As well as movies there are many very good series including Neon Genesis Evangelion, Noir and Azumanga Daioh. I've just bought all episodes of a series so before discussing others I thought this would be an ideal way to start.

Ghost in the Shell [Stand Alone Complex] 

Ghost in the Shell - The timeline for the series is set before the two movies and includes all the major characters though a lack of knowledge of the films probably won't detract from the series. 

[Stand Alone Complex] - The series is made up of stand alone episodes and episodes that carry a more complex plot that runs through the whole series, slightly reminiscent of the way the "X Files" was constructed.

I'll write additional notes as I watch the series but I'll just mention the dvd's. Each part (3-4 episodes) is contained on two discs, they are presented in anamorphic widescreen. The reason for two discs appears to be to provide the best in audio and visual quality. Disc one has English and Japanese stereo and dolby digital 5.1, it also contains most of the extras. The second disc is mainly set aside for DTS, although sound and vision aren't the most important aspects of any dvd, this is certainly what I would classify as a high quality product.

Volume 1. 

First thing of note is the difference in the style of graphics and plot compared to the films, still very cyberpunk and very true to the characters. Each of the Stand Alone episodes has worked well so far considering the time constraints, one even had a homage to 60's French cinema. Only one Complex episode on disc one but it already looks like this will be a good series, certainly for fans of the films and/or Cyberpunk in general.

Volume 2 expands on the Complex plot with a further two episodes in the hunt to find out the truth behind the Laughing Man, is there a genius hacker known as the laughing man or is it part of some much larger conspiracy, certainly complex and should develop well over the series. Two Stand Alone episodes that keep up the standard of the first ones, very well done so far.

Volume 3 Both the Stand Alone and Complex episodes are excellent, the only time I can remember seeing so much initiative and inventiveness in an anime series was with Evangelion. The one thing a series can take time doing that the movies can't is expanding on the characters, delving into the pasts of Batou and Major Kusanagi with some surprising results. The series has improved as it's progressed and has so far been a very worthwhile purchase.

I've watched the complete series now and give it a definite recommendation for anyone into anime or cyberpunk, certainly for fans of the films. 

The standalone episodes work very well and the complex will blow you away, very very good.

Once you get used to the more (neccessarily) simplistic visual design you will be drawn into the plot and characters.

The one thing I really missed from the films was the wonderful score by Kenji Kawai, but overall it gets a definite thumbs up.

Cheers Trev.