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Parents' Guide to

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Violence + profanity + skin = adult-skewing anime.

TV Cartoon Network Anime 2004
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus Adult
December 12, 2014
age 16+

Most Philisophical Robots in TV History

"Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alon Complex", as many have stated, is amazingly thought-provoking, and with the right audience, becomes one of the most interesting Sci-Fi series instantly. It is much like a futuristic version of crime television shows, but also gives the audience an opportunity to think more deeply about the subjects dealt with in the show. Unlike other brain-dulling Sci-Fi shows like Star Wars in which most of the enjoyment is derived from lasers, flying ships, and CGI, "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" brings a new light as to how Sci-Fi fans look at Futuristic technology. Each episode is unpredictable, but not to a chaotic extent: one episode could be a huge firefight, and another could consist entirely of users on the internet having an ordinary live chat. Obviously, being a crime-show, "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" has its share of violence, but only a select few episodes consist of mostly violence and most episodes do not use violence as the main source of entertainment. If your child is mature enough to handle violence and a few small sexual references and they have the patience for a very complex show, then "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" is perfect for any Sci-Fi fan curious about the future.
Masadaco
Masadaco Parent of 13, 14 and 15-year-old
December 12, 2012
age 14+

A classic of the genre

The themes of GotS are high science fiction. The story is complex which will quickly bore younger viewers, but sci-fi fans will love it. GotS is a classic of the genre and often held up as one of the best anime series created. If you are developing an anime fan this is definitely one to share. The main character is a strong female character which is unfortunately drawn in a very revealing/sexy style. The writers hedge this by making her a "full cyborg" which is to say her entire body is a machine that looks human. Kusanagi leads a special ops team with authority and wisdom. There are few such female leads in any anime. There is no sex in the series, but there are references to geisha girls and many darker themes are used--slavery, drugs, murder/suicide, and others. Usually these themes resolve in to a moral or a message. One of the early episodes involves a computer programmer who is dying of cancer and transfers his consciousness in to a tank so he can go home and see his parents. The plan goes wrong as no one knows why the tank has gone out of control. The whole of the series asks questions about what it is to be human. It is a great philosophy exploration and provide many talking points.
See all 4 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (5 ):

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).

Talk to Your Kids 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.

TV Details

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