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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?)


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


Chronological order in this case is perfect. Ghost in the Shell (movie, 1995)
will introduce you to the Masamune Shirow's cyberpunk world and to the
director Mamoru Oshii. Innocence (2004) will actualize the 1995 contents with
the same director and then SAC (2005) will develop single relevant social and
political aspects (e.g. the episode Automated Capitalism) deeply, describing a
vivid world you can only partially understand without seeing previous works.


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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.


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There are actually two completely different continuities that aren't strictly
compatible with each other, considering what happens with the Major.

_Ghost in the Shell_ and _Ghost in the Shell: Innocence_ are in a separate
continuity. Watch these two first if you like movies better.

_SAC_ and _SAC 2nd Gig_ are basically season 1 and 2 of the TV series. Watch
these two first if you like TV shows better. _Solid State Society_ is a movie
in the same continuity as the TV series set after both seasons. _Laughing Man_
and _Individual Eleven_ are actually just compilations of the "complex"
episodes of _SAC_ and _SAC 2nd Gig_ , respectively. You don't need to watch it
if you watch the entire seasons.

_Arise_ is a prequel story to all of the above. It doesn't quite fit either
existing continuity. It's a similar set of themes, but told in more of a
miniseries approach that doesn't maintain a status quo between episodes. Watch
this first if you like binge-ready streaming shows better.


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Watch the original movie first. Arise if you are young and need backstory and
canonical chronological OCD. S.A.C is really great and if someone was on a
time budget, watching this alone would justify the series and world that truly
exposes corruption, future technology and potential criminal activity along
with deep socio-political introspective. If you like The Newsroom and the
fmv's of Metal Gear Solid, you will like S.A.C. 2nd gig was good too. Nothing
beats the original. And Arise is a good modern adaption of the world. Plus
sheds some light on Major's past.


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Personally, I think the following chronological timeline works best for story
purposes and character arcs, but only if you ignore a few specific points,
such as the dates specified in the films.

To me, it makes more sense as:

  * Ghost In The Shell: Arise
  * Ghost In The Shell (original or 2.0)
  * Ghost In The Shell: SAC - The Laughing Man
  * Ghost In The Shell: SAC, 2nd Gig - Individual Eleven
  * Ghost In The Shell: Innocence
  * Ghost In The Shell: Solid State Society

Yes, they're in 3 separate continuities, but they can basically work this way.


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