The Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell, the new TV anime by Science SARU, is airing weekly, with episode 7 introducing the Puppeteer. The franchise is also seeing a wave of merchandise, including a Tachikoma model re-release, a Motoko Kusanagi figure, and a collaborative exhibition.
The new Ghost in the Shell television anime, titled The Ghost in the Shell, is the first direct adaptation of Masamune Shirow's original 1989 manga. Directed by Mokochan and produced by Science SARU, the series premiered on July 7 and has been airing weekly on Kansai TV and Fuji TV, with simultaneous streaming on Prime Video and other services. It is praised for being the most faithful adaptation of the manga, contrasting with earlier works by Mamoru Oshii and Production I.G.
The series has covered several manga chapters, including Robot Rondo and Dumb Barter. Episode 7, which aired August 18, adapted most of manga chapter nine, introducing the Puppeteer, voiced by Kikuko Inoue. The character is portrayed as a life form from the sea of information, demanding political asylum. This debut marks a notable departure from the 1995 film's male portrayal of the character, generating strong fan reaction. The adaptation has also incorporated crossover characters from Shirow's Dominion Tank Police, with Aya Hisakawa and Nina Kumagaya voicing the Puma sisters.
The franchise has expanded with a coordinated merchandise push. Kotobukiya is re-releasing a 1/35 scale Tachikoma model with unpainted figures of Motoko Kusanagi, Batou, and Miki, scheduled for April 2027. Bandai Spirits is releasing an S.H.Figuarts Motoko Kusanagi figure based on the new anime's design, designed to pair with a separately sold ROBOT魂 Tachikoma. An immersive exhibition covering the franchise's history ran at Tokyo NODE and is planned to open at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe. King Gnu's opening theme 'GO GHOST' has been digitally released and surpassed one million domestic streams on its first day.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/ghost-in-the-shell.
CC BY 4.0.
When a claim about Ghost in the Shell was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
The final episode of Science SARU's Ghost in the Shell adaptation wraps the series, covering Masamune Shirow's first volume in a concise runtime. The review highlights the collaborative soundtrack from Taisei Iwasaki, Ryo Konishi, and Yuki Kanesaka, alongside the episode's closing track by Yuki Kanesaka, as a highlight of the production.
Advance stills for the final episode of the Ghost in the Shell TV anime show Motoko, in a brain-only state after losing her prosthetic body, facing the Puppeteer. Episode 10 airs September 8 on Kantele and Fuji TV, with streaming on Prime Video the same night.
Toru Shinagawa, the actor and voice actor known for roles in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Fancy Lala, and the Fullmetal Alchemist live-action films, died on August 29. He was 90. His agency Knockout announced the death on Monday, stating he had been undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Shinagawa was born in Hokkaido in 1935 and worked across stage, film, television, and voice acting.
R WEAR, the recovery wear line from SapplyM, a Sony Group and M3 joint venture, is releasing a limited collaboration model with the TV anime Ghost in the Shell THE GHOST IN THE SHELL. Pre-orders run September 7 to September 30 on the R WEAR official EC site, with shipping from early December. The black wear carries the anime logo, and a bonus set adds an eye mask and pouch. Prices are 45,000 yen with bonus, 42,000 yen without.
Episode 9 of Ghost in the Shell finds Major Motoko Kusanagi changed since meeting the Puppet Master, colder and more pensive, and on trial for manslaughter in the line of duty. Her boss Aramaki prompts her to escape before the verdict, playing it off as her going rogue while secretly backing her, with Batou in on the ruse. The adaptation renames the manga's real nations, Israel to Gerantl and Russia to Volgarena, to avoid political controversy.
T-Five Project, the company behind the disaster-preparedness brand BUNKER, began accepting reservations on September 1 for a Ghost in the Shell collaboration backpack. The BUNKER SIGNAL PACK THE GHOST IN THE SHELL EDITION is priced at 39,800 yen and is based on the standard SIGNAL PACK, a 25-liter disaster backpack designed to carry power and communication gear. It includes a built-in solar panel and enough space for a Starlink Mini terminal. The collaboration model reflects the visual world of the anime, and each order includes one randomly selected original collection card from a set of five. The release is timed to Japan's Disaster Prevention Day, and a commercial for the backpack will air during the Ghost in the Shell anime broadcast on Fuji TV at 11 p.m. the same day. The concept of carrying power and connectivity mirrors the series' recurring theme of equipment for staying connected.
Dynabook announced the dynabook XPZ Series Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. Model XP/ZAE, a laptop with a design inspired by the cyberpunk anime. It meets the Copilot+ PC standard, includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V with a 40TOPS NPU, weighs about 958 grams, and offers up to roughly 30 hours of battery life. Dedicated collaboration wallpapers are preinstalled.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced that Chikahiro Kobayashi plays Lee in the eighth episode of the new Ghost in the Shell television anime from Science SARU. The staff also shared the episode's end card, illustrated by animator and director Shingo Natsume. The series premiered on July 7 on the new Ka-Anival!! programming block from Kansai TV and Fuji TV.
Episode 8 of Science SARU's Ghost in the Shell adaptation features its most prominent anime-original material so far, expanding on the origins of Project 2501. The episode confirms Section 6 developed the AI, showing its early days and its escape into the wider web, tying into current AI concerns.
The preview cuts and synopsis for Episode 8 of the TV anime "Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell," titled "INTERMISSION + BRAIN DRAIN i," have been released. Episode 8 is scheduled to air from 23:00 on August 25, with fastest streaming on Prime Video starting at 24:35 the same day. Due to the Asian Volleyball Championship, the broadcast start time may shift to between 23:00 and 24:05. The synopsis reveals that after diving into the Puppeteer, Motoko awakens and comes to understand the truth of the incident, but she begins to sense the Puppeteer's presence. During an operation to suppress terrorists on a ship, Section 9 advances, but Motoko accidentally shoots and kills the leader. The episode visual is part of a weekly initiative where each episode gets an alternative design poster, with Episode 8's design handled by Cota Kira. The anime airs every Tuesday at 23:00 on Kansai TV and Fuji TV's "Fire Animebaru!!" slot. Other streaming services begin distribution sequentially from August 26 at 24:35. The series has three episodes remaining after this one, making it a 10-episode run.
Anime News Network published its weekly reader rankings for the week of August 12-18. Saga of Tanya the Evil II holds the number one spot, followed by The Ghost in the Shell and Goodbye, Lara. The list covers 38 ranked series based on episode ratings from legally streaming titles in North America.
Kotobukiya is re-releasing the plastic model "Tachikoma with Motoko Kusanagi & Batou" from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. The 1/35 scale kit features opening hatches, a movable head sensor, and optional parts including a gatling gun and unpainted figures of Batou and Miki. Reservations close September 15, with release scheduled for April 2027 at 4,950 yen.
Kotobukiya is re-releasing its 1/35 scale plastic model of the Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. The kit includes unpainted figures of Motoko Kusanagi in a riding position, Batou, and Miki, the girl the Tachikoma met. It is scheduled for release in April 2027.
Episode 7 of Science SARU's Ghost in the Shell adapts most of manga chapter nine, introducing the Puppet Master as a new form of intelligence born within the net. Section 9 retrieves a rogue android containing a ghost, which is identified as the Puppet Master. The episode explores consciousness and transhumanism through Kusanagi's surreal odyssey into fractal mindscapes.
Episode 7 of the new Ghost in the Shell anime aired August 18, introducing the Puppeteer, voiced by Kikuko Inoue. Viewers reacted to the character's voice, the return of Willis's branching fingers, and the episode's dense plot, which left many struggling to follow the story.
Scene photos and episode visuals for episode 7 of the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL have been released. The episode reveals the Puppeteer inside a robot, demanding political asylum before being seized. The episode's alternative design poster is by Kano Kameda.
Bandai Spirits' S.H.Figuarts line is releasing an action figure of Motoko Kusanagi from the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell. The figure is based on the new anime's character design and features a flexible articulation system that captures the movements of her full-body prosthetic. It includes four interchangeable face parts, multiple hand options, a Seburo M5 and C-25, a replacement gun holster, and a bangs part with visor. The figure stands about 140mm tall and is made of PVC and ABS. It is priced at 9,900 yen including tax and is scheduled for release in January 2027. Pre-orders are open at retailers including Amazon, AmiAmi, Bic Camera, and Yodobashi Camera. The new anime, produced by Science SARU, has been airing since July. Motoko Kusanagi is voiced by Maaya Sakamoto, with Daisuke Aramaki voiced by Daisuke Yamaji, Batou by Hiroki Yasumoto, and Togusa by Yuichi Nakamura. The figure is designed to pair with the separately sold ROBOT魂 <SIDE GHOST> Tachikoma, which can carry the figure in its rear cockpit.
The TV anime 'Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL' is airing about 30 years after the original manga's release. King Gnu's opening theme 'GO GHOST' opens with an ethnic chorus that signals the franchise's signature sound. The piece traces that sound from Kenji Kawai's 1995 score to Yoko Kanno's work on 'STAND ALONE COMPLEX.'
In an interview with Real Sound Anime, director Abel Gongora and animation producer Mitsuru Triangle discussed Science SARU's approach to the Tentai no Jardugal TV anime. The studio took on the project not to extend its history anime legacy, but to pursue new visual expression. The team consulted Mongolian and Persian experts to balance historical fidelity with animation.
An immersive Ghost in the Shell exhibition ran at Tokyo NODE in Roppongi Hills from January 30 through April 5, covering every major anime iteration of the franchise. The multi-room show featured an interactive Tachikoma, a wrap-around data screen with touchscreen search kiosks, key art posters, and production materials from every major entry. The exhibition plans to open at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe this summer.
Anime News Network rates episode 6 of Ghost in the Shell 4.6. The episode adapts the manga chapter 'Dumb Barter' with brutal efficiency, featuring Major Kusanagi under heavy attack, a betrayal, and a revenge-driven antagonist. The review notes the subtitled version fails to translate on-screen text, while the dub handles it.
King Gnu activated YouTube's new Station feature on their official channel on August 7, allowing 24-hour real-time video streaming with chat. The page includes the music video for "GO GHOST," the opening theme for the anime "Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL." The song was digitally released on July 29 and surpassed one million domestic streams on its first day.
Anime News Network's This Week in Anime column examines director Kenji Kamiyama's filmography in light of his new Gundam series, XARX-ZERO, revealed at San Diego Comic-Con. The column traces his path from late-80s background artist on Akira and Kiki's Delivery Service to director of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and projects tied to Star Wars, Ultraman, and Blade Runner.
At Anime Expo, The Ghost in the Shell director Mokochan and character designer Shūhei Handa discussed the new Science SARU series. Mokochan said it is based on the original 1989 manga and aims for a retro future feel, not modernization. Handa called AI the most relevant theme, presented as neither positive nor negative.
Bandai Namco Filmworks released the advance cuts, synopsis, and episode visual for episode 6 of the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL on August 10. Titled DUMB BARTER, the episode is scheduled to first broadcast on August 11 at 23:00 on Kansai TV and the Fuji TV national network in the Hi Anime Bar!! slot, with fastest streaming on Prime Video starting at 23:30 the same day. In the episode, Motoko and her lover are suddenly attacked and taken to the hospital. The suspected culprit is terrorist Soma Toru, who has a connection to Motoko. After leaving the hospital, Motoko and Togusa end up in a fierce battle with an armed group at an abandoned factory. The episode visual was designed by Mizuho Hayashi (maxilla). A special collaboration illustration with the TV anime The Tents of Jardugal, also animated by Science SARU, was released. The illustration, drawn by Jardugal director Abel Gongora, depicts Tachikoma offering Shitara a red flower. Both series began airing in July.
PREMICO released an official Ghost in the Shell watch inspired by Motoko Kusanagi on August 10, 2026. The limited edition of 1,989 mechanical watches features a skeleton dial and case back, a blue dial ring, bullet casing indices, and a Tachikoma-inspired display case. It costs 54,780 yen.
Bandai Spirits is releasing two Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex figures. The S.H.Figuarts Motoko Kusanagi and ROBOT魂 Tachikoma open for preorder at general retailers on August 3, 2026. Both figures ship in January 2027. The Tachikoma's rear cockpit hatch opens to seat the separately sold Motoko figure.
Anime Tokyo Station in Tokyo is hosting the Takayuki Goto Exhibition, Animator 45th Anniversary, from August 8 to October 12. The free event displays original drawings, chief animation director corrections, and panel exhibits covering Goto's career, including work on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Zillion, and Please Save My Earth.
The official website for the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell released cast comments and an end card for episode 5, PHANTOM FUND. Aya Hisakawa, voicing Annapurna, and Nina Kumagaya, voicing Unipuma, shared their thoughts. Mahiro Maeda provided the illustration.
The cast and end card for Episode 4 of the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL have been revealed. Kenichi Ogata voices Colonel Tonda, and Masashi Ebara voices the president of Banka Seiki. Tetsuya Nishio drew the episode's end card.
The Ghost in the Shell television anime from Science SARU has added Aya Hisakawa and Niina Kumagaya as the Puma sisters, crossover characters from the New Dominion Tank Police anime. The characters appeared in the fifth episode, which aired Tuesday. The staff also shared an end card by Mahiro Maeda.
Anime News Network reviews episode 4 of the Ghost in the Shell adaptation, which adapts the Robot Rondo chapter from Masamune Shirow's manga. The review praises Science SARU's handling of the disturbing content, noting the episode explores themes of dehumanization through discarded sex bots and a child trafficking storyline involving Hanka Precision Instruments.
The TV anime Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell has released preview stills, a synopsis, and an episode visual for its fifth episode, titled PHANTOM FUND. The episode is scheduled to air on August 4 at 23:00 in the Hi Anime Bar!! slot on Kansai TV and Fuji TV's national network, with a same-day streaming release on Prime Video at 23:30. In PHANTOM FUND, Motoko and her team head north to monitor the combat cyborg Coil Krasnov. To expose Coil's objectives and the corruption hidden behind Sagawa Electronics' underground factory expansion, Motoko goes to Sagawa Electronics headquarters while Batou and the others head to the underground factory. The episode visual is part of a special initiative that produces alternative-design posters for each episode, with the fifth episode's design by Daiya Tanabe of maxilla. The anime, based on Masamune Shirow's original manga, is directed by Moko-chan, with series composition and scripts by SF novelist Tow Ubukata, character design by Shuhei Handa, and animation production by Science SARU.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced two new cast members for The Ghost in the Shell television anime from Science SARU on Thursday. Kenichi Ogata voices Col. Tonoda, and Masashi Ebara voices the president of Hanka Precision Instruments company. Both characters appeared in the anime's fourth episode, which aired on Tuesday. The staff also shared an end card for the episode, illustrated by animator Tetsuya Nishio, known for his work on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. The anime premiered on July 7 on the Ka-Anival!! programming block on Kansai TV and Fuji TV, airing Tuesday nights at 11:00 p.m. JST. It began streaming on Amazon Prime Video Japan the same day, and is available simultaneously on Prime Video in over 240 countries and regions, excluding mainland China, Russia, and Vietnam. The first two episodes screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June and at Anime Expo on July 4. The series marks Mokochan's directorial debut, with Toh Enjoe writing and overseeing scripts, and Shuhei Handa designing characters and serving as chief animation director.
Science SARU's new Ghost in the Shell anime adaptation, directed by Mokochan, covers the first three episodes with a faithful but frenetic approach. The series bursts with light, color, and an eclectic jazz soundtrack, offering a stark contrast to Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film. New viewers may find the dense information overwhelming, but the result is a kinetic and entertaining experience.
The latest TV anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow's manga, Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell, has released cast details and an end card for its third episode. Akio Otsuka voices Colonel Mares in Episode 3, titled JUNK JUNGLE ii + MEGATECH MACHINE i + ii, which began airing and streaming on July 21. Otsuka commented that the series was created under the concept of keeping the original flavor intact, and he expressed his love for the Ghost in the Shell franchise. The episode also features an end card illustrated by Kunio Okawara. The series is produced by Science SARU, with direction by Mocochin and series composition and script by Tow Ubukata. Maaya Sakamoto stars as Motoko Kusanagi, with Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou and Yuichi Nakamura as Togusa. The anime airs on Kantele and Fuji TV's Hi Anime!! slot on Tuesdays at 11:00 PM, and streams on Prime Video and other services. The story is set in 2029 and follows Public Security Section 9 as they confront cyber crimes and the mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master.
JINS has released a collaboration eyewear line with the TV anime Ghost in the Shell, including a limited edition of 1,000 electronic light-adjusting sunglasses. The collection also includes two models of optical glasses inspired by goggles from the series. The eyewear launched on July 16, 2026, at select JINS stores and online.
The 2026 TV anime Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell, produced by Science SARU, began streaming on July 7 via Amazon Prime Video, with other services following on July 8. The series is a new interpretation of Shirow Masamune's manga. Streaming options include DMM TV, U-NEXT, dAnime Store, Netflix, and others, with various free trial periods and pricing.
An op-ed on Anime News Network examines Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell and its technological predictions, particularly the cyberbrain, comparing them to current brain-computer interface developments like Neuralink. The piece argues that Shirow's cyberpunk vision remains prescient in 2026 as society faces AI and digital interconnectivity.
The new Ghost in the Shell TV anime by Science SARU is being praised as the most faithful adaptation of Masamune Shirow's original manga. The series depicts character expressions and storylines directly from the source, including the Tachikoma and old-fashioned wired hacking. It contrasts with previous adaptations by Mamoru Oshii and others, finally delivering the manga's vision 37 years after its release.
The new Ghost in the Shell television anime has started airing in Japan and streaming worldwide, marking the franchise's return to TV. Alongside the premiere, label FlyingDog announced the original soundtrack, The Ghost in the Shell O.S.T., as a two-disc CD album set for release on September 9, 2026, priced at 3,960 yen. A two-disc vinyl edition will follow on September 30, 2026, at 7,700 yen. The score is composed by Taisei Iwasaki, who is also the music director, along with Ryo Konishi and Yuki Kanesaka. Iwasaki won the Japan Academy Award for Best Music for Belle. The soundtrack jacket features a new illustration by tarou2 from Science SARU. First-press CD copies come in special packaging. The soundtrack will also be available on streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music starting September 9. The global streaming launch and the detailed music release schedule together indicate the franchise's continued international reach.
JINS will release collaboration eyewear with Ghost in the Shell on July 16, including JINS' first electronic dimming sunglasses limited to 1,000 units worldwide and four models of glasses with cyberpunk design. Prices are 29,900 yen for sunglasses and 19,900 yen each for glasses. The collaboration commemorates the latest TV anime.
Otakon announced it will host background art director Kazuki Higashiji at its 2026 event. Higashiji has worked on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Maquia, Angel Beats!, Hanasaku Iroha, and Charlotte. The convention also announced a policy change banning fan art sales in the dealers room, directing dealers to the artist alley instead.
Ueni Trading, through its character collaboration brand GARRACK, announced a Japanese-made mechanical watch inspired by the Fuchikoma from Ghost in the Shell. The watch uses raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), a traditional lacquerware technique, to depict the AI-equipped thinking tank on the dial. The design incorporates Fuchikoma details into each component: indices resemble its wheels, hands represent its arm parts, and a see-through back case bears the Ghost in the Shell logo. The dial is hand-finished by craftsmen, with no two pieces identical due to the natural shell material. The watch features an automatic winding MIYOTA movement, a leather strap, and 5 ATM water resistance in a 42 mm case. Pre-orders open July 17, 2026, and the watch releases July 31, 2026, priced at 79,200 yen (tax included). The raden work was handled by Takeyuki Musashikawa, fourth-generation head of the Musashikawa Workshop in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, a bearer of Takaoka lacquerware tradition. The project required high-level techniques due to the many small shell parts needed to reproduce the character's details.
King Gnu's opening theme "GO GHOST" for the TV anime "Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL" will be released digitally on July 29, 2026. The jacket photo featuring Motoko Kusanagi has been unveiled, and a non-credit opening video is now on YouTube. The anime airs Tuesdays on Fuji TV's "Hi Anime!!" slot.
A new Ghost in the Shell anime by Science Saru adapts the original manga closely for the first time. The first episode preserves the comic sensibility and political density of the source material, presenting Major Kusanagi as an ambivalent hero within a corrupt state. The review praises the adaptation's faithfulness and its cutting geopolitical commentary on imperialism and the slave trade.
The new Ghost in the Shell TV anime, produced by Science SARU, has revealed its main cast. Maaya Sakamoto voices Motoko Kusanagi, succeeding Atsuko Tanaka. Kazuhiro Yamaji, Hiroki Yasumoto, and Yuichi Nakamura also star. The series began airing on July 7 on the Fire Anime!! block on Kantele and Fuji TV.
The new Ghost in the Shell television anime from Science SARU premiered on July 7, 2026, on Japanese television and began streaming on Prime Video in over 240 countries and regions. The series, directed by Mokochan in his directorial debut, features Maaya Sakamoto as the voice of Motoko Kusanagi, taking over the role after the death of original voice actress Atsuko Tanaka in August 2024. The cast also includes Kazuhiro Yamaji as Daisuke Aramaki, Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou, and Yuichi Nakamura as Togusa. Toh Enjoe writes and oversees the series scripts, while Shuhei Handa handles character design and chief animation direction. Taisei Iwasaki composes the music with Ryō Konishi and Yuki Kanesaka. King Gnu performs the opening theme "Go Ghost," and MILLENNIUM PARADE feat. Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar perform the ending theme "Blue." The anime had its global premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June with its first two episodes, and also screened at Anime Expo on July 4. Bandai Namco Filmworks, Kodansha, Science SARU, and Production I.G are on the production committee.
The new Ghost in the Shell anime, which began airing July 7, has released non-credit opening and ending videos. The opening theme is King Gnu's "GO GHOST" and the ending theme is "Blue" by MILLENNIUM PARADE feat. Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar. The original soundtrack will release on September 9.
The new TV anime 'Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell' begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video on July 7. To mark the launch, poster ads will run at Shibuya Station from July 6 to July 12, and an Amazon special store page has opened with official merchandise, including limited items and a pre-order illustration panel set.