Ghost in the Shell is set in a cyberpunk future where cybernetic bodies are common. It follows Major Motoko Kusanagi and Public Security Section 9 as they investigate cyber-crimes and terrorism. The central plot often involves the pursuit of a dangerous hacker (like the Puppet Master or Laughing Man) and explores deep philosophical questions about the soul ('Ghost') within the machine.

The protagonist is Major Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg with exceptional combat and hacking skills. Her second-in-command is Batou, a tough ranger with cybernetic eyes. Other key members include Togusa (a mostly human detective), Daisuke Aramaki (the shrewd Chief of Section 9), and the AI spider-tanks known as Tachikomas.

There are three distinct timelines. 1) Movie Timeline: Watch the 1995 film 'Ghost in the Shell' followed by 'Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'. 2) TV Timeline: Watch 'Stand Alone Complex' (SAC), then 'SAC 2nd GIG', followed by the movie 'Solid State Society'. 3) Arise/New Movie: Watch the 'Arise' OVAs and then 'The New Movie'. The Netflix series 'SAC_2045' is a sequel to the SAC timeline.

Absolutely. It is considered a masterpiece of the cyberpunk genre and anime history. It offers stunning visuals, intense action, and profound philosophical themes about identity, consciousness, and technology. It heavily inspired Western works like 'The Matrix'.

The 'Ghost' refers to an individual's consciousness, soul, or spirit. In a world where the human body can be completely replaced by cybernetic parts ('the Shell'), the Ghost is the only thing that differentiates a human from a sophisticated robot or AI. It is what makes you, you.

The Puppet Master (Project 2501) is the main antagonist of the 1995 movie. It is not a human hacker, but a sentient AI created for espionage that achieved self-awareness. It seeks political asylum and wishes to merge with Major Kusanagi to create a new, evolved form of life.

Yes, the most famous is the 1995 animated film directed by Mamoru Oshii. Its sequel is 'Innocence' (2004). There is also 'Solid State Society' (2006) which ties into the TV series, 'The New Movie' (2015), and a controversial 2017 Hollywood live-action adaptation starring Scarlett Johansson.

Availability varies by region, but the 1995 movie is often available on platforms like Amazon Prime or Tubi. 'Stand Alone Complex' can often be found on Adult Swim or bought on Blu-ray. The latest series, 'Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045', is a Netflix exclusive.

Ghost in the Shell began as a manga series created by Masamune Shirow, first serialized in 1989. While the anime adaptations by Mamoru Oshii and Kenji Kamiyama are world-famous, Shirow's original manga provided the rich world-building and concepts.

It is a seminal work of cyberpunk. Its visual style (green digital rain, wire-fu) and philosophical questions directly inspired 'The Matrix' trilogy, 'Avatar', and many modern sci-fi video games like 'Cyberpunk 2077' and 'Deus Ex'. It popularized the concept of 'cyberbrain' hacking and optical camouflage.