Ghost in the Shell (1995)

“Ghost in the Shell” questions the idea of existence, debating on whether it’s a human quality or if human-like machines, like robots or cyborgs can develop this notion of existence. It addresses questions like, what does it mean to actually exist? Or, what makes ‘something’ alive?

This anime transports us viewers to a technologically advanced future full of possibilities, including ones that seems distant in today’s technology. It presents the idea that a machine (the program, Project 2501) can create another machine (the Puppet Master) able to act on its own free will—and even against its programmed function. This makes the viewers imagine what it would be like if ever machines could have this kind of power (to create, decide and act free will)… How would human beings be able to control it? Moreover, what would happen if machines could question their existence? Then what would differentiate humans from cyborgs?

The Puppet Master not only escaped Project 2501, but managed to be imperceptible, like a ghost. Moreover, it was even able to live in human form, within a human body, and experience human qualities such as mortality (this through Kusanagi). This started when the Puppet Master began to contemplate his existence, questioning why he could not die… He wanted to be human, even if it meant to be mortal. At the end the Puppet Master merged to Kusanagi’s body, as its only way to escape was through a physical body. Kusanagi ultimately was a combination of her own self and the Puppet Master’s ghost.