, better known by his pen name <!--Western order as per http://web.archive.org/web/19970710050520/http://www.dhorse.com/dhonline/int/index.html -->, is a Japanese manga artist. Shirow is best known for the manga Ghost in the Shell, which has since been turned into three theatrical anime films, two anime television series, an anime television film, an anime ONA series, a theatrical live action film, and several video games, as well as being a key figure in the development of cyberpunk aesthetics and themes in Japan during the 1980s and 1990s.

Life and career

Born in the Hyōgo Prefecture capital city of Kobe, he studied oil painting at Osaka University of Arts. While in college, he developed an interest in manga, which led him to create his own complete work, Black Magic, which was published in the manga dōjinshi Atlas. His work caught the eye of President Harumichi Aoki, who offered to publish him.

The result was best-selling manga Appleseed, a full volume of densely plotted drama taking place in an ambiguous future. The story was a sensation, and won the 1986 Seiun Award for Best Manga. After a professional reprint of Black Magic and a second volume of Appleseed, he released Dominion in 1986. Two more volumes of Appleseed followed before he began work on Ghost in the Shell. His work has been cited as an influence on The Wachowskis and the development of the popular Matrix film series. (2002, commissioned by Elecom)

  • Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn (2012–2024), original concept
  • Design of the EHP-SH1000 and EHP-SL100 headphones (2016, commissioned by Elecom)

Adaptations

Anime

Film

  • Ghost in the Shell (1995) by Mamoru Oshii
  • Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004) by Mamoru Oshii
  • Appleseed (2004) by Shinji Aramaki
  • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society (2006) by Kenji Kamiyama
  • Appleseed Ex Machina (2007) by Shinji Aramaki and John Woo
  • Appleseed Alpha (2014) by Shinji Aramaki and Joseph Chou
  • Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn (2015) by Munenori Nawa
  • Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (2016) by

OVAs and ONAs

  • Black Magic M-66 (1987) by Hiroyuki Kitakubo and Shirow Masamune (this is the only anime in which Shirow played a direct role in the production)
  • Appleseed (1988) by Kazuyoshi Katayama
  • Dominion (1988) by Takaaki Ishiyama and Kôichi Mashimo
  • New Dominion Tank Police (1990) by Noboru Furuse and Junichi Sakai
  • Landlock (1995) by Yasuhiro Matsumura (character and mecha designs only)
  • Gundress (1999) by Junichi Sakai (character and mecha designs only)
  • Tank Police Team: Tank S.W.A.T. 01 (2006) by Romanov Higa
  • W Tails Cat: A Strange Presence (2013)
  • Ghost in the Shell: Arise (2013) by Kazuchika Kise
  • Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (2020) by Shinji Aramaki and Kenji Kamiyama

Television

  • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002–2003) by Kenji Kamiyama (also called Alone on Earth or GitS:SAC)
  • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (2004–2005) by Kenji Kamiyama (second season of GitS:SAC)
  • Ghost Hound (2007–2008) by Ryūtarō Nakamura; original concept in collaboration with Production I.G
  • Real Drive (2008) by Kazuhiro Furuhashi; original concept in collaboration with Production I.G
  • Appleseed XIII (2011–2012) by Takayuki Hamana
  • Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture (2015) by Kazuchika Kise
  • Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn (2016) by Munenori Nawa, original concept for the source manga
  • The Ghost in the Shell (2026) by Moko-chan

Live action

  • Ghost in the Shell (2017) by Rupert Sanders

Video games

PC Engine

  • Toshi Tensou Keikaku: Eternal City (action platformer)

Super Famicom

  • Appleseed: Oracle of Prometheus

Nintendo DS

  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (strategy RPG)

PlayStation

  • Project Horned Owl
  • Ghost in the Shell
  • Yarudora Series Vol. 3: Sampaguita
  • GunDress

PlayStation 2

  • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
  • Appleseed EX

PlayStation Portable

  • Yarudora Series Vol. 3: Sampaguita
  • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Microsoft Windows

  • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - First Assault Online

References

Further reading

  • Masamune Shirow at Media Arts Database
  • Masamune Shirow at Baka-Updates Manga
  • The World of Masamune Shirow Exhibition: Ghost in the Shell and its creative trajectory – the exhibition held in 2025