The narrative unfolds in the future year of 2030, where a significant portion of the population has transitioned into cyborgs, possessing advanced prosthetic bodies. The story is primarily situated in New Port City (新浜市, Niihama-shi), located in the fictional Niihama Prefecture (新浜県, Niihama-ken). Here, we follow the dedicated operatives of Public Security Section 9, a task force composed of individuals with backgrounds in military service and police work. Throughout the series, the team delves into a myriad of criminal activities while simultaneously tackling two major ongoing investigations that reveal deep-seated corruption within other segments of the Japanese government.
The first season, titled Stand Alone Complex, primarily revolves around the infamous Laughing Man incident. In this intriguing storyline, a hacktivist exposes to Major Motoko Kusanagi, portrayed by Atsuko Tanaka, the disturbing manipulation by several micromachine manufacturing corporations in collusion with the government. They had been suppressing information concerning a cost-effective cure for a debilitating cyberization disease, which ultimately allowed them to profit from more costly treatments. This revelation leads to the kidnap of one corporation's owner, as the hacktivist endeavors to unearth the truth on live television. During this intense event, he utilizes a technique to hack into the vision and cameras of numerous attendees, cleverly obscuring his face with a stylized laughing logo that becomes a hallmark of his identity.
The unexpected rise of his popularity results in a wave of imitators, embodying the series' Stand Alone Complex theme. Following an investigation by authorities, the Laughing Man resurfaces, compelling Section 9 to uncover the ways in which these companies and politicians leveraged his image for personal gain. Spearheaded by the resourceful Togusa, featuring Koichi Yamadera, and the Major herself, they embark on a mission to unveil the truth to the public. However, their efforts culminate in the Cabinet denouncing them as domestic terrorists, leading to the disbandment of Section 9 and a shocking turn of events that implies the death of Kusanagi. Yet, this is a strategic maneuver to outwit the government. The members of Section 9, alive and energized, regroup to seek justice against both the micromachine corporations and the corrupt political figures, resulting in a pivotal restructuring of the Japanese government.
The series continues in the second season, 2nd Gig, which takes place two years after the riveting events of the first season. This season delves deep into the political and societal consequences following the two world wars that predate the storyline. During the time between the Third and Fourth World Wars, approximately three million Asians, initially welcomed into Japan as a labor source, find themselves as unemployed refugees after the conclusion of hostilities, which ignites significant social unrest teetering on the brink of warfare.
Section 9's involvement intensifies when they successfully manage to thwart a hostage crisis instigated by a domestic terrorist faction known as the Individual Eleven. Following this, the newly appointed Prime Minister Yoko Kayabuki, voiced by Yoshiko Sakakibara, decides to reinstate the organization. The rebels draw inspiration from the May 15 Incident, wherein naval officers executed an assassination of the Prime Minister, subsequently securing public backing, as they aim to rally the spirits of refugees into combatting the government.
Confronting the head of the Cabinet Intelligence Service, Kazundo Gōda, Section 9 assists in mitigating tensions among the refugees and aiding in the perilous transport of plutonium. Unfortunately, their missions encounter several failures, causing casualties and deepening the civil discord. As they navigate these crises, Section 9 uncovers Gōda's clandestine manipulation behind the scenes. He has orchestrated the leaking of a social virus that forms the ideology of Individual Eleven while simultaneously creating a new Stand Alone Complex through carefully staged failures concerning the refugee crises. However, Gōda's plans run into complications as he cannot predict Hideo Kuze, a charismatic leader advocating for the rights and independence of the refugees, whom Kusanagi suspects might have ties to her past.
Ultimately, Gōda faces the consequences of his actions, being held accountable for his role in the unfolding refugee-related events, though his downfall also brings about tragic losses, including the demise of Kuze. As the story progresses into Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society, occurring two years after the resolution of the Individual Eleven crisis, we find the Major taking a step back from Section 9's activities. Under the command of Togusa, Koichi Yamadera once again steps into the fray to lead an investigation into a series of refugee fatalities stemming from the Siak Republic. This investigation unveils a sinister government computer system involved in the abduction of 20,000 children who have been stripped of their autonomy due to cyberbrain enhancements, leaving them under the watch of incapacitated elderly citizens.
As the plot unfolds, their exploration leads to the unmasking of an enigmatic figure, the Puppeteer, formed from the collective desire of the elderly. However, the Siak Republic's ambitions to exploit these children further complicate matters. Amidst the efforts to regain control, Section 9 also discovers that a corrupted member of the House of Representatives is manipulating this situation for his nationalist agenda. A decisive infiltration leads Section 9 and the Major into a welfare center, confronting the politician's brainwashing methods and revealing the Puppeteer's intent to allow the children a chance at free will, thwarted by external interference.
