Ghost, Shingo Natsume's First Original Anime Film, Releases a Teaser Ahead of a July 1 Reveal

A new teaser, with a reveal on the way

The original anime film ghost, the first feature that director Shingo Natsume has both written and directed, has a new teaser video, and the production is pointing fans toward a fuller reveal on July 1. The short teaser shows the film's heroine in motion against a strange, celestial backdrop, and coverage of the clip notes that it ends by teasing an announcement on July 1 at 6 PM JST. The film remains set for a 2027 theatrical release.

The teaser is the first new footage since the project was unveiled, so the most concrete takeaway is the date itself. What the July 1 reveal will contain, whether a full trailer, casting, or story details, has not been announced.

What we know about the project

The film was first announced in June 2025 by Bandai Namco Filmworks, with Madhouse producing and a 2027 theatrical window attached. It is billed as Natsume's first time directing an original anime film. Natsume is writing the script as well as directing.

The creative team pairs him with manga artist Natsume Ono, who is credited with the original character designs, while Norifumi Kugai is handling the character designs for animation. Natsume's earlier work includes the acclaimed original series Sonny Boy, which drew international attention and an Annecy nomination, and his profile on titles like ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. and One Punch Man is part of why this original feature has been closely watched.

The story so far

According to the project's published outline, the title points to a "ghost" that lives in everyone's heart, a feeling that genuinely exists but resists being put into words. The story follows a girl named Nike, who rebels against the irrationality of the world to protect the "starry sky." The material describes a lyrical portrait of her solitude and bravery, alongside the subtleties of the heart that come from her relationships with others. The most recent teaser visual frames Nike holding a sword made of glass beneath a night sky scattered with vivid flowers.

Natsume has framed his goal in plain terms, saying he wants to use the fictional medium of animation to make something grounded in the reality of the present moment.

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