If there was ever an occasion to buy the special edition of a movie because of the box art then the 4K release ofGhost in the Shellwould be it. To help commemorate the 25th anniversary of the movie’s original release, pop artist Martin Ansin drew some stunning cover art of Major Motoko Kusanagi.
The box art isn’t the only thing to boggle at withthe re-release of this cyberpunk classiccoming out on September 8. The remaster of Ghost in theShellis the first to come out in 4K Ultra HD with the combo pack including a regular Blu-Ray version of the movie. Some of the special features include audio commentary and a couple of new featurettes.
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The silver anniversary forGhost in the Shellis a perfect time to revisit one of the few anime that has transcended its genre. Where Studio Ghibili and Hayao Miyazaki caught the attention of western audiences by exploring the whimsical and fantastic, Masamune Shriow’s mangaGhost in the Shelland later the 1995 anime version directed by Mamarou Oshii explored a gritty cyberpunk version of Tokyo.
Ghost in the Shellstill holds up thematically, but this 4K rerelease only enhances the visuals that made it groundbreaking in 1995. Exploring the very nature of being human when both brain and body are swapable manufactured parts is even more relevant today than it was whenGhostfirst published. Existential musings aren’t the only reason Ghost in the Shell is a must-see, of course. There’s also the prospect of watching memorable action sequences like Kusanagi’s tumble off a sky scraper to open the movie or her battle with an eight-legged spider tank, all the more spectacular in 4K.
Hopefully the re-release of this original movieis a chance for new viewers to explore the different versions ofGhost in the Shellthat have come outin the 25 years since. There is the movie sequelGhost in the Shell: Innocence,then a reimagined television version of this universe known asGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complexthat further explores the complexity of prosecuting crime in this future. There is also yet another version known asGhost in the Shell: Arisethat explores the early years of Major Kusanagi and her team of crime fighters known as Section 9.
Of all the different versions ofGhost in the Shell, the original is the one that’s had the most longterm cultural impact. This anniversary release is perhaps the fresh coat of paint that will allow more newcomers to finally see what all the fuss is about.
The 4k Ultra HD release ofGhost in the Shellwill be available on September 8.
