Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Release Date
01-07-2025
It seems like every cool film from the last few decades and beyond is getting a 4K remaster, a limited theatrical release, or both, like the recent4K run of Studio Bones’Sword of the Stranger. UnlikeStranger, however, fans in North America don’t need to beg for the 4K Restoration of Mamoru Oshii’sGhost in the Shell 2: Innocenceto come to the big screen; GKIDS has them covered.
Released in 2004,Innocenceis Mamoru Oshii’s follow-up to his 1995 cyberpunk masterpiece,Ghost in the Shell, itselfa rather bold adaptation of Shirow Masamune’s mangaof the same name. When people think of this franchise, the first film naturally comes to mind - the cinematic touchstone that helped inspire later works likeThe Matrix, but its sequel is just as deserving of recognition.
When Is Innocence Coming to Theaters?
American film producer and distributor GKIDS (The Boy and the Heron,Neon Genesis Evangelion) is bringingInnocenceto theaters in North America this summer. The 4K restoration will debut on May 7 at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago as part of the Chicago Critics Film Festival. The film stars Akio Otsuka as Batou, Atsuko Tanaka as Motoko Kusanagi, Koichi Yamadera as Togusa, and the late Tamio Oki as Chief Daisuke Aramaki.
A Brief History of Innocence’s North American Distribution
Following the premiere in Chicago, there is no word on specific dates for the larger theatrical release. Likewise, there is no word yet aboutwhether this will include the English dub, much less which version has been acquired. In 2005, Manga UK and Madman produced a dub for the UK and Australia respectively. It wasn’t until 2009 that a dub by Bandai Entertainment was produced, the same that would be included in Funimation’s Blu-ray release in 2017.
Despite there being two dubs, the main cast remained much the same, featuring the voices fromGhost in the Shell’s then-famous TV series,Stand Alone Complex. The dub stars Richard Epcar as Batou, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Motoko Kusanagi, Crispin Freeman as Togusa, and the late William Frederick Knight as Chief Daisuke Aramaki.
What Is Innocence About?
Known in Japan as simply “Innocence,“Oshii aimed to create something very differentthat could stand on its own, despite what the overseas “Ghost in the Shell 2” tagline might suggest. Set after the Major’s disappearance in the previous film,Innocencefollows Batou and Togusa investigating a series of murders committed by female robots who went berserk for reasons unknown.
As stated at the start, the idea ofGhost in the Shellthat exists in the mainstream most often harkens back to the original film from 1995. Even among fans more familiar with the franchise, the most recognizable entry beyond that is 2002’sStand Alone Complex, a masterpiece in itself and an Adult Swim classic. It’s less often that people talk aboutInnocence, a film with arguably more ambition than even the original film.
Why Does It Deserve The Hype?
Even with a somewhat baffling PG-13 rating,this is surely the darkestGhost in the Shellhas ever been, if not in terms of violence, then certainly in terms of sheer atmosphere and narrative. Like its predecessor, it is thought-provoking, but in an often more psychedelic manner that produces one of the franchise’s most unforgettable and mind-bending sequences. Additionally, as a neo-noir thriller, it is a gripping mystery made all the more unique by the Major’s sparse presence.
As expected, it’s also a beautiful film, but it’s still somewhat shocking how beautiful it was for its time. It was a collaboration between Production I.G and Studio Ghibli, with advantageous but appreciably well-utilized 3D CGI mixed in, courtesy of Polygon Pictures (Ajin,Knights of Sidonia).Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocenceis an unmissable part of one of the anime’s greatest sci-fi franchises and this theatrical run will be the best chance to experience it for the first time.
