Set in the year 2029, this tale of international cybernet terrorism and rival government agencies is a mesmerizing blend of computer graphics, manga characters, and hand-drawn, realistic backgrounds. The Puppet Master, a rogue program born in the sea of information, is invading humans and cyborgs via the net-downloading simulated memories and demanding physical existence. When an elite cyborg security officer, Major Kusanagi, joins pursuit of the master criminal, she must question the origins of her own "ghost" or soul. And soul is ultimately the subject of the film. As lavishly rendered as the flashy chase sequences and spectacular gun battles are the recurrent water imagery and moody moments of existential meditation, when cyborgs contemplate their identity and the nature of reality. "Visually dazzling and touching on the nature of information, memory, and humanity, Ghost in the Shell is one of the top highlights of 1990s anime." (Kyoko Hirano)