Masamune Shirow

, better known by his pen name , 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.

In 2007, he collaborated again with Production I.G to co-create the original concept for the anime television series '' Ghost Hound'', Production I.G's 20th anniversary project. A further original collaboration with Production I.G began airing in April 2008, titled '' Real Drive''. His work often explores the philosophical themes of cyberpunk such as the nature of post-human existence, AI and the ethics of biotechnology, human–machine relations, multiculturalism, and globalism.

Bibliography

Manga

series:
# (1985–1986)
# "Dominion: Phantom of the Audience" (1988), short story
# (1995)

series:
# (1989–1990)
# (1991–1996)
# (1997)

Stand-alones:

* (1983)
* (1985–1989)
* (1986)
* (1987)
* (1990–1991)
* ''Exon Depot'' (1992)
* (1992–1994)
* (2007–2008)
* (2008)

Art books

A substantial amount of Shirow's work has been released in art book or poster book format, some being hentai. The following is an incomplete list.

* '' Intron Depot 1'' (1992) (science fiction–themed color illustration art book collecting his work from 1981 to 1991)
* ''Intron Depot 2: Blades'' (1998) (fantasy-themed color illustration art book featuring female characters with armor and edged weapons)
* ''Cybergirls Portfolio'' (2000)
* ''Intron Depot 3: Ballistics'' (2003) (military-themed color illustration and CG art book featuring female characters with guns)
* ''Intron Depot 4: Bullets'' (2004) (color illustration art book collecting his work between 1995 and 1999)
* ''Intron Depot 5: Battalion'' (2012) (game & animation artwork covering the period 2001–2009)
* ''Intron Depot 6: Barb Wire 01'' (2013) (illustrations for novels 2007–2010)
* ''Intron Depot 7: Barb Wire 02'' (2013) (illustrations for novels 2007–2010)
* ''Intron Depot 8: Bomb Bay'' (2018) (illustrations 1992–2009)
* ''Intron Depot 9: Barrage Fire'' (2019) (illustrations 1998–2017)
* ''Intron Depot 10: Bloodbard'' (2020) (illustrations 2004–2019)
* ''Intron Depot 11: Bailey Bridge'' (2020) (illustrations 2012–2014)
* ''Intron Depot 12: Burnout Velocity'' (2024) (illustrations 2015)
* ''Kokin Toguihime Zowshi Shu'' (2009)
* ''Pieces 1'' (2009)
* ''Pieces 2: Phantom Cats'' (2010)
* ''Pieces 3: Wild Wet Quest'' (2010)
* ''Pieces 4: Hell Hound 01'' (2010)
* ''Pieces 5: Hell Hound 02'' (2011)
* ''Pieces 6: Hell Cat'' (2011)
* ''Pieces 7: Hell Hound 01 & 02 Miscellaneous Work + α'' (2011)
* ''Pieces 8: Wild Wet West'' (2012)
* ''Pieces 9: Kokon Otogizoshi Shu Hiden'' (2012)
* ''Pieces GEM 01: The Ghost in The Shell Data + α'' (2014)
* ''Pieces GEM 02: Neuro Hard Bee Planet'' (2015)
* ''Pieces GEM 03: Appleseed Drawings'' (2016)
* ''W-Tails Cat 1'' (2012)
* ''W-Tails Cat 2'' (2013)
* ''W-Tails Cat 3'' (2016)
* ''W-Tails Cat 4'' (2025)
* ''W-Tails Cat Rough'' (2025)
* ''Greaseberries 1'' (2014)
* ''Greaseberries 2'' (2014)
* ''Greaseberries 3'' (2018)
* ''Greaseberries 4'' (2019)
* ''Greaseberries Rough'' (2019)

Galgrease

''Galgrease'' (published in ''Uppers Magazine'', 2002) is the collected name of several hentai manga and poster books by Shirow. The name comes from the fact that the women depicted often look "greased".

The first series of ''Galgrease'' booklets included four issues each in the following settings:

* ''Wild Wet West'' ( Wild West-themed)
* ''Hellhound'' ( Horror-themed)
* ''Galhound'' (Near-future science fiction–themed)

The second series included another run of 12 booklets in the following worlds:

* ''Wild Wet Quest'' (A ''Tomb Raider'' or ''Indiana Jones''–style sequel to ''Wild Wet West'')
* ''Hellcat'' (Pirate-themed)
* ''Galhound 2'' (Near-future science fiction–themed)

After each regular series, there were one or more bonus poster books that revisited the existing characters and settings.

Minor works

* "Areopagus Arther" (1980), published in ''ATLAS'' (dōjinshi)
* "Yellow Hawk" (1981), published in ''ATLAS'' (dōjinshi)
* "Colosseum Pick" (1982), published in ''Funya'' (dōjinshi)
* "Pursuit (Manga)" (1982), published in ''Kintalion'' (dōjinshi)
* "Opional Orientation" (1984), published in ''ATLAS'' (dōjinshi)
* "Battle on Mechanism" (1984), published in ''ATLAS'' (dōjinshi)
* "Metamorphosis in Amazoness" (1984), published in ''ATLAS'' (dōjinshi)
* "Arice in Jargon" (1984), published in ''ATLAS'' (dōjinshi)
* "Bike Nut" (1985), published in ''Dorothy'' (dōjinshi)
* "Gun Dancing" (1986), published in ''Young Magazine Kaizokuban''
* "Colosseum Pick" (1990), published in ''Comic Fusion Atpas'' (dōjinshi)

Other

* Design of the MAPP1-SM mouse 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
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'' (2003) by Kenji Kamiyama (also called ''Alone on Earth'' or ''GitS:SAC'')
* '' Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG'' (2004) by Kenji Kamiyama (second season of ''GitS:SAC'')
* '' Ghost Hound'' (2007) 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) 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

*
*

External links

*
*
*
Masamune Shirow
at Media Arts Database

a
Baka-Updates Manga

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shirow, Masamune

1961 births
20th-century Japanese male writers
20th-century pseudonymous writers
21st-century Japanese male writers
21st-century pseudonymous writers
Art writers
Cyberpunk writers
Hentai creators
Japanese animators
Japanese erotic artists
Japanese erotica writers
Japanese science fiction writers
Japanese science fiction artists
Living people
Manga artists from Hyōgo Prefecture
Osaka University of Arts alumni
Artists from Kobe
Pseudonymous artists