
Anime · Perfect Choice
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex reads strongest on Spectacle, World Building and Bingeability.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
In the future when technological enhancements and robotics are a way of life, Major Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 take care of the jobs that are too difficult for the police. Section 9 employs hackers, sharpshooters, detectives and cyborgs all in an effort to thwart cyber criminals and their plans to attack the innocent.
The run
Seasons
2 seasons · 52 episodes.

Season 0 · Complete
Specials
200253 episodes
Best episode · S00E26 Tachikomatic Days EP26

Season 1 · Complete
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
200226 episodes
7.1IMDbFemale cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her fellow police officers of Section 9 hunt down a host of criminals in both the real and online worlds. In the course of their work, Kusanagi and Section 9 must do everything from resolving hostage crises to hunting down runaway state-of-the-art killing machines.
Best episode · S01E25 C: Smoke of Gunpowder, Hail of Bullets; BARRAGE

Season 2 · Complete
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
200426 episodes
6.8IMDbThe story continues to follow the adventures of Section 9's top members, Motoko Kusanagi, Batou, and Togusa. The series maintains an episodic format and portrays Section 9 dealing with political issues such as invited refugees and nuclear intrigue. Another government institution, the Information Bureau of the Cabinet, comes up head-to-head against them. And a terrorist entity who calls itself the "Individual Eleven" joins the set.
Best episode · S02E26 IN: Return to Patriotism; ENDLESS∞GIG
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

S01E25
C: Smoke of Gunpowder, Hail of Bullets; BARRAGE
Despite their best efforts, the remaining members of Section 9 are rounded up one by one by the government forces; only Batou and Motoko are left.
- Directed by Kazunobu Fuseki
- Written by Taiki Sakurai

S01E10
SA: A Perfect Day for a Jungle Cruise; JUNGLE CRUISE
Marco Amoretti, a former Navy Petty Officer from the American Empire, has come to Japan and is committing heinous acts of brutality against women. Section 9 is assisted in this matter by the American Empire's CIA. While this doesn't sit well with Public Security's members, Batou finds the whole case particularly hard on his psyche as the nightmares from his past rear their ugly head.
- Directed by Jun Matsumoto
- Written by Dai Sato

S02E26
IN: Return to Patriotism; ENDLESS∞GIG
The tables seem to be turning in favor of Section 9, but the nuclear missile is still being prepared for launch.
- Directed by Masayuki Yoshihara
- Written by Kenji Kamiyama

S01E24
C: Sunset in the Lonely City; ANNIHILATION
The government orders Section 9 disbanded. Aramaki is taken away, and Togusa is arrested. Motoko assembles the remaining team members at HQ for one final mission. They prepare for a full-scale assault while Elite troopers and Armed Suits descend on Section 9 HQ.
- Directed by Yasuhiro Geshi
- Written by Taiki Sakurai

S01E21
C: Left-Behind Trace; ERASER
After being shot, Togusa's in the hospital and about to go into surgery, but he is desperate to pass on what he's learned to the rest of Section 9. As Togusa fights for his life, the rest of Section 9 takes over the case, but others within the government have learned of the investigation and are not happy.
- Directed by Kenichi Takeshita
- Written by Dai Sato

S01E02
SA: Proof of Recklessness; TESTATION
Kenbishi Heavy Industries has built a state-of-the-art multiped tank. There's only one problem–it's gone haywire and started moving on its own. Section 9 is called in to stop it, as the Self Defense Force will not get involved. Now, it's up to Motoko, Batou, and the rest of Section 9 to stop the tank and figure out what made it go berserk in the first place.
- Directed by Toshiyuki Kono
- Written by Junichi Fujisaku
Recently aired
Latest Episodes

S00E53
Uchikomatic Days

S02E26
IN: Return to Patriotism; ENDLESS∞GIG
- Directed by Masayuki Yoshihara
- Written by Kenji Kamiyama

S02E25
IN: To the Other Side of Paradise; THIS SIDE OF JUSTICE
- Directed by Jun Matsumoto
- Written by Kenji Kamiyama

S02E23
IN: The Day the Bridge Falls; MARTIAL LAW
- Directed by Toshiyuki Kono
- Written by Kenji Kamiyama

S02E24
IN: Aerial Bombing of Dejima; NUCLEAR POWER
- Directed by Masaki Tachibana
- Written by Kenji Kamiyama

S02E21
IN: Escape in Defeat; EMBARRASSMENT
- Directed by Masayuki Yoshihara
- Written by Kenji Kamiyama
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Mitsuhisa IshikawaProducer
- Shigeru WatanabeExecutive Producer
- Atsushi SugitaProducer
Writing
- Yutaka OmatsuWriter
- Yuichiro MatsukaWriter
- Junichi FujisakuWriter
- Shoutarou SugaWriter
- Nobutoshi TeradoWriter
- Kenji KamiyamaWriter
Direction
- Yasuhiro GeshiDirector
- Hideyo YamamotoDirector
- Jun MatsumotoDirector
- Atsushi WakabayashiDirector
- Itsuro KawasakiDirector
- Kazunobu FusekiDirector
Cinematography
- Koji TanakaDirector of Photography
Music
- Yoko KannoOriginal Music Composer
Recognition
Awards
1 win
Japan Media Arts Festival Animation Division Excellence Award
1 win
- WinnerJapan Media Arts Festival Animation Division Excellence Award
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex · Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- YouTube TVStreaming
- Criterion ChannelStreaming
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