First released in 1995, Oshii Mamorus pioneering cyberpunk classic Ghost in the Shell has long become one of the most representative works in Japanese animation. One of the first anime films to cross over to the mainstream in the West, Ghost in the Shell captivated audiences worldwide with its stunning animation, complex storyline, & existential themes, & went on to launch a franchise with a sequel & TV anime series. Based on Shiro Masamunes manga, the visionary sci-fi actioner is set in a cyber-infused world of the future where Major Kusanagi Motoko & her partner Batou work for Section 9, an elite crime-fighting unit specializing in technology-related crimes. Kusanagi is investigating a mysterious hacker known only as the Puppet Master. The case leads them to an escaped cyborg without any human brain cells, & yet seems to have a "e;ghost"e; within.