The latest adaptation of Masamune Shirow's sci-fi action manga Ghost in the Shell franchise came in a new Netflix special called Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 that aired in April of 2020. The show featured a newer 3DCG animation style and a fresh story that received mixed results from critics but became a cult favorite with fans. With a second season already in the works, the show recently announced a compilation film to fill the time.

The Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 compilation film will stitch together the story from the first season (all 12 episodes) along with some brand new scenes and is expected to come out in 2021. Along with the announcement came a teaser visual drawn by the character designer of the show, Ilya Kuvshinov, and a few messages from the creators of the show, Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki. The illustration features the main character Motoko (Atsuko Tanaka) standing triumphantly and awaiting her next mission.

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Kamiyama, who also worked on the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series, admitted that he had edited a compilation version for his own purposes while making the show, to ensure a smooth storyline. In the making of the upcoming version, however, he wanted someone else to edit the film so that he and fans could experience the story from a different perspective. He hopes that viewers will be able to find a "different interpretation" even if they have seen all of season 1 already. Aramaki (Starship Troopers: Invasion) admits that he is not involved in the compilation film as much as he was with season 1 and the upcoming season 2, but he is looking forward to seeing what the new film is will add to the story.

As the name suggests, the series takes place in the year 2045 after an economic disaster called the Simultaneous Global Default destroyed the value of all forms of currency. The "Big 4" nations of the world engaged in constant warfare to keep the economy stable. Main characters Motoko, Batou (Akio Ōtsuka), and the rest of the Public Security Section 9 or "GHOST," use their cybernetic enhancements and battle experience to earn a living. However, in a Bladder Runner-esque conspiracy, Section 9 is forced to reunite with the emergence of "Post Humans."

The first season of Ghost in The Shell SAC_2045 was released exclusively on Netflix, and the compilation film and season 2 are also expected to be Netflix exclusives. With this new adaptation gaining more popularity, a compilation film will add something unique to the series, adding to the already meta perspectives of the futuristic cyberpunk series.

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is now available on Netflix.

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Source: Crunchyroll