
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Streaming on (US)
See all
Major Motoko Kusanagi is a beautiful but deadly cyborg that is squad leader of Section 9-the Japanese government's clandestine unit assigned to battle terrorism and cyber warfare. Surrounded by an expertly trained team, Motoko faces her ultimate challenge- the Laughing Man- a terrorist who orchestrated a kidnapping and extortion plot many years ago and has suddenly reappeared. In order to discover the identity of this enigmatic criminal, Motoko and Section 9 are drawn into a deadly labyrinth and they ll have to use all their expertise to survive.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
Ag2OBatou was sent to the military as an undercover agent to find a spy who was leaking top secret information. He encounters a hitherto undefeated wrestler who was famous for his unique timing and skill of "catching cyborgs off guard". This was until he finally lost a match. Seeing his hero silver medalist in disgrace, Batou explodes with his fists. - 02
Cash EyeCash Eye is a super theft ring that targets corporations. Chairman Tadokoro of Tadokoro Trading receives a warning letter, and asks Section 9 for assistance. Aramaki, for some reason, agrees to help. The warning is related to a party being held by Tadokoro. Kusanagi, clad in an attractive dress, arrives at the party and catches Tadokoro's eager gaze. What is the intention of Kusanagi and Section 9? - 03
Natural EnemyJapan's Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter Jigabachi AV Digger Wasp goes astray. The pilot is unconscious and an independent AI rejects outside control. Unmanned helicopters gather as though they were induced, and Section 9 is dispatched. Goda, Chief of Staff of the Strategic Influence Research Council, arrives to lead the Section. What are these helicopters trying to do?
Castfull cast & details
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01
Section 9October 1, 2002The Foreign Minister and his delegation are kidnapped by android geishas. Motoko Kusanagi and the members of Section 9 rush to the scene and - S01E02
TestationOctober 1, 2002A prototype intelligent tank built by Kenbishi Heavy Industries suddenly activates. The military, which was not entirely decided about appro - S01E03
Android and INovember 1, 2002A bizarre incident occurs: a mass suicide of androids. After an investigation, it turned out to be a deliberate crime using a certain virus. - S01E04
IntercepterNovember 1, 2002One rainy evening, Togusa gets a phone call from Yamaguchi, an ex-colleague from the ministry, who detected some suspicious moves within the - S01E05
DecoyDecember 1, 2002Aramaki suspects the Laughing Man Case to be a police hoax. In order to get evidence to back his theory, Section 9 carefully examines Nanao, - S01E06
MemeDecember 1, 2002It's the day of the forewarned assassination of the Police Commissioner. In the heavily guarded area, a sleeper virus sent by Nanao activate - S01E07
IdolaterJanuary 1, 2003A source had reported that a South American drug lord, Marcelo, was visiting Japan often. Section 9 was dispatched for an investigation. Mar - S01E08
Missing HeartsJanuary 1, 2003A heart transplant was carried out without the donor's consent. When Section 9 is called in to investigate, they come across a group that de - S01E09
Chat! Chat! Chat!February 1, 2003Back on the Net, the reappearance of the Laughing Man was the talk of the day. A dedicated chat room offers a wide range of ideas to help so - S01E10
Jungle CruiseFebruary 1, 2003A cruel and strange series of murders has been taking place; its extreme nature and peculiar modus operandi reminding Batou of a mission car - S01E11
PortraitzMarch 1, 2003An extensive cyber attack on the Ministry of Health and Labor by a hacker leads to the leak of top secret information. The hacker is traced - S01E12
Escape FromMarch 1, 2003Two short stories comprise this omnibus episode. The Tachikoma, who restore memories from bits that remain in the body, goes into town and m - S01E13
Not EqualApril 1, 2003Kidnapped Eka was lost for more than ten years when she was found unchanged on an offshore plant. The coast guard requests Section 9 to inve - S01E14
¥€$April 1, 2003A Chinese assassin named Fem comes to Japan. She has a grudge against Yokose, a well-known billionaire. To achieve her mission, the fascinat - S01E15
Machines DésirantesJanuary 7, 2003The Tachikomas, noticing a slight change in Kusanagi's manners, conclude that they will be disposed of by Section 9. They have a deep discus - S01E16
Season's bestAg2OMay 1, 2003Batou was sent to the military as an undercover agent to find a spy who was leaking top secret information. He encounters a hitherto undefea - S01E17
Angel's ShareJune 1, 2003Aramaki and Kusanagi were visiting the UK to attend an international conference on terrorism. Afterwards, Aramaki heads to a bank where an o - S01E18
Lost HeritageJune 1, 2003Aramaki receives a request for help from the daughter of an old colleague. At first he rejects the request, since he could not let personal - S01E19
CaptivatedJuly 1, 2003Former Prime Minister Kanzaki's daughter Reiko suddenly disappears. Is this a disappearance or a kidnapping? A personal grudge or an act com - S01E20
Re-viewJuly 1, 2003Speculating from an oil painting scribble at the vocational training institution, Togusa comes up with what seemed to be the truth of the La - S01E21
EraserAugust 3, 2003Aramaki's brother was discovered in a refugee ghetto, and Aramaki, on his own, heads for the hospital where his brother is hospitalized. Kus - S01E22
ScandalAugust 3, 2003Aramaki's brother was discovered in a refugee ghetto, and Aramaki, on his own, heads for the hospital where his brother is hospitalized. Kus - S01E23
EquinoxSeptember 1, 2003A hooded figure is standing in front of the house of Serano Genomics CEO Ernest Serano. The Police Agency is interested since this reminds t - S01E24
AnnihilationSeptember 1, 2003Aramaki attempts to trap the mastermind of the Laughing Man case. But unidentified arm suits enter Section 9 facilities to take control. Kus - S01E25
BarrageOctober 1, 2003One by one, the members of Section 9 are hunted down and captured. Batou stops by at Motoko Kusanagi's safe house and confronts two arm suit - S01E26
Stand Alone ComplexOctober 1, 2003The masterminds behind the Health and Labor Ministry's scandal that Section 9 was after are arrested. Togusa could do nothing but watch the
Season02Best season
- S02E01
ReembodyJanuary 1, 2004A terrorist organization that identifies themselves as the "Individual Eleven" seizes the Chinese Embassy. They don't have a specific leader - S02E02
Night CruiseJanuary 1, 2004Gino, a shabby helicopter pilot, was amputated during the war. He has delusions night after night, and believes wrong doings should be broug - S02E03
Season's bestCash EyeFebruary 7, 2004Cash Eye is a super theft ring that targets corporations. Chairman Tadokoro of Tadokoro Trading receives a warning letter, and asks Section - S02E04
Natural EnemyFebruary 7, 2004Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter Jigabachi AV Digger Wasp goes astray. The pilot is unconscious and an independent AI rejects - S02E05
InductanceMarch 6, 2004Prime Minister Kayabuki receives a threatening letter from the "Individual Eleven", that implies her possible assassination. The government - S02E06
ExcavationMarch 6, 2004A man who was threatening the Energy Ministry dies mysteriously. Aramaki sends Togusa to Tokyo to investigate the case. Tokyo has become an - S02E07
Pu239April 3, 2004Someone leaks to the terrorists the shipment plan for the spent fuel rods from Shinjuku Underground Nuclear Power Plant. The government imme - S02E08
Fake FoodApril 3, 2004While Section 9 independently continues investigating the "Individual Eleven", they catch a man called Kawashima Sho. Batou and Togusa keep - S02E09
AmbivalenceMay 8, 2004Kusanagi dives into the gigantic computer terminal of Poseidon Industrials and confronts Goda, a virtual personality in the cyber sphere. Go - S02E10
TrialMay 8, 2004An off duty Togusa had no choice but to fire at a convict in order to save the victim. He falls for a trap set by an aggressive lawyer calle - S02E11
AffectionJune 5, 2004Kusanagi is with new Section 9 recruits as an examiner, when she suddenly finds herself into an unfamiliar place. She meets two child cyborg - S02E12
SeleconJune 5, 2004Hearing a report of a sighting of Kuze on the shores of Nagasaki Bay, Section 9 members, who were working on the Individual Eleven case, rus - S02E13
Make UpJuly 3, 2004Kuze escapes from the Kyushu Tower. Section 9 starts another investigation pursuing the fact that only few specialists could have actually c - S02E14
Poker FaceJuly 3, 2004In the summer of 2020, Saito was fighting in Mexico as a mercenary with anti-government forces. The situation was going from bad to worse an - S02E15
Pat.August 7, 2004Some Tachikomas skip a maintenance protocol and initiate an investigation into the "Individual Eleven" on their own. Seeing this, Batou coul - S02E16
Another ChanceAugust 7, 2004In search of Kuze, Section 9 realizes he had spent some time in the Self-Defense Forces. Further investigations revealed his unit at the tim - S02E17
Red DataSeptember 4, 2004Kusanagi, following Kuze, smuggles into Taiwan and by coincidence saves a boy who was running away from the Mafia. They had no choice but to - S02E18
Trans ParentSeptember 4, 2004Berlin in winter. A girl in a wheelchair longingly waits for the day her father comes to meet her once a year. She lately became aware of a - S02E19
Chain ReactionOctober 2, 2004While the refugees' activity is closely watched, Dejima proclaims its self-governing status. Section 9 heads for Dejima to detain Kuze who s - S02E20
Fabricate FogOctober 2, 2004Section 9 is heading for Etorofu (Ostrov Iturup) to catch up with Kuze. Kusanagi rushes to see an old dopester, but finds him dead and disco - S02E21
EmbarrassmentNovember 6, 2004A refugee boat escapes from Etorofu; Section 9 tries to follow from the air with their tilt-router, but the aircraft suddenly explodes just - S02E22
Reversal ProcessNovember 6, 2004A nuclear bomb was found in Fukuoka. People suspect the refugees and the evacuation begins. In spite of Aramaki's suspicions regarding the i - S02E23
Martial LawDecember 4, 2004After the declaration of independence, the refugees are almost at their peak with anticipation. The government decides to send in the armed - S02E24
Nuclear PowerDecember 4, 2004The armed forces start air-raiding Dejima. There are explosions all over. Section 9 urgently tries to get through. At the same time, Aramaki - S02E25
This Side of JusticeJanuary 8, 2005Escalation of bombing by the army increases the casualty rate on Dejima. Kusanagi meets Kuze in the midst of confusion, but both are raided - S02E26
Endless ∞ GigJanuary 8, 2005Kuze eagerly talks about his theory of revolution. Kusanagi seems to get the message. Now that they understand each other, they decide to co
Shows like Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex all similar shows
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Action·Anime·Science-Fiction·AdventureCowboy Bebop1998–2001·WOWOWKouichi Yamadera also stars·
Compare - 02Action·Anime·Science-Fiction·DramaBlade Runner: Black Lotus2021–2022·Adult Swim
Los Angeles 2032. A young woman wakes up with no memories, and possessing deadly skills.Compare - 03Action·Anime·Science-Fiction·AdventureRWBY2013·Crunchyroll
The future-fantasy world of Remnant is filled with ravenous monsters, treacherous terrain, and more villains than you can shake a sniper-scythe at.Compare - 04Action·Anime·Science-FictionCyberpunk: Edgerunners2022–2022
Set in Cyberpunk 2077 universe, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells a standalone, 10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future.Compare - 05Action·Anime·Science-FictionPacific Rim: The Black2021–2022
After Kaiju ravage Australia, two siblings pilot a Jaeger to search for their parents, encountering new creatures, seedy characters and chance allies.Compare - 06Action·Anime·Science-FictionStar Wars: Visions2021·Disney+
Star Wars: Visions, an Original Series of animated short films, celebrates the Star Wars galaxy through the lens of the world's best Japanese anime creators.Compare
Head-to-head pick any opponent
Stack Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.
Keep exploring top shows
Short on time? The pilot-to-finale shortcut, only the episodes that matter.
MatchupCompare with another showTwo shows' episode ratings on one chart — settle it.
NetworkBest Animax showsMore from the same network, ranked by rating.
GenreBest action shows & filmsThe top of the action pile, across both mediums.
GenreBest anime shows & filmsThe top of the anime pile, across both mediums.
Fandom hubThe anime hubThe whole fandom on one bookmarkable page — rankings, premieres, what's new.













