Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface (2001) (released in collected form in America on January 19, 2005).Dominion: Conflict 1 (No More Noise) (1995).However, he did play a role in the development of the TV anime series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Mamoru Oshii directed both movies, which were adaptations of several chapters of the original manga put to film. Many people mistake him for the creator of the original anime movie, but he had no major role in its production. Ghost in the Shell is a famous anime in the West based on his work, hence his popularity. He was chosen as an early author to bring to the West because of many stylistic similarities between his work and traditional American comics. Indeed, for a time, he was more popular outside of Japan than inside. In 2007, he collaborated again with Production I.G to co-create the original concept for the anime television series Shinreigari/Ghost Hound, Production I.G's 20th year anniversary project.Ī further original collaboration with Production I.G began airing in April, 2008, titled Real Drive. Two more volumes of Appleseed followed before he began work on Ghost in the Shell. After a professional reprint of Black Magic and a second volume of Appleseed, he released Dominion in 1986. The story was a sensation, and won the 1986 Seiun Award for Best Manga. The result was Appleseed, a full volume of densely-plotted drama taking place in an ambiguous future. His work caught the eye of Seishinsha President Harumichi Aoki, who offered to publish him.

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 fanzine Atlas. Shirow is also known for creating erotic art.īorn in the Hyōgo Prefecture capital city of Kobe, he studied oil painting at Osaka University of Arts. He is best known for the manga Ghost in the Shell, which has since been turned into two theatrical anime movies, two anime TV series, an anime TV movie, and several video games. Masamune Shirow is a pen name, based on a famous swordsmith, Masamune. Masamune Shirow ( 士郎正宗 Shirō Masamune ?) is an internationally renowned manga artist, born Masanori Ota (太田まさのり Ōta Masanori) on November 23, 1961.

Appleseed, Vol. 1 by Masamune Shirow