Masamune Shirow’s hit manga series Ghost in the Shell has spawned quite a successful franchise which is about to grow even larger. A new Ghost in the Shell anime has been announced for production according to the anime’s official website.

Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell | Prime Video

The classic Japanese cyberpunk series has been adapted in numerous ways over the decades, and while fans were already over the moon for the latest remaster of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, the franchise has yet again surprised fans with news of a brand new anime series set to hit television screens in 2026.

Bandai Namco Has Announced a 2026 Release For Ghost in the Shell Anime Series

Motoko Kusanagi
Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell | Prime Video

Bandai Namco has announced that Ghost in the Shell will be receiving a television anime series produced by Science SARU, known for successful titles like Dandadan, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Devilman Crybaby. The anime is slated for a 2026 release with no further specifics provided about the air date.

The series is tentatively titled The Ghost in the Shell and has received a promotional video along with the announcement. Also, it should be noted that the latest anime based on the manga is Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 The Last Human, a compilation film for the anime’s second season.

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Though the series will be predominantly animated by Science SARU, the committee in charge also includes notable names like Bandai Namco, Kodansha, and Production I.G., who have produced previous animated installments of the franchise.

Ghost in the Shell Has Inspired Multiple Adaptations Over The Years

Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell
Scarlett Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi | Paramount Pictures

The original Ghost in the Shell manga was serialized from April 1989 – November 1990 in Kodansha’s YOUNG MAGAZINE seinen manga publication. In addition to the original manga, Ghost in the Shell has inspired numerous anime, live-action, and video game adaptations over the years.

However, the live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell in 2017 set off a massive uproar among the fans of the anime as they started a petition over Scarlett Johansson being cast for the role when the original series was set in Japan. Moreover, the live-action adaptation did not do justice to the series and the magic imbued in the source material was all but gone.

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The new Ghost in the Shell anime is set to follow Masamune Shirow’s cyberpunk manga series. The story is set in mid-21st century Japan, where the lines between humans and machines have blurred, with humans relying heavily on machines.

In the midst of this, Major Motoko Kusanagi, who leads a counter-cyberterrorist organization called Public Security Section 9, is tasked to track down dangerous cyber culprits, including the infamous Ghost Hackers, who can exploit human/machine interference and turn them into puppets.

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