Kenji Kamiyama	...	(Director)
Mary Claypool, Junichi Fujisaku	...	(Writer)
Atsuko Tanaka	...	Major Motoko Kusanagi
Osamu Saka	...	Chief Daisuke Aramaki
Akio Ôtsuka	...	Batou
Kôichi Yamadera	...	Togusa
Yutaka Nakano	...	Ishikawa
Tôru Ôkawa	...	Saito
Takashi Onozuka	...	Paz (2 episodes, 2003)
Taro Yamaguchi	...	Borma
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn	...	Major Motoko / ... (2 episodes, 2003)
William Knight	...	Chief Daisuke Aramaki
Richard Epcar	...	Batou
Crispin Freeman	...	Togusa
Michael McCarty	...	Ishikawa
Dave Wittenberg	...	Saito
Bob Buchholz	...	Paz (2 episodes, 2003)
Dean Elliott	...	Borma
Ethan Murray	...	Doctor / ... (2 episodes, 2003)
Hiroshi Yanaka	...	Fukami
Dino Andrade	...	Children (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kevin Brief	...	Kanzaki (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Loy Edge	...	SWAT (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Barbara Goodson	...	Maruta (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Michael Gregory	...	Reiko (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kate Higgins	...	Children (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Paddy Lee	...	Fom (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Michael McConnohie	...	Commander (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Liam O'Brien	...	Fake Laughing Man (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Peggy O'Neal	...	Girl (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Douglas Rye	...	Litton (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Barry Stigler	...	Foreign Minister (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Doug Stone	...	Matsuoka (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Julie Ann Taylor	...	Miyahara (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kari Wahlgren	...	Sales Person (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Tom Wyner	...	Interior Minister (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Bob Papenbrook	...	Doorman (50 episodes, 2002-2005)
Mari Devon	...	Seymour (27 episodes, 2003-2005)
John Snyder	...	Kazundo Gouda (23 episodes, 2004-2005)

Comments: A New Beginning, A New Threat...

Summary: The search for the mysterious cyber-villain the Laughing Man falls by the wayside in this collection. Mamoru Oshii's original feature focused on Major Motoko Kusanagi; in the broadcast series, Batou emerges as a more complex and compelling character: Episode 16 hints at the complicated past that forged the human-cyborg fusion he ultimately became. In "Machines Desirantes," the Tachikomas, crab-like robots used by Public Security Section 9, appear to be developing individual personalities and a sense of their existence. Not surprisingly, they fear Kusanagi, but like Batou. The Tachikomas also seem to recognize some of the implications of their growing consciousness, and look to Flowers for Algernon and I, Robot for inspiration. However, their cute, childish voices--modeled after the performance of Japanese actress Akiko Tamagawa--sound odd discussing deep philosophical questions. (Rated 13 and older: considerable violence, grotesque imagery, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon