TV anime version of "Ghost in the Shell ARISE" announces details of a completely new episode!　Kenjiro Tsuda to play new character Pyromania

Details of a completely new episode of the TV anime "GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE ALTERNATIVE ARCHITECTURE," which is currently being broadcast, have been announced.

This is a reconstructed version of "Ghost in the Shell ARISE," the latest in the world popular masterpiece science fiction "Ghost in the Shell" series, of which four chapters were screened in theaters from June 2013, with two completely new episodes. The story is set on the eve of the formation of the Ghost in the Shell, and depicts how the young Motoko Kusanagi came to establish the Ghost in the Shell, a special offensive special forces unit. Kazuya Kise is the general director and character designer, Ubukata Tow is the series composition writer, and Production I.G is the animation producer.

The details of the "PYROPHORIC CULT" episode, which will be aired in episodes 9-10 as a new episode unique to the TV version, have now been revealed. This episode is a prequel to "Fire Starter," a cybernetic virus that will lead to "Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie," which will be released on June 20, and features the new character Pyromania. The character is played by Kenjiro Tsuda. The story centers on Pyromania, a follower of the "Fire Starter" virus who can manipulate flames at will and perform "brainwashing, ghost invasion, and pseudo-memory formation" all at once.

Below is a comment from Kenjiro Tsuda and an explanation of the new episode by Ubukata Tow, the series' composer.

Kenjiro Tsuda's comment
When I saw "Ghost in the Shell" for the first time, I was very impressed that such a quiet and deep science fiction movie was possible. So when I was asked to appear in "ARISE", the latest in the series, I was very excited. During postrecording, when I heard Batou's lighthearted comments, I was back to looking at him with the gaze of a fan. The character I played, Pyromania, has a unique appearance and seems to be a bit dopey. But at the same time, he has a rough texture that evokes something dark. In his first appearance, he is staring at a bonfire in a natural setting, which is not typical of science fiction works, and I thought it conveyed the strange atmosphere of Pyromania. Pyromania is a character who speaks without emotion and speaks without hesitation, but it was difficult to find the right level of energy to put into his lines. In that sense, I felt that she has something in common with Motoko Kusanagi, who often plays her roles with a lot of restraint. Pyromania confronts Motoko Kusanagi, but it is not a heated battle, but rather a quiet one. I thought it was very "Ghost in the Shell" like.I hopeyou enjoy the "Ghost in the Shell" atmosphere that pervades the entire film.

Ubukata Tow (series composition) on the highlights of the new episodes and new characters
The new episode will be about Motoko Kusanagi and her enemy, Pyromania. That is the goal of "ARISE ALTERNATIVE ARCHITECTURE" #09 and #10. Pyromania denies what Motoko affirms and affirms what she denies. He is a character who fully affirms the "Fire Starter" virus, and thus stands as an enemy of Motoko and an enemy of society at the same time. The Internet spreads all kinds of values and allows deviations from the social yoke. Therefore, when society cannot keep up with the expansion of the Net, an entity emerges that values the Net more than society. Pyromania is a character who has gone too far; he values the "Fire Starter" virus more than society and has no qualms about destroying it. Motoko Kusanagi, on the other hand, has been pushed out of the existing organizational structure, but even so, she still manages to get into the field and take the work she is supposed to do. In #09 and #10, Motoko Kusanagi's "fighting style" is emphasized the most. How will Motoko Kusanagi confront Pyromania? I hope you will enjoy watching it.

＜Episode 9 Story
#09 PYROPHORIC CULT Part 1
January 2029. In January 2029, an airplane bombing occurs in the suburbs of Newport City, and Public Security Section 9 led by Aramaki receives a request from the U.S. Military Intelligence to conduct a joint investigation. The suspect in the case is the so-called "Pyromania (arsonist)," who is believed to be the broker of the "Fire Starter," a cybernetic virus that implants pseudo-memories. He was dispatched by the cartel to kill Colonel Hozumi, and is said to have killed a U.S. military intelligence officer who was tracking him by blowing up his entire plane. Kusanagi uses Colonel Hozumi as bait to lay siege to Pyromania in order to capture him.

＜Episode 10 Story.
#10 PYROPHORIC CULT Part 2
After a fierce computer battle, Kusanagi has Pyromania in custody, but the body of the terrorist who was believed to be Pyromania's true identity is found at the crash site of the aircraft explosion. As the brain of Pyromania was being analyzed, Kusanagi and his team were removed from the joint investigation and sent to escort Colonel Hodzumi to the U.S. Military Intelligence Agency for transfer. However, Pyromania escapes after killing all of the facility's brain technicians, and attacks Colonel Hozumi and Kusanagi. The only will left in his brain is to protect the Fire Starter, which he believes to be the "key to human evolution.