The next television anime in the long-running Ghost in the Shell franchise, titled THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, is set to begin airing on July 7, 2026. The series will broadcast on Kantele and Fuji TV’s national network as part of the Tuesday “Hi Anime!!” slot at 23:00 JST, with streaming on Prime Video Japan starting at 23:30 on the same day.
About the Series
Based on the original manga by Shirow Masamune that debuted in Kodansha’s Young Magazine Kaizokuban in 1989, Ghost in the Shell is a seminal cyberpunk action story. It follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg with exceptional combat and cyberbrain abilities, leading the covert counter-terrorist unit known as Section 9 as they confront increasingly complex and heinous crimes. The franchise explores deep themes of identity, the fusion of humanity and technology, and philosophical questions about consciousness, all rendered with precise, realistic artwork. From Mamoru Oshii’s film adaptation to various anime series and a Hollywood live-action film, the property has continued to captivate audiences worldwide.
This new television anime marks the directorial debut of Moko-chan, who previously served as assistant director on Dandadan and contributed to numerous Science SARU productions. The series composition and script are handled by EnJou Toh, the science fiction novelist behind Self-Reference ENGINE and the anime Godzilla S.P: Singular Point. Character design and chief animation direction are by Handa Shuuhei, known for the Netflix series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and the TV anime Spriggan. Animation production is by Science SARU, the studio behind critically acclaimed works such as Inu-Oh (nominated for a Golden Globe in the animated film category), The Colors Within (winner of the Golden Goblet Award for Best Animated Film at the Shanghai International Film Festival), and Dandadan.
Streaming Details
Starting July 7, 2026, each episode will be available on Prime Video Japan at 23:30 JST, making it the fastest domestic streaming option. Internationally, the series will stream exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and regions, excluding mainland China, Russia, and Vietnam.
A new trailer for the Prime Video version has been released, showcasing Major Kusanagi and the rest of Section 9 in action, while hinting at the mysterious hacker “Puppet Master,” who appears to be a key figure in the story. With less than a month until the premiere, anticipation is building for this new era of cyberpunk action.
Anime Expo 2026 Panel and Premiere
In addition to the broadcast and streaming, a special panel titled “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL × Science SARU: Special Panel & Premiere” will be held at North America’s largest anime event, Anime Expo 2026, in Los Angeles. The event will take place on July 4, 2026 (local time) at the JW Diamond Hall from 14:45 to 16:05 PT. It will feature a US premiere screening of episodes 1 and 2, followed by a talk session with director Moko-chan and production staff, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the core concepts and unique visual world of the series.
A separate autograph session with director Moko-chan and character designer/chief animation director Handa Shuuhei will be held on July 3, 2026 at 12:30 PT in the JW Marriott Gold Ballroom. Additionally, a dedicated THE GHOST IN THE SHELL area will be set up at the Bandai Namco Filmworks booth (South Hall, Booth SH-2406) from July 2 to July 5. More details can be found on the official Bandai Namco Filmworks English social media channels.
Event Overview
- THE GHOST IN THE SHELL × Science SARU: Special Panel & Premiere
Date: July 4, 2026 (Sat) 14:45 – 16:05 PT
Location: JW Diamond Hall
Panelists: Moko-chan (Director), Handa Shuuhei (Character Designer & Chief Animation Director), Shindou Shuuhei (Animation Producer), Abe Kengo (Producer), Katsura Takeshi (Young Magazine Editorial Department)
Content: Producers and production team members discuss the anime’s content, project status, and latest news. - THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Autograph Session
Date: July 3, 2026 (Fri) 12:30 PT
Location: JW Marriott Gold Ballroom
Guests: Moko-chan (Director), Handa Shuuhei (Character Designer & Chief Animation Director) - Bandai Namco Filmworks Booth – THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Area
Dates: July 2 (Thu) – July 5 (Sun), 2026 PT
Location: South Hall, Booth SH-2406
Exhibitor: Bandai Namco Filmworks
Anime Expo 2026 will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015) from July 2 to July 5, 2026.
Staff Details
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Original Creator | Shirow Masamune (Kodansha KC Deluxe) |
| Director | Moko-chan |
| Series Composition & Script | EnJou Toh |
| Character Design & Chief Animation Director | Handa Shuuhei |
| Art Director | Katanosaka Emi |
| Art Supervisor | Masayama Osamu |
| Color Design | Hashimoto Ken |
| Director of Photography | Itou Hikari |
| Editor | Hirose Kiyoshi |
| Sound Director | Tange Yuuji |
| Sound Effects | Yaso Shouta |
| Recording | Oota Yasuaki |
| Music Director & Music | Iwasaki Taisei |
| Music | Konishi Ryo, YUKI KANESAKA |
| Music Production | FlyingDog |
| Ending Theme | “Blue” by MILLENNIUM PARADE |
| Animation Production | Science SARU |
| Production | THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE |
《Nakase Koutarou》
