Ghost in the Shell Returns with New TV Series on Fuji TV in January 2026

The legendary Ghost in the Shell franchise is making its return to television with a brand-new anime series scheduled to premiere in January 2026. The series, titled "Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL," will air on Fuji TV and Kansai TV's nationwide network in their newly established Tuesday night anime programming block called "Ka-Anibaru!!" at 11:00 PM.

Based on Masamune Shirow's groundbreaking 1989 manga that originally ran in Young Magazine Kaizokuban, Ghost in the Shell has become a cornerstone of cyberpunk science fiction. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg who leads an elite security force known as Public Security Section 9, as they combat increasingly complex and dangerous crimes in a technologically advanced future. The franchise's philosophical exploration of human identity, consciousness, and the fusion of humanity with technology has influenced countless creators worldwide and spawned multiple film, television, and game adaptations.

This latest TV adaptation brings together an impressive creative team led by Mokochan, who previously served as assistant director on Dandadan and worked on numerous Science SARU productions. This marks Mokochan's first time as lead director. The series features Enjoe Toh, acclaimed SF novelist known for "Self-Reference ENGINE" and "Godzilla Singular Point," handling series composition and screenplay. Character design and chief animation direction comes from Shuhei Handa, whose credits include "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off" and "Spriggan."

Animation production is handled by Science SARU, the studio behind critically acclaimed works such as "Inu-Oh," "The Colors Within," and "Dandadan," which has built a reputation for producing visually stunning and narratively compelling anime that resonates with audiences both in Japan and internationally.

The announcement was made during a press conference revealing the lineup for "Ka-Anibaru!!," Fuji TV's new Tuesday night anime programming block launching in January 2026. The block's name combines "Ka-Ani" (Tuesday Anime), "Baru" (referencing Western-style taverns), and "Carnival," reflecting the network's vision to create appointment television that brings viewers together and delivers world-class anime content. The double exclamation marks in the title also represent the 11 PM timeslot.

Further details about the series, including the specific premiere date and additional cast and staff information, will be announced through the official Ghost in the Shell global website and social media channels.