Science SARU Revives Ghost in the Shell With New TV Anime Premiering July 7, UK Cinema Screening Confirmed

One of the most influential cyberpunk franchises in history is getting a bold new vision. Science SARU — the studio behind DAN DA DAN, Devilman Crybaby, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off — is bringing The Ghost in the Shell back to television with a brand-new series that premieres on July 7, 2026.

Ahead of the broadcast, UK distributor Anime Limited has announced that the first two episodes will screen in UK cinemas on Friday, June 26, with ticket information available at the official website. Free posters for the anime will also be distributed at London’s MCM Comic Con this weekend.

A New Creative Team

This isn’t a continuation of the Stand Alone Complex timeline or a retread of Mamoru Oshii’s films. Science SARU is charting its own course with a largely fresh creative lineup:

• Director: Mokochan — Making his directorial debut after serving as storyboarder and key animator on DAN DA DAN, The Heike Story, and Tatami Time Machine Blues
• Writer / Series Composition: Toh EnJoe — Acclaimed novelist (The Empire of Corpses) and screenwriter (Space Dandy, Godzilla Singular Point)
• Character Design / Chief Animation Director: Shuhei Handa — Key figure on Little Witch Academia TV, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Spriggan
• Music: Taisei Iwasaki — The composer behind Belle’s unforgettable score, joined by Ryo Konishi and Yuki Kanesaka (Dr. Stone)

The production committee is a dream team of industry heavyweights: Science SARU, Bandai Namco Filmworks, Kodansha, and Production I.G — the latter being the studio behind the original 1995 film and Stand Alone Complex.

What This Adaptation Means

The series is based on Shirow Masamune’s original 1989 manga, and producers have stated it will stay faithful to the source material. In a statement, Masamune himself noted that this is the fourth distinct anime adaptation (or tenth, depending on how you count the various Oshii films, SAC seasons, ARISE entries, and SAC_2045).

“It could be considered the first installment of a second generation,” Masamune wrote, acknowledging the shift in production staff and creative vision.

The series will air on Kansai TV and Fuji TV’s new “Ka-Anival!!” anime programming block on Tuesday nights at 11:00 PM, and will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video worldwide.

A Legacy to Live Up To

Ghost in the Shell isn’t just another anime franchise — it’s a defining work of the cyberpunk genre. Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film directly influenced The Matrix, Blade Runner 2049, and countless other sci-fi properties. Stand Alone Complex (2002-2005) remains one of the most intellectually ambitious TV anime ever produced. Even the divisive SAC_2045 pushed the franchise into new visual territory with 3D CGI.

Science SARU bringing the series back to 2D animation with its signature fluid style — bold linework, expressive character animation, and surreal visual flourishes — is the right call. The studio’s track record with action-heavy, visually inventive material (Devilman Crybaby’s chaotic energy, DAN DA DAN’s kinetic fight choreography, The Heike Story’s emotional restraint) suggests they have the range to handle both the philosophical weight and the action sequences that Ghost in the Shell demands.

The series also carries the bittersweet note that Atsuko Tanaka — the legendary voice of Motoko Kusanagi across multiple adaptations — passed away in August 2024 at age 61. Her absence means a new Major will take the role, a transition that marks this adaptation as a true generational shift for the franchise.

J-Hub’s Take

Let’s be direct: this is the most important anime premiere of 2026. Not just because Ghost in the Shell is a hallowed name — though it is — but because Science SARU at its creative peak taking on this material feels like the right project at the right time.

Mokochan is an inspired choice for director. His work on DAN DA DAN and The Heike Story shows he can handle wildly different tones with equal confidence. Toh EnJoe’s literary background means the scripts will likely tackle the big questions — identity, consciousness, what it means to be human — that define the franchise, rather than defaulting to action set-pieces.

The UK cinema screening on June 26 is a smart rollout. Letting fans see the first two episodes on a big screen builds word-of-mouth before the July 7 broadcast. If you’re in the UK, that Friday is going to be essential viewing.

The Ghost in the Shell marks Science SARU’s most ambitious project to date — and the beginning of a new chapter for a franchise that defined what adult sci-fi anime could be.