Ahead of the Annecy Animation Festival premiere of “The Ghost in the Shell,” the new adaptation of the famous manga by Masamune Shirow, director Mokochan emphasized the human element that went into making this cyberpunk sci-fi series set in a world where humanity and technology are inextricably linked.

“Ghost in the Shell” is set to bow worldwide on Prime Video July 7.

To the director, this embrace of the physicality of hand-drawn animation was the best way to represent the manga. “The manga is obviously hand-drawn on paper; it’s analog,” Mokochan adds in an interview with Variety. “And so even though what is depicted here is this cyber world, the fact that it’s been hand drawn by people is what gives it, it gives it its warmth, and its appeal, and that was something I wanted to replicate in the anime.”

The production of the show at the acclaimed Science Saru studio (“Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” “Dandadan”) was driven by this enthusiasm for tactile animation. To the team it was crucial that, even with all of the metal and circuitry which permeate both the environment and people of “The Ghost in the Shell,” everything felt organic.

Making an adaptation which more closely resembled the look of Shirow’s manga series was decided early on. “After ‘Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045’ we were thinking about what should be the next incarnation of ‘Ghost in the Shell,'” says Bandai Namco producer Kengo Abe, “and Kondansha and Bandai Namco wanted something that fans of ‘Ghost in the Shell’ and new fans would be able to enjoy together.”