New Ghost in the Shell Anime to Have World Premiere at Annecy Festival
One of the greatest legends of the cyberpunk genre, Ghost in the Shell, is returning with a brand-new anime series. Exciting news for fans of the series came from the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival. According to the official announcement, the new anime project will hold its world premiere at this festival, which will be held in France between June 21-27, 2026. This special screening is preparing to make a major splash by presenting the series' new visual language and atmosphere to a wide audience for the first time.
Behind this new adaptation is the Science SARU studio, which has produced successful works in recent years such as Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. The director's chair is occupied by Mokochan (Toma Kimura), who will be making their directorial debut. On the screenwriting side, award-winning science fiction author EnJoe Toh is involved. How the series, which has been identified with Production I.G for many years, will gain a new breath of life with Science SARU's unique dynamic style has already become a subject of great curiosity.
Visually, this new series combines 90s anime aesthetics with a modern touch. Shuhei Handa, who is in charge of character design, states that they have adopted a more "linear" and vibrant style while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original manga. Additionally, the new logo for the series was designed by world-renowned artist Hajime Sorayama. Original manga creator Masamune Shirow emphasized that this project will be the tenth major adaptation in the series' history, stating that this new adventure of Motoko Kusanagi serves as a return to its cyberpunk roots.
Immediately following the premiere at Annecy, the series will begin airing on television in Japan in July 2026. For global audiences, the good news came from Amazon Prime Video; the platform will exclusively stream the series worldwide (excluding Russia and China). Featuring names like Taisei Iwasaki, Ryo Konishi, and YUKI KANESAKA on the music side, the production promises both a nostalgic atmosphere and futuristic depth. For cyberpunk enthusiasts, 2026 will be a year in which they will witness the rebirth of the Public Security Section 9 team through modern animation techniques.
