Since its debut as an anime film in 1995, a live-action Hollywood adaptation. However, Oshii has only directed two entries in the franchise: the 1995 original and its 2004 sequel, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. Fans have long speculated whether Oshii would ever return to the cyberpunk series that brought him worldwide acclaim. Now, we finally have an update—of sorts.
At a special screening of the 4K remastered versions of Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell 2 held in Tokyo on March 2, Mamoru Oshii and Akio Otsuka (the voice actor for cyborg cop Batou) participated in a question-and-answer session. When an attendee asked Oshii if he’d ever make another Ghost in the Shell film, the director said yes—but only “under certain conditions.” He elaborated, "I do have something in mind for a third film. There’s just one thing I feel I left unfinished. If I had the chance, I’d like to do it."
The Evolution of Ghost in the Shell Over the Years
Oshii’s Vision Stands Apart from Later Adaptations
Ghost in the Shell originated as a manga by Masamune Shirow. The 1995 anime film adaptation, directed by Mamoru Oshii, became a must-see movie worldwide and helped inspire works like The Matrix. The original film was followed in 2002 by the television anime series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, directed by Kenji Kamiyama, which consisted of 26 episodes. In 2004, a second season, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG, continued the story with new political and cybernetic conflicts.
Between 2013 and 2014, a four-part OVA series, Ghost in the Shell: ARISE, reimagined the origins of Section 9. This was followed by Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie in 2015. More recently, the franchise shifted to 3D CG animation with Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, which premiered on Netflix in 2020. The second season of SAC_2045 was released in 2022, marking the latest entry in the long-running cyberpunk saga. A brand-new anime series from Science SARU is set to debut in 2026, proving Ghost in the Shell is still going strong.
Yet despite the numerous spin-offs and sequels, Mamoru Oshii’s two Ghost in the Shell films remain the most critically acclaimed entries in the franchise. While later adaptations leaned more into action or explored the dynamics between characters like Major Kusanagi and Batou, Oshii’s films stood apart as true works of art. They didn’t just deliver cyberpunk spectacle—they blended high-tech thrills with deep philosophical musings on perception, identity, and what it really means to be human. If Oshii did return to direct a third Ghost in the Shell film, it would likely be something special.
Mamoru Oshii’s Early Career and Influences
Beyond Ghost in the Shell: Oshii’s Other Works
More than just a Ghost in the Shell director, Mamoru Oshii is one of the most innovative directors in the anime industry. Born in 1951 in Tokyo, Japan, Oshii’s fascination with storytelling began in his early years, particularly through literature and film. He studied at Tokyo Gakugei University, where he became deeply interested in European cinema, particularly the works of directors such as Jean-Luc Godard and Andrei Tarkovsky. Their philosophical and unconventional storytelling styles would later influence his own work in animation and film.
Oshii began his career in the 1970s, ing Tatsunoko Pro as an animator before moving to Studio Pierrot, where he directed episodes of Urusei Yatsura. He later directed Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984), a film that diverged significantly from its source material with its dreamlike narrative and surrealistic approach. This film marked the beginning of Oshii’s signature style—philosophical, experimental, and visually striking.
While Ghost in the Shell remains his most famous work, Oshii has an extensive and diverse body of work that showcases his ability to blend deep philosophical themes with striking visual storytelling. Angel’s Egg (1985) is a highly symbolic and atmospheric film that many consider to be Oshii’s most personal and abstract work. It delves into existential themes with little dialogue, relying on haunting imagery to convey its narrative.
Patlabor: The Movie (1989) & Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993) part of the Patlabor mecha franchise, explored themes of political conflict and the blurred lines between peacekeeping and military power. Avalon (2001) is a live-action sci-fi film shot in Poland that explores the nature of reality through a futuristic, game-driven world. The Sky Crawlers (2008) is a deeply introspective animated film about a group of young pilots trapped in an endless war, raising questions about fate, identity, and the meaning of existence.
Exploring the Soul: The Vision for a Third Ghost in the Shell
Will Oshii Return to Direct?
During the recent Q&A, Oshii speculated on what themes a third Ghost in the Shell film might explore. He suggested it could focus on “the existence of the soul,” noting how in anime, a character and their voice are inherently separate. This idea of separation was also central to Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. "Even though they’re the same characters, their voices change (like in Innocence). With a flesh-and-blood person (in live action), that’s difficult. Motoko and Batou only exist within the world of anime. In animation, it’s easier to infuse characters with emotion."
Best Order To Watch Ghost In The Shell Movies & TV Shows
Getting into the Ghost in the Shell franchise can be complicated. Here is the best order to watch all Ghost in the Shell movies and TV shows.
There’s no telling if a third Ghost in the Shell from Oshii will ever happen, but his words make one thing clear—he still has something left to say. Whether or not he returns to the franchise, his legacy as a director continues to shape the future of cyberpunk storytelling. His influence can be seen in every corner of modern sci-fi, proving that the questions he raised about identity, consciousness, and the soul are just as relevant today as they were nearly 30 years ago.
Source: Mantan Web
- Created by
- Masamune Shirow
- First Film
- Ghost in the Shell
- Cast
- Atsuko Tanaka, Richard Epcar, Akio Otsuka, Chin Han, Michael Pitt, Takeshi Kitano
- TV Show(s)
- Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045
- Latest Film
- Ghost in The Shell: The New Movie
- First TV Show
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
The Ghost in the Shell franchise is a Japanese cyberpunk media series based on the manga by Masamune Shirow, first published in 1989. Set in a futuristic world where cybernetic enhancements and cyberbrains are common, the franchise explores complex themes of identity, consciousness, and artificial intelligence. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg and a high-ranking officer in Public Security Section 9, as she leads her team in combating cyberterrorism and uncovering political conspiracies. The series has had a significant influence on science fiction and cyberpunk genres, both in Japan and globally
