can assume that it is set in a dystopian version of Japan. The film touches on very heavy and complicated matters such as the meaning of life and the computerisation of humanity and our lives. The protagonist Motoko Kusanagi (Atsuko Tanaka) is a cyborg, created as a half human-half machine in order to help the police in the city. The main premise is that a ‘puppet master’ is hacking into the minds of citizens in order to complete his dirty work, however the gender or appearance of the hacker is unknown therefore they are referred to as ‘the puppet master’ through the entirety of the film. Kusanagi works along side Batou (Akio Ôtsuka) and Togusa (Kôichi Yamadera), two other police officers that are more human than she is. The three together with their director Nakamura (Tesshô Genda) and several other members of the force do all they can to capture the puppet master, an allegedly American computer program, hacking into the minds of people. The films title, 'Ghost in the Shell' refers to the film interpretation of a human 'soul', the idea that there is an essence inside a human being that makes them human, this is used to contrast between what is really human and what is just a souless machine. The film explores themes of understanding, enlightenment, computerisation, technology and ethics.
The films narrative is quite imaginative and surreal, the original Manga that it is based on was created by Masamune Shirow. Throughout the film, the characters constantly make reference to their origin and the fact that they aren’t real humans, but the fact that they live among humans and act like them. Having self aware characters and life dependant monologues allow the filmmakers to create a sci-fi world that makes sense and relates to our own world. The filmmakers relate Kusanagi to the audience by making her seem like a normal women, with desire and conscious fear, constantly questioning her existence and place in the film. The ‘puppet master’ is seen as the antagonist of the film, causing chaos and mayhem to the world of the film, however the ambitious ending allows for interpretation from the audience and a deeper perception into the intentions and mind of the puppet master. The second to last scene in which Kusanagi and the puppet master discuss existence is one of these ambitious and open conversations, allowing the audience to take away what they want from it and interpret it into the world of the film. The ending of the film sees a new born Kusanagi in the body or ‘shell’ of a little girl. The film, rather than having a stunted ending, uses character building of the protagonist and antagonist to manipulate the ending depending on the audiences opinion and perception.
One of the films most prominent features is its sound design, as it is an Anime, sound is very important in order to establish depth and the atmosphere. For a film made during the origins of mainstream Anime in the 1990s, the sound design is of excellent quality and is used throughout instead of plain dialogue to show the audience what is going on in the situation. The use of surround sound helps establish where all the characters are standing and where the action is occurring even if it isn’t happening in frame. This together with the films score helps create a living breathing environment, this is especially important in an animated piece as it is very hard to establish constants and real space without the audience being able to recognise landmarks and establish a setting. With live motion picture the audience can physically see the action and piece together the world of the film, with animation, there are less bounds for what can be shown on the screen but extra care must be taken in order to show that it is all a sound environment.
The films narrative is quite imaginative and surreal, the original Manga that it is based on was created by Masamune Shirow. Throughout the film, the characters constantly make reference to their origin and the fact that they aren’t real humans, but the fact that they live among humans and act like them. Having self aware characters and life dependant monologues allow the filmmakers to create a sci-fi world that makes sense and relates to our own world. The filmmakers relate Kusanagi to the audience by making her seem like a normal women, with desire and conscious fear, constantly questioning her existence and place in the film. The ‘puppet master’ is seen as the antagonist of the film, causing chaos and mayhem to the world of the film, however the ambitious ending allows for interpretation from the audience and a deeper perception into the intentions and mind of the puppet master. The second to last scene in which Kusanagi and the puppet master discuss existence is one of these ambitious and open conversations, allowing the audience to take away what they want from it and interpret it into the world of the film. The ending of the film sees a new born Kusanagi in the body or ‘shell’ of a little girl. The film, rather than having a stunted ending, uses character building of the protagonist and antagonist to manipulate the ending depending on the audiences opinion and perception.
One of the films most prominent features is its sound design, as it is an Anime, sound is very important in order to establish depth and the atmosphere. For a film made during the origins of mainstream Anime in the 1990s, the sound design is of excellent quality and is used throughout instead of plain dialogue to show the audience what is going on in the situation. The use of surround sound helps establish where all the characters are standing and where the action is occurring even if it isn’t happening in frame. This together with the films score helps create a living breathing environment, this is especially important in an animated piece as it is very hard to establish constants and real space without the audience being able to recognise landmarks and establish a setting. With live motion picture the audience can physically see the action and piece together the world of the film, with animation, there are less bounds for what can be shown on the screen but extra care must be taken in order to show that it is all a sound environment.
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