Official report on the opening ceremony for “Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: the Last Human” on December 2, 2023, Saturday

On Saturday, December 2, the second week of the theatrical release of “Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: the Last Human”, a commemorative stage greeting was held at Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro, where Kenji Kamiyama (“Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: the Last Human” General Director) and Mamoru Oshii (“Ghost in the Shell” Director) took the stage. The directors of “Ghost in the Shell” talked about the film and the “Ghost in the Shell” series.

 

“Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: the Last Human” Opening Ceremony Outline
Date/Time: December 2 (Sat) 18:10-18:40 *After-screening event
Speakers: Kenji Kamiyama (“”Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: the Last Human” General Director) Mamoru Oshii (“Ghost in the Shell” Director)
Location: Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro Theater 5 (1-30-34 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo)

 

Director Oshii worked on “GHOST IN THE SHELL” (1995) and “Innocence” (2004), the first animated adaptations of the original works. Director Kamiyama worked on the “Ghost in the Shell S.A.C.” series (2002-), co-directed the “Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045” series (2020-) with director Shinji Aramaki, and worked on this film, “The Last Human,” as general director with Shinji Aramaki. The venue was packed with fans who came to witness the rare appearance of both directors on stage.

 

 

It has been two years since the production of “Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045” Season 2, distributed on Netflix, was completed. Director Kamiyama commented on the passage of time, “It is hard to believe that two years have passed, the social situation has changed in just two years. And I feel how quickly the time has passed, as if the things I wanted to depict in the story are being passed on and on,” he said, surprised.

 

Director Oshii, who saw “Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: Sustainable War” and “Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045: the Last Human” in one sitting on the day of his appearance, joked, “I was too occupied to follow the story because of the amount of information,” but added, “Director Kamiyama is still following the theme of ‘the times. I was impressed that Kamiyama is still pursuing the theme of “the times”. I was impressed that Director Kamiyama continues to pursue the theme of “the times. He also analyzed the theme of what is happening in the world today by using “Ghost in the Shell” as a stage for his film.

 

 

However, Director Oshii said, “It is difficult to follow the “era” in animation in today’s technologically advanced world. It takes courage to depict the changing times in a film. In the past, we used to be able to catch up with the times, but nowadays, the times are moving much faster than ever. Animation takes time to produce, so when I think about whether I can take that risk… it’s difficult for me,” he said. I thought he was still working on it,” he said with a laugh, “Kamiyama is a bold director, that’s all I can say. I think he is fighting well.”

 

On the other hand, director Kamiyama is adamant that he is not “predicting the future” in the production of the “Ghost in the Shell” series. It may be a strange analogy, but like the secret tools in “Doraemon,” I am only making what I want at that time. I wish there was something like this in this day and age. Rather than chasing after the “era” as Director Oshii said, I am doing it with the sense of “searching for what I want.

 

 

When the topic turned to doublethink, an important point of the film, Director Kamiyama suggested, “Wouldn’t that be just right for Oshii-san? Director Kamiyama suggested, “Isn’t it just right for Mr. Oshii? Director Oshii also commented, “I don’t think there is a person who lives without fiction. Among young people, there are those who live in reality and fiction such as games. I think it is how to save those who have a hard time with reality. Furthermore, at the climax of the film, Takashi Shimamura, the creator of Doublethink, forces the protagonist Motoko Kusanagi to make a final choice: pull the code to bring the world back to reality, or not pull the code so that she can continue living in fiction. Director Oshii speculated about the fact that this ending was not clearly depicted, saying, “At the end, the story is about whether or not to pull out (the code), but I think Kamiyama did not want to conclude whether or not to pull out the code. Director Oshii said, “I myself talked about whether the doll looks like a devil or an angel in “Ghost in the Shell,” and in “Innocence” I talked about whether to choose a doll or a dog. As a film, you have to choose between the two, otherwise the story will not land. But in reality, there must be a third option, and I wanted the audience to think about it. There is a technique of daring to make two choices. It will be up to the audience to decide which they prefer, but I am in the camp of “leave it out. I know the misery of reality, but it is not a bad thing that there is no other place for human beings to live in that reality,” he said. Director Kamiyama, who knew Director Oshii in his younger days, commented, “Mr. Oshii, you have changed. He said, “That’s what it means to grow old, you know. In life, there are both joyful and painful times, and both of them lead to the feeling that you have lived your life. Only when you have both of them, you feel that you have lived your life, and that is the basis of being yourself. That is irreplaceability. I use this word a lot these days. I think that irreplaceability is the essence of “living.

 

When asked about the philosophical mindset of Director Oshii, who is now in his 70s, Director Kamiyama said, “Mr. Oshii talked to me about many things before he made ‘Innocence,’ but at that time he was talking about physicality. I think he was saying the opposite of what he is saying now. Although Director Kamiyama is now over the age of Director Oshii when he made “Innocence” as well as “Ghost in the Shell,” he said, “But I don’t think I will ever be over Oshii’s age in terms of mood. I feel as if I am forever apart from him,” he said, respecting him as a predecessor.

 

When asked why the “Ghost in the Shell” series has been loved for so long, Director Oshii immediately replied, “I don’t know! The reason why “Ghost in the Shell” has lasted this long is… a mystery.

 

And finally, Director Kamiyama said, “Ghost in the Shell is a long-running series, and I am thankful for the fact that customers come to see each new production. Every time I give a stage greeting like this, I am happy to know that so many people still come.” He was thrilled.