The latest anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow's seminal manga, The Ghost in the Shell, which premieres July 7 on Prime Video, is taking a deliberate approach to reverence. Directors Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa explained that the guiding philosophy for this new series was to meticulously adhere to Shirow's original manga, treating it as a direct blueprint rather than a source of inspiration for reinterpretation.
"For this new series, we completely based it on the original manga," Mokochan stated. "The previous series all developed their own different styles and interpretations, but this time we wanted to return directly to the original." This focus extends to ensuring that even newcomers to the franchise can naturally understand the source material through this adaptation. The goal was to present the manga's narrative and themes with fidelity.
Visually, the series intentionally diverges from the more realistic art styles seen in some past adaptations like Stand Alone Complex. Instead, it aims to capture the vibrant, neo-1980s aesthetic found within Shirow's pages. Handa elaborated on this, explaining that the team's objective was not to modernize Major Motoko Kusanagi's design but to faithfully recreate Shirow's original vision. "We tried very hard to completely portray the Major in the same way as Shirow Masamune did in the original manga," he said. This commitment has resulted in a more lively and expressive portrayal of the Major, drawing out the comedic elements present in the original work.
During preparation, Mokochan revisited the manga and was struck by Shirow's prescient understanding of technologies like AI, noting that the work, created over 30 years ago, anticipated many contemporary advancements. However, what resonated most was Shirow's neutral stance on these emerging technologies. "He didn't think about new technology in a positive way or a negative way," Mokochan observed. "He viewed it very neutrally." This perspective has informed the production's approach, aiming to confront today's technology with a similar lack of bias.
Despite adapting a story deeply concerned with artificial intelligence and cybernetics, the team at Science Saru opted for traditional animation techniques over cutting-edge digital methods. "We didn't use so many new technologies," Mokochan explained. "We mainly used traditional hand-drawn techniques." The focus was placed on capturing realistic human movement, a concept Handa described as "human-analog," which he felt was the best way to express the details of the human body. This philosophy even extended to the compositing process, where intentional imperfections like noise and distortions were preserved to add character to the final image, rather than striving for digital perfection.
The directors actively removed the question of balancing Shirow's work with their own creative instincts early in the process. "We decided from the very beginning not to add anything new," Mokochan said. They believed that originality would emerge organically from a steadfast commitment to the source material. "If we always kept the originality that we promised at the beginning, everything would come out naturally."
This approach represents a departure from the trend of bold reinterpretations within the franchise. Science Saru's The Ghost in the Shell posits that the original manga's narrative and themes remain potent, offering insights that extend beyond its technological predictions. Mokochan found a particularly resonant lesson in the manga: the acknowledgment that even a highly capable individual like Major Motoko Kusanagi has limitations to her knowledge. This adaptation reinforces the idea that humans navigate daily life with incomplete information, a concept as relevant today as it was at the manga's debut. The series ultimately invites viewers to confront the future without the pretense of having all the answers, mirroring the original work's enduring message.
The Ghost in the Shell premieres on Prime Video on July 7, with new episodes released Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. ET.