Unveiling the Enigmatic Love Life of The Major in Ghost in the Shell: Arise

Highlights

Ghost in the Shell: Arise received average reception, with some considering it a failure, but the exploration of the Major's romantic affairs was a pleasant surprise.

Love stories have never been a focal point in the Ghost in the Shell franchise. Nonetheless, the Major's sexuality and her connection to her self-image have consistently held significant roles in shaping her character.

In the installment of Arise, a love story blossoms between the Major and Akira, showcasing a softer side of her personality. However, this tale ultimately concludes with betrayal and disappointment, emphasizing the franchise's continual battle with political conspiracies and its inclination to deviate from traditional norms.

Ghost in the Shell: Arise achieved moderate success, with mixed reviews that leaned neither strongly negative nor overwhelmingly positive. This placed it in the realm of average, which some may interpret as a failure. The debate over whether this assessment is fair aside, one of the most delightful surprises within the series was the decision to prominently feature the Major's romantic relationships.

Tow Ubukata, the writer behind Arise, crafted a series of short films that initially premiered in theaters in Japan before being made available for physical release. Serving as a pseudo-prequel to the larger franchise, Arise was followed by a TV version in 2015 and ultimately concluded with the release of Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, bringing closure to this particular iteration of the franchise as a whole.

A Brief History of Romance in Ghost in the Shell

Throughout the various animated adaptations of Shirow Masamune's Ghost in the Shell, emphasis on love stories with the main characters has always been minimal. While there may be allusions to past loves or hints at romantic and sexual relationships outside of work, the focus on love is not a priority, except for certain standalone episodes in specific versions.

However, Major Motoko Kusanagi's sexuality remains a significant aspect of her character and aligns perfectly with the franchise's exploration of identity. In a world where a cyborg like her can assume any physical appearance, she maintains a strong affinity for a particular look - a self-image that exudes sexuality openly and proudly. It is not surprising that the LGBTQ+ fans of Ghost in the Shell regard her as a transgender icon, as her backstory, which is intentionally left open-ended, supports this interpretation of her character.

In both the manga and Stand Alone Complex, she is portrayed as bisexual. However, these aspects of her character are not heavily emphasized in the main narrative, despite their influence on her personality and inner life. Major and Batou share a complex relationship, but their connection has always been that of close friends, with Batou harboring unrequited love for the Major, at most.

Before Arise, Ghost in the Shell touched on a love story in Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig, involving Motoko and Kuze. As children, they both survived the same plane crash, leading a young Motoko to convince Kuze to undergo cybernetic enhancements like her, and to truly embrace life once again. Though they eventually cross paths, only the Major comes to realize their shared past, as Kuze remains unaware.

The Story of Motoko and Akira

The story was a blend of beauty and tragedy, transcending the confines of a mere love story. It went beyond that, capturing the hearts of fans with its subtle nuances, unwavering dedication, and authentic character portrayal. Hence, when Arise unexpectedly introduced the Major's boyfriend in the third film, critics of the series may have dismissed it as a shallow subplot. However, it soon became clear that it held considerably more promise than initially presumed.

In Ghost in the Shell Arise: Border 3 - Ghost Tears, we delve deeper into Section 9's origins as we witness Togusa join the Major's team. However, the central focus lies on the Major's connection with Akira Hose, a skilled prosthetic engineer who is the latest contender for her affection. A recurring joke among the Section 9 members revolves around the unprecedented duration of her current relationship, given the swift demise of her past romances.

Arise presents the Major with a more prickly demeanor compared to her cool-headed and sassy attitude seen in previous iterations. Elizabeth Maxwell's performance effectively showcases a stronger sense of anger and no-nonsense, fitting well within the context. Serving as a pseudo-prequel, Arise directly explores the idea of the Major's body as the property of the state.

This exploration of the Major's conflict between body and self, a recurring theme in the franchise, drives the story as a mission of self-empowerment. The establishment of Section 9 becomes a means for her and her team to freely act without fear of exploitation. Additionally, her relationship with Akira reveals a softer side of Motoko that had rarely been seen before.

One is a prosthetic engineer, the other is a client, and they're both cyborgs, so there's a built-in physical relationship and understanding of one another. Motoko's inner conflict surrounding her identity makes her a guarded person, but Akira is respectful of this, and as Border 3 progresses, she opens herself up more and more to him. He helps show her that she is human and can live happily as such, no matter the nature of her body.

Arise's Unhappy Ending

Motoko's guardedness due to her identity crisis is gradually broken down by Akira, her prosthetic engineer, as they share a common understanding as cyborgs. The progress made in Border 3 allows Motoko to realize that regardless of her physical state, she is still human and can embrace a fulfilling life.

Regrettably, it is revealed that Akira is a mere pawn in the primary conspiracy of the film, even manipulating Motoko's cybernetic limbs according to the wishes of the story's adversaries. Throughout the narrative, her leg frequently endures agonizing spasms, suspected to be the consequence of an infiltration of her consciousness by a virus during an earlier action sequence, compounded by the actions of Akira.

Akira never intended to cause her harm, but unfortunately, it was an unintended consequence of his prosthetics being connected to Motoko while she was engaged in hacking another criminal involved in the case. Deep down, Akira genuinely desires to be with her, which explains his persistent efforts to persuade her to leave with him in order to protect her from further harm. Nonetheless, he knowingly betrayed her trust and violated her body. Motoko had spent a considerable amount of time in Arise safeguarding herself, and when she finally allowed someone into her life, it was someone who ultimately inflicted pain on her from within.

It's honestly a very nuanced story and a compelling spin on the messages of Ghost in the Shell, but it's a victim of the larger narrative surrounding it. Ghost Tears' biggest weaknesses are the same things that hold back much Arise as a whole. The writing is eager to craft political conspiracies, yet it struggles to get the audience invested. There are a lot of moving parts, but it's hard to follow much less care.

On the contrary, the story between Motoko and Akira is surprisingly the most compelling part. The performances, the music, and the animation convey their intimacy in a heartwarming way. It was refreshing to see a happier, more vulnerable side of the Major, just as it was disappointing to see it otherwise get withered away and subsequently ignored in the story thereafter.

Rewritten version:

The story is incredibly nuanced and offers a fresh perspective on the themes of Ghost in the Shell. However, it is overshadowed by the larger narrative surrounding it. Ghost Tears suffers from the same issues that hold back the entirety of Arise. Although the writing aims to create political conspiracies, it fails to truly engage the audience. With so many complex elements, it becomes difficult to follow, let alone care about.

In contrast, the relationship between Motoko and Akira stands out as the most captivating aspect. Through exceptional performances, music, and animation, their intimacy is beautifully portrayed. It is a delight to witness a happier and more vulnerable side of the Major, but unfortunately, it feels neglected and forgotten as the story progresses.

Ghost in the Shell Arise is intriguing to revisit due to its innovative approach as a pseudo-prequel that aimed to bring something fresh to the franchise while staying true to its essence. The relationship between Motoko and Akira demonstrated that the franchise could benefit from further deviation from traditional norms, as long as it remains faithful to its fundamental themes.

You can stream Ghost in the Shell: Arise on Crunchyroll and Funimation.