A full-body cyborg with exceptional combat and cyberbrain skills. Following a military restructuring, she joined Public
Security Section 9 at Aramaki's request to lead the “Shell Squad” as its tactical commander.
CAST COMMENT
character
Motoko Kusanagi
cv
Maaya Sakamoto
comment
I have had connections to The Ghost in the Shell in the past, but being granted the opportunity to voice Motoko
this time was completely unexpected. Since my youth, I have shared the stage with her many times, Atsuko
Tanaka-san, whom I have always deeply loved and revered, both as a human being and as an actor, and who spent
long, beautiful years nurturing and pouring her love into Motoko. When the offer came to play Motoko in this new
work, I truly could not bring myself to accept it right away. But then I met with the director and the
producers, and heard that this project is a heartfelt challenge taken on by a generation of creators who grew up
yearning for and inspired by The Ghost in the Shell, approaching it with pure reverence. Touching their
straightforward passion, I thought that if there was even a fragile piece of something I could contribute, I
wanted to try. Recording for all the episodes has already come to a close. Facing this work became, for me, a
deeply precious time to quietly chew upon my endless gratitude and the lingering loneliness for Atsuko-san.
The
Motoko of this series is vividly expressive and full of energy, with many comical moments woven in. It felt so
incredibly fresh and new to see this side of Motoko in animation. Because of that, breathing life into her was
exceptionally difficult. Beneath that airy lightness, while secretly harboring a quiet sense of loss, she still
presses forward—I spent the entire time searching for what that inner driving force truly is.
No
matter how much time flows by or how the eras shift from now on, I believe the inspiration and the profound
questions The Ghost in the Shell leaves with people across the world will remain eternal. I feel profoundly
grateful to have been allowed to touch a piece of this legendary masterpiece, which will forever be loved and
yearned for.
The Motoko of this series is vividly expressive and full of energy, with many comical moments woven in. It felt so incredibly fresh and new to see this side of Motoko in animation. Because of that, breathing life into her was exceptionally difficult. Beneath that airy lightness, while secretly harboring a quiet sense of loss, she still presses forward—I spent the entire time searching for what that inner driving force truly is.
No matter how much time flows by or how the eras shift from now on, I believe the inspiration and the profound questions The Ghost in the Shell leaves with people across the world will remain eternal. I feel profoundly grateful to have been allowed to touch a piece of this legendary masterpiece, which will forever be loved and yearned for.