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Anime Limited Will Release Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 S1 Blu-ray on July 29 (Updated)

Anime Limited's AllTheAnime website is listing a Collector's Blu-ray edition of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 1, to be released on July 29.

The set will include four art cards, an A3 poster, and a 100-page art book including character, background and mech design work. The first 12 episodes of the series will be carried on two Blu-rays, while a third Blu-ray disc will include behind the Scenes content, interviews, and a CG Breakdown feature.

Anime Limited's founder Andrew Partiridge confirmed on X/Twitter that this set will only include the subtitled Japanese track, and not the English dub track, due to the prohibitive expense of accessing a dub in the case of digital-only platforms.

The story is described as follows:

"In the year 2045, after an economic disaster known as the Simultaneous Global Default which destroyed the value of all forms of paper and electronic currency, the "Big 4" nations of the world are engaged in a state of never-ending "Sustainable War" to keep the economy going. In this world, Mokoto, Batou and other members of Public Security Section 9 have contracted themselves out as mercenaries under the group "GHOST", using their cybernetic enhancements and battle experience to earn a living while defusing hot spots across the globe. However, the emergence of "Post Humans" and a conspiracy uncovered by former Chief Aramaki force Section 9 to reunite."

The first 12 episodes of the CG anime series debuted on Netflix in April 2020, with another 12 episodes dropping in 2022 . The series was co-directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed).

The series was a sequel to the 2000s TV series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and returning cast members included:

• Atsuko Tanaka as Major Motoko Kusanagi
• Akio Ohtsuka as Batou
• Kōichi Yamadera as Togusa
• Yutaka Nakano as Ishikawa
• Tōru Ohkawa as Saito
• Takashi Onozuka as Paz
• Tarō Yamaguchi as Borma
• Sakiko Tamagawa as the Tachikoma
• Osamu Saka as Daisuke Aramaki

New cast members included:

Megumi Han as Purin Ezaki, a new Section 9 member in charge of maintaining the Tachikomas; Kenjirō Tsuda as Standard, a mercenary currently attached to Section 9; and Kaiji Soze as John Smith.

Kodansha and Production I.G announced a new anime based on Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga in April 2017. Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki directed the project at Production I.G and Sola Digital Arts. Russian illustrator Ilya Kushinov (The Wonderland) was the character designer. Nobuko Toda (Sweetness & Lightning, The case files of Jeweler Richard) and Kazuma Jinnouchi Busou Shinki: Moon Angel) composed the music. Toda was best known for composing the music of the Metal Gear Solid series alongside Harry Gregson-Williams, and Toda and Jinnouchi collaborated on the Ultraman anime last year. The pair also composed the soundtracks for the Halo 4 and Halo 5 games.

Scriptwriters included: Kenji Kamiyama, Ryō Higaki (The Eccentric Family, Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit), Kurasumi Sunayama (Yowamushi Pedal, Gurren Lagann), Harumi Doki (Ultraman, Cyborg 009 Call of Justice), Dai Satō (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Samurai Champloo, Eureka Seven), and Daisuke Daitō.

Motion-capture actors includeed Kaori Kawabuchi (Motoko Kusanagi), Kaiji Soze (Daisuke Aramaki and Ishikawa), Shinji Kasahara (Batou), Chihei Okada (Togusa), Hidenori Takei (Saito), and Yarisa Yamashiro (Purin Ezaki).

The new creative team Millennium Parade, led by King Gnu member Daiki Tsuneta, performed the opening theme song "Fly with me."

Update - Confirmation added that this release is subtitled-only.