There is no denying the impact Mamoru Oshii's cyber punk thriller Ghost in the Shell had on the world, and especially the science fiction genre, in 1995. Just like Akira, it dragged contemporary animation to a new visual plain but it was the heavy thinker Oshii and his thought provoking ideas and modern philosophies that inspired countless fans and writers to delve deeply into his movie and come back with an equally countless number of interpretations. Innocence is his sequel to that landmark movie, and true to its spiritual roots, it is more a melancholy meditation on the human spirit than an outright explosion of beautiful science fiction.

The basic framework of the plot goes something like this. Set in Tokyo 2032, three years after the events of the first movie, Japanese special forces Section 9 are called in to investigate a line of popular sex dolls (lifelike female cyborgs) which are going insane and murdering their owners with alarming frequency.

Specifically working on this case are the mullet-sporting Togusa and a subdued (especially when compared to his Stand Alone Complex personality) Batou. What they uncover inevitably leads to any number of corrupt government officials, blood thirsty yakuza and nigh-on-genius hackers.

The plot itself may sound a little too familiar for hardened science fiction fans but consider that a lot of Oshii's story telling takes a back seat to his philosophical musings and metaphorical discussions. I will warn you now that unless you possess a remarkable eye for grasping complex ideas concerning such intangible quantities as the human soul (or "ghost" as Section 9 put it), Innocence is a befuddling head scratcher of a film that rewards multiple rewatchings and internet research. You will be let down if you expect a mere action movie; as his previous record shows, Oshii has never caved to fan expectation and Innocence is arguably his most ambitious yet insular effort.

On animation alone I'm tempted to say that Innocence is, along with Katushiro Otomo's seminal Akira, worthy of instant classic status. Almost every frame of this movie is a gritty work of art and such is the attention to detail that it manages to switch between downright repulsive and jaw dropping beauty within a matter of seconds. Production I.G have done remarkable things with Innocence and I urge anyone with a passing interest in animation to see this movie now on the simple principle that here; the art, and hence style, is so expressive that this could be a silent movie and still carry a potent message.

Complimenting the breath taking artwork is a soundtrack scored by none other than Kenji Kawai, who also contributed his exceptional talents to the original Ghost in the Shell movie. It's hard to imagine how Innocence would have fared without his varied tunage, poignant and subtle strings accompany Batou as he travels Japan's criminal underground while unsettling chants and drumbeats perfectly exclaim the movie's frequent melding of technology, culture and flesh.

So in the end, what does it all mean? Ultimately there are no clear cut answers to the riddles posed Innocence; indeed, it is a movie that debates with itself the meaning of life, the ingredients of a ghost.
Since losing Kusangi, Batou gives the impression of a man hurting from the loss of a close friend, unable to express himself to anyone but his loyal dog, and so with no one to turn to, he feels himself fading into obscurity, struggling to find much of a meaning to his existence. Innocence charts his recovery, or at least his realization that he still has something to live for.
I'm sure I have hardly scratched the surface here; I'm describing more how Innocence made me feel rather than what is implicitly explained. It’s just that kind of film.

In Summary

Ghost in the Shell: Innocence has arrived well before it's time- visually stunning and intensely thought provoking, it is the kind of science fiction that will find its place as an undoubted classic in due time. Anime rarely looks this ravishing, this breath taking and while the story may bore some, Mamoru Oshii's multilayered interpretations of our future offer endless depth and absolute value.