My Anime World

If you’re in Tokyo and are looking for an amazing exhibition to attend, visit the Ghost in the Shell The Exhibition: Ghost and the Shell happening now on the 45th floor of Toranomon Hills Station Tower in galleries A, B, and C of the TOKYO NODE event space. It’ll run through April 5th, 2026, and it’s “THE” Ghost in the Shell event for fans of the series, specifically the anime.

This is one of the largest Ghost in the Shell events to take place, and it's a celebration of the entire anime franchise. With nearly 1,600 original materials on display, you’ll see actual hand-drawn storyboards, key animations, in-betweens, colored cells, and more that were produced throughout the history of the movies and shows. Plus, there are interesting artistic collaborations to explore within the main event space.

The exhibition is titled "Ghost and the Shell" because the event organizers said they wanted to explore the concept of GHOST and SHELL, which is a central theme of the original manga and anime. The GHOST is representative of the soul, while the SHELL is representative of your physical body. This core concept, along with social-political issues, form the backdrop of the series, as well as this event.

Moving forward, you’ll start out in the NODE, “a node of thought”. The first things you’ll notice in this area are scenes from the movies and shows being projected along the walls of the room. This is called the Huge Cyber Network Visualizer "Nerve Net", which fans of the series will be familiar with, and this area is meant to reacquaint you with your favorite scenes and memories from Ghost in the Shell.

In the center of these images are the “Ruins of Knowledge” and “World Tree: Ghost and the Shell”. In true testament to the series, this iconic scene from Ghost in the Shell, "Wired Connection," has been brought to life in an epic way with tons of cables hanging from the 15-meter-high ceiling.

Next is the “DIG”, and it’s the main gallery focusing on the 1,600 production materials you’ll be excavating from the series’ entire history, spanning the original movie, Stand Alone Complex, Innocence, 2nd GIG, Solid State Society, Arise, 2045, and even artwork from Science SARU’s, The Ghost in the Shell which will premiere this July.

These drawings, setting materials, storyboards, and other never-before-seen materials created during the series' production process are the originals, which fans will truly appreciate. You can easily get lost in this section for an hour or more, losing track of time as you study over an animator’s work and take in the intricacies of impactful expressions, and realistic settings, and even more aspects you’ll discover while browsing. There’s also a set of PC’s used by the series’ animators on display which you can “dig” through the contents of the hard drive to discover even more original materials, all which makes for a truly deep, interactive experience.

Along the way you’ll find Ghost in the Shell themed collaborations like "Sexy Robot_The Ghost in the Shell type 1" (2026), created by contemporary artist Hajime Sorayama. This cyberpunk sculpture is based on Kusanagi Motoko and represents the "body of the future." Another cool area is the Laughing Man Mirror, which uses AR to bring the laughing man incident to life and cover everyone's face with the iconic symbol. These and other collaboration areas immerse you in the world of Ghost in the Shell through technology, feel, and sight.

For an extra fee, you can take an augmented reality (AR) guided tour of the exhibit alongside a virtual Tachikoma, thanks to the exhibition’s collaboration with XREAL. The Tachikoma will verbally explain some of the original artwork and also show the actual clip from the movie or show where it was used. The voice over is only in Japanese, but there are subtitles available in English, Chinese, and other languages.

One highlight portion of the AR experience is seeing Motoko replicate the memorable building jump scene shown in the opening moments of the original movie. The AR, working in tandem with the Tokyo skyline and city lights, make visiting the exhibit at night a standout experience.

And for an additional 2,000 yen fee, you can “DIG” through hundreds of animation “cut bags” and to find the perfect reproduced illustration of a scene you like to take back home as a souvenir.

Wrapping up the DIG experience are the Fuchikoma, from Science Saru’s The Ghost in the Shell, and the series’ favorite comedians and source of wisdom, the Tachikoma. Be sure to get a photo with these big, cute replicas before you move onto the merchandise section.

Finally, the end of the exhibition concludes with the most comprehensive and largest selection of Ghost in the Shell merchandise to be found at a single event. There’s 150 goods in total, and if you're looking for Ghost in the Shell designer t-shirts, hoodies, posters, fine art, figures, plushies, or another piece of merchandise, this is the place to come.

Besides everything mentioned above, there’s also event talk sessions with directors, live interviews with artists, musical performances inspired by the series, and more that will promise to expand on the worldview of Ghost in the Shell. These events are held in the entrance Node area and are scheduled almost daily throughout the event. Please note that an additional ticket specifically for each session or performance is required to participate.

A Memory to Always Remember

Once again, this is “THE” Ghost in the Shell event fans of the franchise have dreamed about for decades. Even if you’re new to the series or just curious, there’s something for everyone to enjoy or pique your interest during your time in the gallery. There’s plenty of space to move about freely, and the exhibit is accessible to international fans. If you’re in Tokyo, don’t hesitate to check it out, and enjoy your deep dive into all that is Ghost in the Shell.

Visit the exhibit’s website for ticket information and more info on the exhibit. Also, follow them on social media for additional updates.

Official Website: https://www.tokyonode.jp/sp/exhibition-ghostintheshell/
Official X (Twitter): https://x.com/Gats_exhibition
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostandtheshell/

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article written by A. Morris.

Event Name:
Ghost in the Shell The Exhibition: Ghost and the Shell

Venue:
TOKYO NODE GALLERY A/B/C
2-6-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Toranomon Hills Station Tower 45F

Dates:
Friday, January 30, 2026 - Sunday, April 5, 2026

Times:
・Monday 12:00-18:00
・Tuesday to Thursday 12:00-21:00
・Friday 12:00-18:00 (Scheduled)

Organizer:
Ghost in the Shell Exhibition Ghost and the Shell Production Committee

©1995 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA・BANDAI VISUAL・MANGA ENTERTAINMENT. All Rights Reserved.
©2004 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA・IG, ITNDDTD
©Shirow Masamune・Production IG/KODANSHA All Rights Reserved.
©Shirow Masamune・Production IG/KODANSHA・GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE COMMITTEE. All Rights Reserved.
©Shirow Masamune・Production IG/KODANSHA・GHOST IN THE SHELL: THE MOVIE COMMITTEE. All Rights Reserved.
©Shirow Masamune・Production IG/KODANSHA/GITS2045
©2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL Exhibition COMMITTEE