[Event Report] THE GHOST IN THE SHELL World Premiere at Annecy Festival!
Director Moko-han Shares the "Overwhelming Passion" Behind a Historic First for a TV Series.

The world premiere screening of the new TV anime *THE GHOST IN THE SHELL* took place in France at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the world's largest animation festival, as part of its Special Events section. This screening marks a historic milestone as the first time in the festival's history that a TV series has been featured in this prestigious category. Prior to the screening, a talk session with the creative team was held, igniting passion among fans from around the world who packed the venue.

A Historic Return to the Original Manga Roots and Science SARU's New Challenge

The panel was introduced by Marcel Jean, the Artistic Director of the Annecy Festival, who called it "a very special day in the history of our festival." Taking the stage were director Mokochan, producer Kohei Sakita (Science SARU), producer Kengo Abe (Bandai Namco Filmworks), and producer/moderator Daichi Sasa (Kodansha).

This monumental project represents the first time in history that Shirow Masamune's iconic 1989 manga has been adapted by directly confronting it as the true source material. Producer Abe explained the background of offering the production to Science SARU, a studio renowned for capturing the core joy of animation, stating that they aimed to create a series that can serve as a hub for both longtime fans and newcomers to enjoy together, and above all, something incredibly entertaining. In response, Director Mokochan reflected on the passionate atmosphere of the studio, where a staff full of love for the "The Ghost in the Shell " gathered, saying, "Our mindset was simply to take a manga with such overwhelming energy and turn it into an extraordinary anime."

Director Mokochan Reveals World-Building Achieved Through "Human Physicality" and Pure "Guts"

During the talk session, led by Director Mokochan, behind-the-scenes secrets of the production were unveiled alongside actual production materials. Discussing the first theme, "Layout and Animation," the team introduced Japan's traditional hand-drawn workflow, spanning from storyboards to cinematography. The director emphasized her commitment to the physicality of hand-drawn animation, stating, "While the original work is sci-fi, it is also deeply spiritual. Rather than relying on the latest technology, I wanted to pursue what can be expressed through the human body." On the other hand, 3D technology was utilized for spatial expression, allowing for dynamic camera work impossible with hand-drawn methods alone.

Turning to the topic of "World-Building," the presentation revealed an extraordinary volume of detail that far exceeds standard TV anime by more than threefold, including 48 different outfit designs for Motoko Kusanagi. "We followed Professor Shirow's concept that 'the world does not exist for the sake of expression; rather, a meticulous world exists first,'" the director explained. She introduced elements such as retro-futuristic designs inspired by 1989 home appliances and the handwritten in-universe "Shirow typography," created entirely by hand without relying on generative AI. The director brought a smile to the audience's faces and drew cheers when she shared that they conquered this insane workload through pure "guts."

Meticulous Attention to Color and a Roaring Standing Ovation

The final theme, "Visual Style and Compositing," revealed that the team introduced "color scripts" from the early stages of production to determine the theme color for each episode. The director explained her unique color choices, which involved lowering the brightness while raising the saturation. She passionately discussed how the essence of Shirow Masamune’s work is embedded in every corner of the screen, adding that for the background art, "Even when drawing inorganic machinery, we depicted it like blood vessels to express a 'vitality' that blurs the line between living creatures and machines."

With the director’s final message, "Though it is a grand sci-fi epic, at its spine lies a universal human story. I hope you enjoy it to the very end," the world premiere of the special edited version of Episodes 1 and 2 (English dubbed) finally began.

The audience was instantly captivated by Science SARU's overwhelming sense of dynamism and meticulously crafted world. 

As the 45-minute screening came to a close, the venue erupted into thunderous applause and a roaring standing ovation. It was a thrilling and moving event, marking a confident first step for the new *THE GHOST IN THE SHELL* as it heads out to the world.