Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell is an expansive franchise—incorporating manga, anime movies, and TV series—following the seemingly endless adventures of Public Security Section 9, a highly effective counter-cyberterrorist organization operating in 2027. Arise offers a pair of 50-minute episodes—referred to as “borders,” for no obvious reason—from an OVA reboot. In the first episode, the bombing assassination of an arms dealer results in a criminal investigation by the hacker cyborg Motoko Kusanagi and a trio of law enforcement officers, one of whom suspects that Motoko is actually a criminal mole. In the second piece, Motoko has difficulty accepting the authority of a new superior and winds up in a conflict with a rival pair of investigators who are trying to solve a thorny crime. While this is a somewhat underwhelming spin on a well-worn property, diehard fans may enjoy another go-round of Motoko's take-charge attitude, but overall these prequel episodes (set two years before the acclaimed feature film) rank as among the less remarkable Ghost in the Shell productions. Presented in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, rated TV-MA, extras include an audio commentary and panel discussions. A strong optional purchase. (P. Hall)
Ghost in the Shell—Arise: Borders 1 & 2
(2014) 4 discs. 114 min. Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $39.98. Funimation (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 1-4210-2937-5. Volume 30, Issue 1
Ghost in the Shell—Arise: Borders 1 & 2
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