Erm, the Major did not die in the first movie! Where do you have THAT from? :confused: The ending was essentially the same as in the original manga. With one small difference:
[SPOILER]In the original manga the Major's "ghost" (or part of it) was transferred into an androgynous-looking male body while in the first movie it was a young girl's. That's all. In both versions she didn't really die, she only lost her original body which was artificial to begin with. Her brain however was saved by Batou and brought to his save house where she later whoke up with her new body. At that point, she already has merged with the puppet master/ the net.[/SPOILER]
True, SAC is not a prequel nor a sequel, it takes place in an alternate universe. But for other reasons, maybe explained in the upcoming 3rd Gig...
[SPOILER]In the original manga the Major's "ghost" (or part of it) was transferred into an androgynous-looking male body while in the first movie it was a young girl's. That's all. In both versions she didn't really die, she only lost her original body which was artificial to begin with. Her brain however was saved by Batou and brought to his save house where she later whoke up with her new body. At that point, she already has merged with the puppet master/ the net.[/SPOILER]
True, SAC is not a prequel nor a sequel, it takes place in an alternate universe. But for other reasons, maybe explained in the upcoming 3rd Gig...