Talks to Watch

Ghost in the Shell montage sequence HD 1080p

1.6M views · May 21, 2011 · 3:31 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2021–2025

The wordless city montage from Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film Ghost in the Shell, in 1080p, showing the city and its people as Motoko travels by boat.

Why Hacker News points people here: Referenced as a model of a contemplative, mood-setting sequence that shows a city away from the main plot.

“the long sequence in Ghost in the Shell just showing the city as it is, away from the main story”HN comment, 2025

What Hacker News said 3

Cites itjasonwatkinspdxDec 2021

“this is the sequence I'm thinking of”

Mood-setting city sequence from the original film

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I hear that. The older GiTS really took its audience seriously. I mean a finale scene that's a conversation about Jameson and similar theories? Heady stuff for an anime. The original movie is one of my all time favorites because it hits such a poignant mood, and it's portrayal of a Hong Kong that's ravaged by climate change and technological advancement that isn't utopic was prophetic imo. Edit: re the last sentence this is the sequence I'm thinking of: this video

in “Neon Genesis Evangelion (2019)” · view on HN
Cites itthe_afNov 2023

“(I love this movie!)”

Contemplative sequence of Motoko riding a boat

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Mamoru Oshii's style seems to heavily include this kind of sequences. Your link is from Innocence, right? The original Ghost in the Shell also has a sequence of Motoko simply walking and riding a boat, doing nothing but staring: this video (I love this movie!)

in “Blender 16yo winner of UK younganimator of the year” · view on HN
Cites itCthulhu_Jun 2025

“the long sequence in Ghost in the Shell just showing the city as it is, away from the main story”

Long sequence depicting the city away from the main story

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There's high praise in some movies or animation where they depict the mundane; the long sequence in Ghost in the Shell just showing the city as it is, away from the main story ( this video ), most of Studio Ghibli's films, a lot of Breaking Bad and especially Better Call Saul, where there's a lot of scenes of people just going about their day, John Travolta getting a can of paint and a pizza in the opening of Saturday Night Fever ( link ), etc.