Imagine living in a future where the government decides at your eighteen years if you are a useful tool for society or a complete waste of oxygen. That is the harsh premise with which legendary studio Madhouse and director Shingo Natsume aim to shake the community with their new film titled ghost – end of night. Through its official website, the production committee revealed a new and spectacular promotional trailer, confirming that this promising film will hit Japanese cinemas next February 11, 2027.

The plot immerses us in a near future where manual labor is no longer necessary and only the brightest minds are selected to keep the world spinning. Our protagonist is Neekei, a girl with such overwhelming talent that she managed to earn the privilege of being classified as “necessary” since she was fifteen. However, fed up with living in a mature but incredibly absurd environment, the young woman spends her days searching for something real while resisting the system’s orders. Her monotony is completely shattered when she meets Masu, a mysterious boy burdened with a deep sense of loss, leading her to make a decision that no one in that dystopian world could have imagined.

The great cinematic debut of Shingo Natsume

This project is a fairly special milestone for the anime industry, as it marks the first time acclaimed Shingo Natsume takes on the direction and writing of a fully original feature film. To ensure the work is a true gem visually, character designs were crafted by Natsume Ono and adapted to animation by Norifumi Kugai. In the sound department, alternative rock band hitsujibungaku composed a total of six songs for the film, including the main theme and the insert track “Sugar.” To warm up the engines before the cinema release, the franchise already has a manga adaptation illustrated by himiko that recently began publication in the Young Ace magazine.

Voice Cast

• Mayu Hotta as Neekei.
• Issei Takahashi as Masu.

Given the high quality of animation that Madhouse is injecting into this story about rebelling against a system that classifies people as useful or disposable, do you think we are facing one of the best science fiction films of the decade?