Ghost in the shell -- timeline?

[Micharus]

I have recently finished getting all (as far as I know) of the Ghost in the shell anime on BakaBT and I'm just wondering if anyone knows what order would be best to watch them in.

I had a look at the wiki and got the following from it for what time they are based in;

Ghost in the Shell (first movie)  -- year is 2029

GiTs  Season 1 -- year is 2030

(second movie) Ghost in the Shell : Innocence  -- year is 2032
GiTs Season 2 -- year is 2032

(third movie) Ghost in the Shell : Solid State Society -- year is 2034

The only real problem I have, not that it's much of a problem, is what order to watch the second movie and the second series in?

They are both in the same year, but it's fairly obvious that one of them must 'happen' first.

Any ideas?

[newy]

I think the two series and the movies are to be watched separately, i.e. watch either Ghost in the Shell, then Ghost in the Shell: Innocence or Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd gig and Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society.

From what I remember the two series and Solid State Society are of an alternative setting.

[dbml]

Innocence is somewhat of a "sequel" to the original and isn't related to either of the Stand Alone Complex seasons. But if I had to place the events, I'd watch the 2nd GiG before watching Innocence. That should make more sense than the other way around.

[Natheria]

The two movies and the series are both parallel universes (for very specific reasons). Don't really want to give away why the series was made as a paralell universe but let's just say it would be a lot less cool if it continued after the first movie...

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Since Motoko gets assimilated into the Net at the end of the first movie and such...

As for which ones to watch first (the series or the movies), I personally liked the series more than i did the movies. As much as i enjoyed the movies i think the story did a lot better in a longer TV format. It's just so hard to tell such an action packed story that's heavy on the philosophical and cram it all in an hour and a half. (for anyone that has watched the Conan O'Brien clip you know what i mean, "Tell us the plot of Ghost in the Shell..." ROFL! )

I would also save innocence for last personally. It's a lot more vague at certain points and you really should have a good grasp on the world that it's set in before watching it.

[Micharus]

Hmmm interesting that it would be done that way, but it sort of answers my question, although it seems a little more research is on order on my part.

Thanks for the feedback people. 

[shabutie]

I'd say watch them in the following order


Movie
SAC
SAC 2nd Gig
Innocence
Solid State Society

As that's pretty much the order they go in

HUGE SPOILER FOR THE OP: DO NOT READ (THATS WHAT THE SPOILER TAGS ARE FOR)

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I was under the impression that shortly (very very shortly) after the events of 2nd Gig, she leaves Section 9.  So even if Innocence and SAC aren't technically part of the same 'storyline' they still flow well together.  And watching Solid State after Innocence makes more sense, because you then know that Motoko has left S9

Honestly though, I though Innocence was lacking compared to the others 

[dbml]

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I was under the impression that shortly (very very shortly) after the events of 2nd Gig, she leaves Section 9.  So even if Innocence and SAC aren't technically part of the same 'storyline' they still flow well together.  And watching Solid State after Innocence makes more sense, because you then know that Motoko has left S9

Honestly though, I though Innocence was lacking compared to the others

Agreed. That's pretty much how I looked at it as well. Same with that Innocence was lacking... it just wasn't up to par as the other two movies. Still pretty good in the grand scheme of things, but for a Ghost in the Shell movie, just average.

[Havoc10K]

Gits SAC/2nd gig are taking place at the same time as Movie and Innocence

this is how it works:
Ghost In The Shell <> Stand Alone Complex (Alternate Universe wher the puppet master didn't go active, istead we had the laughing man)
Ghost In The Shell Second Gig
Ghost In The Shell: Innocence <> Solid State Society timeline (Alternate Universe again)

the reason for this is:
Gits movie 1 develops around the time the puppetmaster becomes very active and section 9 investigates
as an alternate happening, SAC develops without puppetmaster involvement, wich leads to a different course of action, SAC is an answer to a question, "What if pupetmaster case didn't exist?" informed by the makers of the original movie, the series continues to develop in 2nd GiG, where Major doesn't have much problems with her work and her morals, everything is different here.

by the time GITS: Innocence works out it's plot, SSS in the SAC universe emerges, the timeline for those is exactly the same, Innocence stil ldevelops around some stuff left behind by Puppetmaster case, altough this time around it's a kidnapping syndicate, and androids going suicidal, it doesn't show directly but it's still under some influence of the puppetmaster case, we meet Major again but not directly, at the exactly same time in the Sac Universe, Major investigates the so called SSS case alone,

the timeline of the movies is exactly like that
GITS <> SAC/2nd gig
GITS2<> SSS

to me, all GITS content is great.

[Sheytan]

Watch the S.A.C. season one, two and Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society then the film adaptions in order or the other way around, the TV series (Movie) and the film adaptions is separate from each other

The Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society TV movie and the first film adaption are both based on the puppeteer story (the first GITS manga)

Sorry for my crappy English

[Micharus]

More answers. Excellent!

GitS is going to have to wait for a bit now, started watching "Black Lagoon" and it's kinda sucked me in.

Now I know what people are talking about when they say "Revy is hot", too bad they didn't mention "Sister Eda", who is also very nice.

I've always wondered what the nuns with a cute face look like off duty.

Oh and the "Church of Violence" makes me laugh.

Revy + Eda = 

[shabutie]

More answers. Excellent!

GitS is going to have to wait for a bit now, started watching "Black Lagoon" and it's kinda sucked me in.

Now I know what people are talking about when they say "Revy is hot", too bad they didn't mention "Sister Eda", who is also very nice.

I've always wondered what the nuns with a cute face look like off duty.

Oh and the "Church of Violence" makes me laugh.

Revy + Eda = 

Revy's hotter than Eda ^_^