To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Innocence, the 4K Remastered Edition will make its theatrical debut! It will screen alongside the Ghost in the Shell 4K Remastered Edition, marking its 30th anniversary. Nationwide release: February 28

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Innocence, the sci-fi masterpiece directed by Mamoru Oshii and based on Masamune Shirow’s manga, it has been decided that both the Innocence 4K Remastered Edition and the GHOST IN THE SHELL 4K Remastered Edition will be screened simultaneously at TOHO Cinemas starting Friday, February 28th. This marks the first theatrical screening of the 4K remastered Innocence and the film’s first nationwide roadshow release in 20 years since its 2004 premiere.

 

Both films, adaptations of Masamune Shirow’s sci-fi comic Ghost in the Shell, were directed by Mamoru Oshii. GHOST IN THE SHELL is set in the year 2029 in a highly networked society, where Major Motoko Kusanagi and Batou, members of Section 9—a covert counter-cyberterrorism unit—battle computer crimes and cyberterrorism. The film achieved global recognition, influencing Hollywood filmmakers such as Lana and Lilly Wachowski, directors of The Matrix, and even inspired the 2017 live-action adaptation starring Scarlett Johansson. Celebrating its 30th anniversary since its 1995 release, the film will be screened in Japan for the first time since the simultaneous Japan-U.S. release of the 4K remastered version in 2021.

 

The sequel, Innocence, takes place in 2032, three years after the events of GHOST IN THE SHELL, and focuses on Batou’s story as a member of Section 9. It made history as the first Japanese animated film to compete in the main competition at the 57th Cannes Film Festival, and to this day remains the only one to achieve that honor. Released in theaters in 2004, Innocence celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, and this marks the film’s first roadshow release in two decades, outside of limited special screenings. While the 4K remastered version has been available on Blu-ray, this is its first presentation on the big screen.

 

After viewing the final cut of the newly remastered Innocence 4K Edition, Mamoru Oshii shared his thoughts:
“For this release of Innocence 4K Remastered Edition, it might have been the first time in 20 years—or perhaps the first time ever—that I watched the film all the way through on the big screen. The results are stunningly beautiful and turned out very well. Back then, it was impossible to recreate the detailed hand-drawn and CG visuals we worked on for years with such precision on screen. However, with the high-resolution digital scan for this version, the quality of the visuals has improved dramatically. You can really feel the power of 4K.”
He strongly encouraged audiences to experience the film in theaters at this particular moment in time.

 

These two monumental works of sci-fi animation—GHOST IN THE SHELL and Innocence—are among Mamoru Oshii’s most acclaimed achievements and served as a major turning point in how the world recognized the power of Japanese animation. Experience these masterpieces with cutting-edge visuals and sound on the big screen in stunning 4K! The films will be shown at select TOHO Cinemas nationwide for a limited two-week run starting February 28th (Friday). Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in these globally celebrated works of art!

 

 

Director/Screenwriter Mamoru Oshii’s Comment：

“With this release of the Innocence 4K Remastered Edition, I might have watched the film in its entirety on the big screen for the first time in 20 years—or perhaps even for the first time ever. I was impressed by how beautifully and elegantly it has turned out.

 

Back then, despite spending years creating the visuals through hand-drawing and CG, it wasn’t possible to fully reproduce the intricate details on screen. However, thanks to the high-resolution digital scanning for this remaster, the precision and quality of the visuals have improved significantly. I truly felt the power of 4K.

 

Watching it again also brought back memories from that time. I remember how exhausted I was—I was completely burned out after finishing Innocence and ended up bedridden for about two months. This film carries that intense energy, a kind of dark and draining force that I was going through back then. To create something truly beautiful, you have to overcome something.

 

Seeing it again now, I felt that the film carries an almost obsessive passion or perhaps a decadent allure. I hope everyone takes the opportunity to watch it in theaters.”

 

Both films will be released simultaneously at TOHO CINEMAS Hibiya and other locations from February 28 (Fri.) for a limited two-week run.
Common website for both films: https://20th-innocence-ghost-in-the-shell.jp

 

Innocence 4K Remastered Version　
Running time: 99 min.
Original Story: Shirow Masamune (“Ghost in the Shell” published by Kodansha)
Director/Screenplay: Mamoru Oshii
Production: Production I.G
©2004 Masamune Shirow/Kodansha/IG, ITNDDTD
Distributor: TOHO NEXT
Screening Theaters: https://theater.toho.co.jp/toho_theaterlist/inncence_20th.html

 

GHOST IN THE SHELL 4K Remastered Version
Running Time:85min.
Original Story: Shirow Masamune (“Ghost in the Shell” published by Kodansha)
Director/Screenplay: Mamoru Oshii
Production: Production I.G
©1995 Shirow Masamune / Kodansha, Bandai Visual, MANGA ENTERTAINMENT
Distributor: TOHO NEXT
Screening Theaters: https://theater.toho.co.jp/toho_theaterlist/ghostintheshell_30th.html