Science SARU’s long-awaited Ghost in the Shell (2026) TV anime has officially premiered. The first episode aired in Japan on July 7, 2026, on the Kansai TV and Fuji TV networks, while the series also launched worldwide on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and regions, excluding mainland China, Russia, and Vietnam.
Alongside the premiere, the studio revealed the complete Japanese voice cast and released the anime’s clean opening and ending sequences, giving fans an unobstructed look at the series’ animation without on-screen credits or titles.
Ghost in the Shell (2026) Introduces a New Voice Cast for Section 9
One of the biggest announcements following the premiere is the complete recast of Public Security Section 9. For the first time in the anime franchise’s 30-year history, every main member has a new voice actor.
Maaya Sakamoto takes over the role of Major Motoko Kusanagi, succeeding the late Atsuko Tanaka, who voiced the iconic character across multiple Ghost in the Shell anime projects until her passing in August 2024. Sakamoto is already familiar with the role, having voiced a younger Motoko in the Ghost in the Shell: Arise OVA series from 2013 to 2015.
The new Japanese cast also includes Kazuhiro Yamaji as Daisuke Aramaki, Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou, Yuichi Nakamura as Togusa, Kosuke Goto as Ishikawa, Toru Nara as Saito, and Tomoko Kaneda as the Fuchikoma units.
The anime also confirmed its English dub ahead of the premiere. Suzie Yeung voices Major Motoko Kusanagi, joined by SungWon Cho, Bill Butts, Nick Apostolides, and other cast members. The first two episodes were screened early in UK cinemas on June 26 before their showcase at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles.
King Gnu and Millennium Parade Perform the Theme Songs
The opening theme, “Go Ghost,” is performed by King Gnu, while the ending theme, “Blue,” is performed by Millennium Parade featuring Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar.
The collaboration is notable because Millennium Parade is led by King Gnu’s Daiki Tsuneta, making this the first time both groups have contributed theme songs to the same anime. The songs were officially revealed during the series’ Anime Expo 2026 panel, where a new promotional video highlighted Section 9’s members in a futuristic Tokyo.
Ghost in the Shell (2026) Releases Clean Opening and Ending Videos
Following the premiere, Science SARU released textless versions of both the opening and ending sequences. Without on-screen credits, fans can fully appreciate Shuhei Handa’s character designs and the studio’s hand-drawn animation.
Director Mokochan, who makes his series directorial debut after serving as an assistant director on Dan Da Dan, has also emphasized that the production did not use generative AI during development. The statement received strong applause when he discussed the project during its Annecy Festival premiere in June. Original Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow has also expressed his support for the new adaptation, describing it as a possible beginning of the franchise’s “second generation.”
What Happens Next?
With the full voice cast now revealed and the opening and ending theme songs officially released, fans can look forward to the rest of Ghost in the Shell (2026) as the story begins to unfold.
New episodes stream on Prime Video about 30 minutes after their television broadcast in Japan, giving international viewers the chance to watch the series shortly after it airs. As the season continues, fans can also expect more updates from Science SARU, including new visuals, trailers, and behind-the-scenes details as one of 2026’s most anticipated anime moves forward.
