Anime: Koukaku Kidoutai: Shin Gekijouban 4f2w17

Ghost in the Shell: New Movie is a finale for the GITS ARISE 4-episode series from 2014. It answers many of the unanswered questions and provides valuable backstory for that series, so it can be called the ending of (or bridge for) Arise to connect it to Alternative Architecture, which is prequel to SAC/original GITS. As a prequel finale, it's satisfying, and I doubt there could be much to dissuade GITS fans (of which I am one) from watching this, but besides the action sequences and the incredibly dense plot explanations, involving arms trade, Ministry of Defense, and a bewildering whodunnit, it's a fun ride that may take more than one watch to absorb completely. On second watch, pay attention to the animation, because it is one of the year's best. Better yet, try to understand the way government and weapons-developers can be throwing bombs at each other.

Art and Animation: Production IG does a wonderful job with Nomura Kazuya directing and Sengoku Basara animator Ookubo Tooru providing excellent work. Superb fight sequences! I do get jaded watching Matoko jump from buildings, but that has to be included because it's iconic; I enjoyed the cyberpunk journeys into virtual space, but wondered why they are subject to laws of physics. The backgrounds are detailed and the motion isn't jumpy, and if you liked Arise, you will really like this outing. 8.5 points only because the gee-whiz moments are not as impressive as the original movie or some of the SAC episodes.

Sound: The soundstage is impressively deep and wide, and immersive. The voice actors are repeats from ARISE, Sakamoto Maaya as Matoko is so good that I am starting to be a fanboy, and she had a tough time (in my mind) replacing the wonderful GITS 1995 original voice of Tanaka Atsuko. Music by Cornelius is appropriatly driving and reprises the feeling from his work on Arise and Alternative Architecture. Nothing to criticise here, 9 points, just missing a wow.

Story: The opening credits are a montage of when Matoko meets Kurutsu as a child, and the rest of the show describes how their destinies are intertwined. The heartbeat of the story is over the family that is created at her institute, and how she recreates it with her team (whom she calls, perhaps lovingly, as impressive parts) and how her loyalty to her team is as important as that with Kurutsu. If you watched ARISE, you know who the culprit is, but watch this without any reference to ARISE, and you get the aha moment. It's therefore a story that has it's main surprise pretold, but the enjoyment is in the action and the demonstration of emotion in cyborgs. Watching Matoko eat a sandwich is hilarious, perhaps intentionally. I rate this part of the movie an 8 and loses points for being somewhat predictable, in a GITS way.

Character: I do not need to explain any of the characters to people who are familiar with the franchise. What happens in the series is a full-throttle character development for the Major, and a bit of backstory to explain the motives of Kurutsu. She is not the monster she appears, she's just trying to make a living, in a way, and loyal to her 501 team just like Matoko. It's missing romance, not many cute moments, and we don't get much novel (typical for the later series, but not the origiinal or the sequel movie). So I rate this a solid 7.

Value and Enjoyment: I must it, I enjoyed this movie, and as a finale to a good ARISE series, it's quite satisfying. It may seem to go a bit long in a couple parts, but it makes up for it by having very energetic action sequences. Which is why we watch GITS because, seriously, it's not for the crazy Byzantine plot. MORE MATOKO! 8 and 7,5 for value and enjoyment. If you are a GITS fan, you do not need another reason to watch, and if you are not yet a fan, I think you will be.