The project Madhouse had been announcing as ghost now has a final name, date, and teaser. ghost – end of night, the new original anime feature film from the studio, will open in Japanese cinemas on 11 February 2027. The launch of the official website brought the first teaser and the first promotional image of the project, with the alternative rock band hitsujibungaku previewing the song “Sugar” as an insert song and also confirming their participation in the film’s main theme.

The film is set in a near future where work is no longer necessary. It follows Neekei, a girl who continues to seek what is “real” while resisting the order of a self-satisfied society. Director Shingo Natsume stated that his goal is to create “a work that could be called fictional but is in tune with our current time and seeks realism”. This is his first time directing an original anime feature film.

The website also revealed that the film will have a manga adaptation illustrated by himiko, which will begin serialization in Kadokawa’s Young Ace magazine on 4 August, with a preview in the August issue hitting kiosks on 4 July. The composer for the film’s music is Ohzora Kimishima, in his first time composing for a feature film since his debut.

The production team

Direction and screenplay are handled by Shingo Natsume at Madhouse. The original character designs are by mangaka Natsume Ono, with Norifumi Kugai adapting those designs for animation. Distribution in Japan is handled by Bandai Namco Filmworks.

About ghost – end of night

ghost – end of night is an original project by Madhouse, the studio known for works like Trigun, Cardcaptor Sakura, Hunter x Hunter, and Death Note. The film was presented at the MIFA 2025 event held alongside the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The combination of a director with solid credentials like Natsume, the visual aesthetic suggested by the teaser, and the involvement of hitsujibungaku as musical artists position the project as one of the most interesting theatrical anime on the 2027 horizon.

Does the concept of a girl seeking “reality” in a future where no one needs to work seem like a premise with enough depth to sustain a feature film, or do you need to see more before getting excited?