News

Manga Entertainment to Reissue Ghost in the Shell

Montreal's Fantasia International Film Festival announced on Thursday that Manga Entertainment will release a new high-definition master of Mamori Oshii's Ghost in the Shell film. The new Blu-ray Disc release is slated to ship in North America on September 23 for the retail price of US$24.99.

Manga Entertainment is reissuing the film with Anchor Bay Entertainment to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original Ghost in the Shell manga's publication. The new release will be the first time that this restored version of the film is available outside Japan.

Fantasia International Film Festival will screen the film on July 17. The festival will also give Oshii (Patlabor, Angel's Egg) a Lifetime Achievement Award before the screening. This year's event will run from July 17 through August 5.

Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell science-fiction manga series debuted in 1989. Oshii directed the anime film adaptation that premiered in 1995. Manga Entertainment first released the film in North America in 1996. Ghost in the Shell 2.0, the remastered, computer-enhanced edition of the film, shipped in North America in 2009.

The original manga and film inspired the 2002 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex television anime series, 2004 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence sequel film, and many other anime and manga projects. The third installment of the Ghost in the Shell Arise prequel anime project will open in Japan on June 28.

Thanks to WTK for the news tip

Image ©1995 Masamune Shirow/Kodansha Ltd./Bandai Visual Co.,Ltd/Manga Entertainment.