7.3/10416 votes#1 - SA: Public Security Section 9; SECTION-9
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/2002
Public Security Section 9 is an elite special ops unit that works directly under the control of the Prime Minister. They've been called in to rescue a high-ranking government official from a hostage situation. But something doesn't seem right to Major Motoko Kusanagi.
Director: Toshiyuki Kono
Writer: Kenji Kamiyama
7.6/10376 votes#2 - SA: Proof of Recklessness; TESTATION
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/2002
Kenbishi Heavy Industries has built a state-of-the-art multiped tank. There's only one problem–it's gone haywire and started moving on its own. Section 9 is called in to stop it, as the Self Defense Force will not get involved. Now, it's up to Motoko, Batou, and the rest of Section 9 to stop the tank and figure out what made it go berserk in the first place.
Director: Toshiyuki Kono
Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
7.1/10335 votes#3 - SA: A Modest Rebellion; ANDROID AND I
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/2002
A certain type of android, the GA07_JL, nicknamed Jeri by its users, has been affected by a virus. Recently, all Jeri model androids have been committing "suicide". Section 9 is called in as it may be related to a virus detected in an android at the National Assembly Building.
Director: Masayuki Yoshihara
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
7.7/10316 votes#4 - C: The Visual Device will Laugh; INTERCEPTER
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/1/2002
While working late, Togusa gets a call from one of his colleagues from his days on the police force. It seems that he's uncovered something strange happening with the investigators in the Laughing Man Unit, a special task force formed to catch the infamous cyber criminal known only as the Laughing Man. But before he can meet with Togusa, he's killed in a car accident.
Director: Hideyo Yamamoto
Writer: Shoutarou Suga
7.5/10287 votes#5 - C: The Inviting Bird will Chant; DECOY
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 12/1/2002
The Laughing Man, having returned after a six-year absence, threatens to assassinate the Superintendent-General of the police. Aramaki, however, thinks it's a cover-up. He briefs Section 9 on the prime suspect, Nanao=A, an incredibly gifted programmer who developed the micro-machines that are currently the foundation of Serano Industries.
Director: Ryutaro Nakamura
Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
7.8/10283 votes#6 - C: The Copycat will Dance; MEME
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/1/2002
As Togusa and Bato track down Nanao, Motoko and Paz are attempting to protect the Superintendent-General at a press conference about the police misuse of interceptors. When the virus does hit, Motoko and Paz have to act fast to save the intended victim. Meanwhile, the road to Nanao=A hits a dead end.
Director: Masaki Tachibana
Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
7.5/10266 votes#7 - SA: Idolatry; IDOLATOR
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 1/1/2003
Section 9 is on the trail of Marcelo Jarti, a South American revolutionary hero who has arrived in Japan. However, Jarti is a hard man to catch because he employs look-alikes to deceive people. Nevertheless, Section 9 is convinced that the one they're tracking is the real thing, and after a rather out-of-control gunbattle in an upscale hotel, they track him to an old warehouse.
Director: Atsushi Wakabayashi
Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
7.3/10262 votes#8 - SA: The Fortunate Ones; MISSING HEARTS
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1/1/2003
Motoko's friend Courtin asks her to come to the hospital where she works. It seems a little girl just received a heart transplant, but the donor's family doesn't remember ever agreeing to donate the heart. When Motoko mentions this story to Aramaki, he tells them to determine if this is tied to a ring of black-market organ smugglers supposedly run by the mafia.
Director: Kazunobu Fuseki
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
7.2/10265 votes#9 - C: The Man Who Lurks in the Darkness of the Net; CHAT! CHAT! CHAT!
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 2/1/2003
Motoko enters into an online chat room devoted to the Laughing Man to see if she can find any new information on him. What she discovers is a spirited debate among the self-proclaimed "fans" of the Laughing Man, but very little hard evidence.
Director: Masaki Tachibana
Writer: Dai Sato
8.0/10278 votes#10 - SA: A Perfect Day for a Jungle Cruise; JUNGLE CRUISE
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 2/1/2003
Marco Amoretti, a former Navy Petty Officer from the American Empire, has come to Japan and is committing heinous acts of brutality against women. Section 9 is assisted in this matter by the American Empire's CIA. While this doesn't sit well with Public Security's members, Batou finds the whole case particularly hard on his psyche as the nightmares from his past rear their ugly head.
Director: Jun Matsumoto
Writer: Dai Sato
7.8/10268 votes#11 - C: Inside the Forest of the Sub-Imagoes; PORTRAITZ
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/1/2003
Togusa goes undercover at a hospital for patients with Closed Cyberbrain Syndrome, a hospital completely cut off from communication with the outside world.
Director: Toshiyuki Kono
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
7.9/10278 votes#12 - SA: Tachikoma Runaway, The Movie Director's Dream; ESCAPE FROM
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 3/1/2003
One of the Tachikomas decides to take a little stroll through the city. It meets a little girl, Miki, who is searching for her lost dog and it agrees to help her. On their journey, the Tachikoma finds a strange box.
Director: Masayuki Yoshihara
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
7.5/10244 votes#13 - SA: Unequal Terrorist; NOT EQUAL
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 4/1/2003
In a briefing, Aramaki shows a photo of a girl who looks like Eka Tokura, the daughter of Tokura Electronics, who was kidnapped 16 years ago. But there's one problem–the photo was taken two days ago!
Director: Kazunobu Fuseki
Writer: Shoutarou Suga
7.2/10233 votes#14 - SA: Automated Capitalism; ¥€$
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 4/1/2003
The Chinese government contacts Section 9 to let them know that an assassin may have entered Japan to kill a famous reclusive millionaire. Despite their considerable efforts, however, Section 9 is unable to contact him to warn him, so they go directly to his residence.
Director: Hideyo Yamamoto
Writer: Kenji Kamiyama
7.6/10259 votes#15 - SA: Time of the Machines; MACHINES DÉSIRANTES
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 5/1/2003
The Major has become worried about the Tachikomas. It appears that their AIs have developed much more quickly and in ways that were not anticipated; they have begun speaking about their "individuality".
Director: Kenichi Takeshita
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
7.4/10245 votes#16 - SA: Chinks in the Armour of the Heart; Ag2O
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 5/1/2003
Batou goes undercover on a military base to shadow one of his former heroes, a man named Zaitsev who was an Olympic silver medalist. Now, however, he's under suspicion of espionage. Batou befriends him easily, and the two really seem to get along--which is unusual for Batou. But when Batou learns the truth behind his hero, he must make a very difficult decision.
Director: Masaki Tachibana
Writer: Nobutoshi Terado
7.4/10230 votes#17 - SA: The True Reason for the Unfinished Love Affair; ANGELS' SHARE
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 6/1/2003
While at an international police conference in London, Aramaki drops by to visit an old flame who's now in the wine brokering business. She asks him to help her put a stop to the corruption in her company, but he tells her that it's out of his jurisdiction. Just then, however, two thieves break into the building and take them hostage.
Director: Yasuhiro Geshi
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
7.4/10231 votes#18 - SA: Assassination Duet; LOST HERITAGE
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 6/1/2003
Aramaki attends the funeral of an old war buddy, and is greeted by his departed friend's daughter. Later, Section 9 is assigned the task of protecting the Chinese Foreign Minister from being assassinated.
Director: Masayuki Yoshihara
Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
7.1/10228 votes#19 - SA: Embraced by a Disguised Net; CAPTIVATED
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 7/1/2003
Section 9's next case is a rash of mass-kidnappings. Rumor has it that a crime syndicate is harvesting organs and selling them on the black market. As they research the case, they realize that time is running out.
Director: Minoru Ohara
Writer: Shoutarou Suga
8.0/10245 votes#20 - C: Vanished Medication; RE-VIEW
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 7/1/2003
Togusa is on the trail of the Laughing Man again, and this time, his investigations lead him towards both a leading micromachine corporation and an NGO called the Sunflower Society.
Director: Toshiyuki Kono
Writer: Dai Sato
8.4/10268 votes#21 - C: Left-Behind Trace; ERASER
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 8/1/2003
After being shot, Togusa's in the hospital and about to go into surgery, but he is desperate to pass on what he's learned to the rest of Section 9. As Togusa fights for his life, the rest of Section 9 takes over the case, but others within the government have learned of the investigation and are not happy.
Director: Kenichi Takeshita
Writer: Dai Sato
7.9/10234 votes#22 - C: Corporate Graft; SCANDAL
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 8/1/2003
Motoko is about to be fitted for her new prosthetic body. But when the doctor arrives and begins the procedure, it's clear that she has no intent of letting Motoko out alive. Meanwhile, Aramaki receives a disturbing message that his brother has been kidnapped.
Director: Masaki Tachibana
Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
8.0/10234 votes#23 - C: The Other Side of Good and Evil; EQUINOX
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 9/1/2003
The Laughing Man returns! And, just as he did six years ago, he kidnaps the president of Serano Genomics without being detected. Section 9 arrives at Serano's house too late, and sets out to find him.
Director: Jun Matsumoto
Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
8.3/10235 votes#24 - C: Sunset in the Lonely City; ANNIHILATION
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 9/1/2003
The government orders Section 9 disbanded. Aramaki is taken away, and Togusa is arrested. Motoko assembles the remaining team members at HQ for one final mission. They prepare for a full-scale assault while Elite troopers and Armed Suits descend on Section 9 HQ.
Director: Yasuhiro Geshi
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
8.7/10272 votes#25 - C: Smoke of Gunpowder, Hail of Bullets; BARRAGE
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 10/1/2003
Despite their best efforts, the remaining members of Section 9 are rounded up one by one by the government forces; only Batou and Motoko are left.
Director: Kazunobu Fuseki
Writer: Taiki Sakurai
The Best Episodes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1
Every episode of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1!
In the future when technological enhancements and robotics are a way of life, Major Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 take care of the jobs that...
Genres:Action & AdventureAnimationCrimeSci-Fi & Fantasy
Network:Perfect Choice
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"SA: Public Security Section 9; SECTION-9" is the best rated episode of "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 416 votes. Directed by Toshiyuki Kono and written by Kenji Kamiyama, it aired on 10/1/2002. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "SA: Proof of Recklessness; TESTATION".