Back
Gabriel, a brown and white basset hound, stands facing forward on a rooftop at sunset with the city behind.
The provided image is an artist's interpretation made for this entry. Details may differ from official depictions. The character and franchise remain © their respective rights holders.

Gabriel

Character

Gabriel is the basset hound kept by Batou, a dog who turns up again and again across the animated films and first draws real notice in Innocence. The care Batou pours on the animal, down to buying premium food, reveals a gentler streak under his hardened surface.

Note: Listed as male in the README: 1995-2017 guidebook, though female in most other media
Type: Pet dog
Owner: Batou
Species: Basset hound
Based On: Mamoru Oshii's dog
Text Size

Appearance

The breed is a basset hound, drooping ears and all, drawn from the real pet owned by director Mamoru Oshii. Most works cast Gabriel as female, but the README: 1995-2017 guidebook goes the other way and labels the animal male.

Text Size

Personality

Gabriel reads less as a pet than as genuine company for Batou, the focus of some of his rare soft moments. His attachment runs deep enough that he springs for top-shelf food, and the franchise treats his fondness for the Tachikoma units as a mirror of the same love he holds for his hound.

Text Size

History

Innocence gives the dog its largest showing, and the novel After the Long Goodbye builds much of its story around her. The 2017 live remake recasts Gabriel as a street stray among the animals Batou likes to feed. Once Batou has received his prosthetic eyes, the Major steps in to feed and pet her on his behalf, and a later scene shows the two of them sitting side by side, a quiet marker of how close they have grown.

Share this resource

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Gabriel in Ghost in the Shell?

Gabriel is the basset hound kept by Batou, a dog who turns up again and again across the animated films and first draws real notice in Innocence. The care Batou pours on the animal reveals a gentler streak under his hardened surface.

What breed is Gabriel?

Gabriel is a basset hound, drooping ears and all, drawn from the real pet owned by director Mamoru Oshii.

Is Gabriel male or female?

Most works cast Gabriel as female, but the README: 1995-2017 guidebook goes the other way and labels the animal male.

Which film gives Gabriel the biggest role?

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence gives Gabriel her largest showing, and the novel After the Long Goodbye builds much of its story around her.

How does the 2017 live-action film portray Gabriel?

The 2017 live-action remake recasts Gabriel as a street stray among the animals Batou likes to feed. After Batou receives his prosthetic eyes, the Major steps in to feed and pet Gabriel on his behalf.

Sources & Information

Looking for more on Gabriel? The Dragon Ball Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.

View on Fandom

This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Dragon Ball anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:

  • Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Toei Animation and Shueisha.
  • Game pages: official box art, credited to Bandai Namco, Atari, and other publishers.
  • Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Akira Toriyama.

Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate

Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.