Inosensu: Kkaku kidtai (2004) Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence 

Directed by Mamoru Oshii

Although this doesnt match up to the previous episode, this is still an outstanding piece of Cyberpunk anime. We have lost Major Motoko Kusanagi and this does affect the dynamics of the whole film. Bato, Motoko's partner from the first film is also virtually a cyborg with very little of his former self remaining, another Ghost within a man made shell. Along with the still mostly human Togusa, he is called in on a case where several robots, all of the same type and model have killed their owners. 

The actual plot line is far easier to follow than the previous film and the title Innocence has a well-founded meaning. It turns out that the robots have been developed for one reason only, as sexual playthings so the investigation, which has far, more of a film noir feel to it, attempts to trace the manufacturers and find out what went wrong?

Bato and Togusa make a good pairing though Kusanagi is missed and not just by the audience, she is constantly brought up in conversation between our main protagonists and does have a part to play in the story. Again as with the first, deep philosophical and existential themes are raised although they dont feel quite as natural. 

The artwork although beautiful is again inferior to the first film, even more use has been made of computer graphics but this time theyve been overdone and dont gel as well (although far better than Wonderful Days aka Sky Blue) a lot of the time the blending of 2D and 3D animation works well but a couple of times you wish they had spent a little time making the 3D work blend in more.

The character of Bato comes into his own though, a cynical tough nosed detective on the outside, its only when we are allowed a little window into his private life as he spends time with his dog, (a relationship that any dog owner would immediately recognise) that we see a different side to him. Its the little moments like these that make this special. Mamoru Oshii is obviously a dog owner and lover and it wouldnt surprise me if the basset hound animated in this was modelled on the one in Avalon. 

So overall then, weaker than the first but still far more depth than the average anime. The same haunting traditional sounding theme music and a subtext concerning a darker aspect of Japanese society (or society in general). Strongly recommended especially if you can catch it in the cinema.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 15