The upcoming TV anime “Koukaku Kidoutai THE GHOST IN THE SHELL” held its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France on June 22, 2026. The screening, part of the festival’s Special Events section, marked the first time a TV series has been featured in that category. Before the screening, a talk session with the production team offered deep insights into the making of the series.
Festival Artistic Director Marcel Jean introduced the event as “a very special day in the history of this festival,” before welcoming director Mocchan, producer Yasuhiro Sakita (Science SARU), producer Kengo Abe (Bandai Namco Filmworks), and producer Daichi Sasa (Kodansha) to the stage.
The series is described as the first anime adaptation to faithfully approach Shirow Masamune’s original 1989 manga as its direct source material. Producer Abe explained that the goal was to create “a work that can serve as a hub for the series, enjoyable for both longtime Ghost in the Shell fans and new viewers, and above all, an interesting work.” He noted that Science SARU was chosen for its reputation for delivering the fundamental appeal of animation.
Director Mocchan recalled the passionate atmosphere on set, saying, “We wanted to take the overwhelming energy of the original manga and turn it into a truly wonderful anime.” The talk session, centered around Mocchan, revealed behind-the-scenes details using actual production materials. The first theme, “Layout and Animation,” introduced the traditional hand-drawn workflow unique to Japan, from storyboards to photography. The director emphasized a commitment to the “physicality” of hand-drawing, stating, “The original work is SF, but it’s also a very spiritual work. Rather than using the latest technology, I wanted to pursue what can be expressed through the human body.” At the same time, 3D was used for spatial expression to achieve dynamic camera work impossible with hand-drawing alone.
Under the topic of “World Building,” it was revealed that the protagonist Motoko Kusanagi alone has 48 costume designs—more than three times the usual amount for a TV anime. The director explained that they followed Shirow’s concept: “The world doesn’t exist for the sake of expression; rather, a detailed world exists first.” They also showcased retro-future designs inspired by household appliances from 1989, and the in-series “Shirow letters” (Shirow moji), which were all hand-drawn without relying on generative AI. Mocchan laughed as he said they “got through that insane volume with pure guts,” drawing cheers from the audience.
The final theme, “Screen Composition and Photography,” revealed that a “color script” was introduced from early production, assigning a theme color to each episode. The director explained a unique color setting: “lower brightness but higher saturation.” Regarding background art, he passionately discussed how the essence of Shirow Masamune’s work permeates every corner of the screen, saying, “Even inorganic machines are drawn with ‘life force,’ without distinguishing between living things and machines, like blood vessels.”
With the director’s message, “It’s a grand SF, but at its core is a universal human story. Please watch until the end,” the world premiere screening of a special edited version of episodes 1 and 2 (English dub) began. The audience was immediately drawn in by Science SARU’s overwhelming sense of motion and meticulous world-building. After the approximately 45-minute screening, the venue erupted in thunderous applause and a standing ovation. The event marked a passionate and moving first step for the new Ghost in the Shell on the world stage.
In addition, a pre-broadcast special program titled “Koukaku Kidoutai THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Housou Chokuden Dennou Tokuban” will air on Kantele on July 3 at 25:20 (local Kansai area). It will feature Haraiti’s Yuuki Iwai, Moga Mogami (who loves the series), and Haruka Ishida (a newcomer to the franchise). The program will introduce the original manga, past films and series, staff interviews, and a quiz corner with the popular character Fuchikoma.
A mini-program called “Koukaku PR-tai” will start on July 5 at 11:45 (Sundays, Kansai local, until September 6). Hosted by Haraiti’s Yuuki Iwai and 3-jin no Heroine’s Maki Fukuda, it will recap episodes and preview upcoming ones.
Furthermore, at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles (July 2–5), a panel event with a premiere screening and talk show will be held. The US premiere of episodes 1 and 2 will take place, along with a signing session by director Mocchan and character designer Shuhei Handa. The Bandai Namco Filmworks booth will also feature a dedicated corner for the series.
“Koukaku Kidoutai THE GHOST IN THE SHELL” begins airing on July 7, 2026, at 23:00 on Kantele and Fuji TV’s national network (“Hi Anime Bar!!” slot). Streaming on Prime Video (Japan and overseas) starts at 23:30 on the same day, with other Japanese streaming services following from July 8.
Event Details
Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 – Special Events: Dive into “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL”
Date: June 22, 2026 (local time)
Location: Annecy, France
Panelists: Mocchan (Director), Yasuhiro Sakita (Producer/Science SARU), Kengo Abe (Producer/Bandai Namco Filmworks), Daichi Sasa (Producer/Kodansha)
Pre-Broadcast Special Program
Title: “Koukaku Kidoutai THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Housou Chokuden Dennou Tokuban”
Air date: July 3, 2026 (Fri) 25:20–25:50 (Kansai local)
Cast: Haraiti Yuuki Iwai, Moga Mogami, Haruka Ishida, Yuuyou Hattori (Kantele announcer)
Mini Program “Koukaku PR-tai”
Air date: July 5, 2026 (Sun) start, every Sunday 11:45–11:50 (Kansai local, until Sep 6)
Cast: Haraiti Yuuki Iwai, 3-jin no Heroine Maki Fukuda
THE GHOST IN THE SHELL × Science SARU: Special Panel & Premiere (Anime Expo 2026)
Date: July 4, 2026 (Sat) 14:45–16:05 PT
Location: JW Diamond Hall
Panelists: Mocchan (Director), Shuhei Handa (Character Design/Chief Animation Director), Shuhei Shindo (Animation Producer), Kengo Abe (Producer), Takeshi Katsurada (Young Magazine Editorial Dept.)
Autograph Session
Date: July 3, 2026 (Fri) 12:30 PT
Location: JW Marriott Gold Ballroom
Guests: Mocchan (Director), Shuhei Handa (Character Design/Chief Animation Director)
Bandai Namco Filmworks Booth – THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Area
Date: July 2–5, 2026 (PT)
Location: South Hall Booth SH-2406
Staff
- Original: Shirow Masamune, “Koukaku Kidoutai” (Kodansha KC Deluxe)
- Director: Mocchan
- Series Composition/Script: Tow Ubukata
- Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Shuhei Handa
- Art Director: Emi Katanozaka
- Art Supervisor: Osamu Masuyama
- Color Design: Ken Hashimoto
- Director of Photography: Hikari Ito
- Editor: Kiyoshi Hirose
- Sound Director: Yuji Tange
- Sound Effects: Shota Yasohachi
- Recording: Yasuaki Ota
- Music Director/Music: Taisei Iwasaki
- Music: Ryo Konishi, YUKI KANESAKA
- Music Production: FlyingDog
- Ending Theme: “Blue” by MILLENNIUM PARADE
- Animation Production: Science SARU
- Production: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE
© 2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE
