Acclaimed Japanese cyberpunk classic Ghost In The Shell gets refurbished in a new anime series from Science Saru.
Boy there’s a lot of Ghost In The Shell out there.
There’s the original 1989 manga from Masamune Shirow of course, then the 1995 animated feature film that I assume most people are familiar with, and the best iteration of the whole concept to my mind. Then things start to fray a bit, with 2.0 (don’t bother), Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (not bad), the TV series Stand Alone Complex and Arise and their various derivative works, plus the 2017 live action film with ScarJo that everyone wants to forget. How it all connects and interacts – if it does – is beyond me – I am a simple man of letters. But I do like me some cyberpunk action, and there is a brand new series headed our way from Science Saru (Star Wars: Visions, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off), so let’s take a look.
The Ghost In The Shell Teaser
What’s the plot?
As the official synopsis tells us:
Ghost in the Shell is a landmark work of cyberpunk science fiction set in a near-future when information networks envelop the world and highly advanced cyborg augmentation technology has enabled the creation of the cyberbrain. It follows the story of the full-body cyborg Motoko Kusanagi and the combat force she leads in the fight against cybercrime.
Beginning with Shirow Masamune’s 1989 manga, The Ghost In The Shell, the series has since transcended media boundaries, expanding into mediums like anime, live-action Hollywood film, and video games.
Featuring an innovative, one-of-a-kind sci-fi world combined with spectacular visual imagery, the series has had an immeasurable cultural impact and influenced countless creators around the world.
The new TV anime series, The Ghost In The Shell, is the latest chapter in this storied legacy. Animation production is handled by Science SARU, the animation production company consistently lauded both in Japan and abroad for works such as the Golden Globe nominatee Inu-oh, the Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation winner The Colors Within, the anime television series Dan Da Dan, and more.
When’s it out?
Amazon has the international distro rights, so expect The Ghost In The Shell to hit Prime Video on July. No exact date given as yet, though.
What’s the vibe?
Hearkening back to a time when cyberpunk was a genre and not a registered trademark, The Ghost In The Shell has the difficult task of making new something which is now a pretty well-worn set of tropes, which is a big ask. The animation style seems to a drawing directly on the original manga, so the question at hand is whether this is going to do something new with the property or simply reiterate it faithfully. We’ll see.
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