Highlights
- New Ghost in the Shell adaptation by Science Saru promises a manga-accurate take for a fresh approach in 2026.
- Science Saru’s involvement marks a significant change in the franchise, breaking away from Production I.G’s tradition.
- The upcoming TV series aims to reboot the system, delivering a different tone and faithful adaptation to Shirow Masamune’s work.
For over three decades, Shirow Masamune’s Ghost in the Shell has blown people’s minds with its stylish yet grounded political commentary on the blurring line between human and machine. Putting aside its influence on works across the pop culture zeitgeist, it has received several anime adaptations, each one distinct, yet rarely capturing the same tone as the manga, until – just maybe – now.
On Saturday, May 25, Bandai Namco Filmworks revealed that a new adaptation of Ghost in the Shell was in the works and slated to air on TV in 2026, referred to simply as The Ghost in the Shell. With the project undoubtedly early in production, no details were given about the production staff, but it was confirmed that the studio behind it would be Science Saru (Devilman Crybaby, Dandadan).
Why Science Saru’s Involvement Is Huge
For those who have followed this franchise for a while and are familiar with more than one of its iterations, just the announcement of the studio working on it was a surprise. This is a franchise that has historically always been helmed by Production I.G, the studio behind such iconic science fiction works as Patlabor, Psycho-Pass, or even last year’s Heavenly Delusion. No matter how Ghost in the Shell has been reimagined over the years, it’s always been their name slapped on the tin.
It’s not as if Production I.G is completely absent, mind you. They, along with Bandai, Kodansha, and – naturally – Science Saru are on the production committee for this new series. Still, this marks the first time that a different studio has put its name on a new installment in the franchise, discounting collaborations like Ghibli on Innocence or Sola Digital Arts on SAC_2045. Of all the studios that could have taken over, however, Science Saru is a very exciting choice.
Science Saru Is Certainly Up to the Task
Science Saru was founded in 2013 by famed director Masaaki Yuasa and animator Eunyoung Choi. From this studio came many of Yuasa’s directorial works, like Ping Pong, Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, Night is Short, Walk On Girl, Ride Your Wave, and Inu-Oh. Yuasa stepped down as president of Science Saru in 2020, but in his absence, the artists who worked alongside him have taken the studio into an exciting new phase.
Famed Kyoto Animation director Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice, K-On), left KyoAni to direct 2021’s The Heike Story at Science Saru. Her next two films, like June 2024’s The Colors Within and Garden of Remembrance, are also Science Saru productions. Additionally, Abel Gongora, the animator behind Eizouken‘s viral OP, directed 2023’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Fūga Yamashiro, an assistant director to Yuasa, will helm the long-awaited adaptation of Dandadan.
But Why the Change, Exactly?
Essentially, the series is in good hands, from a studio with impressive beginnings and the early signs of a strong future thanks to a nuanced production philosophy and great creative minds. Still, one might wonder what prompted the change in studios to begin with and, as of the time of writing, there’s very little beyond conjecture to answer that question. Regardless of the official reason, though, it might be for the best that Ghost in the Shell is in fresh hands.
Ghost in the Shell Needs A System Reboot
As groundbreaking as this franchise is, and as recognizable as the brand has remained all these years on, Ghost in the Shell‘s recent iterations are not without flaws. Ghost in the Shell: Arise, the OVA series that began in 2013, was praised for its slick action and excellent score, but is often looked at less favorably for its narrative. This isn’t to say Arise was bad – just that it wasn’t as captivating as Stand Alone Complex nor as thought-provoking as Mamoru Oshii’s films.
Even when Production I.G and Sola Digital Arts revived the Stand Alone Complex continuity for SAC_2045, many fans were reluctant on account of the CGI. Even with original director/writer Kenji Kamiyama returning, there were qualms to be had with the storytelling, and fans weren’t as keen to give this new iteration the attention they had to the original. There’s much to be said about how valid certain complaints were, but the overarching problem generally seems to be a sense of fatigue.
In a series famous for its eerily accurate predictions of the future inherent to its conception at a time when the internet was new, it’s not just difficult to imagine a fresh take – it seems foolish to even attempt. One runs the risk of creating a pastiche of what Oshii or Kamiyama already did so well, or, trying to explore a new idea, but lacking the storytelling prowess of past directors (like Arise). Thankfully, there’s one creator the anime adaptations have yet to tap fully: Shirow Masamune.
The Creator of the Series Himself Is Right There
Some time ago, we wrote about how – amusingly – the most accurate animated take on Ghost in the Shell manga came from the cutscenes from the PS1 video game. These were also animated by Production I.G and featured the cast of the 1995 film, but were so different in tone that, in retrospect, fans who grew up with the films and TV show might be shocked. It’s still political, still philosophical, and still loaded with action, but with a silliness to it that is lost in a lot of adaptations.
And this is what makes Science Saru’s announcement so tantalizing. Rather than announce the new series with a piece of key art with a bold new design for the Major, the promotional poster and teaser opted for manga art exclusively. It suggests that this new TV anime might finally give fans a manga-accurate take that could very well adapt the original work in its entirety, rather than just reimagine it the way past successes have.
To reiterate, this isn’t exactly confirmed. There is only the promotional video and poster as of the time of writing, but if The Ghost in the Shell truly is to be a worthwhile entry in this legendary franchise, it might need to look to where it all began. It would certainly be different, and it wouldn’t be a shock if some anime-only fans mistook the tone change for a betrayal, as opposed to a faithful adaptation. Regardless of what comes to be, 2026 can’t come soon enough.
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