We already knew the new Ghost in the Shell anime was coming on July 7, 2026. What we weren’t sure of was where. Now it’s confirmed: the Science SARU series will be available on Prime Video simultaneously in over 240 countries and regions on its release day, making it one of the most accessible anime launches of the year from the start.

The distribution strategy is straightforward: simultaneous TV and streaming release on July 7, with no regional waiting periods. The new trailer released with this announcement reinforces the series’ visual and atmospheric tone, hinting at the creative direction the Science SARU team is taking.

The first two episodes premiered worldwide at the Annecy International Animation Festival in June, and on July 4 there will be a screening at Anime Expo followed by a panel with director Mokochan, character designer Shuhei Handa, and other team members. For a franchise with Ghost in the Shell’s historical weight, presenting at Annecy before the official premiere shows the production’s ambitions.

Production Team

Mokochan makes his directorial debut on this project at Science SARU. The scripts and series composition are handled by Toh Enjoe. Character design and chief animation direction are by Shuhei Handa. The music is directed and composed by Taisei Iwasaki, Ryo Konishi, and Yuki Kanesaka. The production committee includes Bandai Namco Filmworks, Kodansha, Science SARU, and Production I.G.

About Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell (Kokaku Kidotai) is one of Japan’s most influential science fiction franchises, originating from Masamune Shirow’s 1989 manga. The 1995 film by Mamoru Oshii redefined what anime could achieve as a philosophical and visual medium, and since then the franchise has expanded through series like Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and multiple adaptations. Science SARU’s new version was announced in May 2024 and marks the studio’s debut in one of anime’s most demanding universes, with a global Prime Video release giving the franchise an unprecedented reach.

Does simultaneous Prime Video access in over 240 countries seem like the right way to launch a new Ghost in the Shell entry, or would you prefer more time to build anticipation before a global release?