When I saw the names attached to this series, I had to jump on top of it.  Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell) providing the initial story and Ryutaro Nakamura (Serial Experiments Lain) directing is a dynamite combination that promises a complicated story with some amazing visuals.  I must say that I was not disappointed.

The whole series spans 22 episodes, each about 22 minutes in length (once you cut the re-cap and the credits).  It is a psychological tale that explores the minds of three high-school aged boys, each with their own traumatic background.  The boys end up discovering how to leave their bodies and explore the spirit realm and use this to help themselves deal with their pasts.  Meanwhile, in the real world, sub-plots take shape that delve into the mystery surrounding the story.

The plot of Ghost Hound, however, is really secondary to the way it’s put together.  Those who are familiar with Shirow’s style should expect the same expositional format that Ghost in the Shell uses to explain the numerous complicated theories that the story explores.  Those that never really enjoyed that type of storytelling might do better skipping this one.

One of the things that really sets this series apart is its amazing visual and audio effects.  I highly recommend watching it in the dark with the sound turned up to get the full experience of what Nakamura has put together.  The series is classified as a horror and thriller, but the real creepiness of it comes across in the effects.  The first time I sat through the re-cap I was both confused and creeped-out – when you watch it you’ll see what I mean.

I was a bit disappointed in the ending and felt like it may have been a bit rushed, but they do a good job in resolving everything that has been presented over the course of the story.  I just left feeling like there was something more that needed to be said for me to be satisfied.

Fans of Lain and Ghost in the Shell should give this one a try.  The level of depth in the subject matter is a cerebral experience that leaves the brain turning and will give you some strange dreams.