The Ghost in the Shell franchise is a Japanese cyberpunk media series based on the manga by Masamune Shirow, first published in 1989. Set in a futuristic world where cybernetic enhancements and cyberbrains are common, the franchise explores complex themes of identity, consciousness, and artificial intelligence. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg and a high-ranking officer in Public Security Section 9, as she leads her team in combating cyberterrorism and uncovering political conspiracies. The series has had a significant influence on science fiction and cyberpunk genres, both in Japan and globally.