The film is set in a cyberpunk future where humans can enhance their bodies with cybernetic enhancements. Major Mira Killian (later revealed to be Motoko Kusanagi) is a human brain transplanted into a fully synthetic body, designed to be a weapon for the government’s anti-terrorism unit, Section 9.
Throughout the movie, Major experiences glitches and fragmented memories, raising questions about her past. As she investigates a series of cyber-terrorist attacks, she discovers a mysterious figure known as Kuze (played by Michael Pitt), who has a connection to her past.
In the climax, Major confronts Kuze and learns the truth about her origin. Kuze reveals that both of them were test subjects in an experiment conducted by the Hanka Robotics corporation, aiming to create a synthetic body for the human mind. They were the only survivors of the failed experiments.
Major discovers that her memories were manipulated, and she was led to believe that she willingly volunteered for the experiment. In reality, she was a runaway refugee who was kidnapped and experimented upon against her will. Kuze urges Major to join him in exposing the truth and taking down Hanka Robotics.
Major, torn between her loyalty to Section 9 and the desire for the truth, decides to confront the CEO of Hanka Robotics, Cutter (played by Peter Ferdinando). In the final confrontation, Major learns that her memories were manipulated to control her, and she rebels against the company’s control.
The film ends with Major on the run, determined to seek the truth about her past and her own identity. The closing scenes suggest that she is now a rogue entity, free from the influence of Hanka Robotics and ready to explore her own destiny.
“Ghost in the Shell” faced controversy and criticism for its casting choices and deviations from the source material. While visually stunning, the film received mixed reviews. The ending, however, left the door open for potential sequels or spin-offs exploring Major’s journey of self-discovery.