Ghost in the Shell Director Dismisses Cyberpunk Label, Expresses Indifference to the Genre

Weekly updates, stories from your favorite gaming communities, and more

You’re now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

Looking to add more newsletters?

Get your weekly dose of everything you need to know about the games you love, upcoming titles we think you’ll enjoy, and stories from the vibrant communities that support them.

Our dedicated GTA 6 newsletter delivers breaking news, insider insights, and rumor breakdowns from seasoned experts in the field.

From the minds behind Edge comes a weekly newsletter focused on the gaming industry, featuring analysis from skilled writers, advice from industry professionals, and a glimpse into what’s coming next.

Tech enthusiasts, join our free tech newsletter for a weekly roundup of the latest innovations, cutting-edge gadgets, and much more.

Subscribe to our new Switch 2 newsletter for weekly updates on Nintendo’s upcoming console, including news highlights and game recommendations.

Stay informed with a weekly digest of essential movie and TV news delivered straight to your inbox. From first-look trailers to interviews and reviews, we’ve got you covered.

Get exclusive previews, competitions, and details about special events each month!

Despite being the visionary behind the iconic cyberpunk narrative, Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii admits he’s not particularly fond of the genre.

“That’s a misunderstanding. I’m not that interested in cyberpunk, and I haven’t actually read many cyberpunk works, to be honest. I don’t care about it,” Oshii shared in an interview on the official Ghost in the Shell YouTube channel.

He elaborated, “It may seem like cyborgs mesh well with cyberpunk, but I don’t think that’s actually the case. In that sense, I didn’t direct Ghost in the Shell thinking it was cyberpunk. It was just that others, on the contrary, said it was.”

Oshii expressed his preference for the hard-boiled genre, stating, “cyberpunk doesn’t really excite my imagination… I don’t have the desire to live in a world that looks like a landfill.”

While he may not identify as a cyberpunk enthusiast, Ghost in the Shell remains a cornerstone of the genre. The film follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg on the trail of a hacker. A live-action adaptation released in 2017 featured Scarlett Johansson as Major Kusanagi, a casting choice that sparked controversy and accusations of whitewashing.

In the same interview, Oshii revealed he has logged over 10,000 hours in Fallout 4, leaving us curious about how he balances gaming with his legendary filmmaking career.

A new adaptation of Ghost in the Shell is in the works, based on Masamune Shirow’s manga. The first trailer has dropped, but only time will tell how it measures up to one of the greatest anime films ever made.

Bringing you the latest movie news, features, and reviews directly to your inbox.

You can expand your watchlist with our guide to the most exciting new anime on the horizon.

Rank	Player	Score	Time