New Ghost in the Shell anime in the works at Science SARU

Science SARU is taking the helm of Ghost in the Shell again. The studio announced on October 23 that a new animation based on Masamune Shirow's manga is now in production, just months after Ghost in the Shell THE GHOST IN THE SHELL finished airing in the July to September 2026 season.

The announcement came with no press conference and no trailer. It slipped into a flyer handed out during the press preview for the OPEN HOUSE event held on October 24 at DOVER STREET MARKET GINZA in Tokyo. An announcement visual was published alongside the text. No title, no confirmed format, and no release window: it's unclear whether it will be a film, a TV series, or an OVA.

What is clear is the team. Science SARU is handling production, and it's not a risky bet: the studio already worked on the 2026 TV adaptation and knows the material. Its recent track record includes Inu-Oh, nominated for a Golden Globe for best animated feature, as well as Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dandadan. It's a studio that moves comfortably between visual experimentation and frantic action, two things that suit Ghost in the Shell well.

A franchise that doesn't sit still

The original manga began in 1989 in issue 5 of Young Magazine Kaizokuban, a supplement to the seinen magazine Young Magazine. Since then, Shirow's work has spawned one of the most influential science fiction franchises Japan has produced. Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film changed international animation, and from there came series, OVAs, sequels, a Hollywood remake with Scarlett Johansson, and now this new phase under the Bandai Namco Filmworks umbrella.

The 2026 series already divided opinions. Science SARU went for a cleaner aesthetic and a different pace from Stand Alone Complex, and not everyone who grew up with the Production I.G. version ended up convinced. Even so, the studio showed it can carry the weight of the franchise without just copying what worked before.

With so little information on the table, the sensible thing is to wait for Bandai Namco Filmworks to publish details on its official social channels. The title, format, and dates will show up there. For now, there's just a visual and the certainty that Ghost in the Shell keeps expanding.

What format would you like for this new installment: film, series, or something more experimental? I'll read it in the comments.