Anime

Episode 6 – Ghost in the Shell

Published

1 hour ago

August 12, 2026

the-ghost-in-the-shell-6.2.png — © 2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE

Working for Public Security Section 9 can be a tough gig sometimes. In this episode alone, Major Motoko Kusanagi is repeatedly shot at, her apartment is blown up (with her in it), she’s betrayed by her boyfriend’s employer, hunted by a terrorist enemy from her past, she loses an arm, and her head is almost crushed by a mech’s death grip. Plus poor Togusa, fleshy human meatbag that he is, takes a slug to the gut and bleeds all over the place.

“Dumb Barter” is one of the original manga’s better chapters, and this episode does an incredible job of adapting it with brutal efficiency for the screen. I’d argue this is a superior version – unlike with the manga, I had no difficulties following the plot, despite the density of information and complex inter-agency double-crossing happening in the background.

It’s another mostly stand-alone episode, though I’m pretty sure Section 1’s monstrous “think tank” was the one that a Fuchikoma briefly linked with at the beginning of last week’s episode. We also meet the weird purple doctor again, as he performs icky-sounding micromachine brain surgery on revenge-motivated antagonist Tohru Soma. Once again, Amazon‘s subtitled version completely fails to even attempt to translate the voluminous on-screen text, although the dub manages well enough. You need to read fast to keep up, at least without judicious use of a freeze-frame. The micro-machine technology described still sounds plausible today, which is remarkable, almost forty years on from the manga’s original publication date.

Most importantly, though: Kusanagi’s changed not only her hairstyle, but her hair color too! I think I preferred her previous blue look, but her new more muted palette and severely angled style still looks cool as hell. At multiple points this week, she doesn’t only appear businesslike, but icy cold. Her look of utter disdain as she unloads multiple bullets into her enemy’s skull gave me chills. This Kusanagi is absolutely not to be messed with. Not even her boyfriend escapes from harm, as he receives a knife from her into his shoulder.

As her colleagues lament with her, it’s a shame she’s not dating a civilian. Kusanagi’s unnamed boyfriend (of seven months so far, a new record, according to Batou, who receives a mug targeted at his forehead for the observation) is a similarly highly-ranked officer in Public Security Section 1, though unfortunately for him, his boss is an idiot. It’s his fault that terrorist Soma can endanger both Kusanagi’s and Togusa’s lives, and Chief Aramaki is justifiably incandescent with rage. Stay after the ending credits for a darkly humorous joke about Section 1’s chief perishing in a hit-and-run incident, just as Borma pulls up, with obvious damage to the front of his car…

Soma’s hatred of Kusanagi is justifiable, at least from his point of view. Four years previously, in retaliation for torturing and killing two of her men, Kusanagi killed six of his, and contrived for him to shoot his own sixteen-year-old son through a closed door. The world these characters inhabit is dangerous and often horrific, and failing to ensure the death of one’s enemies is likely to cause problems later. Kusanagi’s an effective, decisive leader, but she’s cold, calculating, and unafraid to take lives in the most brutal ways.

It can be hard to square this with her seemingly idyllic domestic life. Previously, we met her female friends-with-benefits with whom she meets for cybersex liaisons. (Note: in Shirow’s manga, he states that in this world, cybersex with shared sensory input is only safe between members of the same sex as they have the same sexual organs in common. This was why Batou experienced pain and nausea when connecting with Kusanagi in the second episode’s infamous boat scene, as he literally did not own the correct equipment.) Now we meet her steady boyfriend, and it looks like they live together. They seem mutually supportive, loving, and intimate, yet this is the same woman who executes criminals extrajudicially, her eyes glowing red with rage.

These seeming contradictions are what make Kusanagi such a fascinating lead character, and so far, this animated version has been the only one to satisfactorily explore all of these aspects. Oshii’s film used aspects of this chapter’s mech fight (plus some details from a later Human Error Processor chapter) for its climactic battle, but none of the warm relationship material. Even the relatively more light-hearted Stand Alone Complex mostly shied away from giving Kusanagi confirmed romantic entanglements. I wonder how fans will receive the show’s take on The Puppet Master incident, which begins next week…

Rating:

The Ghost in the Shell is currently streaming on Prime Video.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of Anime News Network, its employees, owners, or sponsors.

Anime

Uncle’s Obsession with Cute Things Manga Listed to End in 13th Volume – News

Published

32 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

13th volume ships on October 15

First volume cover of Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. — Image via Amazon Japan

Retailers are listing the 13th compiled book volume of Tsutomu’s Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. (Older Men Like Cute Things) manga as the final volume. The volume ships on October 15.

The manga centers on Mitsutaka Oji, a 40-year-old man who by all appearances is attractive and cool and is excellent at his job. However, he has a secret: he absolutely loves small and cute things. The comedy manga follows his everyday life.

Tsutomu launched the manga on Flex Comics‘ Comic Polis service in July 2017. Flex Comics released the 12th volume on August 7.

The television anime will debut on Tokyo MX on October 4 at 10:00 p.m., and will air later that evening on BS Asahi and on YTV on October 5.

The manga previously inspired a live-action television adaptation in 2020.

Source: Amazon Japan

Anime

Flung into a New World? Time to Lift the 200-Year Curse! Light Novels Listed to End With 13th Volume – News

Published

1 hour ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

13th volume ships on October 15

07-flung — Image courtesy of J-Novel Club

Retailers are listing the 13th volume of Honobonoru500‘s Flung into a New World? Time to Lift the 200-Year Curse! (Isekai ni Otosareta… Jōka wa Kihon!) light novel series as the final volume. The novel ships on October 15.

J-Novel Club publishes the novels in English and describes the story:

Akira Tennou—an unremarkable thirty-five-year-old janitor—has got a lot to complain about. He was hit by a truck, unintentionally dragged into a hero-summoning spell, and now he’s stuck in some random gloomy forest in a parallel world. And he’s probably afflicted by a dark curse now, if his sister’s beloved fantasy manga are to be believed. The ominous shadows everywhere don’t give him much hope for his new life, especially when they’re also attached to the giant wolf that just snuck up behind him…

But while this world does come with a curse, it also comes with something awesome: magic. Akira’s got the power to purify, and he’s gonna use it to free the creatures of the forest! Trying to figure out how magic works without a teacher isn’t going to be easy, but he’s not gonna let some stupid curse get between him and a bunch of cute animals!

Honobonoru500 launched the web novel on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō platform in May 2018. TO Books published the first novel with illustrations by Yōsuke Ishibashi in January 2020. J-Novel Club published the fifth novel digitally on September 8.

Tai Nakashima launched a manga adaptation in TO Books‘ Comic Corona magazine in February 2020 and the series later moved to the Corona EX website in 2022. TO Books shipped the sixth compiled book volume on July 15. J-Novel Club also publishes the manga in English and published the sixth volume on May 13.

Sources: Amazon Japan, TO Books

Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. Yen Press, BookWalker Global, and J-Novel Club are subsidiaries of KWE.

Anime

Live-Action Blue Lock Film Opens at #8 – News

Published

2 hours ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu (Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island), the first anime film adaptation of Nagano‘s Chiikawa manga, rose from #2 to #1 in its third weekend. The film sold 1.147 million tickets and earned 1,698,950,000 yen (about US$10.65 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has earned a cumulative total of 6,777,844,100 yen (about US$42.50 million).

The film opened on July 24 and ranked at #1 for its opening weekend. The film earned 990 million yen (about US$6.05 million) on its opening day. The film sold 1,508,500 tickets and earned 2,240,333,500 yen (about US$13.70 million) in its first three days.

The film is based on the manga’s arc posted on X (formerly Twitter) from March to November 2023, nicknamed the “Siren Arc” or “Island Arc.”

The film’s story begins with Chiikawa and Hachiware relaxing, when a rabbit with a flyer on its face suddenly appears. Hachiware looks at the flyer, which reads, “Invitation to a special island.” Lured by tempting promises including great rewards for simple hunts on the island and essentially free sweet and spicy dishes such as limited-edition island ramen and sweets, Chiikawa and friends decide to go to the island. Suspicious with the flyer, Rakko goes with them to the island. What awaits them when they arrive on the island?

Nagano is credited for the original story and also wrote the film’s script. Under Nagano‘s supervision, Kei Oikawa (Uma Musume Pretty Derby 3 seasons, Hinamatsuri, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax) directed the film at Cygames Pictures. QTORY inc. managed the production, and TOHO is distributing the film.

Makoto Tanaka, who voices Hachiware, performs the opening theme song “Kutsuzure” (Shoe Sore). Series creator Nagano wrote the lyrics.

Momoka Terasawa and Sayumi Suzushiro voice Hitoha and Futaba, respectively, the two islanders that Chiikawa and friends encounter.

Key visual for Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Kikikaikai! Ora no Yōkai Bake-shon — Image via Crayon Shin-chan’s X/Twitter

Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Kikikaikai! Ora no Yōkai Bake-shon (Crayon Shin-chan The Movie Super Strange! My Yōkai Monster Vacation), the 33rd 2D anime film in the Crayon Shin-chan series, dropped from #3 to #6 in its second weekend. The film earned 288,991,400 yen (about US$1.81 million) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 1,173,580,950 yen (about US$7.35 million).

The film ranked at #3 in its opening weekend. The film sold 441,000 tickets and earned 539,371,500 yen (about US$3.41 million) in its first three days.

The film opened in Japan on July 31.

The film centers on “the land of yōkai.” The Nohara family go to Hiroshi’s hometown of Akita to attend a famous fireworks festival during the summer. However, an incident causes yōkai to escape from their land and will wreak havoc in Akita, and in other areas throughout Japan. The Nohara family then go to the land of yōkai, and find themselves in a mysterious yet nostalgic world, where they go on an unpredictable adventure.

Sairi Itō stars in the film as Yako, a nine-tailed fox yōkai. Sakamoto of the comedy duo Mayurika plays the Squid Yōkai, first base player of the Edomae Sushies baseball team, which challenged Shin-chan and his friends to a baseball game.

Other cast members include Yumiko Kobayashi, Miki Narahashi, Toshiyuki Morikawa, and Satomi Koorogi.

Masaki Watanabe (Battle Spirits: Heroes, Sakamoto Days) directed the film. Yoshiko Nakamura (Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- franchise, PriPara) penned the script. Shinei Animation, TV Asahi, ADK Emotions, and Futabasha produced the film, and TOHO is distributing. Singer TOMOO performs the film’s theme song “Otona ni Nattara” (When I Become an Adult).

Kingdom: Tamashii no Kessen key visual — Image via live-action Kingdom films’ X/Twitter

Kingdom: Tamashii no Kessen (Decisive Battle of the Soul), the fifth live-action film based on Yasuhisa Hara‘s Kingdom manga, dropped from #5 to #7 in its fourth weekend. The film earned 309,459,900 yen (about US$1.94 million) over the weekend. The film has now sold a total of 3.18 million, and made a cumulative total of 4,920,141,100 yen (about US$30.85 million).

The film sold 993,000 tickets and earned 1,584,148,300 yen (about US$9.67 million) in its first three days. Counting the Marine Day holiday on July 20, the film sold 1,315,000 tickets and earned 2.064 billion yen (about US$12.59 million) in its first four days.

The new film opened in Japan on July 17.

Yasuhisa Hara‘s historical manga centers around the slave boy Xin and his dream of becoming a great general for the state of Qin. Xin helps Ying Zheng, the young Qin king who shares his desire to unify China, rise to power within the state. Xin does all he can to become a superior commander of an army capable of defeating the Seven Warring States.

Shinsuke Satō (live-action Gantz, Death Note Light up the NEW world, Bleach) returned to direct. Tsutomu Kuroiwa (Black Butler, Golden Kamuy) wrote the screenplay with Hara. Yutaka Yamada (Bleach, Golden Kamuy -The Hunt of Prisoners in Hokkaido-) composed the music.

The first live-action film opened in Japan in April 2019, and eventually earned a cumulative total of 5.73 billion yen (about US$53.2 million). Funimation screened the film at Anime Expo in July 2019, and screened the film in theaters in the United States and Canada in August 2019. The second film Kingdom II: Harukanaru Daichi e (To Distant Lands) opened in Japan in July 2022, and earned 5.16 billion yen (about US$37.8 million), making it the highest-earning Japanese live-action film in Japan in 2022.

The third film opened in Japan in July 2023 and ranked at #1 in its opening weekend. The film had the best opening weekend among the first three Kingdom films. The fourth film opened on July 12, 2024. Netflix began streaming the fourth film in January 2025.

bluelock-postervis2 — Image via BLUE LOCK live-action film’s X/Twitter account

The live-action film based on Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yūsuke Nomura‘s BLUE LOCK soccer manga ranked at #8 in its opening weekend. The film earned 277,648,800 yen (about US$1.74 million) in its first three days.

The film opened in Japan on August 7. The film will screen in MX4D, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema starting on August 21.

Yūsuke Taki directed the film, and Tetsuo Kamata wrote the screenplay. Shinzō Matsuhashi served as a producer. CREDEUS (live-action Golden Kamuy film) produced the film, and TOHO is distributing.

Kaneshiro and Nomura launched the manga in Kodansha‘s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in August 2018. Kodansha will publish the manga’s 40th compiled book volume on August 17. The manga won the Best Shōnen Manga award in Kodansha‘s 45th annual Manga Awards in 2021. Kodansha USA Publishing is releasing the manga in English digitally and is also releasing it in print.

The original manga inspired a television anime series that premiered in Japan in October 2022 on TV Asahi and its affiliates in the NUMAnimation programming block. The anime ran for 24 episodes. Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired, and is also streaming an English dub.

BLUE LOCK vs. U-20 JAPAN, the second television anime season, debuted in October 2024, and aired for 14 episodes. Crunchyroll streamed the anime as it aired in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS.

The anime is getting a third season, adapting the “Shin Eiyū Taisen” (New Hero Wars) story.

The spinoff inspired an anime film that premiered in Japan in April 2024. The film sold 337,000 tickets to earn 463 million yen (about US$2.99 million) in its first three days, and ranked at #2 in the Japanese box office in its opening weekend. The film opened in North America in June 2024. Crunchyroll is streaming the film with subtitles and with several dubs.

Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin (link 2), comScore via KOFIC