Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border 1: Ghost Pain
Synopsis
The anime's story is set in 2027, one year after the end of the fourth non-nuclear war. New Port City is still reeling from the war's aftermath when it suffers a bombing caused by a self-propelled mine. Then, a military member implicated in arms-dealing bribes is gunned down. During the investigation, Public Security Section's Daisuke Aramaki encounters Motoko Kusanagi, the cyborg wizard-level hacker assigned to the military's 501st Secret Unit. Batou, a man with the "eye that does not sleep," suspects that Kusanagi is the one behind the bombing. The Niihama Prefectural Police detective Togusa is pursuing his own dual cases of the shooting death and a prostitute's murder. Motoko herself is being watched by the 501st Secret Unit's head Kurutsu and cyborg agents. (Source: ANN)
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed. While some appreciate the exploration of Motoko's origins and the action, others find the story less engaging than previous installments and dislike the changes in art style and voice acting. Many feel it doesn't live up to the high standards set by Stand Alone Complex and the original film.
Strengths
- Exploration of Motoko's backstory and early relationships.
- Nice action scenes and fights.
- Faithful to the original film's characters and voice actors (where possible).
Weaknesses
- Story not as engaging as earlier Ghost in the Shell installments.
- Feels like a re-imagining rather than a faithful prequel.
- New voice cast isn't as good as the original.