The iconic Ghost in the Shell franchise just received a new website, along with more content from the upcoming series.
Newly launched on October 31, 2023, this website collects all property impressions to date. This includes the original Masamune Shirow manga that spawned the franchise, as well as the legendary television series, anime series, and even a live-action Hollywood adaptation starring Scarlet Johansson. Along with this folder, there is an interview with Shirow himself, detailing the history of the series and what went into its making, alongside a new drawing of him with Major Motoko Kusanagi.
Perhaps most importantly, the interview concerns the Ghost in the Shell manga, which has been largely overlooked in comparison to its more famous television and anime versions. Shirow’s manga has his usual “cartoon” art style, which makes it somewhat different and more fun than later adaptations. At the same time, it still delves into philosophical and cyberpunk themes, setting the stage for what fans around the world love from the franchise.
The impact of Ghost in the Shell will also be explored through a new project hosted on the site. Titled “Ghost in the Shell MMA – Messy Mesh Ambition”, this is a discussion that looks at various social topics. These will be compared to the future seen in the series and note how the prophetic Shirow series ended. Special guests will join to see how Ghost in the Shell has impacted anime in general and society in particular, although the names of these guests have not yet been revealed.
The original Ghost in the Shell manga ran from 1989 to 1990, although this is far from the scope of the series. 1995 saw the release of the landmark anime film Ghost in the Shell, which continues to be praised by viewers worldwide. Known for its breathtaking yet harrowing depiction of the cyberpunk genre, it is largely considered a major influence on Western science fiction films, especially The Matrix. The 2002 anime Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex also remains a staple in the anime community, especially within the Western Adult Swim animation block. The latest animated entry in the series is Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, released on Netflix in 2020.
Source: Ghost in the Shell official global website, Crunchyroll