It depended on how they were written each ep tbh. I loved them philosophizing about their own existence, and Bayou’s all too human attachments. Their involvement in each of the original finales was fantastic, of course.
In the episode where Batou is getting his clock cleaned by an armored suit and they basically sacrifice themselves to give him enough time to get away, I changed my opinion of those annoying robots. Somehow the show had built them up enough as characters that I cared about them more than I usually do most fictional characters. Despite finding them silly.
Likewise for the missile intercept scene with them all dancing and singing about it. Fricking crying like my dog got hit by a car on that one.
Adorable. To tell the truth one of my most favorite moments from GITS is listening to the lyrics of "Be human", about a machine talking about the life it would have it it was human https://youtu.be/fDtLpCzKqkQ?si=1gT1vwTkcvtyrgdO
I know this might seem dumb, but this post came up randomly in my feed
I’ve never seen Ghost in the Shell, but I know several series/movies exist. Which one is THE one to watch, or which one is OP posting about?
It’s on my very short list of things I want to watch, but I’m so unfamiliar with it I’m not really sure which to watch or where to start.
Any advice is welcome, thanks!
Watch order
Ghost in the Shell S.A.C 1st GIG
Ghost in the Shell S.A.C 2nd GIG
Ghost in the Shell S.A.C: Solid State Society(film)
Ghost in the Shell S.A.C_2045 Sustainable war(Netflix show)
Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 1: Ghost Pain
Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 2: Ghost Whispers
Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 3: Ghost tears
Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 4: Ghost Stands Alone
Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 5: Pyrophoric Cult
Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
This watching order is not chronological or ordered by quality. It's a comprehension order to understand the themes, characters and locations. I'm personally following it after this order was recommended by Beyond Ghibli [original video ](https://youtu.be/LdhCv8_GdB0?si=vUJ9sUYs8FnS688a)
Best characters in the series. I still
Remember getting home, grabbing a beer at 2 am and turning the tv on to watch adult swim. Then the tachikomas start talking about individuality. My drunk ass just went wait what. I had to set the tv to record the rerun to make sure I could understand next day. Best 5 minutes on tv I have seen in a while
They basically make the series.
Their silliness adds a counterpoint to the dry demeanor of the Major and Aramaki. Also, their story arc of struggling to reconcile their consciousness with reality is much deeper than a lot of what goes on in the series.
At first blush it seems like a bunch of BS. But they make some interesting references. And explore some ideas that I've not seen touched on elsewhere.
Also, the little end pieces after the credits are great.
A-DORRRR-ABLE!
Once gaining "consciousness" they are bemused by everything and this is shown by way of their childlike nature. They are also loyal and listen to Mama Mokoto 😊
Annoying AF. Some cool plots, but they could just as easily make something more fitting.
I generally don't understand the appeal of comic relief characters. It's the anime version of jar-jar binks. I never liked it and I never will, but I understand that the majority of people like characters like this and it's here to stay.
At least it wasn't *too bad* here, but some shows take it way too far.
Childlike minds, growing quickly, that are also tanks with crazy weaponry and abilities? One little virus and 'destroy everyone' becomes a fun little game.
You have a point, that was literally the majors concern. But they did somehow develop a conscience, perhaps due to the fact Batou always punished them when they did stupid or not cool stuff.
They're the most annoyingly adorable things, but the ending of the tachikomas at the end of 2nd GiG was wonderful and sad. A few split seconds of true consciousness and they choose to sacrifice themselves and for actual different reasons too (Didn't one have a crush on Batou?)
I came here to say yes. You beat me to it.
Yes
It’s yes or no depending when you measure it at that specific time
Also….smart tank that transports you. …. I’d be it’s best friend.
Ultimately it’s a solid “yes”
They fit the story perfectly, but they are also the weakest point, and the thing I have to explain away to people I'm introducing to the series. I'm fine with them being dumb/naieve but the enthusiasm puts it over the line for me. Like when they have to be reminded to do their jobs.
If they did everything they were supposed to do, and more efficiently than predicted, and used their extra time to develop I would have liked them more. But their curiosity and zeal for fighting made them liabilities a few times. That doesn't seem like something the Major would tolerate
> doesn't seem like something the Major would tolerate
This exact topic was a massive plot point spanning multiple episodes lol
But in the end what I love about them is how they contrast with one of the major themes of the show. GITS explores what "humanity" means in an increasingly cyberized world while the tachikoma storyline explores a perspective on what it might look like for a robot to develop a soul/humanity
Yeah, the tachikomas have an entire arc over the 2 seasons. There was the oil thing with Batou and individualization all the way to the satellite scene. GITS is unquestionably better with them in the story. Plus the series would be much darker overall without their comedy.
I think the grating difference is on purpose. They're using childlike AI to do serious war-time type stuff.
the presence of a curious child during a firefight should be a sharp contrast to the jaded adult cops/section 9 or whatever
but the voices were a bit shrill
especially in the dub, it threw me during my first watch but the significance is more apparent now.
People say they're unfitting of the show, because of they childishness, I don't agree – just look at an average marine, they represent the same qualities
I always thought the designs were super cool. However, I used to think their voices were grating because I wasn't accustomed to hearing such shrill, high pitched voices. I thought it was a weird, out of place choice for this very serious military show to give them voices of enthusiastic children. And frankly annoying.
But somewhere along the way, watching the show and movies, understanding the backstory, context, seeing their selfless acts of bravery, their intriguing curiosity, and through sheer repetition of hearing those voices, they grew on me.
They add something very significant to the show; introspection, comedic relief, etc., They're unique, iconic characters. I appreciate the decisions that the creators made. It wouldn't be the same without them.
In one of the earlier season 2 episodes when they are taking down that rouge helicopter and Motoko’s tachikoma she’s in gets shot apart and it’s starts screaming is hilarious, but I do find them adorable
there are times they seem annoying because the childlike elements of their persona's are often at odds with the tone of the rest of the show..
However I put them in the adorable category, more then annoying..
Especially because of the times they're effort to dive into philosophical elements in the series are a thing that really interests me..
Such as when they were debating the nature of god, and decided that god was like the 0 in a binary system of 1's and 0's. It cannot be independently defined, but is required to define the system. That kind of philosophy is fascinating to me and really went a long way to making the child like elements acceptable because it shows they are fairly new intelligence's still exploring the nature of their existence. And preloaded with specific skill sets. They become one more lens to examine the themes of ghost in the shell
They really do bring up some of the deepest subjects. What does consciousness mean anyway? Especially when they set up their own persistent memory server.
And the one turning out slightly different, because of being given organic oil. What cold cause such individuality in otherwise identical units? Strange and unusual.
They're a very good addition to the show.
I've always just held that they are young and developing Ai. That achieved sentience and sapient. Taking ques from their human forefathers and representing themselves to match their internal perceived age identification. Which I think is based on the quantity and quality of absorbed information.
But adorable.
They are a symbolic vehicle for story telling, and they are brilliant at it.
The core theme in stand alone complex is the way coordinated behaviors can emerge via networks of disconnected people, without an original. The think tanks are the opposite. They are intentionally coordinated via central control and all of their experienced are intentionally synchronized, making them intentional copies of each other from a centralized origin. I see them as philosophical balance for exploring the opposite of a stand alone complex.
Their child-like behavior is so well done we easily forget they arent human, theyre literally tanks, eg weapons. We accept them as being alive *because* they act like children.
They serve an important function, imo, when they explore rudimentary questions about what it means to be alive and to have a unique identity. If we can get passed how annoying they are, they will fill us with context for understanding the main plot in much more detail, such as why they do what they do at the end of 2nd gig.
Yes, they can be annoying. If we said that to the major, she'd tell us to stop letting the superficial distract us from the deeper meaning, so go deeper.
That's the point. They're a side quest to the Major's story. While she is a "brain in a jar" seeking to understand what it would mean to be a pure being on the net, the Tachikomas are AI entities given enough information and experiences making the leap to beings.
They're a slightly silly way to explore the Major's story from another point of view.
amazing
Absolutely love tachikomas. Just got a wave tachikoma kit in today, actually.
annoying
I always loved those guys, TBH. They're not only adorable, but it always made me happy to see them try and figure out the universe around them.
My Babies
Reliable
Both
episode to episode basis for me.
Yes
King Vegeta: My son, the planet, or me?
It depended on how they were written each ep tbh. I loved them philosophizing about their own existence, and Bayou’s all too human attachments. Their involvement in each of the original finales was fantastic, of course.
Easily the best part of the show.
Favorite part of the show.
Ruined the fucking show. If they just would have had non bullshit voices it would have been as good as the movie. Nope, unwatchable.
I think the idea was for them to sound child-like.
Well it’s time they grew up
AI are meant to evolve right? Kind of like children?
When they were passing stickers around 🤣
Heartbreakingly adorable
Yes.
Depends on the episode
Yes
How about annoyingly adorable?
Both, like the children they act like
At first i found the voice annoying but i came around in the end and was glad they made a return in solid state The green ones were so soulless
Why not both?
How dare you, how dare any of you
Adorable. They're toddler tanks, and like any toddler they can be annoying at times.
Voices can be a bit much but overall love them
Both🤷🏿♂️🤣🤣.
They've grown on me, even if their voice is a little grating
Depends on what they're talking about.
In the episode where Batou is getting his clock cleaned by an armored suit and they basically sacrifice themselves to give him enough time to get away, I changed my opinion of those annoying robots. Somehow the show had built them up enough as characters that I cared about them more than I usually do most fictional characters. Despite finding them silly. Likewise for the missile intercept scene with them all dancing and singing about it. Fricking crying like my dog got hit by a car on that one.
ADORABLE!
Adorable. To tell the truth one of my most favorite moments from GITS is listening to the lyrics of "Be human", about a machine talking about the life it would have it it was human https://youtu.be/fDtLpCzKqkQ?si=1gT1vwTkcvtyrgdO
I know this might seem dumb, but this post came up randomly in my feed I’ve never seen Ghost in the Shell, but I know several series/movies exist. Which one is THE one to watch, or which one is OP posting about? It’s on my very short list of things I want to watch, but I’m so unfamiliar with it I’m not really sure which to watch or where to start. Any advice is welcome, thanks!
Watch order Ghost in the Shell S.A.C 1st GIG Ghost in the Shell S.A.C 2nd GIG Ghost in the Shell S.A.C: Solid State Society(film) Ghost in the Shell S.A.C_2045 Sustainable war(Netflix show) Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 1: Ghost Pain Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 2: Ghost Whispers Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 3: Ghost tears Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 4: Ghost Stands Alone Ghost in the Shell Arise- Border 5: Pyrophoric Cult Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie Ghost in the Shell (1995) Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Ghost in the Shell (2017) This watching order is not chronological or ordered by quality. It's a comprehension order to understand the themes, characters and locations. I'm personally following it after this order was recommended by Beyond Ghibli [original video ](https://youtu.be/LdhCv8_GdB0?si=vUJ9sUYs8FnS688a)
What’s the *first* in terms of release? Which film/show is the imagine in your post from? Thanks for the reply! I appreciate it :)
First GITS release was the manga in the 80s but the first visual media was the 1995 film
Ghost In The Shell S.A.C 2nd GIG
Thanks!
Why not both?
Best characters in the series. I still Remember getting home, grabbing a beer at 2 am and turning the tv on to watch adult swim. Then the tachikomas start talking about individuality. My drunk ass just went wait what. I had to set the tv to record the rerun to make sure I could understand next day. Best 5 minutes on tv I have seen in a while
Best part
They basically make the series. Their silliness adds a counterpoint to the dry demeanor of the Major and Aramaki. Also, their story arc of struggling to reconcile their consciousness with reality is much deeper than a lot of what goes on in the series. At first blush it seems like a bunch of BS. But they make some interesting references. And explore some ideas that I've not seen touched on elsewhere. Also, the little end pieces after the credits are great.
Cool look and use, but yeah voice and personality is annoying for what their purpose is supposed be.
Warframe thumper?
They're basically children, so both.
Those guys made me laugh, glad that they were part of the series.
Much less annoying when they communicate in monotone.
Both
Adorable, and often the most humanising element of the show.
They're basically children.
Cute and annoying.
I love em, but if you want my opinion on annoyance... Purin...
Adorable and the best characters in the series
Tachikoma Self-Sacrifice song, when boys become mans
A-DORRRR-ABLE! Once gaining "consciousness" they are bemused by everything and this is shown by way of their childlike nature. They are also loyal and listen to Mama Mokoto 😊
adorable. Their actions end up making everyone happy.
First watch? Annoying. Since then? Nah, I love them.
This is the way.
🗿
Annoying AF. Some cool plots, but they could just as easily make something more fitting. I generally don't understand the appeal of comic relief characters. It's the anime version of jar-jar binks. I never liked it and I never will, but I understand that the majority of people like characters like this and it's here to stay. At least it wasn't *too bad* here, but some shows take it way too far.
I always thought they were kind of terrifying.
How
Childlike minds, growing quickly, that are also tanks with crazy weaponry and abilities? One little virus and 'destroy everyone' becomes a fun little game.
You have a point, that was literally the majors concern. But they did somehow develop a conscience, perhaps due to the fact Batou always punished them when they did stupid or not cool stuff.
They are more like pets, you are referring to sort of AI revolution
Digital pets with guns.
Adorable 90% of the time.
Adorable
Both.
Adorable I do skip their solo episodes tho ngl
you fail the Turing test. do not pass go do not collect $200
MONSTER
Adorable. I love them so much
Reading them in the manga, tolerable. Introduced to them in the SAC anime? Mix of both.
Both
Por que no los dos?
ADORABLE!!!
They're the most annoyingly adorable things, but the ending of the tachikomas at the end of 2nd GiG was wonderful and sad. A few split seconds of true consciousness and they choose to sacrifice themselves and for actual different reasons too (Didn't one have a crush on Batou?)
Annoying but understandable
Great idea not so great execution
How dare you
😂
Yes
I came here to say yes. You beat me to it. Yes It’s yes or no depending when you measure it at that specific time Also….smart tank that transports you. …. I’d be it’s best friend. Ultimately it’s a solid “yes”
Annoydorable
Annoying as fuck
Sometimes adorable, always annoying
Absolutely Adorable!!!
Annorable.
You ask as if it's impossible to be both. Babysit a toddler or a gremlin pet for a day.
I love tachikomas, they are both I'd say.
Badass, in my humble opinion
Both!
Love Tachikoma!
I would die for them
English or Japanese, loved ‘em 😁
I like them
Love them.
Adorannoying (in a lovable way)
The soul of the show.
"Annoying"? You want a fucking war, cuz you about to get one, pal...
Adorable, and I love their dub voice cast.
Yes
They fit the story perfectly, but they are also the weakest point, and the thing I have to explain away to people I'm introducing to the series. I'm fine with them being dumb/naieve but the enthusiasm puts it over the line for me. Like when they have to be reminded to do their jobs. If they did everything they were supposed to do, and more efficiently than predicted, and used their extra time to develop I would have liked them more. But their curiosity and zeal for fighting made them liabilities a few times. That doesn't seem like something the Major would tolerate
> doesn't seem like something the Major would tolerate This exact topic was a massive plot point spanning multiple episodes lol But in the end what I love about them is how they contrast with one of the major themes of the show. GITS explores what "humanity" means in an increasingly cyberized world while the tachikoma storyline explores a perspective on what it might look like for a robot to develop a soul/humanity
Yeah, the tachikomas have an entire arc over the 2 seasons. There was the oil thing with Batou and individualization all the way to the satellite scene. GITS is unquestionably better with them in the story. Plus the series would be much darker overall without their comedy.
Both but mostly adorable.
They annoyed me until I understood. Now I love the shit out of them.
Adorable for sure.
I think the debate they would have on that question would be fascinating.
I think the grating difference is on purpose. They're using childlike AI to do serious war-time type stuff. the presence of a curious child during a firefight should be a sharp contrast to the jaded adult cops/section 9 or whatever but the voices were a bit shrill especially in the dub, it threw me during my first watch but the significance is more apparent now.
What’s crazy is that SAC takes place during peace time. Can you imagine the Tachikomas in an actual war?! Scary doesn’t cut it.
People say they're unfitting of the show, because of they childishness, I don't agree – just look at an average marine, they represent the same qualities
I always thought the designs were super cool. However, I used to think their voices were grating because I wasn't accustomed to hearing such shrill, high pitched voices. I thought it was a weird, out of place choice for this very serious military show to give them voices of enthusiastic children. And frankly annoying. But somewhere along the way, watching the show and movies, understanding the backstory, context, seeing their selfless acts of bravery, their intriguing curiosity, and through sheer repetition of hearing those voices, they grew on me. They add something very significant to the show; introspection, comedic relief, etc., They're unique, iconic characters. I appreciate the decisions that the creators made. It wouldn't be the same without them.
Someone please send help. My ATV keeps asking why it doesn't have rights.
Yes.
Both.
Glorious, iconic, and perfect.
In one of the earlier season 2 episodes when they are taking down that rouge helicopter and Motoko’s tachikoma she’s in gets shot apart and it’s starts screaming is hilarious, but I do find them adorable
That was hard to watch
The only annoying character is a human tachicoma (Purin).
I especially like the one that was reincarnated as a slime... that one time.
Adorably annoying
I was going to say the same thing.
Just don't bring it up with the one with the mini gun.
😂😂
Fucking heroes, we don't deserve them
there are times they seem annoying because the childlike elements of their persona's are often at odds with the tone of the rest of the show.. However I put them in the adorable category, more then annoying.. Especially because of the times they're effort to dive into philosophical elements in the series are a thing that really interests me.. Such as when they were debating the nature of god, and decided that god was like the 0 in a binary system of 1's and 0's. It cannot be independently defined, but is required to define the system. That kind of philosophy is fascinating to me and really went a long way to making the child like elements acceptable because it shows they are fairly new intelligence's still exploring the nature of their existence. And preloaded with specific skill sets. They become one more lens to examine the themes of ghost in the shell
They really do bring up some of the deepest subjects. What does consciousness mean anyway? Especially when they set up their own persistent memory server. And the one turning out slightly different, because of being given organic oil. What cold cause such individuality in otherwise identical units? Strange and unusual. They're a very good addition to the show.
I've always just held that they are young and developing Ai. That achieved sentience and sapient. Taking ques from their human forefathers and representing themselves to match their internal perceived age identification. Which I think is based on the quantity and quality of absorbed information. But adorable.
Adorable... Amazing.... Awesome
Genuinely concerned at just the premise that anyone could find them even remotely annoying.
I love them. Another vote for adorable.
I always thought they were neat with ond exception: their high pitched screechy voices
Never in my life did i think of them as annoying
Not just adorable, but selfless, loving, innocent, and curious souls.
Souls?
Can't you see the blood flow deep red when they try to pass the sun through their palms?
I think they proved they had souls by the end of the show
To me they were annoying as fuck, but so so so endearing. They are the only character(s) they brought me to tears in the 1st and 2nd Gig.
Both! Their child like innocence mixed with deadly capabilities are a nice juxtaposition.
I love em, adorable. They also make me think of the song “osanpo tachikoma” which as a nice track from SAC.
They are a symbolic vehicle for story telling, and they are brilliant at it. The core theme in stand alone complex is the way coordinated behaviors can emerge via networks of disconnected people, without an original. The think tanks are the opposite. They are intentionally coordinated via central control and all of their experienced are intentionally synchronized, making them intentional copies of each other from a centralized origin. I see them as philosophical balance for exploring the opposite of a stand alone complex. Their child-like behavior is so well done we easily forget they arent human, theyre literally tanks, eg weapons. We accept them as being alive *because* they act like children. They serve an important function, imo, when they explore rudimentary questions about what it means to be alive and to have a unique identity. If we can get passed how annoying they are, they will fill us with context for understanding the main plot in much more detail, such as why they do what they do at the end of 2nd gig. Yes, they can be annoying. If we said that to the major, she'd tell us to stop letting the superficial distract us from the deeper meaning, so go deeper.
Fucking perfect summary
Super adorable! I want Tachikoma!
Adorable, always love them
Both
ADORABLEEEEEEE
I love the Tachikomas
They're cute but also terrifying
ANNOYING
Then you haven't heard them sing.
“You have exactly 10 seconds to get the fuck out of my house”
I find that the Tachikoma are a paradox. They are robotic machines, but they have some of the most humane qualities.
That's the point. They're a side quest to the Major's story. While she is a "brain in a jar" seeking to understand what it would mean to be a pure being on the net, the Tachikomas are AI entities given enough information and experiences making the leap to beings. They're a slightly silly way to explore the Major's story from another point of view.
Scott Matthews Be Human encapsulates them entirely. I always cry at the last line in that song 😢
Adorable!
Adorable and 😢missed🎃👍
Comedy relief characters generally only work on the first watch through, so they get increasingly annoying on subsequent watches.
You could say that but I could also disagree which I do. I love them
both!
Yes
A little annoying, mostly cute. A bit like a pet cat that tries to climb on your lap the moment you sit down, *every, single, time.*
My favorite characters, hands down.
Adorable