"THE GHOST IN THE SHELL" (10 episodes total) is currently airing every Tuesday at 11:00 PM JST, with online streaming available on Amazon Prime.
As we head into the climax, the synopsis and preview stills for Episode 09, "BRAIN DRAIN ii," have been released. This episode is set to premiere on September 1 (Tuesday). Along with the stills, a striking new "Episode Visual" poster has also been unveiled.
<The following content is quoted from the official announcement>
Episode 09: "BRAIN DRAIN ii"
Synopsis
Motoko Kusanagi finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a massive conspiracy. Leaks to the press have framed her for the murder of a terrorist, sparking a media firestorm. Suspecting that the Ghorantl Intelligence is pulling the strings from the shadows, Motoko launches her own independent investigation—only to find herself facing a formal trial.
©2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE
Episode Visual Released!
In a special creative initiative for this series, a unique "Episode Visual" is produced and released for every single episode. These posters extract the core concepts and themes of each individual story, presenting them through an alternative design lens.
By approaching each week’s release with experimental graphic expressions that transcend traditional animation boundaries, this project offers fans a multifaceted perspective on the deep, complex world of the series.
Episode 09: BRAIN DRAIN ii
Design: Kano Kameda
"THE GHOST IN THE SHELL" Series Information
Synopsis
A.D. 2029. In a near-future Japan, the corporate networks have covered the planet, and electrons and light dance through the void. Yet, the world is not so digitized that nations or ethnic groups have vanished. Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg, commands an elite team including the formidable Batou.
Amidst their missions, she envisions the creation of a specialized unit dedicated to preemptive strike crime prevention. Daisuke Aramaki of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who shares a similar vision, scouts Kusanagi and her crew. Thus begins the activities of Public Security Section 9—an aggressive tactical organization known as "Ghost in the Shell."
As they confront cyber-crimes swirling in a vortex of international intrigue, the shadow of a mysterious hacker known only as the "Puppet Master" emerges on the horizon. What destiny awaits Kusanagi? And what is the Puppet Master’s true objective? The next generation of cyberpunk action begins now!!
Cast
Motoko Kusanagi: Maaya Sakamoto
Daisuke Aramaki: Kazuhiro Yamaji
Batou: Hiroki Yasumoto
Togusa: Yuichi Nakamura
Ishikawa: Kosuke Goto
Saito: Toru Nara
Borma: Atsushi Miyauchi
Operator: Marie Oi
Fuchikoma: Tomoko Kaneda
Colonel Malles: Akio Otsuka
Colonel Tonoda: Kenichi Ogata
President of Hanka Precision: Masashi Ebara
Anna Puma: Aya Hisakawa
Uni Puma: Nina Kumagaya
© 2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
