Ghost in the Shell may be a classic anime, but the 2017 live-action movie is not quite considered a classic, even though it certainly had its merits. The Ghost in the Shell manga emerged in 1989, defining cyberpunk culture for many at the time and resulting in the iconic 1995 anime movie. The follow-up movie, 2004's Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence had mixed reviews and has a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And yet, out of all the Ghost in the Shell movies, the American live-action picture may be the most misunderstood. 35711t

Ghost in the Shell is one of the most popular anime and manga franchises ever created, and its many different iterations throughout nearly four decades of activity have been met with acclaim from both critics and fans alike. The series helped to define the cyberpunk genre in the 1990s, and opened the door for countless grimy sci-fi stories to rise to popularity in the decades to follow.

At face value, Ghost in the Shell seems like one of the most successful anime franchises of all time. The original 1995 film, directed by Mamoru Oshii, was an early global hit for theatrical anime, influencing a generation of science fiction films, including The Matrix. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded with numerous sequels and spin-offs, leading up to a newly announced series slated for release in 2026 from Science SARU (Devilman Crybaby.)

Since its debut as an anime film in 1995, Ghost in the Shell has been closely associated with its original director, Mamoru Oshii. Over the decades, the Ghost in the Shell universe has expanded to include multiple sequels, spin-offs, and even a live-action Hollywood adaptation. However, Oshii has only directed two entries in the franchise: the 1995 original and its 2004 sequel, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. Fans have long speculated whether Oshii would ever return to the cyberpunk series that brought him worldwide acclaim. Now, we finally have an update—of sorts.

Ghost in the Shell (1995) is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I was incredibly disappointed by how soulless the live-action remake turned out to be. As someone who watched Dragonball Evolution in theaters on opening weekend in 2009, Ghost in the Shell (2017) was far from being my first disappointment with a live-action anime adaptation. The difference is that, whereas a lot of anime series like Dragon Ball seemed impossible to adapt to a different media anyway, Ghost in the Shell could have actually worked as a live-action feature film.

The 1990s were an exceptional decade for filmmaking, and many of the movies that came out during this period were in conversation with the dystopian genre. Part of this was because emerging technologies and innovations were developing at an exponential speed, making creatives question what the world would look like in the future. Additionally, since the end of the century was approaching, anxieties around Y2K and the new millennium sparked interest in these dystopian stories. Many of these are sci-fi masterpiece movies everyone should watch, while others only have small speculative fiction elements.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the landmark 1995 Ghost in the Shell anime film, the first-ever large-scale, comprehensive Ghost in the Shell exhibition has been announced for Tokyo in 2026. Bringing together content from every iteration of the seminal cyberpunk series is no easy feat. Visitors of the exhibition will be able to experience the evolution of this iconic series firsthand, from its manga origins to its anime adaptation. As anticipation builds, this exhibition is shaping up to be a must-visit event for Ghost in the Shell’s longtime audience and newcomers alike.

Originally released to theaters in 2004, director Mamoru Oshii’s classic cyberpunk animeGhost in the Shell 2: Innocence is set to return to theaters in Japan this February in the form of a stunning new 4K remastered version. The original Ghost in the Shell will also be screened with a 4K remaster, allowing audiences to experience both films in high definition.

Mamoru Oshii, the legendary director behind anime masterpieces like Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor, is no stranger to creating thought-provoking, deeply philosophical stories. Known for his contemplative approach to storytelling, Oshii's work has often explored complex themes, including identity, technology, and the human condition. So when the latest installment in the iconic Godzilla franchise, Godzilla Minus One, hit theaters, it was expected that Oshii would have insightful thoughts about it.

Hollywood’s live-action adaptations of classic anime tend to disappoint, but Scarlett Johansson’s 2017 redo of Ghost in the Shell really took the cake. Given the widespread popularity of anime, it makes sense that Tinseltown has taken it upon itself to use live-action movies and TV shows to introduce those beloved stories and characters to a western audience. But as with most of Hollywood’s efforts to bring other mediums into the blockbuster space — book adaptations, video game adaptations, etc. — they usually fall far short of their source material (and often flagrantly betray their long-time fans).