Ghost in the Shell: Arise
Ghost in the Shell: Arise, also known in Japan as Mobile Armored Riot Police: Arise, is an original video animation and television series that serves as a re-imagining of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell. The series features new character designs and is directed by Kazuchika Kise, screenplay by Tow Ubukata, and music by Cornelius.
Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture, a recompilation of the four original parts of the OVA in a television format, aired on nine stations from April 5 to June 14, 2015. The AAA broadcast included two original episodes that help tie Ghost in the Shell: Arise with its 2015 animated film sequel .
Plot
The series takes place in the year 2027, where many people in developed countries have become cyborgs with prosthetic bodies. Primarily set in the fictional Japanese Newport City, the series follows a younger Motoko Kusanagi before the formation of Public Security Section 9. At the start of Arise she is a member of the federal 501 Organization, a group who employs advanced infiltration tactics and espionage to attack or neutralize enemy threats. The 501 Organization is also the legal owner of Kusanagi's prosthetic body, which is lent to her in exchange for her services to the group. This debt displeases her and causes a disparity between herself and her employer.Cast and characters
Arise features an original Japanese voice cast, with only one actor reprising their role from the Oshii film and anime television series. Maaya Sakamoto replaces Atsuko Tanaka as the voice of Major Motoko Kusanagi, Sakamoto having previously voiced the Major as a child in both the film, and Stand Alone Complex series. Other changes to the cast include Kenichirou Matsuda as Batou, Tarusuke Shingaki as Togusa, Ikyuu Jyuku as Chief Daisuke Aramaki, Tomoyuki Dan as Ishikawa, Takuro Nakakuni as Saito, Yōji Ueda as Paz, and Kazuya Nakai as Borma. Miyuki Sawashiro provides the voice of the series' think tanks now called the Logicoma, short for Logistics Conveyer Machine. The Logicoma also feature in anime shorts included on the Blu-ray releases titled Logicoma Beat.New characters in the first episode include Kurtz, voiced by Mayumi Asano in Japanese and by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn in English, the head of the Army 501 Organization, the firm who converted Motoko Kusanagi into a full cyborg and who Kusanagi would replace in the organization had she not joined Section 9; Raizo, voiced by Takanori Hoshino, a combat cyborg for the 501 Organization that uses electricity as weapons; Ibachi, voiced by Masahiro Mamiya, a combat cyborg for the 501 Organization skilled in bōjutsu and armed with hidden machine guns; Tsumugi, voiced by Kenji Nojima, a tactical cyborg for the 501 Organization that has a set of twins' cyberbrains in its head who always talk to each other; and Lieutenant colonel Mamuro, voiced by Atsushi Miyauchi, the leader of the 501 Organization who raised Kusanagi but has disappeared, having had something to do with arms dealing.
| Character | Japanese | English |
| Motoko Kusanagi | Maaya Sakamoto | Elizabeth Maxwell |
| Daisuke Aramaki | Ikyuu Jyuku | John Swasey |
| Batou | Kenichiro Matsuda | Christopher Sabat |
| Paz | Yoji Ueda | Jason Douglas |
| Togusa | Tarusuke Shingaki | Alex Organ |
| Saito | Takuro Nakakuni | Marcus Stimac |
| Kurutsu | Mayumi Asano | Mary Elizabeth McGlynn |
| Mamuro | Atsushi Miyauchi | Brian Mathis |
| Ibachi | Masahiro Mamiya | Chris Rager |
| Tsumugi | Kenji Nojima | Eric Vale |
| Raizo | Takanori Hoshino | David Wald |
| Logicoma | Miyuki Sawashiro | Jad Saxton |
Media
Films
Each of the films are known as "borders", and have received national theatrical releases one month before the release of their Blu-ray and DVD versions. A recurring part of the films is the mysterious Fire Starter computer virus, as well as looking into the lives of Public Security Section 9's members before its formation.The opening theme for the first four episodes is called "GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE", and is performed by both Salyu and Cornelius, it is also used as an ending for the fifth episode, the opening of with it is "Anata o tamotsu mono" by Maaya Sakamoto and Cornelius; the ending themes are different for each episode.
Borders list
Manga
A manga original story titled Ghost in the Shell: Arise ~Sleepless Eye~ began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazines April 2013 issue, released March 13, 2013, and ended serialization on June 20, 2016. It was compiled into seven volumes. The manga follows the story of how Batou and Kusanagi met during the civil war.TV series
Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture is a television broadcasting of the previously released film series alongside new content. It began airing in Japan on April 5, 2015, broadcasting from the Tokyo MX, KBS, Sun TV, TV Aichi, HTB, OX, SBS, TVQ and BS11 networks. Funimation's subtitled localization of the series began on April 8, 2015, with the digital AAA releases being released under the same Ghost in the Shell: Arise listing for the original tetralogy, but labelled as television episodes to differentiate the two.The opening theme is "Anata o tamotsu mono" by Maaya Sakamoto and Cornelius.
Stage play
A stage production of Ghost in the Shell Arise: GHOST is ALIVE was staged between the November 5 to 15, 2015 at the Tokyo Playhouse. Directed by Shutaro Oku and starring Kaede Aono as Motoko Kusanagi, Ren Yagami as Batou, Kentarou Kanesaki as Togusa and Ikkyuu Juku reprising his role from the anime as Daisuke Aramaki. The play was presented with 3-D glasses and featured 3-D projected backdrops as well as a dance number at the end.Promotion
On September 19, 2013, Pacific Racing and Production I.G. collaborated on an Arise themed Porsche 911 GT3R model race car labelled the NAC Ghost in the Shell ARISE DR Porsche, which was used for the official Super GT auto race. It was discontinued in March 2014 and replaced with a Love Live! theme. From November 1 until December 31, 2013, a "Ghost in the Shell: Arise Airport AR Event" was held in many Japanese airports, with AR posters scattered around Haneda Airport, Ibaraki Airport and Fukuoka Airport for visitors to scan using an official app. A free admission special event titled "Ghost in the Shell LABO ~ Shinjuku Gitai" was held in Eastern Shinjuku on November 29 to 30, 2013, where attendees received special promotional material designed after the prosthetic wiring in the series created by renowned makeup artist JIRO.Releases
On June 14, 2013, Funimation announced that it had acquired the rights for the series for a North American release. Funimation released parts 1 and 2 on Blu-ray and DVD to North America on October 28, 2014. Netflix has parts 1 and 2 available for streaming in English and part 3 in Japanese audio with English subtitles in selected territories. On January 8, 2015, it was announced that Arise would be adapted into a "TV series" in the spring of 2015. This was later confirmed to be a recompilation of the first four films into a television format, with two original episodes, collectively titled Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture.An original episode titled Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Pyrophoric Cult, was given a standalone home video release in Japan on August 26, 2015. Pyrophoric Cult has a runtime of 50 minutes, alongside 30 minutes of extra content on the disc. This was reduced and split in two for the AAA broadcasting. The plot involves the "Fire Starter" virus explored in Arise previously, and introduces the new character Pyromania. The episode ties into the film .