The classic '80s mecha anime Armored Trooper VOTOMS, originally directed by Ryosuke Takahashi and produced by Sunrise, dropped a bombshell on fans in January with the announcement of a new theatrical film after 15 years. Helmed by the legendary Mamoru Oshii, Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch sparked massive excitement.
Today (August 21), the official channels have unleashed the latest full-length trailer and character visuals, along with the official voice cast. The two lead roles will be voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro and Mabuki Andou. The project will be a two-part theatrical release, with the first film scheduled to hit cinemas on November 20, 2026.
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch is the first new anime for the franchise in about 15 years and is part of Sunrise's 50th-anniversary celebration. The last entry in the series was the "Koei Futatabi" (Alone Again) OVA, released back in April 2011.
This time, the story centers on two female protagonists. The main character, Ash Vamps, is voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro, while the military officer tasked with investigating Ash's mysterious past, Maki Stauffenberg, is played by Mabuki Andou.
Ash is an Armored Trooper pilot who, no matter how deadly the battlefield, always returns alive, earning her the fearsome nickname "The Witch" from fellow soldiers. Maki is on a secret mission to uncover the mysteries surrounding Ash.
▼ Ash Vamps (CV: Miyuki Sawashiro)
"I've never seen a character like this before," commented Sawashiro. She admitted that at first, she wasn't sure if she had what it took to portray such a character but was cast anyway. Heading into her first recording session for a Mamoru Oshii film, she was filled with all sorts of anxieties, wondering, "What if the director is a scary person?"
She laughed, saying that the "what ifs" she took home are still buzzing in her head. On the other hand, as a fan herself, her excitement for the finished work has become so strong that it has overpowered all her worries, and she's even started to look forward to it with a bit of "cheeky" anticipation.
▼ Maki Stauffenberg (CV: Mabuki Andou)
"Life becomes a consumable." What a cruel and sad phrase, remarked Andou. She described a battlefield that relentlessly strips away human emotions, where combat unfolds as if it were a matter of course. The horror is chilling, and at the same time, it feels like you can hear the screams and cries of countless people, hitting you deep in the heart.
She stated that she entrusted her body and soul to the world of *VOTOMS* as depicted by director Mamoru Oshii, pouring her full imagination into her performance. "Please, be sure to experience this world in theaters!" she urged.
In addition to Miyuki Sawashiro and Mabuki Andou, the film boasts a ridiculously stacked cast, including: Shin-ichiro Miki, Yuki Kaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Satoshi Tsuruoka, Tomokazu Sugita, Kenta Miyake, Chafurin, Hochu Otsuka, Daisuke Ono, Takayuki Sugo, Takahiro Sakurai, and Sumire Uesaka. Character designs for their roles have not yet been revealed.
New Armored Trooper mecha designs were also revealed, featuring a desert color scheme, a green variant, and a desert-colored commander type.
Synopsis
The Astragius Galaxy is split between two great powers: Gilgamesh and Balarant. The war between them has raged for nearly a century, its origins long forgotten.
During the final days of the "Hundred Years' War," a female officer, Maki Stauffenberg, arrives at a frontline base on the planet Valkyria II. She has been given a secret mission: to investigate a soldier known as "The Witch"—Ash Vamps. Ash belongs to a penal unit composed of misfit soldiers, and she earned her nickname because no matter how difficult or suicidal the mission, she is always the only one to return alive.
The truth of the battlefield can only be found on the battlefield itself. When Ash's unit is ordered to execute a combat drop into enemy territory, Maki decides to join the operation as an Armored Trooper pilot. In a mission that seems impossible to survive, the situation deteriorates by the second. As Maki pursues Ash through the fires of war, she gradually closes in on the truth hidden within her—
The film is directed by Mamoru Oshii of Ghost in the Shell fame, with original creator and director Ryosuke Takahashi serving as supervisor. The mechanical design team includes Nobunobu Tsuneki, known for his work on Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and manga artist Yuta Sono, who drew the Armored Trooper VOTOMS AT Stories manga.
The music is composed by Kenji Kawai, a long-time collaborator of Oshii's. Having created the scores for works like the Ghost in the Shell series, he is considered an indispensable part of Oshii's creative team. The animation is produced by Sunrise, with Production I.G providing production assistance.
▼ Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch - Official Trailer
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch is a two-part theatrical film project. The first part is set to release on November 20th of this year. Fans eager for this new chapter will have to wait for the official channels to release more details.