View source for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

{{short description|2004 film by Mamoru Oshii}}
{{Distinguish|Ghost in the Shell 2.0}}
{{redirect|Ghost in the Shell 2|the manga|Ghost in the Shell (manga)}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
| image          = Ghost in the Shell 2 Innocence.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Mamoru Oshii]]
| producer       = [[Mitsuhisa Ishikawa]]<br />[[Toshio Suzuki (producer)|Toshio Suzuki]]
| screenplay     = Mamoru Oshii
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Ghost in the Shell (manga)|Ghost in the Shell]]''|[[Masamune Shirow]]}}
| narrator       =
| starring       = [[Akio Ōtsuka]]<br />[[Atsuko Tanaka (voice actress)|Atsuko Tanaka]]
| music          = [[Kenji Kawai]]
| cinematography = Miki Sakuma
| editing        = Sachiko Miki<br />Chihiro Nakano<br />Junichi Uematsu
| studio         = [[Production I.G]] <!--while Toshio Suzuki did produce the film, Studio Ghibli only was credited for the "production cooperation", the film was entirely done at Production I.G.-->
| distributor    = [[Toho]]
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|2004|03|06| Japan}} <!--First and country of origin releases only per WP:FILMRELEASE. -->
| runtime        = 98 minutes
| country        = Japan
| language       = Japanese
| budget         = $20&nbsp;million<ref name=www.nt2099.com>{{cite web|last=Amith|first=Dennis|title=GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE (a J!-ENT Anime Blu-ray Disc Review)|url=http://j-entonline.com/blu-ray-dvd-reviews/anime-blu-ray-reviews/ghost-in-the-shell-2-innocence-a-j-ent-blu-ray-disc-review/|access-date=28 May 2012|publisher=j-entonline.com|date=23 Feb 2009|archive-date=22 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722135217/http://j-entonline.com/blu-ray-dvd-reviews/anime-blu-ray-reviews/ghost-in-the-shell-2-innocence-a-j-ent-blu-ray-disc-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $10.1&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0347246/|access-date=28 June 2024|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217182204/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0347246/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
'''''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence''''', known in Japan as just {{Nihongo|'''''Innocence'''''|イノセンス|Inosensu|lead=yes}}, is a 2004 Japanese [[anime|animated]] [[cyberpunk film]] written and directed by [[Mamoru Oshii]]. The film serves as a [[standalone sequel]] to ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'' (1995) and is loosely based on the 1989–91 manga ''[[Ghost in the Shell (manga)|The Ghost in the Shell]]'' by [[Masamune Shirow]].

''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'' was released in Japan on March 6, 2004, by [[Toho]]. The film received the 2004 [[Nihon SF Taisho Award]]. It was also in competition at the [[2004 Cannes Film Festival]], making it the first and only anime in history to compete for the [[Palme d'Or]]. The soundtrack for the film was released under the name ''[[#Soundtrack|Innocence O.S.T.]]'' and a related novel called ''Ghost in the Shell: Innocence - After the Long Goodbye'' was released on February 29, 2004.

==Plot==
The story is loosely based on ''Ghost in the Shell'' manga chapter "''Robot Rondo''" (with elements of "''Phantom Fund''"). Opening in 2032, [[Public Security Section 9]] [[cybernetic]] operative [[Batou]] is teamed with [[Togusa]], an agent with very few cybernetic upgrades, following the events of ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]''.

After a series of deaths due to malfunctioning [[gynoid]]s (doll-like sex robots), Section 9 is asked to investigate. Since the gynoids all malfunctioned without clear cause, the deaths are believed to be premeditated murders; Batou and Togusa are sent to investigate possible terrorist or political motives. Additionally, the most recent gynoid's remains show they all contained an illegal "ghost". Section 9 concludes human sentience is being artificially duplicated onto the dolls illegally, making the robots more lifelike, and possibly acting as a motive in the murders.

Called to a homicide scene, information warfare/technology specialist Ishikawa explains the victim is Jack Walkson, a consignment officer at gynoid company LOCUS SOLUS, who may have been killed by the [[yakuza]]. A previous yakuza boss was recently killed by a gynoid, so Ishikawa concludes Walkson was held responsible and killed in an act of revenge. Batou and Togusa enter a yakuza bar to question the current boss, only to be threatened by the bar occupants. Batou opens fire, killing and wounding numerous gang members, including the cyborg that murdered Walkson. The current boss then admits his predecessor was somehow involved in LOCUS SOLUS, but insists he doesn't know how.

Entering a store on his way home, Batou is then seemingly warned by [[Motoko Kusanagi|the Major]] and shot in the arm by an unseen assailant. Caught in a [[shootout|firefight]], Batou nearly kills the store owner in confusion, but is subdued when Ishikawa appears. While having his damaged arm replaced, Batou is informed by Ishikawa that his [[Cybernetic implant|e-brain]] was hacked, causing him to shoot himself and attack the store occupants. Ishikawa explains that Batou was hacked in order to cause further scandal following his yakuza assault in an attempt to stop the Section 9 investigation.

Batou and Togusa then head for the mansion of Kim, a soldier-turned-hacker with an obsession with dolls. Seemingly dead, Kim soon reveals he "lives" inside the shell of a human-sized [[marionette]], and discusses philosophy with his visitors. Kim admits ties to LOCUS SOLUS, divulging that the company has secret headquarters in [[international waters]]. Warned again by the Major, Batou realizes that Kim has secretly hacked into his and Togusa's e-brains, and is currently trapping them in a false reality. Resetting Togusa's brain, Batou subdues Kim, stating he knows Kim hacked his brain in the store.

Resolved to gather material evidence, Batou infiltrates the LOCUS SOLUS headquarters ship while Togusa remotely hacks its security systems using an unaware Kim as a [[Proxy server|proxy]]. The ship's security becomes aware of the hacking and retaliates with a virus that fries Kim's cyberbrain. Simultaneously, a hidden virus loads a combat program into the production-line gynoids, causing them to attack everyone aboard, easily slaughtering the poorly armed and panicked security force. As Batou fights to the ship's center, the Major then appears by controlling a gynoid remotely, helping Batou fight the gynoids and hack the ship's security.

Taking control of the ship, the Major reveals to Batou the truth about the gynoids. Hiring the yakuza to [[Trafficking in human beings|traffic]] young girls, LOCUS SOLUS duplicated their consciousnesses into the gynoids, giving them human "ghosts" to make them more realistic. Batou rescues a young girl from a "ghost dubbing" machine, and she explains that Jack Walkson, having learned the truth about LOCUS SOLUS, promised to save the girls by tampering with the ghosting process. This caused the gynoids to murder their owners, allowing Walkson to attract police attention and indirectly kill the yakuza boss. Despite Walkson's actions saving the girls, Batou objects that he also victimized the gynoids as well, causing them severe distress by giving them damaged ghosts. Having solved the case, Batou asks the Major if she's happy now. She responds that she'll always be beside him on the network, then disconnects from the gynoid.

==Voice cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Character
! rowspan="2"|Japanese
! colspan="2"| English
|-
! Epcar/[[Manga Entertainment|Manga]]/[[Madman Entertainment|Madman]] (2005)
! [[Animaze]]/[[Bandai Entertainment|Bandai]] (2009)
|-
!Batou
|[[Akio Ōtsuka]] 
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|[[Richard Epcar]]
|-
!Motoko Kusanagi
|[[Atsuko Tanaka (voice actress)|Atsuko Tanaka]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|[[Mary Elizabeth McGlynn]] 
|-
!Togusa
|[[Kōichi Yamadera]] 
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|[[Crispin Freeman]]
|-
!Daisuke Aramaki
|[[Tamio Ōki]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|[[William Frederick Knight]]
|-
!Ishikawa
|[[Yutaka Nakano]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|Michael McCarty
|-
!Azuma
|[[Masaki Terasoma]] 
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|Erik Davies
|-
!Kim
|[[Naoto Takenaka]]
|[[Joey D'Auria]]
|[[Travis Willingham]]
|-
!Haraway
|[[Yoshiko Sakakibara]]
|[[Ellyn Stern]]
|[[Barbara Goodson]]
|-
!Koga
|[[Hiroaki Hirata]] 
|[[Robert Axelrod (actor)|Robert Axelrod]]
|Fred Sanders
|-
!Forensics Chief
|[[Katsunosuke Hori]]
|Terrence Stone 
|Loy Edge
|-
!Lin
|{{n/a|Unknown}}
|[[Robert Axelrod (actor)|Robert Axelrod]]
|[[Doug Stone (voice actor)|Doug Stone]]
|-
!Rescued Girl
|Hisami Muto
|[[Sherry Lynn]]
|[[Laura Bailey (voice actress)|Laura Bailey]]
|-
!Katsunari Wakabayashi
|{{n/a|Unknown}}
|[[Richard Cansino]]
|[[Steve Kramer (actor)|Steve Kramer]]
|-
|}

===Additional English voices===
====Epcar/Manga/Madman cast====
{{div col}}
* [[Richard Cansino]] as Man, Security&nbsp;1, Yakuza&nbsp;1
* [[Steve Kramer (actor)|Steve Kramer]] as Detective, Security&nbsp;4, Security&nbsp;5
* [[Sherry Lynn]] as Gynoid
* Terrence Stone as Pilot, Security 2, Shop Owner, Yakuza 3
* [[Michael McConnohie]] as Forensics Staff, Section&nbsp;9 Member, Security&nbsp;3
* Bob Papenbrook as Crab Man, Cyborg Doctor, Underwater Cyborg, Yakuza&nbsp;2
* [[Stephanie Sheh]] as Dispatcher, Togusa's Daughter
* [[Kevin Seymour]] (as Mr. X) as Yakuza&nbsp;4
{{div col end}}

====Animaze/Bandai cast====
{{div col}}
* Karen Huie as Locus Solus Security System #1 (Cantonese)
* Jim Lau as Locus Solus Security System #2 (Cantonese)
* [[Joe Romersa]] as Crab Man, Undersea Cyborg
* [[John Snyder (actor)|John Snyder]] as Cyborg Arm Doctor
* [[David Vincent (actor)|David Vincent]] as SWAT Commander, Yakuza 1
* [[Kyle Hebert]] as Detective
* [[Roger Craig Smith]] as Briefing Voice, Yamadori Transport Pilot
* [[Sandy Fox]] as Togusa's Daughter
{{div col end}}

==Allusions and references==
''Innocence'' contains many references to [[fantasy]], [[philosophy]] and [[Zen]], and addresses aesthetic and moral questions. For example, the film begins with a quotation from [[Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-Adam]]'s ''[[The Future Eve|Tomorrow's Eve]]'' from 1886: "If our Gods and our hopes are nothing but scientific phenomena, then let us admit it must be said that our love is scientific as well." Other numerous quotations in the film come from [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], [[Confucius]], [[Descartes]], the [[Old Testament]], [[Meiji period|Meiji]]-era critic [[Saitō Ryokuu]], [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Max Weber]], [[Jacob Grimm]], [[Plato]], [[John Milton]], 14th-century playwright [[Zeami Motokiyo]], the [[Tridentine Mass]], and [[Julien Offray de La Mettrie]], French Enlightenment philosopher and author of "[[Man a Machine]]".

The characters and their names contain many allusions to other older works. For example, the "Hadaly" model robots refer to a human-like robot named Hadaly featured in ''[[The Future Eve|Tomorrow's Eve]]'', also the book that popularized the word ''[[Android (robot)|android]].'' The company LOCUS SOLUS is named for the [[Locus Solus|1914 novel]] by [[Raymond Roussel]], which also shares certain thematic elements with the film, such as a mansion containing [[tableaux vivants]]. The police forensic specialist, Haraway, is most likely named for [[Donna Haraway]], feminist author of ''[[A Cyborg Manifesto]]''. Haraway's character is likely based on [[Susan Calvin]] from Asimov's [[Robot series (Asimov)|''Robot'' series]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} The ''Robot'' series is also referenced in the film's androids as they comply with a modified version of Asimov's [[Three Laws of Robotics|Third Law of Robotics]].

Dolls are also an important motif in ''Innocence''; many have "spirits" of some sort, but at the same time are not quite human. They are based on the art of [[Hans Bellmer]], a dollmaker famous for his disturbing, erotic ball-jointed female dolls.<ref>Monnet, Livia, 'Anatomy of Permutational Desire: Perversion in Hans Bellmer and Oshii Mamoru', ''Mechademia'' 5 (2010), 285-309</ref>

The parade sequence is based on a religious procession and a temple in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite AV media|last=Oshii|first=Mamoru|title=Director's Commentary|work=Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence|medium=DVD}}</ref>

In the 2009 English dub, the murdered consignment inspector is called Jacques Vaucanson. His [[Jacques de Vaucanson|namesake]] was an 18th-century French inventor who created automata in the image of man and of animals.

==Production==
''Innocence'' had a production budget of approximately [[United States dollar|$]]20 million (approximately 2 billion [[yen]]).<ref name="www.nt2099.com"/> To raise the sum, Production I.G studio's president, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, asked [[Studio Ghibli]]'s president, [[Toshio Suzuki (producer)|Toshio Suzuki]], to co-produce. [[Polygon Pictures]] produced the [[3DCG]] in the film.

===Director's ideas===
On the origins of the movie, director [[Mamoru Oshii]] says he didn't envision it solely as a sequel to ''Ghost in the Shell''. He said, "I had a dozen ideas, linked to my views on life, my philosophy, that I wanted to include in this film ... I attacked ''Innocence'' as a technical challenge; I wanted to go beyond typical animation limits, answer personal questions and at the same time appeal to filmgoers."{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}} During production, the first decision Oshii made was to not make ''[[Motoko Kusanagi]]'' the main character and instead make it a story about someone searching for her. Oshii chose to make the movie have a different tone and feel from the original.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Interview: Mamoru Oshii |url=https://archive.org/details/Play_034_Oct_04/page/n28?q=Ghost+in+the+Shell |magazine=[[Play (UK magazine)|Play]] |issue=34 |pages=28–29 |date=October 2004 |access-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref>

Oshii traveled the world in order to find inspirations for the film. Oshii based the appearance on the dolls created by [[Hans Bellmer]] he saw at the [[International Center of Photography]] in New York.<ref name="IGN-interview">{{cite news|url =https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/17/interview-mamoru-oshii?page=1|title =Interview: Mamoru Oshii|publisher =IGN|date =2004-09-16|access-date =2012-12-05|archive-date =2019-11-14|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20191114103551/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/17/interview-mamoru-oshii?page=1|url-status =live}}</ref> He credited [[Jean-Luc Godard]] for the idea of including quotes by other authors: "[The texts] ... give a certain richness to cinema because the visual is not all there is. Thanks to Godard, the spectator can concoct his own interpretation ... The image associated with the text is a unifying act that aims at renewing cinema, that {{sic|let's}} it take to new dimensions."{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}}

Oshii noted his attention to detail might be particularly Japanese: "I get absorbed in the finer points &ndash; like what the back of a bottle label looks like when you see it through the glass [demonstrates with a bottle of mineral water]. That's very Japanese, I suppose. I want people to go back to the film again and again to pick up things they missed the first time." Describing the overall look, the director said, "The film is set in the future, but it's looking at present-day society. And as I said, there's an autobiographical element as well. I'm looking back at some of the things I liked as a child — the 1950s cars and so on. Basically, I wanted to create a different world — not a future world."

The dog Gabriel, looking once more like the only "real" being, makes a key appearance, as in many of Oshii's movies. A scene with Batou feeding his dog is echoed in Ash in ''[[Avalon (2001 film)|Avalon]]'' (2001). He explained the reason why all his films feature a [[Basset Hound|basset hound]]—his companion in real life: "This body you see before you is an empty shell. The dog represents my body. Human beings can be free only if they free themselves from their bodies. When I am playing around with my dog, I forget that I am a human being, and it's only then that I feel free."

As for the state of [[art]] and [[animation]], Oshii had this to say:

<blockquote>I think that Hollywood is relying more and more on [[3D computer graphics|3D]] imaging like that of ''[[Shrek]].'' The strength behind Japanese animation is based in the designer's pencil. Even if he mixes [[2D computer graphics|2D]], 3D, and computer graphics, the foundation is still 2D. Only doing 3D does not interest me.</blockquote>

On the overall message of the film, the director said "This movie ... concludes that all forms of life – humans, animals and robots – are equal. In this day and age when everything is uncertain, we should all think about what to value in life and how to coexist with others." On his narrative intentions Oshii comments: "I had a bigger budget than for ''Ghost in the Shell''. I also had more time to prepare it. Yet despite the economic leeway, abundant details and orientations, it was still important to tell an intimate story."{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}}

===Title change===
In order to better market the film outside Japan, the ''Ghost in the Shell 2'' moniker was added to the title of the film, with '''''Innocence''''' becoming the subtitle. Some fans saw this as conflicting with Oshii's statements that the film wasn't, in actuality, a standard Hollywood-esque sequel, and was able to, and intended to, stand on its own.

===English-language dub===
When [[Go Fish Pictures]] released ''Innocence,'' they released it subtitled, without English dubbing, a controversial choice since every ''Ghost in the Shell'' anime released by [[Manga Entertainment]] outside of Japan had been dubbed. [[Anime News Network]] announced Manga Entertainment UK's co-production of an English dub with [[Madman Entertainment]], their Australian distributor and longtime partner,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence English Dub|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-05-17/ghost-in-the-shell-2-innocence-english-dub|work=Anime News Network|access-date=25 April 2014|date=17 May 2005|archive-date=6 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406094342/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-05-17/ghost-in-the-shell-2-innocence-english-dub|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Richard Epcar]]'s (the voice of Batou) Epcar Entertainment studio for the dubbing. This was the first dub Manga UK had produced since [[X (manga)|''X'']] in 1999 and the first dub Madman produced. This dub was released in the UK by Manga and in Australia by Madman Entertainment (using the Go Fish Pictures transfer). Bandai Entertainment under license from Paramount and DreamWorks created a second dub for the North American market using most of the voice actors from the Manga/Madman version making some changes to the cast and production team and using [[Animaze]]'s studio.

==Related media==
===Soundtrack===
{{Infobox album
| name       = Innocence O.S.T.
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = [[Kenji Kawai]]
| cover      =
| caption    =
| alt        =
| released   = 2004-03-03<br />2005-09-13 (UPC 669198251900)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071201163109/http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/audio_details.cfm?id=482 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence CD Soundtrack ]</ref>
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[New-age music|New-age]], [[Ambient music|ambient]]
| length     = 47
| label      = [[Bandai Entertainment]]
| producer   = [[Kenji Kawai]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
The soundtrack was composed by [[Kenji Kawai]], who also did [[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|''Ghost in the Shell'']] soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kenjikawai.com/intro_e.html|title=Profile|date=2002–2012|access-date=2010-05-07|archive-date=2010-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414214000/http://www.kenjikawai.com/intro_e.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As he expressed in the [[liner notes]], he agreed with Mamoru Oshii that the soundtrack pattern itself somewhat after and "would follow the music from the original film." Additionally, Oshii made specific requests for "a huge music box," a "jazzy theme," and a "reprise of the song '[[Follow Me (Demis Roussos song)|Follow Me]]'".

The music box, heard in the "Doll House" tracks, was procured from Sankyo Shoji. Wanting it to sound as if played in a huge space, Kenji Kawai had the music box recorded in studio, and then played back in the underground quarry of [[Utsunomiya|Ohya]] with four speakers and two [[subwoofers]], where it was recorded with eight microphones.

The [[Min'yo|minyoh]] singers chorus, heard in the "Chants" in the first movie, and in the "Ballade of Puppets" in ''Innocence'', was expanded to include 75 performers, which proved challenging to record. The session lasted for 14 straight hours.

"[[Follow Me (Demis Roussos song)|Follow Me]]" is a reprise of a song originally interpreted by [[Demis Roussos]] in 1982 and covered by [[Kimiko Itoh]]. The music is based on [[Joaquín Rodrigo]]'s ''[[Concierto de Aranjuez]]'', with lyrics by [[Herbert Kretzmer]] and [[Hal Shaper]].

{{Track listing
|headline     = ''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence O.S.T.'' track listing
|total_length =
|title1   = Dungeon
|length1  = 1:22
|title2   = The Ballade of Puppets: Flowers Grieve and Fall
|length2  = 3:38
|title3   = Type 2052 "Hadaly"
|length3  = 4:05
|title4   = River of Crystals
|length4  = 5:47
|title5   = Attack the Wakabayashi
|length5  = 3:29
|title6   = Etorofu
|length6  = 3:53
|title7   = The Ballade of Puppets: In a New World Gods Will Descend
|length7  = 5:09
|title8   = The Doll House I
|length8  = 1:31
|title9   = The Doll House II
|length9  = 2:54
|title10  = The Ballade of Puppets: The Ghost Awaits in the World Beyond
|length10 = 9:44
|title11  = Toh Kami Emi Tame
|length11 = 0:31
|title12  = [[Follow Me (Demis Roussos song)|Follow Me]]¹
|length12 = 5:01
}}
<small>¹ - covered by [[Kimiko Itoh]]</small>

===Novel===
A novel by [[Masaki Yamada (writer)|Masaki Yamada]] called {{nihongo|'''''Innocence: After the Long Goodbye'''''| イノセンス After the Long Goodbye|}} serves as a prequel, taking place just before the film and told from [[Batou]]'s perspective as he searches for his dog Gabriel (Gabu). It was published by [[Tokuma Shoten]] on February 29, 2004,<ref>{{Cite web|title=イノセンス After the Long Goodbye |url=https://www.tokuma.jp/bunko/dual-bunko/1176094619066 |publisher=Tokuma Shoten |language=ja |access-date=2012-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012051856/http://www.tokuma.jp/bunko/dual-bunko/1176094619066 |archive-date=2011-10-12 }}</ref> and the English-language version was published by [[Viz Media]] in the US in October 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Novel-Hard cover) |url=https://www.viz.com/product?id=5337 |publisher=Viz Media |access-date=2012-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717154902/http://www.viz.com/product?id=5337 |archive-date=2012-07-17 }}</ref> Viz media later released a four-volume Ani-manga boxset in April 2005.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Ani-Manga| url = https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/6555/ghost-shell-2-innocence-ani-manga| publisher = ICv2| access-date = 2012-11-27| archive-date = 2015-06-02| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150602032646/http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/6555/ghost-shell-2-innocence-ani-manga| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Music Anthology===
It consists of music videos from Production I.G.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080120015839/http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/video_details.cfm?id=465 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Music Anthology - Special Edition]</ref>

==Reception==
[[Review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that 64% of critics have given a positive review based on 99 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The consensus states: "The animation is lovely, but the plot is complex to the point of inscrutability, leaving ''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'' both original and numbing."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghost_in_the_shell_2_innocence |title=Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence (2004) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207013537/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghost_in_the_shell_2_innocence/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/ghost-in-the-shell-2-innocence |title=Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-date=5 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705070125/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/ghost-in-the-shell-2-innocence |url-status=live }}</ref>

The film was praised by [[Manohla Dargis]] of the ''[[New York Times]]'', who wrote "''Innocence'' doesn't just reveal a wealth of visual enchantments; it restates the case that there can and should be more to feature-length animations than cheap jokes, pathos and pandering."<ref name="NYT">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/movies/philosophizing-sex-dolls-amid-film-noir-intrigue.html | title=Philosophizing Sex Dolls Amid Film Noir Intrigue | work=New York Times | date=17 September 2004 | access-date=January 8, 2013 | archive-date=March 25, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325160716/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/movies/philosophizing-sex-dolls-amid-film-noir-intrigue.html | url-status=live | last1=Dargis | first1=Manohla }}</ref> In contrast, criticism rests upon a number of factors, often cited to be overly heavy on philosophical dialogue and thus hard to follow,<ref>Jeff Vice Deseret Morning News. "'Ghost in Shell 2' too intense, violent for young anime fans." Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Deseret News Publishing Co. 2004. {{Cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7180372.html |title='Ghost in Shell 2' too intense, violent for young anime fans - Deseret News (Salt Lake City) &#124; HighBeam Research |access-date=2013-04-15 |archive-date=2013-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517124504/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7180372.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and its ending has been described as weak and unmeaningful in the arc of character development.<ref>"IF YOU ACCEPT THE PREMISE, 'GHOST IN SHELL 2' DAZZLES MURDEROUS ROBO-HOOKERS RAMPAGE IN "GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE.".(RHYTHM)." The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI). McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 2004. {{Cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122438367.html |title=IF YOU ACCEPT THE PREMISE, 'GHOST IN SHELL 2' DAZZLES MURDEROUS ROBO-HOOKERS RAMPAGE IN "GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE.".(RHYTHM) - the Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI) &#124; HighBeam Research |access-date=2013-04-15 |archive-date=2013-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517125426/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122438367.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Helen McCarthy]] in ''500 Essential Anime Movies'' praises the quality script and direction, stating that "it's a challenging film, but it's one of the best anime ever".<ref>[[Helen McCarthy|McCarthy, Helen]]. ''500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide''. — Harper Design, 2009. — P. 22. — 528 p. — {{ISBN|978-0061474507}}</ref>

===Accolades===
Honored best sci-fi film at the 2004 Nihon SF Taisho Awards,<ref>{{cite web |title= Ghost in the Shell: Innocence Honored |url= https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/6120/ghost-shell-innocence-honored |work= ICv2 |access-date= 27 November 2012 |archive-date= 17 February 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210217181952/https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/6120/ghost-shell-innocence-honored |url-status= live }}</ref> ''Innocence'' competed at the [[2004 Cannes Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Festival de Cannes - From 16 to 27 may 2012 |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4200520/year/2004.html |work=Festival de Cannes |access-date=28 May 2012 |author=Festival de Cannes |year=2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119212923/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4200520/year/2004.html |archive-date=19 January 2012 }}</ref> only the sixth animated film to be featured at Cannes ever.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Davidson|first1=Paul|title=Ghost in the Shell 2 Up for Palme D'or|date=24 April 2004|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/24/ghost-in-the-shell-2-up-for-palme-dor|publisher=IGN|access-date=27 December 2015|archive-date=12 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512064158/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/24/ghost-in-the-shell-2-up-for-palme-dor|url-status=live}}</ref> Along with ''[[Persepolis (film)|Persepolis]],'' it was the only animated feature to be screened in the official selection, competing for the [[Palme d'Or]] that year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2024-06-12 |title=‘Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence’ Sets 4K Limited Rerelease – Global Bulletin |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/ghost-in-the-shell-2-innocence-rerelease-1236034823/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

As of 2023, it also received four [[47th Annie Awards|Annie Award]] nominations including Best Animated Feature and Best Achievement in Directing, tying with ''[[Spirited Away]]'', ''[[Millennium Actress]]'', and ''[[Weathering with You]]'' to have four nominations; the second-joint highest for an anime film at the Annies, behind the predecessor ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'' (1995) and then ''[[Belle (2021 film)|Belle]]'' (2021) with five.<ref>{{Citation |title=Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004) - Awards - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347246/awards/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Release==
===Japan===
The movie was released on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] by [[Buena Vista Home Entertainment Japan]] (later [[Walt Disney Studios Japan]]) on September 15, 2004. A [[Universal Media Disc|UMD]] version was later released in 2005, and an "International Version" DVD was released on September 7, 2005, which contained multi-language subtitles. the movie was released on [[Blu-ray Disc]] on December 6, 2006.

An "Absolute Edition" was released by Disney on Blu-Ray on August 6, 2008.

Walt Disney Japan released the 4K remaster of the film on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] and regular Blu-ray Disc on June 22, 2018. To tie in with this release alongside the first movie's 4K remaster's Ultra HD release. On the same day, [[Bandai Namco Arts]] and Disney teamed up to release an Ultra HD Blu-Ray combo pack containing both movies for a limited time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.disney.co.jp/studio/news/20180313_01.html|title = "イノセンス"は進化する。究極のクオリティを備えたフォーマット、4K Ultra HD＆4K リマスター・ブルーレイが、6/22(金)ついに登場！｜ブルーレイ・DVD・デジタル配信｜ディズニー公式}}</ref>

===North America===
''Innocence'' ranked 28th at the US box office earning $317,000 on its opening weekend in September 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title= Ghost in the Shell: Innocence Tops Box Office |url= https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/5731/ghost-shell-innocence-tops-box-office |work= ICv2 |access-date= 27 November 2012 |archive-date= 2 June 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150602093328/http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/5731/ghost-shell-innocence-tops-box-office |url-status= live }}</ref> The film eventually grossed $1 million in US box office,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3394602497/weekend/?ref_=bo_rl_tab#tabs|title = Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence}}</ref> which completely exceeded [[Go Fish Pictures]]' profitability target.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/anime-stays-niche-1117914712/|title=Anime stays niche|date=9 December 2004}}</ref>

On December 28, 2004, [[DreamWorks Pictures]] (parent company of theatrical distributor [[Go Fish Pictures]]) released ''Innocence'' on [[DVD]] in the US.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence DVD|url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/5883/ghost-shell-2-innocence-dvd|access-date=5 December 2012|publisher=ICv2|date=10 October 2012|archive-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602082249/http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/5883/ghost-shell-2-innocence-dvd|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviews immediately began appearing on [[Amazon.com|Amazon]] and other websites criticizing the movie's subtitle track: Instead of including the overlay subtitles from the theatrical release, DreamWorks produced the DVD subtitles using [[closed captioning]], resulting in subtitles that intruded on the movie's visual effects. In addition to reading dialogue, audiences saw cues like "[footsteps]" or "[helicopter approaches]". After receiving numerous complaints, DreamWorks released a statement saying that unsatisfied customers could exchange their DVDs for properly subtitled ones, postage paid; and that version&nbsp;4 already had the proper subtitling.

Bandai Entertainment has released the film on Blu-ray and DVD in the US, with an English dub also featuring the cast used in ''Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bandai Entertainment Adds Ghost in the Shell: Innocence|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-19/bandai-entertainment-adds-ghost-in-the-shell-innocence|access-date=28 May 2012|publisher=Anime News Network|date=19 May 2008|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217181939/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-19/bandai-entertainment-adds-ghost-in-the-shell-innocence|url-status=live}}</ref> Bandai had licensed the film for a short period from Paramount.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ken Iyadomi on Bandai Entertainment's Downsizing|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/bandai_downsizing_ken_iyadomi_interview|access-date=28 May 2012|publisher=Anime News Network|date=3 Jan 2012|archive-date=18 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518050604/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/bandai_downsizing_ken_iyadomi_interview|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Funimation]] released the film on [[DVD]] and on [[Blu-ray]] combo-pack on February 7, 2017. The combo pack features the Japanese version and includes the official English audio track and subtitles, along with the special features.

On April 17, 2024, [[GKIDS]] announced the acquisition of the North American distribution rights and announced they would re-release the film theatrically with a new 4K remaster in the summer.<ref>https://twitter.com/GKIDSfilms/status/1780627406803374365 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

===United Kingdom===
[[Manga Entertainment]], which released and co-produced the first film and collaborated with [[Bandai Entertainment]] to release the TV series, released ''Innocence'' with an English dub featuring the same cast as the one used in ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' in the UK on February 27, 2006. The Manga UK dub was co-produced with long-time anime partner, [[Madman Entertainment]] who has distributed Manga UK titles in Australia since its founding in 1996. The UK English dub on the Region 1 [[Blu-ray]] disc features an audio error where the soundtrack has been pitch-shifted down, resulting in unnatural sounding deep voices and mechanical sound effects in slow motion, because the dub was produced to PAL standards rather than NTSC. This is also present on the standard DVD.

===Australia===
The controversy with licensing also affected its release in Australia. Although Madman licensed it through Go Fish Pictures, the English dub used is from Manga Entertainment, through which Madman have licensed all ''Ghost in the Shell'' properties. The licensing costs are extremely high due to two different licenses being in effect on the DVD release.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} It is unknown whether Madman will use the Manga Entertainment dub or the Bandai dub for the Blu-ray version.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* Brown, Steven T., "Machinic Desires: Hans Bellmer's Dolls and the Technological Uncanny in ''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence''", ''[[Mechademia]]'' 3 (2008), 222–253
* Hartlieb, Sean, "Humanity in Anime: Analyzing the Films of Mamoru Oshii", 'Chapter Nine: Innocence' (2016), 347–453 
* Monnet, Livia, "Anatomy of Permutational Desire: Perversion in Hans Bellmer and Oshii Mamoru", ''Mechademia'' 5 (2010), 285–309
* Monnet, Livia, "Anatomy of Permutational Desire, Part II: Bellmer's Dolls and Oshii's Gynoids", ''Mechademia'' 6 (2010), 153–169
* Monnet, Livia, "Anatomy of Permutational Desire, Part III: The Artificial Woman and the Perverse Structure of Modernity", ''Mechademia'' 7 (2012), 282–297
* {{cite web |last=Ruh |first=Brian |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/brain-diving/2011-06-14 |title=The Faux and the Hound - BD |work=Anime News Network |date=14 Jun 2011 }}
* {{cite web | last=Hartlieb | first=Sean | url=https://analyzingoshii.com/ | title=Analyzes on Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence | work=AnalyzingOshii }}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|1=http://www.production-ig.com/contents/works_sp/01_/index.html|name=Official page at Production I.G website}}
* {{Anime News Network|type=anime|id=2081|noparen=true}}
* {{IMDb title|0347246}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|ghost_in_the_shell_2_innocence}}
* {{Mojo title|ghostintheshell2}}
* Essays on [https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Inosensu ''Inosensu''] (''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'')
* Analyzes on [https://analyzingoshii.com/ ''Inosensu''] (''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'')

{{Mamoru Oshii}}
{{Ghost in the Shell}}
{{Masamune Shirow}}
{{Production I.G films}}
{{Animation Kobe Feature Film Award}}
{{Tokyo Anime Award for Theatrical Film}}
{{Polygon Pictures}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence}}
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