Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex watch order
Updated October 2026 · 22 entries · release order
Short answer
Watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex in release order: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex → Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG → Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence → Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society → Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 → Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 2.
6
main story entries
78
episodes
~35 h
to watch the main story
Or watch THE GHOST IN THE SHELL (2026) instead: it retells the story in another version, so pick one.
16 optional entries (recaps, side stories, specials) are marked below.
Release order
- 1
Ghost in the ShellAlternate version of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexMovie · Fall 1995 · ~85 minutes · score 4.0/5
Watch onCriterion Channel Netflix YouTube
- 2
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexMain storyTV · Fall 2002 · 26 ep · ~11 hours · score 4.1/5
Watch onAdult Swim Hoopla Netflix
- 3
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Tachikomatic DaysSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexSpecial · Fall 2002 · 26 ep · ~25 minutes · score 3.3/5
- 4
TV · Winter 2004 · 26 ep · ~11 hours · score 4.2/5
Watch onAdult Swim Hoopla Netflix
- 5
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - IntervalSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexSpecial · Winter 2004 · 3 ep · ~10 minutes · score 2.9/5
- 6
Ghost in the Shell 2: InnocenceMain storyMovie · Winter 2004 · ~1.5 hours · score 3.8/5
- 7
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Tachikomatic DaysSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIGSpecial · Summer 2004 · 26 ep · ~25 minutes · score 3.3/5
- 8
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man - Tachikomatic DaysSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing ManSpecial · Summer 2005 · 1 ep · ~2 minutes · score 3.0/5
- 9
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing ManRecap · skippableOVA · Summer 2005 · 1 ep · ~2.5 hours · score 3.8/5
- 10
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven - Tachikomatic DaysSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - Individual ElevenSpecial · Winter 2006 · 1 ep · ~5 minutes · score 2.9/5
- 11
Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - Individual ElevenRecap · skippableOVA · Winter 2006 · 1 ep · ~2.5 hours · score 3.8/5
- 12
Special · Summer 2006 · 1 ep · ~2 hours · score 3.9/5
- 13
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Uchikomatic DaysSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State SocietySpecial · Summer 2007 · 1 ep · ~5 minutes · score 3.0/5
- 14
Ghost in the Shell 2.0Alternate version of Ghost in the ShellMovie · Summer 2008 · ~85 minutes · score 3.8/5
- 15
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society 3D: Tachikomatic DaysSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State SocietySpecial · Summer 2011 · 3 ep · ~10 minutes · score 2.8/5
- 16
Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Another MissionSide story · optional, after Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border:1 Ghost PainSpecial · Spring 2013 · 1 ep · ~5 minutes · score 3.0/5
- 17
Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border:1 Ghost PainAlternate version of Ghost in the ShellMovie · Spring 2013 · ~60 minutes · score 3.5/5
- 18
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045Main storyONA · Spring 2020 · 12 ep · ~5 hours · score 3.1/5
- 19
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable WarAlternate version of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045Movie · Fall 2021 · ~2 hours · score 3.0/5
- 20
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 2Main storyONA · Spring 2022 · 12 ep · ~5 hours · score 3.3/5
- 21
Koukaku Kidoutai: SAC_2045 - Saigo no NingenAlternate version of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 2Movie · Fall 2023 · ~2 hours · score 2.5/5
- 22
THE GHOST IN THE SHELLAlternate version of Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border:1 Ghost PainTV · Summer 2026 · 10 ep · ~4 hours · score 3.9/5
Watch onPrime Video YouTube
How long is Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex?
| Part | Entries | Episodes | Watch time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main story | 6 | 78 | about 35 hours |
| Everything released | 22 | 157 | about 54 hours |
Watch time uses each entry's episode length, or a typical length where we don't have one.
Where to watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
- Netflix 3 of 22 entries
- Adult Swim 2 of 22 entries
- Hoopla 2 of 22 entries
- YouTube 2 of 22 entries
- Criterion Channel 1 of 22 entries
- Prime Video 1 of 22 entries
Services and regions change; each entry above links its own official pages. Where to watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex has the full list, free options included.
Is Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex finished?
As far as anything announced goes, yes: the last entry, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 2, came out in 2022. Nothing new is announced yet.
Do I need to watch the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex movies and OVAs?
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence continues the main story, so watch it in its place. Optional: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Tachikomatic Days, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Interval, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Tachikomatic Days, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man - Tachikomatic Days, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven - Tachikomatic Days, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Uchikomatic Days and 2 more. Safe to skip (recaps): Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven. Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2.0, Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border:1 Ghost Pain, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War, Koukaku Kidoutai: SAC_2045 - Saigo no Ningen, THE GHOST IN THE SHELL retell the story in another version; pick one.
How many episodes does Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex have?
The main story is 78 episodes over 6 entries, about 35 hours of viewing. With every optional entry it is 157 episodes (about 54 hours).
Where can I watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex?
Officially on Netflix, Adult Swim, Hoopla, YouTube, Criterion Channel and more. Availability depends on your region; each entry below lists its own services.
Related manga
- After the Long Goodbye Light Novel · 2004
Order and labels come from the relations in the AnimeHunt catalog (sequel, side story, summary, alternative version). Spot a mistake? Tell us.