Image via twitter.com
©Shirow Masamune・Production IG/KODANSHA All rights reserved.
The Laughing Man from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (commonly known as SAC) appeared on the Production IG and Kodansha homepages just in time for the story’s events, February 3. But don’t worry — Unlike what appears to have been an actual hack of the franchise’s X (formerly Twitter) account, this “defacement” of websites was just part of a planned campaign.
[速報】
「笑い男」マークが攻殻機動隊関連の公式サイト、SNSや各社ホームページをジャック。
同様の事態は拡大しているという報告あり捜査中。その他の模倣犯情報を求む。https://t.co/E9lwkMD70y#攻殻機動隊 #ghostintheshell #standalonecomplex #笑い男事件2024 #thelaughingman2024
— 攻殻機動隊 【公式】GHOST IN THE SHELL chính thức (@thegitsofficial) Ngày 1 tháng 2 năm 2024
— 攻殻機動隊 【公式】GHOST IN THE SHELL chính thức (@thegitsofficial) [Tin mới nhất]
The “Laughing Man” icon has hijacked the official websites, social media accounts, and company homepages associated with Ghost in the Shell.
There have been reports of similar incidents increasing and an investigation is underway. Look for information about other copycat criminals.
https://t.co/E9lwkMD70y#攻殻機動隊 #ghostintheshell #standalonecomplex #笑い男事件2024 #thelaughingman2024
At the time of writing this article, the CEO of Manufacturing IG and the CEO of Kodansha have their profile pictures covered by the Smiling Man logo on their respective websites. Also, Ghost in the Shell profile photo: SAC_2045 Twitter is now replaced by the icon. This comes a few days after the official Ghost in the Shell X/Twitter account was hacked on January 28. But unlike the previous hack, the “hack” of this website was planned by Production IG and Kodansha planned to celebrate its launch (in the real world). Laughing Man incident (in the story).
Until February 1, the only official celebration of the day that the staff had announced was the Human Trust Shibuya Cinema holding a special presentation of SAC on February 3. But since then, an official website launched with information about the events and a video of people in Shibuya with their faces obscured by the Laughing Man logo.
The website not only promoted specials and “hacks” but also announced a hashtag campaign with 20 people receiving a unique gift, a fan art contest with the Laughing Man Icon from the day February 3 to February 29, Q&A on Discord on February 1, free limited-time posting of the manga on Magazine Web, free limited-time streaming of SAC Collection episode of Laughing Man on YouTube until February 3, SAC pop-up store in Akihabara, giving away an original, unsold Laughing Man t-shirt to 40 people participating in the hashtag campaign, an art campaign for people Other fans and talk shows at Human Trust Cinema, Laughing Man apparel collaboration Rageblue, a SAC Laughing Man Exhibition, apparel collaboration with Subciety and champagne collaboration with Angel Champagne. So there’s something for every Ghost in the Shell fan. Sorry, it’s not stated that you must live in Japan to receive gifts for hashtag campaigns or fan art campaigns.
Image via twitter.com
©Shirow Masamune・Production IG/KODANSHA All rights reserved.
2024年2月3日笑い男事件発生。
節分の日、秋葉原が笑い男にHACKされる。
「攻殻機動隊STAND AONE COMPLEX POPUPSHOP」SEEKBASE内にて2月3日〜開催。https://t.co/2JsyQfSF4l#攻殻機動隊#攻殻機動隊SAC#ghostintheshell#笑い男#節分 pic.twitter.com/dOvcg0tcMp
—攻殻機動隊[公式]GHOST IN THE SHELL official (@thegitsofficial) February 1, 2024
On February 3, 2024, the Laughing Man incident occurred.
Enter Setsubun [ngày 3 tháng 2]Akihabara will be attacked by the Laughing Man.
“Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex POPUPSHOP” will be held at SEEKBASE from February 3.
https://t.co/2JsyQfSF4l
攻殻機動隊SAC The Laughing Man
https://t.co/oitWMUFuRE… pic.twitter.com/1Na6I3PKet
— 攻殻機動隊[公式]GHOST IN THE SHELL official (@thegitsofficial) February 1, 2024
The Ghost in the Shell SAC The Laughing Man print exhibition and sales event will be held nationwide.
Images from the Laughing Man series will be produced as prints using the latest technology and will be displayed and sold as well as original merchandise for sale.
Details will be announced on a special page for the print book sales event. Special page →https://t.co/oitWMUFuRE
It’s really no wonder why companies associated with SAC are going all out for events related to the Laughing Man case. It was a pivotal moment not only in the series’ history but in anime history in general.
Source: Production IG, Kodansha, The Laughing Man 2024, X/Twitter of the Ghost in the Shell franchise account ( link 2, link 3), Ghost in the Shell: X/Twitter account for the anime SAC_2045 accountemotional label account, Web magazine, Human Trust Shibuya Cinema, Natalie Comics
