Three decades on, classic anime reunites with Chinese fans

The classic anime film Ghost in the Shell first released in Japan in 1995 is scheduled to screen a special 4K remastered edition on Saturday, making its debut on the Chinese mainland after 30 years.

Renowned for its pioneering cyberpunk aesthetics and profound themes of identity and technology, the film set in the near future of 2029 is regarded as strikingly relevant in today's artificial intelligence era.

The tale follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a fully mechanized police officer, as she confronts existential questions while hunting a mysterious hacker, an AI entity roaming cyberspace that occupies human beings or cyborgs.

Director Mamoru Oshii released a promotional video sharing his excitement about the film reaching a new generation of Chinese audiences 30 years after its premiere.

"It's a supreme honor for a director to see so many fans going to cinemas to watch a film made decades ago. This movie left a lasting impression on me. Creating a beautiful moment that could be shared by many people, for me, is one of the pleasures of filmmaking," he said.

Currently, the film has topped the presale box-office charts for its opening day.