Madhouse's Original Film ghost Sets a February 11, 2027 Release With Its First Teaser

What was announced

Madhouse has pulled back the curtain on ghost, the near future original anime film from director Shingo Natsume, revealing its full title, a first key visual, a super teaser trailer, and a February 11, 2027 theatrical release date in Japan. The July 1 announcement gives the project its complete name, ghost / Yoru no Hate, presented in English as "ghost, end of night." Anime News Network reports the film will open on February 11, a national holiday, positioning it as a marquee theatrical release for early 2027. It stands out as a rare fully original feature at a time when most high profile anime films are adaptations of existing manga or light novels.

The staff behind the film

The project is a milestone for Natsume, marking his first original anime feature as director, a role he combines with writing the script. According to the reveal, manga author Natsume Ono provides the original character designs, while Norifumi Kugai serves as the animation character designer. Ohzora Kimishima composes the score in what reporting describes as his first film music, and the rock band Hitsujibungaku performs both the main theme and the insert song "Sugar," a portion of which plays over the teaser. The original work is credited jointly to Natsume, Tomohiro Suzuki, Bandai Namco Filmworks, and Madhouse.

What the film is about

Set in a near future where labor is no longer necessary, ghost follows a girl named Neekei who keeps searching for something "real" while pushing back against the order of a comfortable, content driven society. Natsume has said he is aiming for a work that, in his words, could be called fictional yet stays in tune with the present and reaches for realism.

A manga adaptation is coming too

The reveal also confirmed a comic adaptation. Drawn by the artist himiko, it is scheduled to begin serialization in Kadokawa's Young Ace magazine on August 4, giving the story a print companion ahead of the film's premiere.

Background

ghost was first announced in June 2025 as a collaboration between Natsume, Ono, and Madhouse, and was pitched at the MIFA industry market held alongside the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Reporting on the film notes that Natsume is known for directing Sonny Boy, ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept., the first season of One Punch Man, and Space Dandy. With ghost, he returns to fully original storytelling for the big screen, backed by one of the medium's most established studios.