Official Report & Event Photos Released for the "Anime NYC 2026" Panel!
At Anime NYC 2026, one of the largest anime conventions on the East Coast of the US, the special panel "THE GHOST IN THE SHELL × Science SARU: Special Panel" was held on Saturday, August 22 (local time).
Excited fans gathered long before doors opened, filling the venue to absolute capacity. The panel featured behind-the-scenes production talks by the director and producers who flew in from Japan, alongside a premiere screening of the opening segment of Episode 8.
◼︎ Wild Enthusiasm as the Director & Producers Gather in NYC
The panel featured Director Mokochan, Animation Producer Shuhei Shindo, and Producer Kengo Abe. As they took the stage, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause! Director Mokochan shared her excitement on her first-world visit to New York: "I’m deeply moved to see so many people who love anime. Yesterday, I visited the Brooklyn Bridge and was captivated by its beauty.
◼︎ Science SARU’s Visual Approach: Facing the Original Manga’s Themes Head-On
When asked about taking a different approach from previous anime adaptations, Director Mokochan explained: "Past adaptations strongly reflected each director's own distinct themes. For this project, we focused on staying as close as possible to Shirow Masamune’s original story—including its occult elements. Bringing that directly into the animation was our biggest challenge.
Animation Producer Shindo noted that they recruited creators from all around the world who could deeply understand and translate these complex themes into visuals. Producer Abe added that from a production standpoint, the main focus was staying true to the original manga despite the iconic nature of past series.
Regarding the vibrant color palette inspired by the original work, Director Mokochan revealed: "We respected the colorful, dynamic aesthetic of the original manga while meticulously researching color palettes to ensure the dark, gritty tone remained intact.
◼︎ Favorite Scenes & Characters
The discussion moved to favorite moments. Director Mokochan highlighted the opening scene of Episode 1 for instantly setting the tone of the series. Animation Producer Shindo praised Episode 3, noting how it condenses everything that makes the show great—from high-stakes action and complex investigation to Fuchikoma dancing and profound dialogue with AI.
◼︎ A 10-Episode Series: World Premiere Screening of Episode 8!
Toward the end of the panel, Producer Abe officially confirmed that the series will run for 10 episodes in total. He revealed that Episode 8 features a key scene depicting the origin of the Puppet Master, followed by a world-first premiere screening of Episode 8's opening segment. The room was filled with intense anticipation, leading to a massive round of applause as the footage ended!
◼︎ Closing
To wrap up, Director Mokochan shared a final message of gratitude: "We have unique visual expressions ahead that you’ve never seen before, so please stay tuned through all 10 episodes until the very end!
Along with the panel, Director Mokochan hosted an autograph session at Anime NYC, and fans enjoyed a special photo spot at the Bandai Namco Filmworks booth.