THE GHOST IN THE SHELL (2026): where to watch, cast and plot

About the series

The Ghost in the Shell (Japanese: 攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, Hepburn: Kōkaku Kidōtai) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Science Saru, based on the 1989–91 manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow and part of its media franchise. It aired from July to September 2026.

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The Ghost in the Shell (Japanese: 攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, Hepburn: Kōkaku Kidōtai) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Science Saru, based on the 1989–91 manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow and part of its media franchise. It aired from July to September 2026.

Plot

Set in Japan in 2029, Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg who leads an elite combat unit that includes fellow cyborg Batou. In a world connected by vast information networks, where cybernetic enhancement has increasingly blurred the distinction between humans and machines, Kusanagi seeks to establish a specialized force capable of responding proactively to emerging technological and security threats.

At the same time, Daisuke Aramaki of the Ministry of Home Affairs is planning a similar organization and recruits Kusanagi and her team. Together, they form Public Security Section 9, an aggressive tactical unit that investigates cybercrime and terrorism. Their operations eventually draw them toward a mysterious unidentified hacker known as the Puppet Master, who can infiltrate cybernetic minds and manipulate people as unwitting agents.

Production

With the anime's production committee comprising Science Saru with Bandai Namco Filmworks, Kodansha and Production I.G, the series is directed by Mokochan, with series composition and scripts by En Joe Toh, with character designs and chief animation direction by Shuhei Handa, with Taisei Iwasaki, Ryo Konishi, and Yuki Kanesaka composing the music. The opening theme song is "Go Ghost", performed by King Gnu, while the ending theme song is "Blue", performed by Millennium Parade featuring Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar.

On January 30, 2026, the key visual and preview video were released along with the launch of the series website and social media accounts.

Release

The anime premiered at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 22, 2026, with a 90-minute special event "Dive into Ghost in the Shell. Mokochan, Daichi Sasa, Kengo Abe, and Kohei Sakita appeared as special guests.

The UK and Ireland had screenings for the first two episodes in English on June 26, 2026. On July 5 of the same year, the episodes were screened at Anime Expo in Los Angeles.

The series aired from July 7 to September 8, 2026, on the Ka-Anival!! programming block on all FNS affiliates, including Kansai TV and Fuji TV. Amazon Prime Video streams the series worldwide and holds an exclusive early release window in Japan, with the exception of China, Russia and Vietnam.

Episodes

Notes

References

External links

Official website

The Ghost in the Shell (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

The Ghost in the Shell at IMDb

Text from The Ghost in the Shell (2026 TV series) on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ghost_in_the_Shell_(2026_TV_series)

Seasons

Temporada 1 2026 · 10 episodes
Especiais 2026 · 2 episodes

Cast

Maaya Sakamoto Motoko Kusanagi (voice)
Hiroki Yasumoto Batou (voice)
Yuichi Nakamura Togusa (voice)
Kazuhiro Yamaji Daisuke Aramaki (voice)
Kousuke Goto Ishikawa (voice)
Toru Nara Saito (voice)
Marie Oi Operator (voice)
Tomoko Kaneda Fuchikoma (voice)
藤井陽葵 Adam
天野実結 Link
ン・シェリル Newscaster (voice)

Where to watch

Prime Video Streaming

Production

StatusEnded
NetworkAKT, Ehime Broadcasting, Fuji TV, Fukui TV, Fukushima TV, Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, Ishikawa TV, Iwate Menkoi Television, Kansai TV, Kochi Sun Sun Broadcasting, KTN, KTS, NBS, NST, OHK, Okinawa Television Broadcasting, SAGA TV, Sakuranbo TV, Sendai Television, Television Shin Hiroshima System, TNC, Tokai Television Broadcasting, Toyama Television, TSK, TV Kumamoto and TV Shizuoka
CountriesJapan
titulo_original攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL
First aired07/07/2026
votes58

Crew

円城塔 Writer
崎田康平 Producer
阿部研吾 Producer
笹大地 Producer
谷口博邦 Producer

Questions about the series THE GHOST IN THE SHELL

What is THE GHOST IN THE SHELL about?

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL: 2029, a near-future Japan. The full cyborg Motoko Kusanagi envisions a task force that preemptively strikes emerging threats. She and her team are scouted by Daisuke Aramaki as Public Security Section 9, AKA the "Shell Squad." An international conspiracy hints at a hacker known as The "Puppet Master." What fate awaits…

How many seasons does THE GHOST IN THE SHELL have?

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL has 1 season, with 10 episodes in total.

Is THE GHOST IN THE SHELL still running?

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL has ended in 2026.

How long is each episode of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL?

Each episode of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL runs about 25 minutes.

Where can I watch THE GHOST IN THE SHELL?

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL is available on Prime Video. Availability changes often.

Who stars in THE GHOST IN THE SHELL?

The cast of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL includes Maaya Sakamoto, Hiroki Yasumoto, Yuichi Nakamura, Kazuhiro Yamaji and Kousuke Goto.

Which country is THE GHOST IN THE SHELL from?

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL is a J-drama, produced in Japan.