Director Shingo Natsume’s first original feature-length theatrical anime has been officially titled ghost／夜の果て (ghost / Yoru no Hate), and it will open nationwide in Japan on February 11, 2027 (Thursday, a national holiday).
Natsume has directed numerous anime works both adapted and original, including One Punch Man, ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept., Sonny Boy, and The Tatami Time Machine Blues. With his first original TV anime Sonny Boy, he demonstrated a unique authorial style that garnered widespread attention, earning a nomination in the TV competition category at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, one of the world’s largest animation festivals. His talent has crossed borders and drawn global recognition.
Animation production is handled by Madhouse, the studio behind beloved classics such as Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, and Paprika, as well as Mamoru Hosoda’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars. Madhouse has long collaborated with Natsume. Character drafts are by manga artist Natsume Ono, and character designs are by Norifumi Kugai. This team previously worked together on the TV anime ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept., bringing together a powerful staff.
The released first key visual depicts a fantastical night sky full of stars, with two solitary figures. A black-haired girl in a pink dress (Nike) sits on a chair, quietly gazing this way, while a man with an umbrella (Masu) stands a short distance away, separated by glass, looking up at the mysterious starry sky. In the darkness, where are Nike and Masu’s quiet gazes directed? The visual condenses the world of the film.
Simultaneously released is a super teaser trailer. It opens with the deep starry sky reflected in the protagonist Nike’s eyes, accompanied by her quiet words: “In the starry sky, sometimes, very rarely, you encounter something beautiful.” At the same time, the insert song “Sugar” by Hitsujibungaku resonates emotionally, and impressionistic scenes of the film flash by subliminally. The trailer continues with cuts that convey the air of this world, where light and shadow are striking, along with the earnest title card “I want to know the ‘truth’.” At the end, Nike’s voice whispers “Ghost” and the logo for ghost／夜の果て quietly appears. The teaser leaves a deep, mysterious, and unforgettable impression.
Music information for the film has also been fully revealed. The theme song and a total of six newly written songs, including the insert song “Sugar,” are handled by alternative rock band Hitsujibungaku. Hitsujibungaku achieved global success with the Jujutsu Kaisen ending theme “more than words” and has successfully completed large-scale overseas tours, currently active worldwide. A few days before this announcement, anime and live-action footage hinting at the collaboration between the film and Hitsujibungaku were posted on their respective social media, generating buzz among fans.
The film’s score is handled by the rising musician Ohara Kimishima, known for his unique worldview and rare musicality. This is Kimishima’s first time handling a film score since his debut. The music is entirely finished with film scoring, deeply resonating with the world of the film.
With these currently most dynamic artists, a powerful fusion of visuals and music is expected to create a one-of-a-kind world.
Director Shingo Natsume also provided a comment ahead of the film’s release. He revealed the deep feelings underlying the work: “Despair and prayer. I want to know the ‘invisible truth’.” The film traces the trajectory of a 15-year-old girl falling into the depths of the night. With “sane madness and pure rebellion,” she continues to reach for beautiful things in the darkness. Whether that sight appears as despair or something else is left to the viewer. Natsume describes it as “a universal story that stirs the conflicting emotions everyone hides deep in their hearts,” and asks each audience member to search for the “faint light” within the screen, sending a message akin to a quiet prayer.
Director Shingo Natsume’s Full Comment
Despair and prayer. “I want to know the ‘invisible truth’.” This film traces the trajectory of a 15-year-old girl falling into the depths of the night. With sane madness and pure rebellion, she continues to reach for “the beautiful things that are truly there” in the darkness. That sight may appear as despair, or something entirely different, depending on the viewer. However, this is also a universal story that stirs the conflicting emotions everyone hides deep in their hearts. I would be happy if you could search for that faint light within the screen.
Furthermore, ahead of the theatrical release, a manga adaptation of the film has been decided. It will begin serialization in the September issue of Young Ace (KADOKAWA), released on August 4. The manga is drawn by artist Himiko. The August issue of Young Ace (released July 4) will feature film information and a serialization announcement.
The film ghost／夜の果て opens nationwide on February 11, 2027. Stay tuned for further updates.
(C)ghost production committee
