In one of the special features on the new 4K/Blu-ray release of the seminal anime film Ghost in the Shell, one of the interviewees comments that this isn’t a movie you watch – it’s a movie you study. And even though that might be off-putting to some, it’s entirely accurate.

Whether you view the film as a classic of the genre, a monumental leap forward in animated storytelling, one of the first films to blend traditional and CG animation, or a philosophical treatise on the meaning of life… Ghost in the Shell is required viewing.

Mamoru Oshii’s film originally came out in 1995 (making this new release the 25th anniversary special edition) and was based on Masamune Shirow’s manga of the same name (which itself was originally published 1989-1990).

Before the film got a sequel, several tangentially related TV series, multiple OVA (i.e., direct-to-video) films – and before Scarlett Johannson helped whitewash the story for Hollywood – the original stood tall.

It’s all too easy (and common) to refer to a popular piece of media as “classic” or “seminal,” but with Ghost in the Shell, it might be an understatement.

It directly inspired the Wachowskis to play around with the nature of reality and humanity (and implanted memories) with The Matrix.

The opening credits to HBO’s Westworld (along with several main themes) are lifted straight from a scene in Ghost in the Shell.

The Terminator spinoff show The Sarah Connor Chronicles was clearly influenced by Ghost in the Shell and prominently “paid homage” to the ripped-apart Puppet Master in its marketing.

And on, and on, and on.

I first saw the film more than 20 years ago, and it had probably been that long since I’d last seen it. But the second I popped the disc in the player, the film began, and Kenji Kawai’s distinctive music kicked in, it was like I had just seen it yesterday.

It’s naive (but common) to think of anime as a genre filled with mindless explosions, yelling, nonsensical stories, gratuitous violence and nudity… or saccharine sweetness. And I won’t lie, for many films and series, those are apt descriptions. But there’s plenty of anime that breaks that stereotypical mold and heads into uncharted waters.

Ghost in the Shell was one of the earliest – and still the best – examples of how the genre can be used to tell important, philosophical stories. Though the plot may be hard to follow at times (especially if it’s your first time seeing it), the story centers on an existential search for the meaning of life.

Literally.

The film sets out with “What is life?” and “What is me?” as guiding questions. In a future where cyborgs are commonplace and science can enhance our abilities (in all respects), where memories can be implanted and entire lives created or erased, where does humanity end and technology begin… and vice versa? What is the boundary between the ghost and the shell?

For the new release from Lionsgate, the 4K version of the film was remastered in Dolby Vision (in 2160p UHD) and features Dolby Atmos sound. All you need to do is watch the trailer above to see how vibrant and fresh it looks. The Blu-ray retains some of the (admittedly charming) graininess of the original.

Also included are:

• a digital download
• a feature-length commentary with Mary Claypool, Eric Calderon, Richard Epcar, and Charles Solomon
• Accessing Section 9: 25 Years into the Future: a new 18-minute featurette looking back at the film and charting its influence
• Landscapes & Dreamscapes: The Art and Architecture of Ghost in the Shell: a new 11-minute featurette on the film’s background design
• Production Report: a 25-minute vintage making-of documentary (Blu-ray only and not remastered at all, so expect VHS/DVD quality)
• Digital Works: a 30-minute vintage documentary about the groundbreaking animation (in Japanese, Blu-ray only, and not remastered)
• trailers (Blu-ray only)