The Armored Trooper Votoms franchise is gearing up for a monumental return. As part of Sunrise's 50th-anniversary celebrations, the all-new theatrical project Armored Trooper Votoms: The Gray Witch (Hekuse) has confirmed its theatrical release date for November 20, 2026, across Japan. Alongside the date, fresh visual assets detailing iconic mobile weaponry such as the Scopedog, the heavyweight Rising Beetle, and the opposing Balamant military's Blocker have surfaced, accompanied by new frame grabs from the film.
Helmed by legendary director Mamoru Oshii—whose visionary work on Ghost in the Shell reshaped international perceptions of Japanese animation—this new chapter dives back into the brutal realities of the Hundred Years' War. While the original 1983 television series established a gritty standard for real-robot science fiction, The Gray Witch zeroes in on the harrowing final days of the conflict, where soldiers operating Armored Troopers are treated as disposable military assets.
A Masterclass Creative Ensemble
Oshii has assembled a stellar creative roster for the production. Character concept designs are handled by Kazuya Kise, with character design duties shared among Tetsuya Nishio, Takashi Kojima, and Shingo Ogiso. Mechanical design brings together legendary talent, featuring original designs by Kunio Okawara alongside mechanical styling from Shinobu Tsuneki, Yudai Sono, Ju Ishiguchi, and Wataru Inada. Longtime Oshii collaborators Kenji Kawai on music and Kazushige Wakabayashi as sound director complete the core team, with series creator Ryosuke Takahashi acting as supervisor.
Production is handled by Sunrise with production cooperation from Production I.G. The narrative centers on Ash Vamps (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro), a soldier feared as a witch, and Maki Staufenberg (voiced by Mabuki Ando), an independent propaganda officer tracking her through a relentless warzone.
Expanded Mecha Lore and Stills
Freshly unveiled production materials offer a closer look at the heavy hardware populating the film's gritty aesthetic. The iconic ATM-09-VC Scopedog takes center stage, joined by the imposing ATH-06-VC Rising Beetle and the opposing Balamant military unit's B-ATM-02-V Blocker. Furthermore, new stills highlight Ash and Maki, giving fans their first look at Maki clad in her pilot gear.
Alongside the film's updates, the official Sunrise diorama exhibition Armored Trooper Votoms Comprehensive Model Exercise 2026 kicked off at Senju Marui in Tokyo, offering dedicated displays tied directly to the upcoming movie.
