A new survey shows Japanese anime fans are looking forward to Ghost in the Shell more than the final season of Bleach. The research group CM Site Co. Ltd asked 2,452 anime viewers which Summer 2026 shows they want to see the most. Science Saru’s new Ghost in the Shell reboot came in first place with 115 votes. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4: The Calamity got 110 votes and took second place.
The results came out on June 7, 2026 through Ranking!, a Japanese site for pop culture rankings. The survey took place on May 17, 2026. This is a big change because Bleach’s final season was expected to be the top show of the summer.
Top 5 Most Anticipated Summer 2026 Anime
The complete top five list from the survey is:
- Ghost in the Shell (2026) – 115 votes
- Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4: The Calamity – 110 votes
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3
- The Elusive Samurai Season 2
- From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2
Why Fans Picked Ghost in the Shell
People who joined the survey shared why they voted for the new Ghost in the Shell. One person said, “I’m happy to see that futuristic feel in modern animation.” Another fan stated they “want to experience the coolness of Motoko Kusanagi again.”
New viewers also showed interest in the series. One voter called it “a famous work” and said, “I want to take this opportunity to watch it.” The Japanese survey results also noted fans are excited to see how the cyberpunk world looks with today’s animation quality.
Ghost in the Shell Release Date and Streaming Details
The new Ghost in the Shell anime will come out on July 7, 2026. Prime Video will stream the show exclusively for viewers outside of Japan. In Japan, the series will air every Tuesday at 11 PM on Fuji TV and Kansai TV as part of the “Tuesday Anime Festival” block.
Science Saru, the studio behind Dandadan and Devilman Crybaby, is making the new adaptation. This version follows the original manga by Masamune Shirow more closely than past adaptations. The show will also be shown at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026.
Story Details for the New Ghost in the Shell
The story takes place in the year 2029. Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg, leads an elite team called Public Security Section 9. The group includes characters like Batou, Togusa, Ishikawa, Saito, Borma, and Paz. They work to stop cybercrimes and catch dangerous hackers.
The main villain is a mysterious hacker known as The Puppet Master. This character can break into people’s “ghosts” (their digital minds) and change them. The series asks big questions about what makes someone human when bodies can be replaced with machines.
Bleach’s Final Season Still Coming in July
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4: The Calamity will still release in July 2026 even though it came second in the survey. This is the final part of the four-season run that started in October 2022. The show will end the long story of Ichigo Kurosaki and his battle against Yhwach and the Quincies.
Studio Pierrot is making this last season under their Pierrot Films label. The show streams on Disney+ and Hulu in many regions.
Other Summer 2026 Anime to Watch
The survey also showed strong interest in other returning shows. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 came in third place. This popular isekai series continues the story of Rudeus Greyrat in a fantasy world.
The Elusive Samurai Season 2 from CloverWorks took fourth place. The show follows Tokiyuki Hojo, a young boy trying to survive after his family gets killed. From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2 finished the top five.
Other big Summer 2026 anime include One Piece: Heroines on July 5, Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3, and Tomb Raider King. Kyoto Animation is also releasing a new original show called Sparks of Tomorrow on July 5.
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Global Streaming Availability
Viewers in the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, and India can watch Ghost in the Shell on Prime Video starting July 7, 2026. The show will have subtitles in multiple languages. New episodes will come out every Tuesday after the Japanese broadcast.
The original Ghost in the Shell manga is available in English from Kodansha USA for fans who want to read the source material before the anime starts.
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