The recent premiere of Science Saru's 2026 adaptation of Ghost in the Shell has sparked considerable confusion among fans who have only experienced the franchise through its previous anime iterations, particularly Mamoru Oshii's seminal 1995 film. These viewers are reportedly baffled by the new series' colorful, silly, and overtly "horny" tone, which stands in stark contrast to the darker, more stoic aesthetic they have come to associate with the franchise.
This divergence has led to an influx of posts on platforms like Reddit and X from anime-only fans expressing dissatisfaction, with some accusing the studio of "character assassinating" Major Motoko Kusanagi and undermining the series' traditionally serious and dark atmosphere. Reviewers on Letterboxd and IMDb have echoed these sentiments.
However, veteran fans and those familiar with Masamune Shirow's original 1989 manga argue that Science Saru's adaptation is, in fact, the most faithful to the source material to date. The manga is known for its more explicit and sometimes bizarre elements, including scenes that have been described as R-rated, a far cry from the more restrained depictions in most anime adaptations. The creator of the original manga, Masamune Shirow, has also been noted as a prolific artist in the hentai genre, a fact that many newer fans are unaware of.
The disconnect stems from the fact that nearly every Ghost in the Shell adaptation prior to Science Saru's has deviated from Shirow's original work. Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film, while highly influential, significantly altered the source material, presenting a more subdued and psychologically focused Major Kusanagi, a darker visual style, and more realistic violence. This film set a precedent that subsequent adaptations, including Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: Arise, and even the 2017 live-action film starring Scarlett Johansson, largely followed. These series often adapted elements of the manga's plot or world but opted not to replicate its characterizations or more eccentric narrative choices.
This consistent departure from the manga in previous adaptations has made it difficult for fans accustomed to these interpretations to accept Science Saru's more direct approach. The studio's director, Moko-chan, addressed this in a recent interview, explaining that the project's core philosophy was to engage directly with the original manga's spirit, rather than just its surface-level elements. He emphasized that while the atmosphere might be brighter and more dynamic, the fundamental themes of Ghost in the Shell remain intact, and he hopes viewers can appreciate the distinct stylistic choices each iteration offers.