Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045’, Netflix’s New Take on an Anime Classic

After a beloved manga and several movies, series, and video games Ghost in the Shell is back. Set in a future overrun by war and terrorism, it’s Major Motoko Kusanagi’s job to fight crime. But as these army officers and cyborgs quickly learn, that’s a job easier said than done.

GHOST IN THE SHELL: SAC_2045: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: A jazzy opening sequence shows every inch of cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi being built — emphasis on every inch. After one too many gratuitous angles of Major’s naked body, Ghost in the Shell gets to the main event every fan has been praying for. That’s right, it’s time for a text crawl.

A series of slides explain that in the year 2045 America launched something known as a sustainable war. But instead of working together to make the world at large more sustainable, every nation only looked out for itself. In this new future both paper and digital currency have crumbled and humans are on the brink of extinction. That’s the world Major and her crime-fighting unit are seeking to salvage.

The Gist: SAC_2045 follows every anime fan’s favorite cyborg, Major Motoko Kusanagi (voiced by Atsuko Tanaka in Japanese / Mary Elizabeth McGlynn in English). Based on the manga of the same name the series sees Major and her crew stuck in the middle of the war for sustainability. While nations continue to wage war and civilians pillage and kill, Major’s Public Security Section 9 is responsible for maintaining the peace. And one of the coolest ways they do that is by talking through their technological connection, or “cyberbrains.”

The first episode of SAC_2045 sees Major and her gang in the middle of a routine day of busting up crime. While scoring some beer, they come across some hooligans looking for a gun fight. They take them out with ease, but it isn’t long before their easy life gets a suspicious wrinkle.

It turns out that another group of civilians harboring illegal guns didn’t steal their weaponry at all. Instead they were given to them by someone dubbed the Good One-Percenter. It’s going to be up to the squad to figure out who this mystery man is and take them down.

Meanwhile it looks like there’s more potential trouble in the squad’s future. A former detective by the name of Togusa (voiced by Kōichi Yamadera in Japanese / Crispin Freeman in English) used to be part of Major’s gang. For some unclear reason he was left behind. Now thanks to a mysterious older man and the prime minister, he may get a chance at vengeance. Or at the very least he may be able to prove himself once more.

Our Take: There’s a reason the 1995 science thriller Ghost in the Shell is considered a cinematic classic, and it has little to do with Major’s breasts. The first cinematic adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s work was a soulful examination of what it meant to be human. As Major became more and more aware of how much of her body didn’t belong to her, it became a harrowing question about whether or not a soul inhabiting a shell could be considered human or if humanity required something more.

Sure, every version of Ghost in the Shell has coupled some degree of those themes with awesome action scenes. And yes, Major seems incapable of existing without a skintight suit. But beneath the blood and skin there was always something deeper.

At least in its first episode, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 ignores all of that introspection to ogle nearly naked women. Almost every piece of dialogue about Major can be condensed to “Look, she kicks butt AND she’s hot!” Major’s choice of a shell and how she uses it to confuse her enemies is vital to her character. But time and time again SAC_2045 ignores the deeper path and chooses instead point and drool.

Even that is difficult to do, with SAC_2045‘s animation style. The series uses the CGI animation that has become increasingly popular with Netflix’s original anime. The original Ghost in the Shell anime looked heartbreakingly vibrant and alive in every frame. By contrast SAC_2045 comes across like a bad PlayStation 2 cut scene complete with poorly moving lips and walking graphics that never look normal.

Sex and Skin: There’s no actual sex, but Major’s naked body does appear in the opening credits. Also there are a group of coded prostitute cyborgs that appear in Episode 1. Perhaps they’re a nod to the deeper themes this series may uncover, but in this first installment they merely exist.

Parting Shot: After learning about the Good One-Percenter, Major and her squad try to escape. At the last moment they’re seen by a robot guard dog. Can they escape? Since this particular fight is five to one, we sure hope so.

Sleeper Star: Most of SAC_2045‘s characters will be familiar to anyone who likes this series. But Togusa and his secret vendetta against Major are a welcome detail.

Most Pilot-y Line: Ishikawa saying “I think our young, beautiful squad leader overheard us” takes the cake. Even if that’s a joke it’s so on brand for how this series sees Major that it’s cringeworthy.

Our Call: SKIP IT. Major deserves better than this, and you do too.

Watch Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 on Netflix