<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Anime and Manga portal </Td> </Tr> <P> Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, known in Japan as Mobile Armored Riot Police: Stand Alone Complex (攻 殻 機動 隊 Stand Alone Complex (スタンド ・ アローン ・ コンプレックス),, Kōkaku Kidōtai Sutando Arōn Conpurekkusu), is a Japanese anime television series produced by Production I.G and based on Masamune Shirow's manga Ghost in the Shell . It was written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, with original character design by Hajime Shimomura and a soundtrack by Yoko Kanno . The first season aired from October 2002 to October 2003 and was positively received by critics . A second season titled Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG, known in Japan as Mobile Armored Riot Police: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (攻 殻 機動 隊 S.A.C. 2nd GIG (エス ・ エー ・ シー セカンド ギグ),, Kōkaku Kidōtai Esu Ē Shī Sekando Gigu), aired from January 2004 to January 2005 . </P> <P> The series centers on the members of an elite law enforcement unit known as Public Security Section 9 as they investigate cybercrime and terrorism cases; these cases often are connected to their pursuit of an elite "Super Class A" hacker and corporate terrorist known as "The Laughing Man". A series of associated short comic animations, titled Tachikomatic Days, aired after each episode . These shorts star the Tachikoma "think - tanks" from the main series, and they typically relate directly to the story of the preceding Stand Alone Complex episode . </P> <P> The first season was adapted into a feature - length OVA titled The Laughing Man, which was released in 2005 . The series had also received video game spin - offs for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and mobile phones . 2nd GIG was also later adapted into a feature - length OVA entitled Individual Eleven, which was released in 2006 . Solid State Society, a TV - film sequel to the Stand Alone Complex series, was also released in that year . </P>

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