Editing Masamune Shirow (section)

==Life and career==
Born in the [[Hyōgo Prefecture]] capital city of [[Kobe, Hyogo|Kobe]], he studied oil painting at [[Osaka University of Arts]]. While in college, he developed an interest in [[manga]], which led him to create his own complete work, ''[[Black Magic M-66|Black Magic]]'', which was published in the manga ''[[dōjinshi]]'' ''Atlas''. His work caught the eye of {{ill|Seishinsha|jp|青心社|vertical-align=sup}} President Harumichi Aoki, who offered to publish him.

The result was best-selling<ref>{{Cite book |last=McCarthy |first=Helen |author-link=Helen McCarthy |year=2009 |title=500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide |publisher=Harper Design |page=42 |isbn=978-0061474507}}</ref> manga ''[[Appleseed (manga)|Appleseed]]'', a full volume of densely plotted drama taking place in an ambiguous future. The story was a sensation, and won the 1986 [[Seiun Award]] for Best Manga. After a professional reprint of ''Black Magic'' and a second volume of ''Appleseed'', he released ''[[Dominion (manga)|Dominion]]'' in 1986. Two more volumes of ''Appleseed'' followed before he began work on ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]''. His work has been cited as an influence on [[The Wachowskis]] and the development of the popular [[The Matrix (franchise)|Matrix film series]]. <ref name=":0" />

In 2007, he collaborated again with [[Production I.G]] to co-create the original concept for the anime television series ''[[Ghost Hound]]'', Production I.G's 20th anniversary project. A further original collaboration with Production I.G began airing in April 2008, titled ''[[Real Drive]]''. His work often explores the philosophical themes of [[cyberpunk]] such as the nature of [[Posthumanism|post-human]] existence, [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] and the ethics of biotechnology, human–machine relations, [[multiculturalism]], and [[globalism]]. <ref name=":0" />