The iconic follow-up to the first Ghost in the Shell anime film — Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence — will soon return to theaters throughout America for a limited time in a stunning 4K restoration.
Via a press release, GKIDS is celebrating Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence‘s 20th anniversary via a new 4K restoration for theaters. The film returns for just three nights on June 23, 24, and 26 across over 400 theaters nationwide. Readers can check out GKIDS’ 4K-restored teaser and full trailers, stills, and the complete list of participating theaters below.
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Innocence is a standalone film that saw acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii further develop the themes explored in the original Ghost in the Shell. Despite moving from the iconic Motoko Kusanagi to Batou in terms of character focus, the film again achieved widespread acclaim and was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. CBR’s Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence -10 Ways It Differs From The Original Movie breaks down some differences, spotlighting the sequel’s increased focus on visual storytelling as an example.
GKIDS’ Ghost in the Shell Restoration Follows Nadia: Secret of Blue Water and Angel’s Egg
GKIDS’ restoration of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence continues the company’s acclaimed work in anime, similarly restoring Oshii’s Angel’s Egg for its 40th anniversary in 2025. In 2022, it restored Nadia: The Secret of the Blue Water, produced by anime studio Gainax, which recently declared bankruptcy. Innocence‘s restoration is another example of the franchise’s recent resurgence, with Ghost in the Shell receiving a remake set to air in 2026.
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GKIDS describes Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence: “In the year 2032, the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. A string of murders perpetrated by a prototype android model has drawn the attention of Public Security Section 9, a unit specializing in counter cyber-terrorism. With none of the victims’ families pressing charges, suspicions arise regarding the nature of the androids and their production company. In the course of the investigation, the almost entirely cyber-bodied agent Batou, and his still human partner Togusa embark on a journey through a technological dystopia, taking on ferocious Yakuza thugs, devious hackers, government bureaucrats, and corporate criminals to uncover the shocking truth behind the crime.”
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
In a dystopian future, cyborg detective Batou and his human partner Togusa investigate a series of gruesome murders linked to malfunctioning gynoids, lifelike robots designed for companionship. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a complex conspiracy involving corporate greed and the boundaries between humanity and artificial intelligence.
- Director
-
Mamoru Oshii
- Release Date
-
March 6, 2004
- Cast
-
Akio Otsuka
, Atsuko Tanaka
, Koichi Yamadera
, Tamio Ôki
, Yutaka Nakano
, Naoto Takenaka - Writers
-
Shirow Masamune
, Mamoru Oshii
, Richard Epcar
, Mary Claypool - Runtime
-
100 minutes
Source: Press release
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