The Ghost in the Shell (2026 TV series)
A cyborg-led unit confronts cybercrime and a mysterious hacker.
The Ghost in the Shell is a Japanese anime television series produced by Science Saru, based on the 1989–91 manga by Masamune Shirow. It premiered in July 2026 as part of the broader media franchise.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Cyberpunk
- Based on
- Ghost in the Shell, Masamune Shirow
- Director
- Moko-chan
- Screenplay
- En Joe Toh
- Music
- Taisei Iwasaki
- Ryo Konishi
- Yuki Kanesaka
- Animator
- Science Saru
- Company
- The Ghost in the Shell Committee
- Country
- Japan
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Set in Japan in 2029, cyborg Motoko Kusanagi leads an elite combat unit including fellow cyborg Batou. In a world where cybernetic enhancement blurs human-machine boundaries, Kusanagi seeks to form a proactive force against technological threats. Daisuke Aramaki of the Ministry of Home Affairs recruits her team to create Public Security Section 9, an anti-cybercrime unit. Their operations draw them toward the Puppet Master, a hacker who infiltrates cybernetic minds.
Production
The production committee includes Science Saru with Bandai Namco Filmworks, Kodansha, and Production I.G. Moko-chan directed the series, with series composition and episode scripts by En Joe Toh. Shuhei Handa handled character designs and chief animation direction. Music was composed by Taisei Iwasaki, Ryo Konishi, and Yuki Kanesaka. The key visual and preview video were released on January 30, 2026, alongside the series website and social media accounts.
Release
The anime premiered at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 22, 2026, with a 90-minute special event featuring Moko-chan, Daichi Sasa, Kengo Abe, and Kohei Sakita. Screenings of the first two episodes in English occurred in the UK and Ireland on June 26, 2026, and at Anime Expo in Los Angeles on July 5, 2026. The series began airing on July 7, 2026, on the Ka-Anival!! block across FNS affiliates, with Amazon Prime Video streaming worldwide except China, Russia, and Vietnam.
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