T5W#460-Top 5 Thoughts on the Ghost in the Shell 2026 Announcement

Ghost in the Shell is my second favorite Anime franchise after Gundam and any day we get news is of a new adaptation is always a good one.  But there was plenty of extra excitement to come with what we heard a couple Saturdays ago.  First off, it’s a new series.  Second, Production IG is working in tandem with another studio that gave me one of my Top Anime of the year this year.  Third, judging from the announcement, we’re about to get the most unique outing for GitS since the original 1995 film.  We don’t have a lot to go on really but even a little can be enough to do a Top 5 list.  So let’s download back into the vast and infinite net to countdown my Top 5 Thoughts on the Ghost in the Shell 2026 Announcement.

 
#5-We’re long overdue for new (Good) Ghost in the Shell

Ok so to be honest, it hasn’t been that long since the last GitS project.  2020 and 2022 both saw the return of Kenji Kamiyama’s Stand Alone Complex saga…and it sucked, badly.  Despite having the original English voices back and a couple of pretty good episodes, SAC_2045 was a very disappointing continuation of the Stand Alone Complex.  Adding insult to injury, before that we got the anger inducing Live Action Feature film in 2017.  So, to me, we haven’t had a good Ghost in the Shell Anime since 2015’s Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie.  We’re overdue for something on the level of the Oshii Movies or 2^nd Gig (or Arise, I really liked Arise).
 

#4-A Straight Up Manga Adaptation?

The 40 second announcement featured several pages and panels from the original Ghost in the Shell Manga by Shirow Masamune.  There’s no footage of any of the previous Anime so it think we’re going to be going something style and tone wise that’s a lot closer to Masuamue’s original work.  This might include character designs taken straight from the Manga and more of an emphasis on humor along with the traditional cybernetic existential discussions and scifi shoot em up action.  This is pretty big cause I’ve wanted this kind of iteration for a while since its so wildly different from pretty much any of the Anime works.  Ready for a super sassy Major and a seriously annoyed Aramaki?  I know I am.

 
#3-Voice Casting Options

One of the only redeemable aspect of SAC_2045 was Netflix managing to reunite much of the original cast from the first two seasons of Stand Alone Complex and the Solid State Society Movie.  This included Mary Elizibeth McGlyyn as Major Motoko Kusinagi, Crispin Freeman as Togusa  and Richard Epcar and William Knight as Batou and Aramaki, roles they’ve reprised for every Anime project since the original movie except for Ghost in the Shell: Arise.  I’m wondering if there’s a chance we could get this gang together again for more Section 9 fun.  Granted as I said above, the tone of the Manga is a lot more levity to it so who knows if the same cast would be appropriate.  That said, since Epcar and Knight have worked so long with Batou and Aramaki, they should get first cracks at auditions.
 
BTW: There’s a Ghost in the Shell Video Game from 1997 that features Anime Cutscenes AND the voice cast from the original 1995 movie, including Richard Epcar and William Knight.  If you wanna see what they could do with this kind of material, check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTkOvNDhO_Y&t=510s

 
#2-Science Saru

While most of the Ghost in the Shell Anime have had animation handled by Production IG, this time the studio is staying on with the production committee but they’re handing off the lead reigns to another studio.  If you don’t recognize Science Saru’s work, stop what you’re doing right now and go watch Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.  When you see just how well they brought that loud, wacky and imaginative world to life, you’ll be convinced too that they’re a perfect fit for a Masamune style Ghost in the Shell series.  Not to mention, they handled the action scenes in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off flawlessly.  Just imagine what they can do with some cybernetic shoot outs and trips into the digital world.  I’m pumped for this based on the studio name alone.
 

#1-A New Kind of Major

Major Motoko Kusinagi is regarded as one of Anime’s most gorgeous, bad ass and complex femme fatales.  She takes her job incredibly seriously and wont take anything second rate during any mission.  While this is the Motoko best associated with the Anime, her Manga counterpart could not be any more different.  Masamune’s original version of The Major is impulsive, rude and a downright smart ass to everyone and anyone.  That clear respect between her and Aramaki in the Anime?  Oh Aramaki could not be anymore annoyed with Motoko’s slacker attitude.  We’re so used to seeing a mission focused Motoko that I wonder what everyone will think of one who’s more immature and fun loving.