Masamune Shirow

Shirow Masamune (士郎 正宗, Shirō Masamune, born November 23, 1961) is the fixed pen name of Japanese manga artist Masanori Ota (太田正典, Ōta Masanori). The pen name is derived from the legendary sword-smith Masamune. Shirow is best known for the manga Ghost in the Shell, which has since been turned into three theatrical anime movies, two anime television series, an anime television movie, an anime OVA series, a theatrical live action movie, and several video games. Shirow is also known for creating erotic art.

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 Seishinsha 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.

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 anniversary project. A further original collaboration with Production I.G began airing in April 2008, titled Real Drive.

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
• Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (2016)
• Kakuko no Pandora - Ghost Urn (2015)

OVAs

• 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)

Television

• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2003) by Kenji Kamiyama (26 25-minute episodes; also called Alone on Earth or GitS:SAC)
• Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (2004) by Kenji Kamiyama (26 25-minute episodes; second season of GitS:SAC)
• Shinreigari/Ghost Hound (2007); original concept in collaboration with Production I.G
• Real Drive (2008); original concept in collaboration with Production I.G
• Appleseed XIII (2011)
• Ghost in the Shell: Arise (2013) by Kazuchika Kise (1 hour-long episodes)

Arcade

• Horned Owl (lightgun shooting game)

PC Engine

• Toshi Tensou Keikaku: Eternal City (action platformer)

Super Famicom

• Appleseed

Nintendo DS

• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (Strategy RPG)

PlayStation

• Ghost in the Shell
• Yarudora Series Vol. 3: Sampaguita
• Project Horned Owl
• Gundress

PlayStation 2

• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
• Appleseed EX (Japan-only release)

PlayStation Portable

• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
• Yarudora Series Vol. 3: Sampaguita

Microsoft Windows

• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - First Assault Online