The new Ghost in the Shell TV anime — officially The Ghost in the Shell — added two more cast members this week as it rolls through its first cour, per Anime News Network. Kenichi Ogata joins as Col. Tonoda and Masashi Ebara voices the president of Hanka Precision Instruments, both debuting around episode 4. It's the franchise's first fully new TV series since the SAC_2045 project, and this one comes from a very different studio.
Quick answer
The Ghost in the Shell is a 2026 TV anime from Science SARU, directed by Mokochan (directorial debut) with scripts overseen by novelist Toh Enjoe and music by Taisei Iwasaki. It premiered July 7, 2026 on Kansai TV and Fuji TV's "Ka-Anival!!" late-night block and streams globally on Amazon Prime Video (excluding a few territories). Maaya Sakamoto returns as Motoko Kusanagi, with Kazuhiro Yamaji as Aramaki, Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou, and Yūichi Nakamura as Togusa. King Gnu performs the opening "Go Ghost." According to SenpaiRanks, the Ghost in the Shell franchise sits in the upper tier of the sci-fi and cyberpunk ranking boards.
Here's the trailer:
Who's making it
Handing Ghost in the Shell to Science SARU — the studio behind Devilman Crybaby and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off — is the story here. This is not Production I.G's cool, architectural take (though I.G is still a production partner); Science SARU brings a looser, more expressive line. Pairing that with novelist Toh Enjoe on scripts signals a Section 9 that leans harder into the philosophical wiring Masamune Shirow baked into the original manga. King Gnu and MILLENNIUM PARADE on the theme songs keep the music prestige-tier.
The two-axis read
Ghost in the Shell is a franchise where "is it good" genuinely depends on which entry and which viewer — the 1995 film, Stand Alone Complex, and SAC_2045 land very differently. That's exactly the ambiguity SenpaiRanks' Consensus vs Quality split is built to expose, where a single MyAnimeList average would just blur them together. Watching the new series? Rate it and stake your position on where this reboot lands versus the classics.
Where it fits
If sci-fi is your lane this year, pair this with our Neon Genesis Evangelion where-to-watch guide and the Gundam RG Xarx Zero what-we-know breakdown — Kenji Kamiyama, who ran Stand Alone Complex, is behind that one. The what to watch this fall hub tracks the rest, and the Ghost in the Shell ranking page has the score breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where can I watch the new Ghost in the Shell anime?
A: It streams globally on Amazon Prime Video (excluding a few territories) and airs on Kansai TV / Fuji TV's Ka-Anival!! block in Japan.
Q: When did the new Ghost in the Shell anime premiere?
A: July 7, 2026.
Q: Who is making the 2026 Ghost in the Shell?
A: Science SARU, directed by Mokochan, with Toh Enjoe overseeing scripts and Taisei Iwasaki composing. Production I.G is a production partner.
Q: Who voices Motoko Kusanagi in the new series?
A: Maaya Sakamoto returns as the Major, with Kazuhiro Yamaji as Aramaki, Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou, and Yūichi Nakamura as Togusa.
Q: Who are the new cast members?
A: Kenichi Ogata joins as Col. Tonoda and Masashi Ebara voices the president of Hanka Precision Instruments.
Q: Do I need to watch older Ghost in the Shell first?
A: No. It's a fresh series with its own take; prior entries help with context but aren't required.