Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL – A New Second-Generation TV Anime Premieres July 2026

With over 70 anime series airing this summer, choosing what to watch can be overwhelming. One standout is the brand-new television adaptation of Shirow Masamune’s legendary cyberpunk manga: Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL.

Set in the year 2029, the story follows full-body cyborg Kusanagi Motoko as she leads an elite unit and pushes for the creation of a special force dedicated to preventing crime before it happens. When Arakawa Daisuke of the Ministry of Internal Affairs—who has a similar vision—recruits her and her team, they become Public Security Section 9, the “Ghost in the Shell” task force. As they confront cybercrimes fueled by international conspiracies, their investigation leads them to a mysterious hacker known only as the “Puppet Master.” What fate awaits Kusanagi, and what is the Puppet Master’s true goal?

This new series is directed by the up-and-coming Moko-chan in his first directorial role, with animation production by Science SARU—the studio behind critically acclaimed works such as Inu-Oh, The Colors Within, and Dandadan. The most notable point is that this adaptation is described as a “return to the roots” of the original manga, offering a fresh interpretation that is separate from previous TV anime series like SAC, ARISE, and SAC_2045. In a sense, it marks the beginning of a second generation of Ghost in the Shell anime. While it centers on the same “Puppet Master” arc as Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film, Science SARU’s unique visual style rebuilds the narrative anew.

The series composition and scripts are handled by EnJoe Toh, a science fiction novelist known for Self-Reference ENGINE and the TV anime Godzilla Singular Point. Character design and chief animation direction are by Handa Shuhei, whose credits include Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and Spriggan. This combination ensures both the weight of the franchise and a sense of novelty.

On the music front, the ending theme “Blue” is performed by MILLENNIUM PARADE—led by Tsuneta Daiki of King Gnu—in collaboration with Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar. The opening theme and voice cast remain unannounced as of this writing. The series has already made waves with a world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 and a U.S. premiere at Anime Expo 2026, signaling a global launch.

Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL begins broadcasting on July 7, 2026 (Tuesday) at 11:00 p.m. JST on Kantele and Fuji TV’s national network, in the “Hi Anibar!!” timeslot.

About DMM TV

DMM TV is a comprehensive video streaming service from DMM that focuses on anime, but also offers variety shows, 2.5-dimensional stage productions, musicals, dramas, and movies.

The “DMM Premium” plan, which provides unlimited viewing of eligible titles, costs 550 yen per month (tax included) via web registration, or 650 yen per month via App Store or Google Play. As of January 2026, the service offers over 210,000 titles (including both streaming and transactional video-on-demand). It ranks second in Japan for the number of domestic streaming titles available. Notably, it has been ranked first for three consecutive years in the number of new anime streaming titles, according to the Communication Science Institute. It also won first place in the “mybest Anime Streaming Service” ranking for three consecutive years.

New subscribers to DMM Premium can take advantage of a 14-day free trial, which also grants 550 points usable across DMM’s other services such as DMM Books, DMM Games, and DMM Online Crane. The service supports multiple devices—smartphones, PCs, TVs, and game consoles—and allows up to four simultaneous streams at no extra cost, making it convenient for family viewing. Content can also be downloaded for offline viewing during travel.

Staff and Broadcast Details

(C) 2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE