The Ghost in the Shell (2026) – The Must-Watch Anime This Summer

Science SARU's The Ghost in the Shell (2026) premieres this July 7! Here's why this stunning, manga-accurate cyberpunk reboot is the next season's ultimate must-watch!

I believe many of you didn't notice, but one of the legendary IPs, Ghost in the Shell, will actually be making a comeback in the upcoming season, named The Ghost In The Shell. You may wonder what I am talking about, but you probably already know it. The famous actress Scarlett Johansson starred in a live-action movie adaptation of it back in 2017.

This is a legendary IP, but to be honest, I am actually not familiar with it. I've known about this IP for a long time, and I knew that Scarlett Johansson had done a movie for it, but I never really got around to checking it out. This time, entirely by coincidence, I watched all the trailers for the latest work, The Ghost in the Shell, and I am quite surprised it looks quite good!

Source: 攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL｜TVアニメ公式｜ Official X account

Just so everyone is on the same page, The Ghost in the Shell title I'm talking about in this post isn't an old, already-aired anime, but a brand-new series coming out next season. According to official announcements, The Ghost in the Shell will premiere its first episode worldwide on July 7, 2026, streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime. Fans of the Dandadan series will be glad to know this new anime is being produced by Science Saru!

Although we only have trailers so far, based on their quality, I'm confident in declaring The Ghost In The Shell a must-watch anime for the upcoming season. I know that besides my own thoughts, you might have some burning questions about this new series, so I've listed them below. I hope these FAQs help you start your own journey into The Ghost In The Shell!

Source: 攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL｜TVアニメ公式｜ Official X account

Why should we be excited about an old anime IP? For those unfamiliar with the franchise, let me explain why you should still be excited. The first major reason is Science Saru. The Dandadan series and their other amazing titles have already proven how incredible this studio is, so based on their track record alone, we have a lot to look forward to!

The second reason is the high-quality animation. Even though we only have trailers so far, you can easily tell how amazing the animation is going to be. Science Saru has nailed it once again; every single scene of The Ghost in the Shell looks absolutely incredible. For those who can't picture what I'm talking about, you need to go watch the trailers right now!

The third reason is the top-tier voice acting. According to the official announcements, the legendary voice actress Sakamoto Maaya has a role in this anime. Although the production team is keeping her exact role a secret, she will most likely be playing the main character, Kusanagi Motoko. Sakamoto has voiced a ton of iconic characters across The Fate series, the Digimon series, The Seven Deadly Sins, and many other amazing titles. Her acting skills are universally recognized and loved, so just hearing her voice is reason enough to look forward to this anime!

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.

Why I'm tracking it episode by episode instead of waiting. This anime really has everything I look for. Especially since I am a huge fan of Sakamoto Maaya. There's no way I can hold myself back, I'm definitely watching it episode by episode, the moment it drops!

The honest downside. No anime is perfect, of course. Even though I've praised this series and am really looking forward to it, there's always a chance it could flop. Especially since this anime draws from an older IP and aesthetic, nothing is guaranteed. But judging from how incredible the Dandadan series was, I'm willing to bet this anime is going to be the next big hit!

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.

Thank you for reading this post! I completely understand everyone's hesitation; no one wants to invest time in an anime that might disappoint or face backlash. For those of you who want to wait for the community's feedback before diving in, I highly recommend using AnimeOshi. Once The Ghost In The Shell starts airing, fans will be leaving their episode-by-episode reviews, so you'll know exactly whether it's a must-watch or a pass!

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.