New Votoms Anime Announces Staff and Dual‑Film Release
Posted on 2026‑05‑12 by Joanna Cayanan
Legendary Votoms creator Ryōsuke Takahashi returns as supervisor, with music by veteran composer Kenji Kawai.
Key Staff
- Supervisor: Ryōsuke Takahashi – original creator/director of the 1983 Armored Trooper Votoms series.
- Director: Mamoru Oshii – famed for Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor 2.
- Mechanical Designers: Shinobu Tsuneki (known for The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Kaiju No. 8) and manga artist Yoshiro Sono (Sōkō Kihei Votoms: AT Stories).
- Composer: Kenji Kawai – long‑time collaborator with Oshii.
Project Overview
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced that Sunrise and Production I.G are producing Sōkō Kihei Votoms Haiiro no Hexe (literally “Armored Trooper Votoms: The Grey Witch”). The story will be released as two theatrical films, with the first opening on 20 November 2026.
Oshii, a lifelong fan of the original series, described the project as his “dream” to revisit Votoms as a serious war‑action narrative, while acknowledging that some may view his involvement skeptically due to his recent Tachigui works.
Takahashi expressed enthusiasm for Oshii’s distinctive directorial style and looks forward to seeing it applied to the Votoms universe.
Merchandise & Release Details
- Two‑ticket “MoviTicket Card” set goes on sale 16 May via the 64th Shizuoka Hobby Show and an online retailer.
- Bandai Spirits will release a High‑Grade Scopedog model kit in the “Die Graue Hexe” desert‑color scheme, plus a pre‑assembled Hi‑Meal R figure under the Tamashii Nations brand.
- Both items will be previewed at the Shizuoka Hobby Show.
Background on the Original Series
The 1983 Armored Trooper Votoms is a cornerstone of the “real‑robot” mecha subgenre pioneered by Mobile Suit Gundam. It portrays massive, mass‑produced mecha called VOTOMS (Vertical One‑man Tank for Offense & Maneuvers) that, despite their firepower, are highly vulnerable, leading to gritty, war‑focused storytelling.
The series follows elite pilot Chirico Cuvie, who becomes entangled in a vast conspiracy that brands him a traitor, setting him on a collision course with a mysterious woman.
Legacy
Since its debut, Votoms has spawned numerous spin‑offs, including:
- Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder
- Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle
- Armor Hunter Mellowlink
- Armored Trooper Votoms: Red Shoulder Document – Roots of Treachery
- Armored Trooper Votoms: Pailsen Files
- Armored Trooper Votoms: The Heretic Saint
- Armored Trooper Votoms: Alone Again (2011)
Source: Press release
Disclosure: Bandai Namco Filmworks (Sunrise) holds a non‑controlling, minority share in Anime News Network.
