The grand exhibition spanning the "Ghost in the Shell" series, announced last November at MUTEK JP in Shibuya Hikarie, has finally opened. What was most striking upon attending the preview was the sheer number of media representatives present. Journalists and writers from a wide array of fields—news, culture, art, tech, fashion, and even foreign media—gathered at the 45th floor of Toranomon Hills Station Tower.

After crowd control and guided entry, a massive screen was positioned at the front of the room, with a vertical screen array behind it. Furthermore, images of famous scenes and characters from the series appeared to float on the walls. Most impressive, however, were the countless cables descending from the 15-meter-high ceiling, which fans will recognize as representing the wired connection scenes from the anime.

Enveloped in a truly cyberpunk atmosphere, the stage was illuminated, and the host appeared. Four key figures behind the exhibition took the stage, initiating a talk session. The full scope of the large-scale exhibition, conceived to span all anime series and planned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of Mamoru Oshii's first film in 1995, was revealed. Let's now highlight the exhibition's key features, along with comments from each speaker.

Sasai: While discussing with Production I.G., the studio behind the anime, we discovered a vast archive of materials spanning 30 years. I then consulted with Mr. Miura here, and we agreed that by combining "Ghost in the Shell," a work at the forefront of creativity, with KDDI's cutting-edge technology, we could create an unprecedentedly advanced exhibition. However, the venue had not yet been decided. At that time, I saw the exhibition by Rhizomatiks at the opening of TOKYO NODE and Mika Ninagawa's exhibition curated by Mr. Kuwana. I felt that the advanced image of the work and the magnificence of the TOKYO NODE venue resonated, leading to the decision to hold the exhibition here.

Kuwana: In this Gallery A, there are eight terminals lined up. We have created a search engine that allows you to browse all scenes from the anime series and find your favorite moments. Then, in Gallery B, you can see how those scenes were created. Here, we are exhibiting 1,600 original drawings, carefully selected to match the concept of this exhibition. It's a place where you can experience the thrill of searching for original artwork from animation cut bags, much like searching for a favorite record in an analog record store. We've packed in all the information with the desire for you to "dig" your favorite "Ghost in the Shell" through both digital and analog means.

To meet the expectations of fans who believe "Ghost in the Shell" should embody cutting-edge initiatives, "Cyberbrain VISION" has been specially developed for this exhibition. You will be moved to realize that the devices depicted in the series' setting of 2029 Tokyo have become a reality in 2026 through AR (Augmented Reality) technology.

Sunahara: We have named the AR glasses, developed based on XREAL's Air 2 Ultra, "Cyberbrain VISION." The setting is that wearing these will cybernize you for 90 minutes. Among the 1,600 production materials in the venue, we have created content where the cute Tachikomas from the S.A.C. series will guide you through 21 carefully selected scenes. You can experience the final scene of SAC_2045 Season 2 overlaid onto the actual night view, so please look forward to it.

Gallery B, which is darkened and enclosed during the day, transforms into a space where you can enjoy the dynamic night view of the metropolis after dark. With Cyberbrain VISION, iconic scenes, such as Major Kusanagi about to dive, will materialize before your eyes.

The "Ghost in the Shell" series is highly acclaimed worldwide, a key characteristic that has led to plans for this exhibition to tour internationally. Mr. Miura, the Global License Producer, shared his aspirations.

Miura: Through negotiations with Kodansha and others over about three years, we reaffirmed that "Ghost in the Shell" is a globally recognized work and an intellectual property that represents Japan. Starting with this exhibition, we aim to promote Japanese anime culture and IPs worldwide, and also to help Japanese people go global. We are working on the international tour with the strong desire to achieve this. Currently, we are receiving an immense number of inquiries from overseas, and we are planning exhibitions in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With the resolve that this is the only way, we want to present this content, originating from Tokyo in 2026, to the world.