Science SARU’s animated adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, based on Masamune Shirow’s celebrated sci-fi series, premiered on July 7. The debut episode has received widespread acclaim for its authentic recreation of the manga’s distinctive tone and wit, presenting a fresh perspective compared to previous iterations such as Mamoru Oshii’s iconic 1995 feature film.
In a recent conversation with WIRED Japan, Mokochan, the director of this new anime who is making his directorial debut with The Ghost in the Shell, discussed his approach to the adaptation. He detailed the unconventional methods he employed while engaging with the source material over a period of about a year and a half.
Mokochan reveals that both Shirow’s and Oshii’s versions of Ghost in the Shell “opened up” something within him and “radically shifted his worldview” when he first experienced them during his youth. As an ardent fan of the franchise and fully aware of the sky-high expectations for the new series, he understood that any misstep on his part would lead to severe criticism.
When describing the methodology he adopted for the adaptation, Mokochan states, “If I had to encapsulate it in a single term, I’d call it itako art.” Itako refers to skilled female mediums, traditionally blind, believed to possess the ability to communicate with spirits and Shinto deities. Mokochan, of course, uses this term hyperbolically, explaining it as “striving for spiritual connection with the original creator” and transcending the bounds of logic.
Although Mokochan has never personally met Shirow, he explains that by repeatedly reading the original Ghost in the Shell manga, he gradually constructed a mental image of the author.
“I would meditate on this mental construct of Shirow that emerged from my immersion in the manga. Then, after approximately three days, the solution would quietly materialize. At that juncture, it ceased to matter whether the insight originated from my own thoughts or my interpretation of the source material. That is precisely what I mean by spiritual connection.”
Conversely, the production received analytical and intellectual backing from scenario writer EnJoe Toh, whom Mokochan praises for his deep understanding of Ghost in the Shell’s world and technology.
Together, they regarded the original manga as “sacred text” as they endeavored to adapt it faithfully. “EnJoe remarked that the original manga is a work that unveils new insights with each revisit as one matures, and I wholeheartedly concur,” Mokochan says. “Simply because I don’t grasp something at 33 doesn’t permit me to dismissively ask, ‘Is this part truly necessary?’ I refuse to disregard anything depicted in the original as if it never occurred. Even if something doesn’t appear on screen due to practical limitations like runtime, I ensure it still ‘exists’ elsewhere beyond the frame.”
Adhering to this philosophy, Mokochan determined that his version of The Ghost in the Shell would permit adjustments and enhancements tailored to the anime medium, but would not permit alterations to events originally depicted in the story.
The Ghost in the Shell anime is currently streaming on Prime Video.