Ryuu Yukinobu, the creator of the hit occult battle manga Dandadan, has set social media ablaze with a new illustration paying tribute to the classic cyberpunk series Koukaku Kidoutai (Ghost in the Shell). The artwork, posted on his official X account on July 16, 2026, features the iconic protagonist Motoko Kusanagi and has drawn overwhelming praise from fans both in Japan and overseas.
Ryuu Yukinobu made his debut in 2010 with Seigi no Roku-gou in Monthly Shounen Magazine. He is currently serializing Dandadan in Shounen Jump+, a story that follows high school girl Momo (Ayase Momo) and her occult-obsessed classmate Okarun (Takakura Ken) as they gain supernatural powers and face off against bizarre entities while stumbling into a fateful romance. The first TV anime season aired in October 2024, and the second season began on July 3, 2025, on MBS/TBS’s “Super Animeism TURBO” block. A third season was announced at the finale of the second season.
On July 16, Ryuu-sensei updated his X account with the simple caption “Koukaku” alongside the illustration. The image clearly depicts Motoko Kusanagi, the main character of Koukaku Kidoutai. See the post here.
Fans were quick to express their excitement and admiration. Comments included: “I want to press like 100 times,” “This is seriously incredible—his art is too good,” “Ryuu-san’s Motoko is so cool!” “I never thought I’d see the day Ryuu-sensei would draw Koukaku… I’m so glad to be alive. This is the best,” “It’s so good it’s scary—a true work of art,” and “Ryuu-sensei’s Koukaku Kidoutai fan art?! A collaboration of gods!”
The latest volumes of Dandadan are Volume 23 (¥585)
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