10 Best Anime Movies Not Made By Studio Ghibli
4. Ghost In The Shell
Even if you've never watched anime before, you're probably still familiar with the image of Ghost in the Shell's leading character - possibly thanks to Scarlet Johansson's poor live-action translation. There's a reason why Ghost in the Shell is etched into pop culture, as its influence can be seen everywhere from The Matrix to the entire Cyberpunk genre itself.
The movie takes place in 2029 Japan, a world where cybernetic technology has progressed rapidly, allowing humans to enhance themselves, or in some cases, put their entire consciousness into new bodies. It follows as a cyborg security agent named Major Motoko hunts down a mysterious hacker known as The Puppet Master.
While it seems like a hollow sci-fi action flick on the surface, Ghost in the Shell is a profoundly philosophical outing that addresses the ideas of consciousness, humanity and identity in a world overrun with technology. It does so with a beautiful soundtrack, deliciously gritty neo-city landscapes and the turmoil of the leading character.
But, if you're just looking to switch your brain off and watch a badass robot lady beat the hell out of some people, then you're still going to have a banging time with this one.