Ghost in the Shell/攻壳机动队/攻殻機動隊

After watching this cyber punk animation, I can't believe that it was produced in 1995, as it went so far ahead of the times. Just think about The Matrix which copied some of its ideas and how The Matrix would still be shinning as a sci-fi movie milestone currently.

The success of this animation lies in its ideas: in the future, when computers/machines can think as a human being, what would happen in human being's society and what is the difference between the virtual reality and real reality, and what is the difference between cyber people and human beings? When the animation have shown so lively the possibilities in front of your eyes, you feel nothing but thrilling as your mind would be filled up with nothing but shock.

The point of the animation actually is not the conflicts between villains and Motoko Kusanagi the policewoman, but her inner exploration. She had been confused by her identity for so long, until she met with her counterpart. Not until that time did the audience know the new species' of creatures had appeared and it would be a higher one than human beings.

The destroy of the evolution tree is an excellent metaphor. And years later, there is a similar movie: Ex Machina.

Performance impression:
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writers: Shirow Masamune, Kazunori Itô