I think it's high time somebody makes an airsoft gun that's based on sci-fi or fantasy series again. Thank god that Laylax are planning to do one themselves and are cooperating with the creator of the Ghost In The Shell Series, Shirow Masamune (real name: Masanori Ota), to release the "Ghost In The Shell: ARISE" Bullpup Assault Rifle.

"Ghost In The Shell: ARISE" is a reimagining of the Ghost In The Shell Series set during younger days of Motoko Kusanagi and is a 4-part original video animation series that started in June 2013 with the first two episodes already released last year. The last two episodes will  be aired in June and November 2014 respectively.  It also features a whole new voice cast replacing the film and Stand Alone complex voice cast though the lead voice for Major Motoko Kusanagi used to be the voice of Motoko as a child.

The Ghost In The Shell series puts heavy use of bullpup assault rifles in the series with Motoko and her team having access to several types of the bullpup rifles which are either fictional or based on real world firearms and they all do have their name designations. However, the bullpup assault rifle in ARISE doesn’t have a name designation and thus it's just called "Ghost In The Shell: ARISE Assault Rifle."

The photo above shows a 3D printed design of the bullpup rifle as shown at Laylax's Militaryblog.jp Page and will be on display during the Wonder Festival 2014 on Sunday, 9 February 2014.

What's more? There are actually two versions planned for released by Laylax:

Model/Non-Working Type

• Main Frame Material: Aluminium Alloy, Resin
• The trigger, magazine catch, and selector switch are moveable/operational
• Removal Optical Sight Replica which is mounted on a 20mm Picatinny Rail
• Flash Hider Is removable (-14mm Thread)
• Tentative Price: JPY99,800 (Tax Included)

Automatic Electric Gun (AEG) Type

• Main Frame Material: Aluminium Alloy, Resin
• The trigger, magazine catch, and selector switch are moveable/operational
• Removal Optical Sight Replica which is mounted on a 20mm Picatinny Rail
• Flash Hider Is removable (-14mm Thread)
• Can fire 6mm Plastic BBs
• Mini-Battery Support
• M16 General Purpose Magazine Supported (Marui-standard)
• Tentatve Price: JPY158,000 (Tax Included)

Checking the exchange rates of Japanese Yen to the US Dollar, these are premium prices if we got the figures right and this might be limited edition runs that collectors and serious Cosplayers will spend a big amount to have one of these. There is still a lack of detail on the AEG version such as what gearbox it uses and it if can be used in serious airsoft skirmishes. Most definitely it will use proven Laylax custom upgrade parts and the lead designer is Mr. T who designed the Laylax M870 Rail Forend and Top Rail; and also the Limited Edition Desert Eagle Chrome.

Set for release in Summer 2014,  we'll try to get more information if this will be released internationally or it will only a limited, Japan-only release.