Yu Kinutani interview on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Mar. 28, 2017
Yu Kinutani interview on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

The Ghost in the Shell all started as a manga by Shirow Masamune nearly two decades ago. It's since gone on to inspire the internationally acclaimed animated film, a spinoff TV series and manga, and now a major Hollywood motion picture, debuting on March 31.

Yu Kinutani, the artist behind the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex manga, gave us his insights to working in the inner world of GITS and his thoughts on the GITS global phenomenon—and also shared some exciting concept sketches from behind the scenes of Stand Alone Complex (see below)!

About Yu Kinutani
Born in 1962 in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, Yu Kinutani debuted as a manga artist in 1986 with Hohaku no Shijou Shijin (Wandering Lyric Poet). In 2010, he started his serialization of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex in Young Magazine (published by Kodansha). Currently he is serializing Elements Network in Young Gangan magazine from Square Enix.

 

Kodansha Comics: What was it like working on the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex manga?

Yu Kinutani: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex was one of the most monumental works in the history of TV animation in Japan. Each episode was a conclusive story, but there were several plot lines throughout the series, which made the overall story very dense. Also the concept of “Stand Alone Complex” advocated by the director, Kenji Kamiya, created a fresh and deep philosophical theme throughout the series.

I made the manga hoping to supplement the worldview of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime and to see it from another perspective.

KC: How do you feel about Ghost in the Shell becoming a Hollywood movie? 

YK: I’s wonderful the near-future science-fiction created by the great Japanese comics artist Shirow Masamune is getting adapted into a Hollywood movie and that it’ll be watched all over the world. I am quite happy about that.

KC: Any comments to the fans of Ghost in the Shell overseas?

YK: The world of Ghost in the Shell can be enjoyed in so many ways, whether through the original graphic novel by Shirow Masamune, the animation adaptations, the comics based on the animation series, videogames, and the upcoming Hollywood movie. If you can enjoy my manga as a part of that world, I would be very honored. Thanks.KC: Thank you!

Kinutani also shared us some rare concept sketches from when he was working on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex:

[reader chapter_id="13618"]

 

Right now, The Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex digital manga are on 50% off sale! Check out the deal below. (Ends 4/3) 


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