Shirow's Ghost in the Shell The real beauty of Mamoru Oshii's adaptation of Shirow's Ghost in the Shell lies in its attention to detail and sheer cohesion of these details which collectively form complex ideas and plot. In almost every detail and plot element there is a connection to the key themes of the anime. Some of the main themes deal with the commodification of the flesh and body; the separation between mind and body; and the idea that a static environment or organism constitutes a weak stronghold. Here, I will choose to focus on how the film explains these themes through details, rather than spending time extrapolating or explaining the themes in detail myself. The first key scene to examine is the interlude in the middle of the film in which Motoko walks around the city while music plays, inducing an almost transcendental ambiance. Almost each of these shots shows either the impersonality of the city or an object that seems to express the separation between an individual and their body, how one does not equate or determine the other. For example, Motoko sees several women - eating and walking - with the same face as hers, and the viewer immediately begins to wonder what is similar. The idea that the body in no way determines personality seems ridiculous to us, because our bodies are valued and should never be bought, sold or, even worse, replaced. In the overpopulated and impersonal city (this impersonality was another important point, because the very lack of knowledge of those around it leads to a kind of commodification of strangers, which is akin to this same commodification of the body), among thousands or millions of people she co...... middle of paper ...... when Motoko gets ready in the van as she and Togusa chase the garbage truck. They talk about why he was hired, and his explanation is: "Overspecialize and you breed in weakness. It's a slow death." Indeed, plot-wise , the only reason Project 2501 chooses to merge with Motoko is because it does not wish to be weaker by being static. All of these details are just brief examples of the variety and enormity of the thought put into it. this animated film Its visuals do as much for the themes as its plot and dialogue, and neither can be completely separated The endless foreshadowing brings a certain intertwining plot quality that makes for a surprisingly complex story and concept. , but unified Overall, Ghost in the Shell did a wonderful job of depicting its themes, as every minute of the film had something new to show, and all of them tied into the overall narrative...