A ghost of its former self. I can get past the new animation style. Production cost will always be a factor. But the meat and bones of GITS has always been the deep concept exploration about consciousness, the potential and horror capable with technology, and the inclinations of those in power to control and commit atrocities.

There are moments where 2045 brushes up against those in meaningful ways, but the general concept of perpetual war and post-humans is presented so strong handedly that it overrides the subtleties that gave the show of the past the nuance and complexity that made it great. What we're left with is something clumsy and lacking in commentary not accomplished in generic scifi throughout. After the failure of arise, perhaps its time to put the ghost to its eternal rest.