The new Ghost in the Shell TV anime series is finally arriving in July 2026. Science SARU, the studio behind popular anime like DAN DA DAN and Devilman Crybaby, has produced this fresh take on Masamune Shirow’s classic cyberpunk manga. The series will premiere on July 7, 2026, and will be available for streaming worldwide.
Global Streaming Release on Prime Video
The Ghost in the Shell will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. This marks a major release for the platform, as the series will be available to a massive global audience right from its debut.
The series will be available in Japan on Prime Video starting July 7, 2026, at 11:30 PM JST. For viewers in other regions, the episodes will drop every Tuesday, though the exact worldwide release timing is still being confirmed.
The streaming availability excludes mainland China, Russia, and Vietnam.
Japanese TV Broadcast Schedule
In Japan, the series will broadcast on the Kansai TV and Fuji TV network every Tuesday at 11:00 PM JST within the “Ka-Anival!!” programming block. The first episode airs on July 7, 2026.
Early Screenings Before the Premiere
Fans have already gotten a chance to see the first two episodes ahead of the official release. The series had its global premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France on June 22, 2026. The screening event, called “Dive into The Ghost in the Shell,” included behind-the-scenes insights from director Mokochan and the creative team.
The first two dubbed episodes also screened in UK cinemas on June 26, 2026. France had special theatrical screenings on July 4 and 5, 2026, just before the streaming debut.
What to Expect from Episode 1
Episode 1 throws viewers straight into the cyberpunk world of 2029. The story follows Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg who leads Public Security Section 9—an offensive unit known as the “Shell Squad”.
The premiere introduces a world where computer technology allows people to have cyberbrains that interface with networks. Prostheses let users become cyborgs, blurring the line between human and machine.
Early reviews from the Annecy screening praise the show’s hand-drawn animation style. The series uses bright colors, creative 3D animation for machines, and a focus on character dynamics. The humor from the original manga, which was missing in previous adaptations, is present here.
The first episode also sets up the main antagonist—an unidentified hacker known as the “Puppet Master”. This mysterious figure holds the key to the story’s main conflict.
English Dub Cast Revealed
The English dub cast for The Ghost in the Shell has been announced. The main voice actors include:
- Suzie Yeung as Motoko Kusanagi
- SungWon Cho as Aramaki
- Bill Butts as Batou
- Nick Apostolides as Togusa
Additional voices include Chris Tergliafera, Craig Lee Thomas, Emi Lo, Erica Mendez, Frank Todaro, Lucien Dodge, Rebecca Wang, Rich Brown, and Todd Haberkorn.
Production Team Behind the Series
The Ghost in the Shell marks the directorial debut of Mokochan (Touma Kimura), who previously worked as a key animator and storyboarder on DAN DA DAN and Tatami Time Machine Blues.
The screenplay comes from science fiction author EnJoe Toh. Shuhei Handa serves as character designer and executive animation director. The music is composed by Taisei Iwasaki (known for Belle), along with Ryo Konishi and Yuki Kanesaka.
The series is produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks, Kodansha, Science SARU, and Production I.G.
What Makes This Adaptation Different
This new Ghost in the Shell series is the first direct adaptation of the original manga that has the time to give smaller moments justice. Previous adaptations, like Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film, didn’t include the humor found in the source material.
The show’s visual style stands out with its hand-drawn animation, which gives the action a fluid and tactile feel. The series goes for a retro look, featuring electronics like CD drives, buttons, and even VCRs instead of touchscreens and holograms.
The score mixes jazz with orchestral music and synth sounds. Early reviews call this new adaptation the best Ghost in the Shell project in 30 years.
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Episode Release Schedule
The series will release new episodes weekly. Each episode drops every Tuesday, following the Japanese broadcast schedule. The total episode count has not been officially confirmed, but reports suggest either 12 or 24 episodes.
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