'Ghost in the Shell' special effects gallery

Scarlett Johansson stars in "Ghost in the Shell", a dizzying and visually stunning blend of live action with cutting edge computer generated effects.

The film blends real actors and practical effects with vast CG environments, including the futuristic setting of New Port city.

Johansson stalks the teeming streets of New Port City, with CG holograms and effects added in post-production to the live action shots.

The cityscape includes towering hologram ads dubbed "solograms" by the filmmakers.

One of the highlights of the original 1995 anime on which "Ghost in the Shell" is based is a fight scene in a waterlogged courtyard, with the towering futuristic cityscape in the background.

The new film revisits the scene, building the background entirely from computer effects.

Actor Daniel Henshall films the scene in front of a giant greenscreen, onto which the city will be added in post-production.

Scarlett Johansson films the action in the waterlogged courtyard.

The final shot with the background (and reflections in the rippling water) added.

The effects team built a digital double of Scarlett Johansson for action scenes in which she wears special "thermoptic camouflage", which renders the character near-invisible.

The Major amid the high-tech digital settings of the film.

The film recreates the anime's iconic "shelling" sequence, in which the Major's cybernetic body -- her "shell" -- is assembled in a vat of liquid.

A digital plate of the Major's robot body floating in liquid during the shelling sequence...

...and the finished shot with atmospheric lighting effects added.

A plate of Scarlett Johansson filmed in a blue bodysuit before effects are applied...

...and after effects are applied, showing the insides of the Major's cybernetic body.