"Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Graue Hexe" Two-Part Film Series to Open in Theaters on November 20! Special Teaser, Teaser Visual, and Screenshots Released

The first film of "Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Graue Hexe" (The Grey Witch), an entirely new work in the "Armored Trooper Votoms" series celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sunrise, has been scheduled for a theatrical release on Friday, November 20, 2026. This series will be a two-part theatrical project.

The base of this work, "Armored Trooper Votoms," is a masterpiece of real-robot anime produced by Sunrise, with the original story and direction by Ryōsuke Takahashi, which first began its TV broadcast in 1983. For over 40 years, it has continued to be loved by fans through various developments, including OVAs, theatrical versions, and books. This new entry, "Die Graue Hexe," is a long-awaited brand-new installment in the series. It is also positioned as a project for the "Sunrise 50th Anniversary," a period spanning from 2026 to 2028, commemorating the 2027 milestone of "Invincible Super Man Zambot 3" (originally aired in October 1977) reaching its 50th anniversary.

Along with this announcement, a special teaser featuring the latest animation footage, a teaser visual depicting a new Scopedog, and screenshots conveying the tense atmosphere of the story have been released. The teaser video captures the Scopedog racing through the fires of war and the mysterious appearance of the "Witch."

Ryōsuke Takahashi, the original creator and director of "Armored Trooper Votoms," joins the project as a supervisor, while Mamoru Oshii serves as the director. Furthermore, the mechanical design team includes Shinobu Tsuneki, known for "The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These," and Yoshihiro Sono, who illustrated the manga "Armored Trooper Votoms: AT Stories." The music is composed by Kenji Kawai, who has frequently collaborated with Oshii on numerous works.

[Director Mamoru Oshii's Comment]
I was a huge fan of the original Votoms. It was a series I admired, and I’ve always wanted to try my hand at something like it. Some people might suspect I’ll have someone eating "tachigui" (standing-up) soba in the middle of Votoms, but I’m taking this very seriously. I’m seriously crafting a war action film.

[Original Creator/Supervisor Ryōsuke Takahashi's Comment]
Films have a specific "touch" unique to their directors, and I myself am a fan of the "Oshii touch." I’m looking forward to seeing the directorial "touch" of filmmaker Mamoru Oshii fully expressed through this "Votoms" project.

▼Key Visual