ghost-in-the-shell-thermoptic

In an attempt to woo both fans and newbies alike, Paramount Pictures released another quick teaser of the upcoming live action, and whitewashed, remake of Ghost in the Shell.

RELATED: Here is Your New Look at the Live Action ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Movie

This time we get a look at her thermo-optical camouflage suit, otherwise known as active camouflage or thermoptic or active stealth.  The active stealth system projects ambient conditions of the opposing side, rendering the object effectively transparent or near-invisible to the naked eye.  Think Marvel SHIELD helicarrier stealth technology.  Although, this technology takes it one step further, it also renders the masked object invisible across the thermal spectrum as well.  Your body heat won’t give you away if anyone has thermal imaging.

In the original anime and manga, active camouflage was unable to compensate for sudden changes in light, environment, or physical impacts.  It’s also visible upon close inspection, in the rain, or shallow water.  However, in subsequent iterations of the property, the technology advanced and rendered the user near invisible in full light and could compensate for rapidly changing environment.  Although I would think water of any sort would give you away, so that hasn’t changed.

Similar to the plugs in the back of her neck, and the hairstyle, this is quintessential Major Motoko Kusanagi.  She utilizes the suit to infiltrate, for combat, and for escape.  It’s her swiss army knife of clothing.  Although she isn’t the only one who wields this technology, all members of Section 9, of which she is a member, as well as their Tachikoma tanks, utilize it when needed.  In the near future world of Ghost in the Shell, the technology is heavily regulated and considered illegal in most instances.  The fact that Section 9 has carte blanche use of it tells you just how highly regarded, and out of normal legal bounds, the special ops unit is.

Take a look at part of the opening scene of the original 1995 Ghost in the Shell anime.  Please be aware there is a man’s head exploding and the therm-optic suit is flesh colored, fitting like a true second skin.  It looks like she is naked but she really isn’t.  Basically, this is NSFW.

https://youtu.be/GgmNkoOOBCk

Now, the quick snippet we got today to tease the upcoming movie features this suit.  It’s flesh colored, near invisible on the light and thermal spectrums.  However, they show her in water which seems silly.  But, just like with subsequent versions of the anime that “perfected” the technology, the live-action movie may make it’s own magic and upgrade the suit to be invisible in water.  Just not how sure that works from a physics standpoint.  Then again, movies don’t tend to pay attention to pesky things like physics.

For Paramount to show us this quick snippet, with clearly unfinished graphics, tells me two thing.  They want to hook fans showing them the Major they know and love but, the studio is also looking to catch the attention of those that have no idea what Ghost in the Shell actually is. So here we get a woman, in a flesh colored suit, beating up a man while camouflaged.

Paramount is doing a good job of peaking curiosity but, unfortunately, it’s still a whitewashed property.  I’m a huge fan of Scarlett Johansson, but this is one movie I will have to miss.

RELATED: Why I Won’t See Ghost in the Shell in Theaters

Ghost in the Shell is slated for release on March 31, 2017.

 

 

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