The summer 2026 anime Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL concluded with its tenth and final episode on September 8, 2026, leaving fans with plenty to remember — including a stunning lineup of end-card illustrations contributed by some of the most celebrated artists in anime and game history. Here is a full roundup of every end card from the series.

About the Series

Based on Shirow Masamune‘s landmark 1989 manga (Kodansha, KC Deluxe), this Reiwa-era adaptation took a faithful, source-material-first approach that resonated warmly with longtime fans. New viewers, meanwhile, were drawn in by its snappy pacing, expressive character animation, and a nostalgic aesthetic. Directed by Moko-chan and produced by Science SARU, the series featured series composition and scripts by SF author Enjo To, with Sakamoto Maaya — who previously voiced the role in the Ghost in the Shell: ARISE series (2013) — returning as Major Kusanagi Motoko.

The anime aired on Kansai TV / Fuji TV’s nationwide “火アニバル!!” Tuesday-night block from July 7, 2026, with streaming available on Prime Video as the domestic first-run platform.

Episode End Cards

Episode 1 — Art by: Yoji Shinkawa

The premiere episode, “PROLOGUE + SUPER SPARTAN i,” opened with an end card by Yoji Shinkawa, Art Director at KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS and the visual mind behind DEATH STRANDING and the Metal Gear series. His instantly recognizable brushwork brought Motoko, Batou, and Fuchikoma to life with electrifying energy, prompting fans to declare, “The world of Ghost in the Shell has been perfectly resurrected.”

Episode 2 — Art by: Ilya Kuvshinov

Russian illustrator Ilya Kuvshinov, who served as character designer on Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (2020), contributed the card for “SUPER SPARTAN ii + JUNK JUNGLE i.” Motoko sports a different hairstyle from her SAC_2045 incarnation, giving the image a refreshing feel. Kuvshinov has said he fell in love with Japanese animation at age six — after watching the original Ghost in the Shell.

Episode 3 — Art by: Okawara Kunio

The end card for “JUNK JUNGLE ii + MEGATECH MACHINE i + ii” sent the internet into a frenzy: it was drawn by Okawara Kunio, the pioneering mecha designer whose work on Mobile Suit Gundam, Dougram, Xabungle, and Armored Trooper VOTOMS essentially defined the profession. His meticulously detailed, weighty rendition of Fuchikoma drew reactions like “I was absolutely stunned to see Okawara-sensei’s Fuchikoma!” and “This end card lineup is way too good.”

Episode 4 — Art by: Nishio Tetsuya

Nishio Tetsuya — character designer on Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (2004) and sub-character designer on the film Innocence (2004) — delivered a school-delinquent parody for “ROBOT RONDO,” featuring a sukeban-style Motoko and a gym-teacher Aramaki wielding a bamboo sword. The episode title rendered in elaborate kanji as 『紅赫鬼撞颱』 was another highlight fans couldn’t stop talking about.

Episode 5 — Art by: Maeda Mahiro

“PHANTOM FUND” received a full cast ensemble piece from Maeda Mahiro, whose credits span concept art for Mad Max: Fury Road, directing and concept art direction on Shin Evangelion, and design work on Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Fans were especially pleased to spot Paz rendered in careful detail — “Paz looks so cool!” — despite the character’s limited screen time.

Episode 6 — Art by: Moriyama Hiroshi

Moriyama Hiroshi, director of the cyberpunk sports anime Megalobox (2018), contributed a striking monochrome image for “DUMB BARTER” that captures Motoko’s cyborg body mid-action, with scattered components conveying a powerful sense of drama. Even in grayscale, Motoko’s eyes remain unforgettably expressive.

Episode 7 — Artwork by: Sorayama Hajime

The title logo designer for this very series, Sorayama Hajime — internationally renowned for his “Sexy Robot” series — provided the artwork for “BYE BYE CLAY.” In 2026 he unveiled a sculpture titled “Sexy Robot_The Ghost in the Shell type 1,” modeled on Motoko, which was also exhibited at the well-received Ghost in the Shell Exhibition: Ghost and the Shell in Tokyo and Hyogo. The gleaming silver aesthetic is a perfect match for the franchise’s world.

Episode 8 — Art by: Natsume Shingo

Natsume Shingo, director and writer of the upcoming original feature ghost / Yoru no Hate (releasing February 11, 2027), drew an endearingly playful Fuchikoma for “INTERMISSION + BRAIN DRAIN i.” The little tank-like creature appears to be drinking from a baby bottle — natural oil, perhaps? — while Batou’s expression is reflected in its camera eye and a visibly annoyed Motoko lurks in the background.

Episode 9 — Art by: Kise Kazuchika

Chief director of the Ghost in the Shell: ARISE series and animation director on both the original GHOST IN THE SHELL film and Innocence, Kise Kazuchika handled “BRAIN DRAIN ii.” He drew the characters in a style closely aligned with Shirow Masamune’s original artwork, earning praise from fans: “You can feel how much he respects the source material,” and “Of course it had to be Kise-san — a true pillar of Production I.G.”

Final Episode Countdown Illustrations

Episode 10, “BRAIN DRAIN iii + GHOST COAST + EPILOGUE,” did not include a traditional end card, but Science SARU released a series of countdown illustrations in the days leading up to the finale:

• Two days before broadcast — by Shindo Takehira (Animation Producer)
• One day before broadcast — by Sophie Li (李小霏) (Color Script)
• Broadcast day — by Gan Haotian (甘浩天) (Storyboard / Director)

Each illustration carries its own distinct personality and radiates the team’s affection for the project — a fitting send-off for one of 2026’s most talked-about anime.

©2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE