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Ghost in the Shell Watch Order
11 entries · · community-maintained
Also known as GHOST IN THE SHELL: Koukaku Kidoutai, GitS
The Ghost in the Shell watch order pulls the franchise's films and series into one sequence, starting with the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movie and its sequel, Innocence. After the two films, move into the Stand Alone Complex TV series and its follow-up, 2nd Gig, then the Solid State Society movie that caps that continuity. The ARISE arc comes next as four films — Ghost Pain, Ghost Whispers, Ghost Tears and Ghost Stands Alone — followed by the ARISE TV series and the New Movie that closes the order. Because Ghost in the Shell spans several separate continuities rather than one straight timeline, this is a recommended viewing order rather than a single chronology. If you're deciding where to start, the original 1995 film is the classic entry point, and this sequence lays out how every movie and series fits together afterward.
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This page lists the 1995 film, the Innocence sequel (2004), then Stand Alone Complex (26 episodes, 2002), 2nd GIG (26, 2004) and Solid State Society (2006).
Checked October 2026
Chronological order
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Ghost in the Shell Movies
#1–2 · 2 entries
- 1Ghost in the Shell Movie
1995 film (November 1995). Major Kusanagi hunts the Puppet Master. A separate continuity from the TV series and ARISE.
2 people are here, including hayer86 and midwaifuMovie - 2Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Movie
Innocence (March 2004), the sequel to the 1995 film: Section 9 investigates murders by a prototype android.
Movie
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
#3 · 1 entry
- 3Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Stand Alone Complex, 26 episodes (October 2002). A separate continuity: Section 9 takes on cyber crime under Aramaki and Kusanagi.
0/26
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
#4 · 1 entry
- 4Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
2nd GIG, 26 episodes (January 2004). Continues Stand Alone Complex; Section 9 is drawn into the Individual Eleven case.
0/26
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
#5 · 1 entry
- 5Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society
Solid State Society (September 2006), a feature-length follow-up to 2nd GIG, set in 2034.
Special
Ghost in the Shell: ARISE
#6–11 · 6 entries
- 6Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Pain
ARISE Border:1 Ghost Pain (June 2013). Origin story of Section 9, in a continuity set before the other versions.
Movie - 7Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Whispers
ARISE Border:2 Ghost Whispers (November 2013). Continues straight on from Border:1.
Movie - 8Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Tears
ARISE Border:3 Ghost Tears (June 2014). Continues straight on from Border:2.
Movie - 9Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Stands Alone
ARISE Border:4 Ghost Stands Alone (September 2014). Closes the four-film ARISE arc.
Movie - 10Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Arise TV series
Alternative Architecture, 10 episodes (April 2015). Eight re-edit the four films; the last two are new and lead into The New Movie.
0/10 - 11Ghost in the Shell: New Movie
The New Movie (June 2015). Sequel to ARISE: Alternative Architecture; the Fire-Starter virus case.
Movie
More on where to start
Checked October 2026
After that come the four ARISE films (2013-14), the 10-episode ARISE TV series (2015) and The New Movie (2015).
The film pair, Stand Alone Complex and ARISE are separate continuities, so each group can be watched on its own.
What to skip
- Watch first
- Start with Ghost in the Shell Movie (Ghost in the Shell Movies).
- What to skip
- Nothing in this order is marked optional.
The correct order to watch Ghost in the Shell, as one listShowHide
Watch Ghost in the Shell in this order. 11 entries, chronological.
- Ghost in the Shell Movies: Ghost in the Shell Movie (movie)
- Ghost in the Shell Movies: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Movie (movie)
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (special)
- Ghost in the Shell: ARISE: Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Pain (movie)
- Ghost in the Shell: ARISE: Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Whispers (movie)
- Ghost in the Shell: ARISE: Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Tears (movie)
- Ghost in the Shell: ARISE: Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Stands Alone (movie)
- Ghost in the Shell: ARISE: Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Arise TV series
- Ghost in the Shell: ARISE: Ghost in the Shell: New Movie (movie)
How this order works
AnimeChrono watch orders put every season, movie, OVA, ONA and special for a franchise in chronological story order, the order the events happen. When an OVA or movie takes place partway through a season, the episode range is split so it sits where it belongs. Entries you can skip are marked optional, and each order says where to start. Release order, sorted by air date, is a secondary view once every entry has a date. The orders began as a hand-curated set, and episode counts and air dates come from AniList. Fans maintain the orders from there. Any signed-in user can edit one. Edits from trusted contributors go live right away and the rest are reviewed first. Every change is versioned and can be reverted, and each order shows when it was last updated and last checked.
Something wrong or missing?
This order is maintained by the community. Report a problem, or sign in to fix it yourself.
Ghost in the Shell watch order FAQ
What order should I watch Ghost in the Shell in?
This page lists the 1995 film, the Innocence sequel (2004), then Stand Alone Complex (26 episodes, 2002), 2nd GIG (26, 2004) and Solid State Society (2006). After that come the four ARISE films (2013-14), the 10-episode ARISE TV series (2015) and The New Movie (2015). The film pair, Stand Alone Complex and ARISE are separate continuities, so each group can be watched on its own.
Where should I start Ghost in the Shell?
Start with the 1995 film, or with Stand Alone Complex (2002) if you prefer a series. They are separate continuities, so either works. This page starts with the 1995 film.
Do I need Alternative Architecture after the ARISE films?
Mostly a re-edit: AniList says the first eight of its 10 episodes re-edit the four ARISE films and the last two are new. It stays essential for those two, which lead into The New Movie.
What is the chronological order of Ghost in the Shell?
Start with Ghost in the Shell Movie (Ghost in the Shell Movies), then continue with Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Movie (Ghost in the Shell Movies), Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG, Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), and Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Pain (Ghost in the Shell: ARISE), followed by 5 more entries. The full Ghost in the Shell watch order on this page has 11 entries across 4 series, listed in chronological viewing order.
What is the release order of Ghost in the Shell?
In the order they aired, start with Ghost in the Shell Movie (Ghost in the Shell Movies), then Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Movie (Ghost in the Shell Movies), Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), and Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Pain (Ghost in the Shell: ARISE), followed by 5 more entries. Release order follows air dates and is not the recommended chronological order.
How many episodes is Ghost in the Shell?
Ghost in the Shell has 62 TV episodes in this order, plus 7 movies and 1 special.
Where do the Ghost in the Shell movies fit in the watch order?
Ghost in the Shell Movie comes first, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Movie comes right after Ghost in the Shell Movie (Ghost in the Shell Movies), Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Pain comes right after Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Whispers comes right after Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Pain (Ghost in the Shell: ARISE), and Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Tears comes right after Ghost in the Shell ARISE: Ghost Whispers (Ghost in the Shell: ARISE), and 2 more are placed in the list above.
Are the Ghost in the Shell OVAs and specials required?
Every entry in this order is currently marked essential by the community, so the OVAs and specials are placed where they matter to the story. If you think one is skippable, sign in and add a note to it.
Is Ghost in the Shell finished?
Yes. Ghost in the Shell has finished airing, and this order covers everything released so far in chronological viewing order.
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