Nissan Gets Animated

NISSAN GETS ANIMATED
-- Two concept cars to feature in "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone
Complex" --


TOKYO, A.D. 2034 - It's been two years since Motoko Kusanagi left
Section 9, the special police force of the Japanese National Public
Safety Commission. Togusa is now the new leader of the considerably
expanded unit. Section 9 confronts a string of mysterious cases, and
investigations reveal that a wizard hacker named the Puppeteer is
behind
all of them...

This is the opening setup for the science fiction full-length animated
feature "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State
Society,"
directed by Kenji Kamiyama and produced by Production I.G, one of the
world's leading animation studios (http://www.production-ig.com).
In a rare collaborative event between an animation studio and an
automaker, the feature will introduce animated versions of two concept
vehicles ? The Nissan Sport Concept and Infiniti Kuraza. The Sport
Concept, unveiled at the 2005 New York International Auto Show, and
Infiniti Kuraza, shown at the 2005 North American International Auto
Show in Detroit, are driven by Section 9's team members.

The movie will premiere in Japan on the SKY PerfecTV! satellite
television
network on September 1st, and successively released on DVD on November
24th. The DVD release in the US and Europe is expected in 2007.

"This film is more than a simple combination of our animation with
Nissan
concept cars; it's the first full-scale collaboration by the creative
people in both companies," said Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, president & CEO of
Production I.G "The zealous effort by our highly motivated creators,
from the director right down the staff roster is noticeable in the
film.
Take a close look at the cars in the film. I'll bet you find them every
bit as cool as the actual cars."

"This is a revolutionary collaboration made possible by direct
exchanges
between both young and more experienced creative talents from both
companies and is different from product placement," said Shiro
Nakamura,
Nissan's senior vice president and chief creative officer. "Japanese
animation is being taken more seriously as art every year around the
world, and the concept cars in this film are rendered with particularly
high quality; they're just wonderful. We hope that besides contributing
to a great film experience, these very exciting images will bring the
Nissan brand to a new spectrum of customers."

The Sport Concept is a three-door hatchback with a full-custom look to
appeal to younger drivers. The dynamic shape of the car's fenders and
spoilers, as well as its large wheels, evoke the supercars of video
games. Infiniti Kuraza is designed for total comfort for six people and
suggests new directions for sport utility vehicles. The car's luxurious
interior combines traditional Japanese design principles, natural
materials and state-of-the-art technology.

"Ghost in the Shell" is a series based on the graphic novel of the same
title by Shirow Masamune. The novel was animated for movie theaters as
"Ghost in the Shell" in 1995 by director Mamoru Oshii, and reached No.
1
on the Billboard US video chart the following year. It has since
influenced many Hollywood movies, including "The Matrix," directed by
Andy and Larry Wachowski.

Responding to worldwide demand, Production I.G released a sequel in
2004
entitled "Innocence," that became the first Japanese animated film
nominated for the Palme D'Or at the 57th Cannes Film Festival. The
movie
received rave reviews, consolidating director Oshii's reputation as a
world-class animation director.

In order to expand the reach of "Ghost in the Shell," Production I.G
created the TV series "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" in
2002.
The series, which is directed by Kenji Kamiyama, has gained fans around
the world and has already sold over 1.5 million DVDs in Japan alone.

Production I.G's other major projects include the movie "Jin-Roh - The
Wolf Brigade," which has won various prizes in Japan and abroad, the TV
series "Blood+," a hyperaction road battle that starts in Okinawa,
circles
the world, the movie/TV project "xxxHOLiC," based on the popular comic
books written by world-famous atelier CLAMP, and "IGPX", an
international collaborative project with Cartoon Network. The studio
also produced the animation sequence of Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill:
Vol. 1."

To commemorate the ¡ÈGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex"
collaboration
between Production I.G and Nissan, Nissan will hold a special public
exhibition at the Nissan Gallery in Tokyo.

Event: Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. meets NISSAN
Venue: The Nissan Ginza Gallery
5-8-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Dates: Aug. 5, 2006 (Sat) to Aug. 14, 2006 (Mon)
Time: 10:00-20:00
Exhibits: Japan premiere of the Nissan Sport Concept
Premiere screening of the promotional trailer for
"Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. - Solid State Society"
Collaborative displays, including related goods, original
drawings and script.