Ghost in the Shell is at its best. The release of Arise, first as OVA and now as a series, and the film Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie were a great success. And speaking of the latter, an app for Ghost in the Shell in virtual reality for smartphones will be released soon.
In mid-September, the Japanese animation studio Production I.G announced a 3D VR short film titled Ghost in the Shell - The Movie: Virtual Reality Diver (Kōkaku Kidōtai - Shin Gekijōban: Virtual Reality Dive in its original name). During the Tokyo Game Show 2015, a three-minute trailer of this short was presented on a six-meter hemispherical screen that only a few privileged individuals had the pleasure of seeing in all its splendor. But don't worry, now you too will be able to enjoy the Ghost in the Shell in virtual reality video below... (Note: Slightly NSFW)
As you may have noticed, the Ghost in the Shell in virtual reality trailer is fully interactive. In the top-left corner of the screen there is a small control panel where you can click the directional arrows to move through the interior of the video along its path (you can also use the mouse cursor for convenience). The trailer begins with a sequence of Commander Motoko Kusanagi's cyborg body being slowly reconstructed, then moves into action in a combat between the Commander and a military-looking mecha. There are also hacking sequences and scenes that seem to have some kind of metaphysical significance (very normal in Ghost in the Shell).
Virtual Reality Diver is part of Production I.G's "SIGN" project, in an effort to create a "physical sensation of being in another world" and "combine futuristic technology with art". It should be clarified that this VR experience is not a game but an "on-rails journey" in a video that is based on the recent film Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie. It is estimated that the duration will be approximately ten minutes, revealing some key scenes from the film. Ghost in the Shell - The Movie: Virtual Reality Diver is being designed as an app for VR smartphones, such as Samsung Gear and Google Cardboard, and will be available early in 2016.
