Imagine living in a world where no one needs to work, and at 18, the system decides if you’re useful to society. It sounds comfortable for some, but it’s also the setting of a story where not everyone is willing to accept the rules. That’s the premise of Ghost: Yoru no Hate, the new original film by the director of Sonny Boy, which has just unveiled its main trailer and a second promotional image. The Madhouse production will debut in Japanese cinemas on February 11, 2027.

The trailer shows a futuristic society where technology has nearly eliminated the need to work, but has also created a divide between those deemed valuable and those who are not. Amid this, Nike appears—a girl who isn’t happy with how the world works. The new illustration shows her lying among red flowers, holding a gun, and staring directly at the viewer. An image that makes it clear this isn’t a particularly calm science fiction story.

A 15-year-old girl against a world that decides people’s worth

The story takes place in a future where everyone undergoes a selection process at 18. Those deemed exceptional receive privileges and responsibilities, while the rest live in a society supported by a sophisticated virtual reality network called Altverse.

Nike, however, is a special case. At just 15, she was selected as extraordinary and given the responsibility of managing a virtual starry sky where the memories of the deceased remain. But despite her privileged position, the girl can’t help but feel repelled by the injustices of a system that seems to have everything under control.

Her life changes when she meets Mas, a man marked by the loss of his family who has ended up living without much hope. Though they seem to have little in common, they slowly develop a bond that isn’t exactly friendship or family. Together, they begin to question what their society considers true and valuable.

The new trailer also shows some of the decisions Nike will face, as we hear life, the main song by Hitsujibungaku. The Japanese band prepared six songs for the film, including Sugar, which will also be part of its soundtrack.

Ghost: Yoru no Hate brings voices from Oshi no Ko and Frieren

Alongside the trailer, five additional cast members were announced, joining Mayu Hotta as Nike and Issey Takahashi as Mas. Among the new additions are several voices recognized by anime fans:

• Bora: Takeo Otsuka, known for playing Aqua Hoshino in Oshi no Ko.
• Ahab: Kazuhiro Yamaji, who voiced Silver Fang in One-Punch Man.
• Structure: Yuki Shin, known for playing Takemichi Hanagaki in Tokyo Revengers.
• Mike: Hina Yomiya, the voice of Anna Yamada in The Dangers in My Heart.
• Mas’s son: Atsumi Tanezaki, known for playing Frieren in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

The film features Shingo Natsume as director and screenwriter, marking his first original feature after working on productions like One-Punch Man and Sonny Boy. Madhouse handles the animation, with original designs by Natsume Ono adapted by Norifumi Kugai. Ohzora Kimishima composes the music, and Bandai Namco Filmworks will distribute the film in Japan.

The production had its first international presentations in October 2026, including screenings at the Sitges Festival in Spain and the Animation Is Film Festival in the U.S. However, no commercial release date has been announced for Latin America yet.

For now, the new trailer raises an uncomfortable question: if a society manages to eliminate the need to work but decides some people are more valuable than others, can it truly be considered a better world?