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Season 1 – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Nov 2004 Sci-Fi Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In the future when technological enhancements and robotics are a way of life, Major Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 take care of the jobs that are too difficult for the police. Section 9 employs hackers, sharpshooters, detectives and cyborgs all in an effort to thwart cyber criminals and their plans to attack the innocent.
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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex — Season 1

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Stand Alone Complex is a stylishly animated addition to the Ghost in the Shell franchise that may rivet the already cybernetic-converted, but casual viewers will likely be dumbfounded by the series' impenetrable plot machinations and unmoved by its scant characterization.

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Critics Reviews

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Tasha Robinson Sci-Fi Weekly Feb 21, 2019
B-
There's nothing offensive or badly executed about Stand Alone Complex; it's all competent, though somewhat mechanical. There's just not a lot about it that really stands out as new or unusual. Go to Full Review Jim Schembri The Age (Australia) Apr 30, 2018
Even though I've seen the 1995 anime film and all the Matrix films it inspired, I couldn't make head nor tail of what was going on here. Go to Full Review Phelim O'Neill Guardian Apr 27, 2018
A country under constant attack, in both the virtual and the real world - is this what the future holds? If only all sci-fi was this good. Go to Full Review Toussaint Egan Paste Magazine Feb 22, 2019
Stand Alone Complex combines the best of both Shirow and Oshii's sensibilities, arguably positioning itself as not only one of the best anime series of its time but also one of the best iterations, if not the best iteration, of Ghost in the Shell to date. Go to Full Review Andrew Dilks What Culture Feb 21, 2019
There's always a risk when taking an iconic movie and transferring it to television -- often it loses the scope and ambition of the original... Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is one of the exceptions to the rule. Go to Full Review Ian Wolf Anime UK News Feb 13, 2019
The main issue is the plot, which you need to keep on top of and is hard to get to grips with at times. If you let anything slip, you soon find the series to be very dull. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Squirt R. @Squirt_Reynolds May 27, 2026 Major Katsuragi can get it See more Nick G @RT79397732 Mar 27, 2026 Legendary anime, sets the bar for what anime for mature adults interested in sci-fi and technology can be. The story is not always easy to follow, you have to pay attention. It's not for casual viewers who want to pop in and out. Each episode is not standalone, although a few are unrelated to the larger narrative. It doesn't get any better than this. See more ring f @RT61631640 Jun 2, 2025 contain philosophy and science-fiction,cause one to think deeply about See more Halo G @RT11033058 Jul 5, 2024 What an amazing show and one hell of a story. They deff dropped some bucks on this. wow. It had me on the edge of my seat. Any fan of Ghost in the Shell will adore this tv show See more Lonely S @Loneshark Nov 11, 2023 A very clinical and japanese view of our increasingly destructive and technology-interdependent future. There's more realism than the philosophic driven plot of the original. Unfortunately there's very little escapism provided here. Not for your typical anime-viewing audience. Most episodes are detective-story driven. They're slow-paced, culminating with an action scene at the end. And it always predictably deals with terrorism, political intrigue, or social issues like xenophobia or technology addiction. Even social media manipulation is touched upon. It gives you a taste of what we're becoming. It was an interesting watch 20 years ago. Not so much today. See more May 25, 2022 Amazing series. One of the greatest anime of all time See more Read all reviews
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Mary Elizabeth McGlynn

Major Motoko Kusanagi

Richard Epcar

Batou

Crispin Freeman

Togusa

John Swasey

Daisuke Aramaki

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Nov 6, 2004 Section 9 A special ops unit uncovers an espionage plot. Details Episode 2 Aired Nov 13, 2004 Testation Section 9 must stop a state-of-the-art tank. Details Episode 3 Aired Nov 20, 2004 Android and I Section 9 investigates a mass robot suicide. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 27, 2004 Intercepter Togusa receives a call from an old friend. Details Episode 5 Aired Dec 4, 2004 Decoy The Laughing Man threatens to assassinate the Superintendent General of the police. Details Episode 6 Aired Dec 11, 2004 Meme Motoko and Paz attend a press conference to protect the Superintendent General from attack. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 18, 2004 Idolator Section 9 trails a South American revolutionary hero. Details Episode 8 Aired Jan 1, 2005 Missing Hearts Kurutan is worried about a heart transplant. Details Episode 9 Aired Jan 8, 2005 Chat! Chat! Chat Kusanagi is worried about someone in a chat room. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 15, 2005 Jungle Cruise Section 9 knows why American CIA were sent to Tokyo. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 22, 2005 Portraitz Togusa goes undercover. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 29, 2005 Escape From Kusanagi does some soul-searching. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 5, 2005 Not Equal Section 9 is assigned to investigate a missing heiress. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 12, 2005 Yes Section 9 is assigned to protect a reclusive millionaire. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 19, 2005 Machine Desirantes The Major worries when AIs begin speaking about their individuality. Details Episode 16 Aired Feb 26, 2005 Ag2O Batou goes under cover to shadow one of his former heroes. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 5, 2005 Angel's Share Aramaki and an old flame are kidnapped. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 12, 2005 Lost Heritage Section 9 is assigned to protecting the Chinese Foreign Minister from being assassinated. Details Episode 19 Aired Mar 19, 2005 Captivated Section 9 searches for people responsible for a rash of mass-kidnappings. Details Episode 20 Aired Mar 26, 2005 Re-View Togusa is on the trail of the Laughing Man again. Details Episode 21 Aired Apr 2, 2005 Eraser Togusa passes on his memories to the rest of Section 9. Details Episode 22 Aired Apr 9, 2005 Scandal A Raid on Sunflower Society's headquarters. Details Episode 23 Aired Apr 16, 2005 Equinox A kidnapping plot against the CEO of Serano Genomics. Details Episode 24 Aired Apr 23, 2005 Annihilation The government orders Section 9 disbanded; Aramaki is taken away; Togusa arrested. Details Episode 25 Aired Apr 30, 2005 Barrage The remaining members of Section 9 are rounded up one by one; Batou fights back. Details Episode 26 Aired May 7, 2005 Stand Alone Complex The Umibozu think they killed Kusanagi. Details

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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex — Season 1

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex View more photos

Season Info

Network
Cartoon Network
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Sci-Fi, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date
Nov 6, 2004
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