2015 Ghost in the Shell Film's 1st 12 Minutes Streamed

Sony also posts new footage from June 20 film about prime minister's assassination

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The official website for the upcoming Kōkaku Kidōtai Shin Gekijō-ban (Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie) began streaming the first 12 minutes from the film on Tuesday. The movie begins with Motoko Kusanagi and her team members dealing with a hostage situation at an embassy. Behind the scenes, however, they come across the Fire Starter virus again, and the sniper Saitō spots a shocking figure who holds the key to the crisis. Meanwhile, another dire crisis erupts and takes everyone by surprise.

The movie is also holding a tie-in campaign with Sony's Bravia X9300C series of 4K-resolution LCD televisions. To promote the seven new Bravia televisions' summer launch, Sony is streaming a 107-second video, including about 25 seconds of previously unseen footage. The video also includes quotes from the movie's staff on the advantages of using these 4K televisions.

The film guest stars NAOTO from the all-male group Third J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe as the new character Osamu Fujimoto. Osamu is the prime minister's aide and son. After the assassination of the prime minister, which is being called the "greatest event since the war," Osamu collaborates with Major Kusanagi and Public Security Section 9 to uncover the truth behind the murder.

Kazuchika Kise (Ghost in the Shell Arise chief director) is serving as chief director at Production I.G, and is also designing the characters. Tow Ubukata (Ghost in the Shell Arise screenplay) handling the screenplay, and Cornelius is scoring the film's music. Kazuya Nomura(Robotics;Notes, Sengoku Basara - Samurai Kings: The Movie director) is serving as director, andTooru Ookubo (Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex key animation) is taking the position of chief animation director.

The film features the cast from Ghost in the Shell Arise, with voice talents Maaya Sakamoto,Ikkyuu Juku, Kenichirou Matsuda, Tarusuke Shingaki, Shunsuke Sakuya, Takurou Nakakuni, Youji Ueda, Kazuya Nakai, and Miyuki Sawashiro listed. The cast and staff attended a preview screening on Tuesday, and they will also appear in stage greetings before four Kanto-area screenings on opening day.

Maaya Sakamoto and Cornelius performed the film's theme song "Mada Ugoku" (It Still Moves).

The film opens in Japan on June 20. 

The fourth and final part of the Ghost in the Shell Arise OVA series premiered in Japan last August. Funimation licensed all four episodes and released the first episode in a special imported edition in 2013, and then released all four episodes in North America last year. A television broadcast of the four OVAs with two extra episodes premiered in Japan on April 5 under the titleGhost in the Shell: Arise Alternative Architecture. Funimation is streaming Ghost in the Shell: Arise Alternative Architecture series as it airs.