Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Sunday, November 9th 2025: Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Yesterday I watched Ghost in the Shell (1995) on the big screen as part of a Japanese Film Festival being held in Jakarta. Tickets were half price and I got some goodies to bring home with me!

Anyhoo, This is less of a review and more of a think-out-loud of the film.

I have a soft spot for animated movies, since I believe they could push more boundaries and be more precise and intentional with its framing, movement, and color. Besides that, when you watch Ghost, it's hard not to be struck with the atmospheric backdrops paired with an impactful score.

After only one watch-through (which I tried to go in blind) I find myself thinking a lot about the themes of the movie. Some of the scenes feel like a blur. The action happens fast. Thankfully, there are short sequences of no dialogue and just backdrops set to music; this gives the audience time to fully process what just happened and think about the movie, while being treated to beautiful scenery.

I found the pacing to be perfect. Just enough action, enough interpersonal scenes and dialog, backdrops, establishing scenes, and ambiance to make this movie more than enjoyable. Not once did I lose interest in the characters or setting, they give just enough information but not too much that it feels dumbed down.

Speaking of not being dumbed down, I do have trouble putting my finger on the themes of this movie. I do get the anxiety and philosophical debates surrounding cybernetics, but there's something more being said about the "self."

I believe this movie is a delicate balancing act; trying to deliver its cyber themes for those already interested in the genre while still giving adequate foundations for the layman to catch onto. This gives off a clumsy effect when a lot of exposition happens through dialog. But it happens so rarely I will forgive it, personally.

Next is the discussion of "self." Is there a True Self? When you "merge" with someone (assuming through a union of marriage), you lose yourself but you create something new. The lines between you and the other party are blurred.

I can't help but think of Dan Olson's video essaus on Annihillation, where he unravels its themes as the impermanence of the "self." Constantly changing, evolving, merging, dividing. I do see a glimmer of this being brought up in Ghost. Though, this blurring of lines is seen through a cyborg's futuristic lens, where "merging" becomes quite literal on the software level.

There's also the issue of false memories. I think it's very apt in this day and age to watch Ghost, since a lot could be said about GenAI halluciations and the levels of psychosis people are being put through via AI chatbots. There's too many metaphors to catch onto just from a first viewing. Truthfully I wish I could watch it in theaters again. Motoko's affinity for the sea mirrors her "birth" scene, emerging from waters transformed.

Oh, how I love how layered the movie is. I wish I could dissect it in even more detail. But for now I could just gush about the beautiful graphics and the layers of metaphors and messages it tries to contain in its relatively short runtime of 90 minutes.

Lastly, I got a free pen and a small sticker sheet for participating in the film festival. It's a frixion pen from pilot, who's a sponsor of the fair alongside some other brands. Cheap tickets, free stuff, and the ads were Japanese tourism ads and free Japanese learning platform ads. I'd say yesterday was a success.

Ah, before I forget, 5/5 stars. Would watch again, highly recommend. :::