Yes, I'm stuck at the day job working a night shift on Christmas Day and had to do the same yesterday as well but what took the sting away a little was the mailman bringing me my copy of Ghost In The Shell 2.0, the completely re-animated version of Mamoru Oshii's classic. Now, I don't really want to get into the cell animation versus CG animation argument here - I'll say only that I'm proud to own both versions, will continue to own both versions and will continue to watch both versions - but I did want to make a few comments on this new edition.

First, it's gorgeous. If you're going to mess with a classic like this you'd better do a damn good job and Productin IG have. It looks and sounds fantastic with sterling attention paid to details, lighting, texture, etc. If this were a brand new release today I don't think people would be hailing the visuals as ground breaking or anything like that but it is certainly upper tier. Secondly, and much to my pleasure, the CG designs have clearly been based directly on the original drawings and not on the later Stand Alone Complex designs. It would have been cheaper and easier for them to use the SAC designs but sticking as close as possible to the original aesthetic was definitely the correct choice. Third? This film is every bit as powerful and relevant today as it was when it was first created. The story hasn't aged a bit.

If you want a taste of what this looks liek I've got two teasers in the Twitch Player below the break.