Ghost in the Shell

The animated motion picture, Ghost in the Shell, is a movie about a group of government agents who are on a mission to find an elusive character known as The Puppet Master. In their quest each character comes across answers and conspiracies that each find intriguing and ultimately life changing. The artist of the film uses many different forms of narrative, including the main characters, the settings, and symbols, to direct an overall theme across to the viewer.
The theme of this movie, Ghost in the Shell, seems to be the overall need in society for individualism, and the constant struggle for one to find that individualism. Each character in the film points to this theme and helps the artist convey that meaning to the viewer. The major, for example, often states her feelings of anxiety and how she does not quite feel human. She often shows feelings that she does not know if she is 100% herself, or if her cyber components have contributed to making her the person she is. She even sometimes does not feel human, “The way I’m treated is the only reason I feel human.” This lack of individualism is a constant occurrence for the major and helps show her need, and possibly many more in this time period’s need, for a sense of individual being.
The setting also plays key rolls in showing a lack of individualism in this future society. First off, this movie seems to be based in a future society, shown with its technological advances. In one scene in the film it shows a bunch of people walking across a pathway all holding yellow umbrellas. This shows the lack of individualism in the culture, as no person dares to have a different umbrella, defining himself or herself as a different person.
Finally, symbols played an important role in showing the need for individualism in the society. The most important symbol seen was the ex-cop, current section 9 rookie’s use of a revolver handgun. The rookie is often criticized for his lack of evolution into automatics, but simply disregards them because he likes his gun. This ability to disregard his partner’s mocking gives him a distinct individual voice, something not seen in anybody else as they conform to the use of their automatics. This trait saves them, however, when he is able to put a tracer dart on The Puppet Master’s get away car simply because he has the ability to load a single bullet into his revolver. The major who says, “If we all acted the same way, we’d be predictable”, also points out the importance of his, and his mateba’s, individualism.
In conclusion, Ghost in the Shell, uses many different forms of narrative to convey an overall theme, the need of individualism in society, to the viewer. These themes include, but are not limited to the use of characters, setting, and symbols, and are each used affectively to help support the artist’s meaning.