In what order should I watch the Ghost in the Shell series?


The _Ghost in the Shell_ series is comprised of several movies and animated TV
series.

TV series:

  * [_Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex)
  * [_Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_S.A.C._2nd_GIG)
  * [_Ghost in the Shell: Arise_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Arise)

Movies:

  * [_Ghost in the Shell_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell_\(film\))
  * [_Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell_2:_Innocence)
  * [_Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG – The Laughing Man_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex#OVA)
  * [_Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG – Individual Eleven_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024214/)
  * [_Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex − Solid State Society_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex:_Solid_State_Society)
  * [_Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_The_New_Movie)

For someone completely new to the series, what order should these be watched
in? (Are the movies even important to the animated series?)




Here's the order:

  * _Ghost in the Shell_ (set in 2029) from 1995 or its 2008 remake _Ghost in the Shell 2.0_
  * _Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex_ (set in 2030) \- _The Laughing Man_ , a feature-length OVA summary of S.A.C.
  * _Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG_ (set in 2032) \- _Individual Eleven_ , a feature-length OVA which retells the events of S.A.C. 2nd GIG, altered to focus on both the Individual Eleven investigation and the relationship between Hideo Kuze and Motoko Kusanagi
  * _Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence_ (set in 2032)
  * _Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex − Solid State Society_ (set in 2034) from 2006 or 2011 in 3D
  * _Ghost in the Shell: Arise_ OVA series (set in 2027). It's a prequel telling the origin story of Section 9 \- _Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture_ is a recompilation for television of _Ghost in the Shell: Arise_.
  * _Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie_ is a movie set after _Ghost in the Shell: Arise_ that is a continuation of the plot of the _Pyrophoric Cult_ episode. The original movie's plot follows directly after this movie.
  * _Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045_ is the next and latest anime and follows all the other seirse for this anime series

The only unclear part is about where S.A.C. 2nd GIG and Innocence go in
relation to each other, because they are both set in 2032. 2nd GIG is the
second season of S.A.C. and should probably be watched directly after it.

* * *

The GitS movies, SAC-series and Arise OVA are all different interpretations of
the source material/manga.

Ghost in the Shell/2.0 and Innocence are set in the same universe, and I would
recommend to watch them first as they have the strongest story and production
values.

The SAC-series has it's own separate universe and is more of a crime series
where the movies are more philosophical.

The Arise OVA-series is also completely separate from both the movies and
series, but somewhat serve as a spiritual prequel to both.




Here's the order:

  * _Ghost in the Shell_ (set in 2029) from 1995 or its 2008 remake _Ghost in the Shell 2.0_
  * _Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex_ (set in 2030) \- _The Laughing Man_ , a feature-length OVA summary of S.A.C.
  * _Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG_ (set in 2032) \- _Individual Eleven_ , a feature-length OVA which retells the events of S.A.C. 2nd GIG, altered to focus on both the Individual Eleven investigation and the relationship between Hideo Kuze and Motoko Kusanagi
  * _Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence_ (set in 2032)
  * _Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex − Solid State Society_ (set in 2034) from 2006 or 2011 in 3D
  * _Ghost in the Shell: Arise_ OVA series (set in 2027). It's a prequel telling the origin story of Section 9 \- _Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture_ is a recompilation for television of _Ghost in the Shell: Arise_.
  * _Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie_ is a movie set after _Ghost in the Shell: Arise_ that is a continuation of the plot of the _Pyrophoric Cult_ episode. The original movie's plot follows directly after this movie.
  * _Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045_ is the next and latest anime and follows all the other seirse for this anime series

The only unclear part is about where S.A.C. 2nd GIG and Innocence go in
relation to each other, because they are both set in 2032. 2nd GIG is the
second season of S.A.C. and should probably be watched directly after it.

* * *

The GitS movies, SAC-series and Arise OVA are all different interpretations of
the source material/manga.

Ghost in the Shell/2.0 and Innocence are set in the same universe, and I would
recommend to watch them first as they have the strongest story and production
values.

The SAC-series has it's own separate universe and is more of a crime series
where the movies are more philosophical.

The Arise OVA-series is also completely separate from both the movies and
series, but somewhat serve as a spiritual prequel to both.

