With red tachikomas and a blue-haired Motoko Kusanagi, the 2026 The Ghost in the Shell anime’s first official trailer plays all the right notes. In just 35 seconds, we get a glimpse of characters and a taste of Masamune Shirow’s 1989 cyberpunk manga that suggests this new adaptation by Saru Science studio (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Dan Da Dan) is heading in the right direction. Finally, the trailer also confirms that The Ghost in the Shell will premiere in July 2026.

Although the trailer is short, we can see what really matters: the vast cynical, industrialized metropolitan city where Public Security Section 9 works; the tank-hybrid Tachikoma cruising over the city using its cables while turning off their camouflage; and Motoko Kusanagi with the ’80s anime design they always deserved.

Saru Science has proved to be capable of delivering impressive animation after adapting the fast-paced combat scenes involving Okarun in Dan Da Dan, while demonstrating the sensibility to portray the different tones and rhythm present in that story’s hectic world. The staff includes names like director Toma Kimura (Devilman: Crybaby and Dan Da Dan), as well as Shuuhei Handa, who serves as chief animation director and character designer and has been part of visually impressive projects such as Kill la Kill, Darling in the FranXX, and SSSS.Gridman.

Announced in early 2025, Science Saru adaptation is not the first anime based on Shirow’s work, but it appears to be the most faithful one, bringing the elements using original designs from the manga. The other Ghost in the Shell anime and movies take concepts and characters from the universe created by Shirow, but use them to tell brand-new stories. 1995’s Ghost in the Shell is the closest adaptation we’ve had so far of the original manga. Until now.