Japan’s leading cartoon firm Production I.G. has announced it is working on a new “Ghost in the Shell” anime project.
According to the production company’s website, the animation project will be co-directed by Kenji Kamiyama (“Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” series) and Shinji Aramaki (“Appleseed Alpha”).
The company did not give any further details, and it didn’t elaborate on whether the project will have a theatrical release or whether it will be a television series. The title and release date are yet to be announced.
The original comic book “Ghost in the Shell” was created by Shirow Masamune in 1989 and was first adapted into a same-title animated feature film in 1995 by Mamoru Oshii. In 2002, the franchise was expanded into a TV series: “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.” A second season, “Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig” aired in Japan and several other countries in the world. In 2004, Oshii directed “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence.” The franchise has also launched video games, a novel and original video animations.
The announcement of a new anime project comes one week after Paramount’s “Ghost in the Shell” was released in theaters with a lackluster response from moviegoers.
Directed by Rupert Sanders, the film stars Scarlett Johansson and has taken in $74 million to date. It opens today in Japanese theaters.
Against a reported budget of $110 million, the film grossed $18.7 million its opening weekend, way below expectations.