The TV anime “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” has reached its 20th anniversary since airing, and the fictional event at the core of the story, the “Laughing Man Incident,” which occurred in February 2024 according to the story setting, has finally caught up to the real world. From February 1st, 2024, the supposed date of the incident, a collaborative project titled “The Laughing Man Incident 0th Anniversary: February 2024” has commenced and it features simultaneous occurrences of the “Laughing Man Incident” in the real world through web, social media, and merchandise collaborations.

“Ghost in the Shell” is a work set in Japan where technologies such as “cyberization,” which directly connects the brain to the external world, and “cyborgization,” which converts the body into a cyborg, have become widespread. It depicts the activities of the Public Security Section 9, a counter-cyberterrorist organization under the direct control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, also known as “Section 9” or “Ghost in the Shell,” in detecting crimes and minimizing damage.
The “Laughing Man Incident” is a pivotal event in the TV anime “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,” which began airing in April 2002. It is a nickname for a corporate terrorism incident that started with the kidnapping of Serano Genomics Corporation’s president, Ernest Serano, in 2024, which involved threats against micro-machine manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, and others. The only thing known about this incident is that the “Laughing Man” is a hacker of exceptional skill.
Centered around this “Laughing Man Incident,” a compilation OVA titled “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – The Laughing Man” was produced in 2005, featuring new scenes and additional voice recordings.
In the recently launched “The Laughing Man Incident 0th Anniversary: February 2024,” various events are occurring simultaneously, such as hacking activities by the “Laughing Man” online, social media campaigns, and merchandise promotions imitating the dissemination of the Laughing Man incident. A dedicated portal site tracking these events has been temporarily established. Additionally, a new logo for this collaboration project has been created.
Furthermore, from February 1st, continuing for three days, the compilation OVA “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – The Laughing Man” was streamed on YouTube channels “EMOTION Label Channel” and “Full☆AnimeTV.” Additionally, on February 3rd, the date when the “Laughing Man” appeared during a live TV broadcast in the story, a special event including a screening and talk show was held at Human Trust Cinema Shibuya in Tokyo. Tickets for this event were sold out.
The collaborative project linking web, social media, and merchandise promotions, where the “Laughing Man Incident” occurs simultaneously in reality, “The Laughing Man Incident 0th Anniversary: February 2024,” is scheduled to run until February 29th. Experience this “incident” that “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” foresaw merging with reality in real-time.

■ Project Name: The Laughing Man Incident 0th Anniversary: February 2024
■ Project Duration: Scheduled from February 1st, 2024 (Thu.) to February 29th, 2024 (Thur.) ※ Duration periods may vary depending on the project.
■ Project Contents:
(1) Free distribution of limited edition “Laughing Man” logos
(2) Exclusive streaming of “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – The Laughing Man” on YouTube
(3) Screening and talk show event for “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – The Laughing Man”
(4) Hacking activities on various official websites of “Ghost in the Shell,” Kodansha, Young Magazine, and Production I.G
(5) Follow & repost campaign on the official “Ghost in the Shell” X (@gitssac2045) account
(6) “Laughing Man” logo creation contest
(7) NFT project: Start of a 100-question puzzle game
(8) Free release of chapters from the manga series “Ghost in the Shell”
(9) “Laughing Man” takes over Akihabara! POP UP STORE event
(10) Official giveaway (Original logo T-shirt)
(11) Collaboration collection release with apparel brand “RAGEBLUE”
(12) Exhibition and sale of prints from “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – The Laughing Man”
(13) Release of special collaboration items between “Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C.” and the apparel brand “Subciety”
(14) Limited quantity! Collaboration champagne released by “ANGEL CHAMPAGNE”
※ Additional projects will be added gradually
※ For details such as period for the projects, please refer to the special portal site (C) Shirow Masamune・Production I.G / Kodansha・Ghost in the Shell Production Committee