Akio Otsuka Joins Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell as Colonel Mares
This adaptation deliberately returns to the tone and visual style of Shirow's original manga, breaking from the philosophical and realistic approach of earlier Production I.G adaptations.
Key Facts
- Akio Otsuka voices Colonel Mares in Episode 3 of Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell, which aired on July 21, 2026.
- The episode's end card was illustrated by Kunio Okawara.
- The series airs on Kantele and Fuji TV's Hi Anime!! slot every Tuesday at 11:00 PM and streams on Prime Video.
- Animation production is handled by Science SARU, with direction by Mocochin and series composition by Tow Ubukata.
- Maaya Sakamoto voices Motoko Kusanagi, with Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou and Yuichi Nakamura as Togusa.
Reporting from 2 sources: Denfaminicogamer, Real Sound Anime.
The latest TV anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow's manga, Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell, has released cast details and an end card for its third episode. Akio Otsuka voices Colonel Mares in Episode 3, titled JUNK JUNGLE ii + MEGATECH MACHINE i + ii, which began airing and streaming on July 21. Otsuka commented that the series was created under the concept of keeping the original flavor intact, and he expressed his love for the Ghost in the Shell franchise. The episode also features an end card illustrated by Kunio Okawara. The series is produced by Science SARU, with direction by Mocochin and series composition and script by Tow Ubukata. Maaya Sakamoto stars as Motoko Kusanagi, with Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou and Yuichi Nakamura as Togusa. The anime airs on Kantele and Fuji TV's Hi Anime!! slot on Tuesdays at 11:00 PM, and streams on Prime Video and other services. The story is set in 2029 and follows Public Security Section 9 as they confront cyber crimes and the mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master.
Akio Otsuka, known for his roles in Mobile Suit Gundam and One Piece, voices Colonel Mares in Episode 3 of Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell. The episode, titled JUNK JUNGLE ii + MEGATECH MACHINE i + ii, began airing on July 21. Otsuka's comment emphasized the production's goal of preserving the original manga's flavor, a notable shift from the tone set by Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film and Kenji Kamiyama's Stand Alone Complex series. The end card for the episode was drawn by mechanical designer Kunio Okawara, known for his work on Gundam. The series is produced by Science SARU, which previously handled Dandadan and The Colors Within. Director Mocochin and writer Tow Ubukata lead the production. The cast also includes Kazuhiro Yamaji as Daisuke Aramaki and Tomoko Kaneda as Fuchikoma. The opening theme is GO GHOST by King Gnu, and the ending theme is Blue by MILLENNIUM PARADE. The title logo was designed by Hajime Sorayama. The series streams on Prime Video starting at 11:30 PM on the day of broadcast, with other services following the next day.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Denfaminicogamer アニメ『攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL』に、大塚明夫さんがマレス大佐役で出演。「攻殻機動隊という作品を心から愛しています」とコメント
- Real Sound Anime 『攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL』が獲得した前衛性 士郎正宗の世界観へと再接続