Kotoko dives into depths of cyber network to promote website's domain change

The official website for the Ghost in the Shell: Arise anime began streaming a web-exclusive episode called "[.jp]" on Friday. The episode commemorates the website's transition from the old http://kokaku-a.com domain name to the new http://kokaku-a.jp address.

The episode features the series' first depiction of the innermost depths of the cyber network world. It also has an original design for protagonist Motoko Kusanagi, including a different hairstyle and outfit, as well as the debut of an original enemy character.

In addition, a special site offers a "Logicoma AI learning" test. Those who pass the test will receive an original wallpaper as a present.

The second episode in Ghost in the Shell Arise, titled "border:2 Ghost Whispers," will open in theaters in Japan on November 30. The Blu-ray Disc and DVD for the episode will go on sale at theaters on November 30, and then ship from regular retailers on December 25.

The first of four 50-minute parts from the anime series premiered in Japanese theaters in June, and shipped on Blu-ray Disc and DVD at retail on July 26. The Blu-ray for the first episode was sold in advance at Japanese theaters when the Ghost Pain installment debuted in June. Kazuchika Kise (chief animation director for Otogi Zoshi, Blood-C: The Last Dark) is directing the series and designing the characters, and Tow Ubukata (Le Chevalier d'Eon, Mardock Scramble) is supervising and writing the scripts. Production I.G. is producing the series, and Cornelius (Appleseed: EX Machina) is composing the music.

Funimation licensed the anime and released the first episode in a special imported edition in August. The company plans to screen the first two episodes in a limited theatrical run later this year. The company is also offering the special-edition release prior to its typical English-language home video release.