Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex Official Log DVD/Guide Book (Vol. 1)
Masamune Shirow's landmark cyberpunk fantasyGhost in the Shellhas proved popular and thought-provoking in all its incarnations: the  original manga (1989); Mamoru Oshii's critically acclaimed feature  (1995) and its sequel,Innocence(2005); and the TV series,Stand Alone Complex(2005). TheOfficial Logoffers a  wealth of information on the broadcast series, with the contents of the  book and DVD complimenting each other. The printed summaries of each  episode can be juxtaposed with the montages of recurring elements on  the disc. Both contain interviews with key members of crew, including  director/chief writer Kenji Kamiyama, audio director Kazuhiro  Wakabayashi, 3-D animation director Makoto Endo, and members of the  Japanese vocal cast. Unfortunately, the book suffers from a surfeit of  design tricks. The text is printed in tiny type, often in color and/or  against colored background. The captions urge the reader to examine the  details in images the size of postage stamps. Although it can be  difficult to read, serious fans ofGhost in the Shellwill want  theOfficial Log. (Unrated, suitable for ages and older:  considerable violence, grotesque imagery, alcohol and tobacco use)--Charles Solomon