Groundbreaking director Mamoru Oshii continues to push the boundaries of art and anime with this universally acclaimed cyber thriller following cyborg detective Batou as he tries to unravel the rea...
Ghost In The Shell 2 Innocence dances across its philosophical themes like sentient marionettes. It comes as no surprise that I am a huge fan of Oshii's original ambitious science-fiction feature. It transcended philosophies and ideologies through stunning animation and a futuristic noir police investigation, resulting in setting a benchmark for a variety of genres. Oshii returns for the sequel, and attempts to succeed his own creation. Whilst not as fresh and inventive as its predecessor, this follow-on has enough style and substance to quantify its existence. Following on from the events of the first film, agent Batou teams up with a new recruit to investigate a series of hacked dolls that are causing deaths.
The idea of "ghosts" inhabiting machines was conceptualised in the original film (and the manga it was based on), and retains its presence during this investigation. The philosophy behind souls and artificial intelligence clearly inspires Oshii as he repeatedly maintains his perspective on the rapid evolution of technological advancements. Questioning the existence of humanity as they acquire more cybernetic enhancements, slowly turning them into pure machines. It has to be said, that Oshii's screenplay is overly heavy on philosophical dialogue, to the point that it occasionally becomes difficult to follow and detracts from the primary plot. However, the sheer ambition with its poetry-like dialogue has to be applauded. Oshii integrates these beliefs through natural conversation between Batou and his new partner Togusa. Discussing the reasoning behind the human likeness of dolls and marionettes and frequently referencing a metaphor regarding an elephant.
The initial weight of the script will deter many, as they sprint to find the nearest notepad and pen. But if you really listen to Oshii's words, opening your ears, you'll appreciate his masterful talent. Utterly resonating. The characterisation of Batou remains prominent despite his cold exterior, however Togusa could've had more time to establish his conflicting views with Batou. Narratively speaking, it's weirdly yet well paced. The first act felt reminiscent to the original's noir aesthetic, leading to a surreal second act that slowly melts your mind and then concluding with its third act that rapidly wraps up the investigation with minimal explanation, opting for a more action orientation. It's not so much a criticism, more just a comment.
The animation remains stunning and its visual style has substantially evolved since 1995. Embedding 2D hand-drawn characters against 3D CGI environments adds a layer of depth. Colossal technological skyscrapers illuminate the background whilst Batou slowly walks to his next clue. Oshii relies on the CGI slightly too much and often diminishes the story with the flashy gimmicks effects. However, it must be said that making a sequel to a near masterpiece in science-fiction and anime, is a difficult task. In my opinion, Oshii successfully did just that. It may not be as remarkable, but it certainly pushes forward with its ideas on existentialism and evolution.
