 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
- Cartoon Network
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Violence + profanity + skin = adult-skewing anime.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this futuristic series is very popular with teen and adult anime fans. Based on the manga by Masamune Shirow, the show is centered on the merging of man and machine and what that merge entails for technology -- the good of mankind, or a new breed of highly advanced criminal? The dialogue can get pretty profane for basic cable, characters are constantly afraid for their lives, and the main female character is usually busting out of her shirt with cleavage. Because of its intricate storyline and its connection to a line of films, books, and videogames, the show's popularity is only growing for older audiences. Parents, meanwhile, should beware of language and violence.
What's the story?
GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX follows the characters of Public Security Section 9, a special task force determined to solve high crimes committed against the Japanese people. Most of the team members are human-machine hybrids, and each brings their own skill and history to the group. The year is 2030, and humanity has been redefined thanks to technology that can blend man and machine, but innovations like the cyberbrain -- which enables the hacking of a person's mind -- crime has become more sophisticated. Law enforcement must evolve, too, which leads to the creation of Section 9 -- an advanced team made up of former cops, military personnel, and criminals. Squad leader Major Motoko Kusanagi (voiced by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn) is a clever cyborg who's troubled by her past and (as mentioned) sports huge cleavage; other characters include second-in-command Buttetsu Batou (Richard Epcar); Togusa (Crispin Freeman), who doesn't have any cybernetic advancement; and Daisuke Aramake (William Frederick Knight), the strict chief of police who's fiercely loyal to his team.
Is it any good?
The appeal of this dark, intricate anime series is its highly complex use of technology-focused content interwoven with the plot, characters, and visuals. For the novice anime fan, it will likely be hard to follow for the first few episodes. And if you have young anime fans in the house, know that the show is part of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line up for good reason -- profanity and violence are both frequent, and the central female character has a propensity for busting out all over (pun intended).
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the idea of humans enhanced by machinery. What kind of support could that kind of technology provide for humans? What do you think people's potential ethical or moral concerns about something like that might be? Parents can also address the show's strong language. How does that add to or detract from the show? And what message does it send to have a strong female character who's so scantily clad? For teens interested in anime, parents could discuss its origins and other programs worth pursuing.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Interesting But Contraversial
I Personnaly like the storyline of the show and the character progression but there is excessive amounts of violence, sexual referance, and language.
Im Not the type of teen who is influenced by what a watch and see but i would let other kids/teens watch with discression
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AGE
great smart anime
I disagreed with the reviewer on the stars rating. This anime masterpice diserved at least 4 stars! It's a thought provoking, intelligent anime masterpiece. It can be a bit violent though. Mostly 15+ material but one which had a storyline involving videos of women being skinned alive is really disturbing and should not be viewed by children it even disturbed me. Overall a great anime for older teens but do NOT let anyone under 17 see the jungle boogie episode.
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AGE
a good, thought provoking anime
This anime looks in depth at some philosophical aspects of life. At one point or another, there is a time when several characters begin to question the connection between life and the body. Also, female protagonist is a very strong woman who (in most American media) isn't seen much often.
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AGE
Very good but lots of adult content.
The character swear alot, blood flys everywhere, and there is quite a bit of skin and some nudity. At its core though, it is quite a very good, intelligent, and complex show. Not for kids unless they are very mature. If you want to preveiw the worst this show can throw at you, go to animefreak.tv, go under the anime A-Z, go to the G section and select Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Watch episodes ten and eleven (though this is mainly for the full body shot of a nude angel statue than anything other not found in episode ten). If you thing your kids can handle that, they can watch the whole season no problem.
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AGE
i thank the story is grate and i like muchins in it so futoristik and cool!!!
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Kid, 11 years old
November 17, 2010
AGE
not for kids my age :(
first of all i don't watch it on [adult swim] i collect the dvds. i am a anime collector and the first 2 mins of the dvd version there was lots of blood and gore and nudity. NUDITY,NUDITY,NUDITY! and there was mild profainity like damnit or what the hell happend but from what i saw i would give this a rating R "not the adult swim version"
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AGE
Great for more Mentally Mature Viewers and Teens
Ghost in The Shell is a popular franchise in japan, it started out as a book, a manga* to be exact, and is sold in bilingual formats, the book is borderline pornographic at points but is till amazing, i'd suggest it for those whom are 17+, but the television show, also known as anime**, is top-notch, delivering the same complex sci-fi stories, all amazingly done and truly questioning good and evil. The violence can be unnerving to some, as blood does spew out of bullet wounds and those are shown as well, but nothing quite as graphic as one would see in a slasher film. Parents should watch with their children if they are younger, to both explain and censor, they might even begin to enjoy it as well. The Protaginist, Matoko, does wear revealing clothes, and every now and then uses her feminine wiles to aid in the assigned missions, but is still a great role model as she is strong, independent, and resourceful. The verdict would be to not let your children watch unless if they have a strong understanding of right and wrong, are young, or are very susceptible to negative influences. But other than that let you teens watch away, even watch with them maybe, after all the franchise WAS the inspiration for The Matrix.
*Manga is a japanese comic, some are translated into english and released into the Us e.g. Naruto, One Piece, Death Note and such.
** also known japanimation, is commonly the adaption of a popular manga into a cartoon, kknown for the bipolar runs, some being only twelve episodes to other going past the 500 mark!
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | Cartoon Network |
| Cast: | Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, William Knight |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
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