Ghost In The Shell, why is it so influential?
In this video, I discuss the classic 1995 cyberpunk anime, #GhostintheShell and the impact it had on the film industry and beyond. Why WAS it so influential to a number of directors and creatives around the world? Let's find out!
Links:
Ghost in the Shell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_i...
Psygnosis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psygnosis
How Sony infiltrated youth culture -https://www.theguardian.com/technolog...
Music By: Bad Snacks, Slynk and Futuremono
Produced by: Chris Kernaghan
Support: Aaliyah O'Neill
Cited as an influence on a number of filmmakers, the 1995 release of #GhostIntheShell had a significant impact on cinema, and in particular, the sci-fi genre. The most notable of which was the 1999 film, The Matrix. According to legend, when the Wachowski’s pitched the idea for The Matrix, they simply played #GhostintheShell for its entirety and said, “We want to do that, but for real.” Why is #GhostintheShell so influential, and why do heavyweight US directors such as Steven Spielberg or James Cameron find significance in a film which initially flopped on its initial release in Japan?
Hey guys, it's Chris back for another design video - let's examine the impact it had on the film industry, and beyond, and delve into the creative process of this classic cyberpunk film.
Based on the 1989 manga by Masamune Shirow, #GhostintheShell focuses on the protagonist Motoko Kusanagi, who is an agent for the cyberterrorist organization Public Security Section 9. Action, stunning visuals and philosophical questions around what it means to be “alive” have cemented this film as required viewing, even if you’re not familiar with Anime. A reference to The Ghost in the Machine by Arthur Koestler, this philosophical book examines human consciousness in the digital world, ensuring that Ghost in the Shell isn’t just a typical action film, but one that asks questions around what it is to be human in these digital times.
The film opens with Kusanagi in the midst of a mission. A narrative tactic known as In medias res, Latin for into the middle of things. Opening the film like this isn’t something unique to The Ghost in the Shell, but is a way in which the viewer can immediately become engrossed. One of my favourite examples of this technique is Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction when two characters discuss how to continue their career in criminality, only to immediately launch into over coffee.
With #GhostintheShell, the opening credits inform with a montage of the construction of the protagonist, so that we as the viewer immediately understand their origins.
But you don’t have to look for too long before you see similarities with other films, in particular, the Matrix.
Looking at both openings, and you can immediately see the similarities between the two films. The green code that represents the digital world, the connections in the back of characters heads to connect to a digital interface, to fight scenes. Some shots are uncanny, like this chase scene that involves an explosion of bullets tearing through watermelons being sold on the street.
Speaking of those streets, one of the most striking moments is the attention to detail in the vast portrayal of cityscapes, right down to the Hong Kong-esque, crowded streets glowing with red and orange neon lighting, accompanied by large aircraft flying overhead.
In an interview with the Guardian, Art Director Hiromasa Ogura spoke about working with director Mamoru Oshii, and how his process differed from what was considered the norm at the time.
“Usually the projects that get brought to me are on the basis of stuff I’ve already done, He would just talk, and talk, and talk, and it got to the point where I thought: this is really peculiar, and this is really interesting … it would be worthwhile following through on this just to see what kind of film gets made."
Something also particularly different about Oshii’s style is his emphasis on building worlds and visuals that transport the user elsewhere first. Where characters and story come second to this, hence the reason Ogura became an integral part of the design process.
“The story of #GhostintheShell goes from this deteriorating urban landscape towards these high-rise buildings. So we had that in mind based on what we saw in Hong Kong. We really wanted to capture that feel.”
Ogura would go on to say, “[Oshii] wasn’t particularly picky about how it was; he’d give it to you in vague terms and let you develop it,”
From the onset it was clear then, that #GhostintheShell wasn’t just going to be ambitious in its subject matter, but it’s attention to detail and aesthetics. Ogura’s illustrated skylines are still revered to this day, and their popularity after all this time can be attributed to their attention to detail and ability to capture imaginations around the globe.