From BANDAI SPIRITS' model kit brand, BANDAI HOBBY, comes a new announcement for their High Grade (HG) robot model kit line, revealing the latest product from the new animated film, "Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch": the HG Scopedog The Gray Witch [Desert Color] (Tentative Name), scheduled for a Fall 2026 release.
"Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch" is a two-part animated film project from Sunrise, created to commemorate the studio's 50th anniversary. The first part is slated to premiere in Japan on November 20, 2026. The project will be supervised by Ryosuke Takahashi, the original creator of the "Armored Trooper VOTOMS" series, with acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii, known for his work on series like "Patlabor" and "Ghost in the Shell," at the helm. The film will feature classic mechs like the Scopedog, designed by the legendary Kunio Okawara, and will also include new mechanical designs by Yudai Souno, artist for the "Armored Trooper VOTOMS AT Stories" manga, and Shinobu Tsuneki, the mechanical designer for "Kaiju No. 8."
A teaser trailer for "Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch" has also been released, showcasing Sunrise's stunning technical prowess in blending 2D animation with 3DCG. It captures the thrilling sense of speed as the Scopedog glides on its leg-mounted rollers, complete with more realistic gunfire and smoke effects. The action is set to a brand-new, adrenaline-pumping score by Kenji Kawai, the composer famous for his work on "Mobile Suit Gundam 00."
While detailed information on the HG Scopedog The Gray Witch [Desert Color] (Tentative Name) model kit has yet to be released, preliminary 3DCG renders from its development phase give us a glimpse of what's to come. Compared to the classic Scopedog, this version features a smaller head and more elongated proportions, with the overall mechanical design being completely revamped. The armor retains its signature heavy, bulky feel but is now packed with intricate details befitting modern production techniques. The articulation system showcases modern engineering, including a forward-and-back torso pivot, a sliding shoulder joint mechanism, and double-jointed elbows. We can expect this new version of the Scopedog to have an impressive range of motion.
HG Scopedog The Gray Witch [Desert Color] (Tentative Name)
Reference Price: TBD
Expected Release Date: Fall 2026
©SUNRISE