Official Event Report & Photos Released for TV Anime THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Panel at Anime NYC 2026!
On Saturday, August 22 (local time), a special panel titled “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL × Science SARU: Special Panel” was held at Anime NYC 2026, one of the largest anime conventions on the East Coast of North America, in New York City.
Eager fans gathered long before doors opened, filling the venue to maximum capacity. The event featured behind-the-scenes insights shared by the director and producers who traveled from Japan, alongside the premiere screening of the opening section of Episode 8.
■ Overwhelming Enthusiasm from the Audience! Director and Producers Gather in New York
The panel featured three key figures: director Moko-chan, animation producer Shuhei Shindo, and producer Kengo Abe. As they stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted into roaring applause and cheers. Reflecting on her first visit to New York, director Moko-chan shared her excitement, saying, “I am truly moved to see so many people here who love anime. Yesterday, I visited the Brooklyn Bridge and was deeply touched by its beauty.”
■ Science SARU’s Visual Expression: Confronting the Original Manga’s Core Themes Head-On
When asked about what set this project apart from previous anime iterations, director Moko-chan explained passionately: “While past adaptations strongly reflected the distinct themes of their respective directors, our focus this time was to stay as close as possible to the core themes originally drawn by Masamune Shirow. Bringing those concepts—including the occult elements of the original work—directly into the animation was our greatest challenge.” Animation producer Shindo noted that their main task was assembling a global team of creators capable of deeply understanding and translating these complex, profound themes onto the screen. Producer Abe added, “From a production standpoint, given how iconic the past series are, our main focus was how to bring the original manga back into the spotlight.”
Regarding how the manga’s signature vivid colors were brought into the anime, director Moko-chan revealed her meticulous approach to visuals: “While respecting the bright, colorful palette of the original work, we thoroughly researched color schemes that maintained a darker tone so the atmosphere wouldn’t become overly bright.”
■ Highlights & Favorites: Favorite Scenes and Characters
The discussion then moved to each panelist’s favorite moments. Director Moko-chan pointed to the opening scene of Episode 1, noting that it “instantly establishes the world and mood of the series.” Animation producer Shindo highlighted Episode 3, emphasizing that it packs all the core appeals of the series into a single episode—from thrilling action sequences and complex mystery-solving to Fuchikoma’s dance and profound conversations with AI.
■ A 10-Episode Series! World Premiere Screening of the Episode 8 Excerpt
Toward the end of the panel, producer Abe revealed that the series will consist of 10 episodes in total. He also mentioned that Episode 8 includes a scene depicting the origins of the Puppet Master, followed by the world premiere screening of the opening sequence of Episode 8. The audience watched in intense, breathless anticipation before breaking into thunderous applause as the lights came back up.
■ Closing
With the venue still buzzing with excitement, the panel wrapped up. Director Moko-chan expressed her gratitude and anticipation for what’s to come, offering a final message to the fans: “Unique visual techniques never seen before will continue to appear, so please stay tuned and watch all 10 episodes to the very end!”
Along with the panel, a signing session with director Moko-chan was held at Anime NYC, and a special photo spot for the series was set up at the Bandai Namco Filmworks booth.
■ Event Details
Event Name: Anime NYC 2026
Panel Title: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL × Science SARU: Special Panel
Date & Time: Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (EDT)
Venue: Javits Center, Room 1A06-08
Speakers:
Moko-chan (Director, TV Anime THE GHOST IN THE SHELL)
Shuhei Shindo (Animation Producer, TV Anime THE GHOST IN THE SHELL)
Kengo Abe (Producer, TV Anime THE GHOST IN THE SHELL)
Official Event Website: https://animenyc.com/