Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is a Ghost in the Shell anime produced by Netflix. The character designer is the russian artist Ilya Kuvshinov.^[1] This was the series first portrayal in full CGI animation as an animated series and, to achieve a sense of photo-realism with 3D graphics, utilized motion capture technology for realistic motion.^[2]

The first 12 episodes of the 24-episode series were released on April 23, 2020, in Japanese, and directed by Shinji Aramaki and Kenji Kamiyama.^[3] The English dub was not made available until May 3, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing production delays.^[4] The remaining 12 episodes of the series were released on May 23, 2022, with a simultaneous English dub.

The movie Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: The Last Human, premiered in Japan on November 23, 2023.^[5]

Plot Synopsis[]

When sustainable war spawns a "post-human" threat, Major Kusanagi and her Section 9 team are called back into action.

In the year 2045, after an economic disaster known as the Synchronized Global Default, rapid developments in AI propelled the world to enter a state of "Sustainable War". However, the public is unaware of AI's threat to the human race.

Full-body cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her second-in-command Batou are former members of Public Security Section 9, who are now hired mercenaries traveling the hot, devastating American west coast. This land is full of opportunities for the major and her team; they utilize their enhanced cyberbrains and combat skills from their time working in Section 9. However, things get complicated with the emergence of "post-humans", who have extreme intelligence and physical powers. The members of Section 9 come back together again to face this new threat.

Episode list[]

#	Episode Title	Original Airdate	English Dub Airdate
1	NO NOISE NO LIFE - Sustainable War	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
2	AT YOUR OWN RISK - Divided by a Wall	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
3	MAVERICK - MIA	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
4	SACRIFICIAL PAWN - Emissary from the Divide	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
5	PATRICK HUGE - Gift from God	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
6	DISCLOSURE - Quantized Gospel	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
7	PIE IN THE SKY - First Bank Robbery	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
8	ASSEMBLE - What Came About as a Result of Togusa's Death	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
9	IDENTITY THEFT - The Lonely Struggle	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
10	NET PEOPLE - Reasons Leading to Flameout	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
11	EDGELORD - The Revolution of the 14-year-olds	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
12	NOSTALGIA - All Will Become N	April 23, 2020	May 3, 2020
13	DOMINO EFFECT / Silly Kukushkin	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
14	CLOSE CALL / I've Awoken	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
15	FACTOR / 1A84	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
16	MEMORIES / Born in Heaven	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
17	ROOM 101 / Man's Search for Meaning	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
18	N-POWER / How to Build an Independent Nation	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
19	TRUTH POINT OF CONTACT / Bridge of Promise	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
20	DEMI DEUS / Those Who Evolve Toward Divinity	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
21	LAST RESORT / A Long Slumber	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
22	OPERATION STANDOFF / The Battle Begins	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
23	DOOMSDAY / The Moon over the Ruined Castle	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022
24	DOUBLE THINK / Event Boundary	May 23, 2022	May 23, 2022

Trivia[]

"SAC_2045" refers to Ray Kurzweil's The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. In it, Kurzweil predicts that the singularity will occur in 2045.
The Netflix series ULTRAMAN is created by the same director and music and production studio.