REVIEW: ‘The Ghost In The Shell’ Episode 1 — “Prologue + Super Spartan i”

The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1, “Prologue + Super Spartan i,” begins Science SARU’s adaptation of Shirow Masamune’s 1989 manga of the same name. Following Public Security Section 9, a military-style strike team led in the field by Major Motoko Kusanagi (Maaya Sakamoto, Arknights: Rise from Embers), they receive their first mission from Chief Aramaki (Kazuhiro Yamaji, Spy x Family), after an unexpected demonstration of the group’s potential.

This episode starts awkwardly for anyone unfamiliar with the franchise. Opening text introduces the setting, but the translation is poorly executed. The text is shown in broken fragments that pass by far too fast for an average reader to pick up. Not a positive start to the experience. Happily, the audio subtitles are handled much better. 

The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1 fleshes out the group dynamic of Section 9’s new field operatives.

Once the opening is passed, The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1 speeds into its initial pair of stories, rarely letting off the gas. A raid led by Aramaki introduces Section 9’s chief to his soon-to-be field leader when Kusanagi takes out a target he is moving to arrest, but looks likely to slip through his fingers thanks to legal loopholes. As Kusanagi diaspeers into the night, we get another take on the famous shot of the protagonist falling away from a building as her thermoptic camouflage activates. It wouldn’t be GitS if she didn’t do it at least once. 

Willing to overlook the highly illegal actions taken by her, Aramaki sets up Kusanagi and the rest of the Section 9 team, quickly getting them their first assignment. While small in scale, the mission works well to introduce several different elements of both the team’s combat and cybernetic abilities. 

The scenario that occupies the bulk of The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1 does a good job of fleshing out the group dynamic of Section 9’s new field operatives. Their roles, how they mesh, and many of their quirks are brought to the viewer’s notice in organic and natural ways. The dynamic tries to be fun and humorous, which it achieves, but with a cost. These moments of levity often serve to undercut the supposed skill and competence of the team. This is most notable with Kusanagi herself. 

Science SARU has gone all in on bringing the 80s manga style of the original to life.

Rather than being the cool-as-ice professional the viewer is initially introduced to, she is quickly reduced to something far less. She’s still good at her work, but she loses the air of impressiveness she exudes in the opening. It will also be extra jarring for any fans of the other anime based on Masamune’s work, as Kusanagi’s demeanor and skill are typically presented without the clownish element.

Just as the opening clashes with much of how the episode handles its lead, so too does the ending. The final choice made my Kusanagi feel strange, given her character’s overall vibe. She is cold and harsh, projecting a no-nonsense aura that feels cohesive with her introduction, but strange when coupled with her throughout the meat of the episode.

Leading up to The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1‘s release, much of the talk has centered around the aesthetics of the show. As teased in its numerous trailers, Science SARU has gone all in on bringing the 80s manga style of the original to life. This leads to some corny throwbacks in design, like the decade’s obsession with shoulder pads, but the weirdness of these design choices does fit well with the sometimes goofy energy of the characters. The colors also lean into the show’s style, creating a vibrant palette that further enhances the series’ tone and energy.

The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1 gets off to a fun start.

While the visual design and color implementation lean into the source material’s style, the animation fuzes the classic aesthetic with modern-day implementation. The action plays out smoothly, and body language is presented on full blast to drive home the characters’ feelings. Jaunts into the setting online elements also come to life beautifully, weaving that side of the world seamlessly with the rest. 

The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1 gets off to a fun start. While there feels like some inconsistency with how it presents its core cast, particularly The Major, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Strong pacing and gorgeous visuals bring the opening episode to life in ways that entertain and dazzle. A solid start to build on.

The Ghost in the Shell Episode 1 is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.

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