Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell: Innocence debuted last weekend in Japan along with two other anime feature films, the Doraemon Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Movie and the fifth feature film based on the popular One Piece property.  In spite of a major Burger King and KFC promotion in Japan, Ghost in the Shell: Innocence failed to overtake the popular One Piece (still one of the most highly rated anime series on Japanese TV) and the perennial all ages favorite Doraemon.  Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, in its third week of release in Japan, held on to the top spot followed by Doraemon, One Piece, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Ghost in the Shell: Innocence.

Current plans are for a limited theatrical release of the Blade Runner-esque Ghost in the Shell: Innocence here in the States this fall (see 'Ghost in the Shell: Innocence Gets a U.S. Theatrical Release in 2004').