VOTOMS Is Back After 15 Years 🤩
Fifteen years of silence. And then, during Sunrise Animation Studio's
50th-anniversary celebrations, one announcement changed everything for fans of
the 'Real Robot' genre.
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die
Graue Hexe translated as The Gray
Witch is officially coming. A teaser trailer, key visual, full staff
details, and a release date have already been unveiled. The franchise that
began in 1983 is returning and this time, the creative team behind it is
unlike anything the VOTOMS universe has seen before.
But this is not simply a nostalgia
play. The staff list, the philosophical ambitions, and the political depth
being promised here suggest something far more substantial.
Here is everything officially
confirmed and why this might be the most significant Real Robot anime
announcement in over a decade.
What Is Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe - And Why Does It Matter?
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| Official key Visual for Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe Teaser Visual SUNRISE |
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die
Graue Hexe (The Gray Witch) is a major
upcoming anime project marking the return of the VOTOMS saga after a 15-year
hiatus. It is a two-part theatrical film, with Part 1 officially scheduled for
release on November 20, 2026.
The franchise originally began on
April 1, 1983, with a 52-episode TV anime series titled Armored Trooper
VOTOMS (Sōkō Kihei VOTOMS), directed by Ryosuke Takahashi and produced by
Sunrise.
Crucially, VOTOMS did not
originate as a manga. It was an 'anime-original' series from the very beginning and the story was written specifically for television. Manga adaptations came
later when series got popular.
And now, the most acclaimed director in the franchise's history has taken the helm. So who exactly is leading the project, and what does their involvement indicate about the tone of Die Graue Hexe?
Mamoru Oshii Is Directing VOTOMS 2026 - Here Is Why That Changes Everything
The latest installment VOTOMS
2026 is being directed by Mamoru Oshii, the acclaimed director of Ghost
in the Shell (1995). The original creator, Ryosuke Takahashi, serves as
supervisor.
VOTOMS has always been a franchise that has been rooted in questions of war, identity, and survival. Armored Trooper VOTOMS may bear slight resemblance to the Ghost in the Shell anime series, as Oshii directed Ghost in the Shell, so there is bound to be a slight thematic overlap.
The series is produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks formerly known as Sunrise a studio renowned for its contributions to the 'Real Robot' genre, with iconic titles such as Cowboy Bebop (1998), Code Geass (2006), Gintama (2006), Inuyasha (2000), and many others.
But what is Die Graue Hexe actually about? And what does 'The Gray Witch' even mean within the VOTOMS universe?
The Story of Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe - What We Know So Far
The full plot of Die Graue Hexe
has not yet been completely disclosed. But putting all information together from
announcements and teasers reveals a great deal about the direction.
The story is set within the Astragius
Galaxy the same universe as the original 1983 series amidst the
'Hundred Years' War,' a protracted conflict raging between the Gilgamesh
Confederation and the Balarant Union.
The title itself is a significant clue. Within the VOTOMS universe, the term Die Graue Hexe means The Grey Witch typically denotes an individual possessing supernatural or high-tech abilities. The storyline is expected to be steeped in political drama, consistent with the franchise's tradition of treating warfare and institutional power with unflinching realism.
The Original 1983 VOTOMS Story
In the original story we saw the end of the Hundred
Years' War, Chirico the series' protagonist is assigned to a covert
mission. And During a raid, he discovers a mysterious, beautiful woman suspended
within a capsule bathed in blue light.
But sunddenly, Chirico is framed by
his own unit. which is forced him to become a fugitive, and he spends the remainder of the
series on the run, relentlessly pursued by both the military and a shadowy
entity known as the 'Secret Society.
To discover why he is being hunted
and to uncover the protagonist's ultimate fate, you will need to watch the
original 1983 series. It is essential viewing before Die Graue Hexe especially now that Oshii is involved.
Full Official Production Staff for VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe (2026)
- Director: Mamoru Oshii ( known for Ghost in the shell 1995 )
- Supervisor : Ryosuke Takahashi ( Original Armored Trooper VOTOMS 1983 )
- Music Composer : Kenji Tsuneki
- Mechanical Designer : Shinobu Tsuneki
- Production Studio Bandai Namco Filmworks
The VOTOMS Franchise Timeline - From 1983 to Die Graue Hexe
Understanding where Die Graue Hexe fits in the VOTOMS timeline we have know its announcement:
- 1983 Original Armored Trooper VOTOMS TV anime (52 episodes) debuts on April 1, directed by Ryosuke Takahashi, produced by Sunrise.
- Post-1983 Multiple OVA series and manga adaptations expand the VOTOMS universe.
- January 17, 2009 Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Pailsen Files releases as an anime film, serving as a prequel to the original series.
- 2009–2025 A 15-year silence. No new VOTOMS anime entries.
- Sunrise 50th Anniversary VOTOMS 2026: Die Graue Hexe is officially announced, with Mamoru Oshii confirmed as director.
- November 20, 2026 Part 1 of Die Graue Hexe releases theatrically.
Frequently Asked Questions - Aemored trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe
Q: When does Armored
Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe release?
A: Part 1 of Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe is
officially scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. It is a two-part
theatrical film.
Q: Who is directing
VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe?
A: Mamoru Oshii the acclaimed director of Ghost in the Shell
(1995) is directing Die Graue Hexe. Ryosuke Takahashi, the original VOTOMS
creator, serves as supervisor.
Q: What does 'Die Graue
Hexe' mean?
A: Die Graue Hexe is German for 'The Gray Witch.' Within the
VOTOMS universe, the term 'Witch' refers to an individual possessing
supernatural or high-tech abilities, not a literal figure of folklore.
Q: Is VOTOMS: Die Graue
Hexe a sequel or a reboot?
A: It is a new installment in the VOTOMS franchise, set within
the same Astragius Galaxy universe as the original 1983 series. It is not a
reboot.
Q: Which studio is
producing VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe?
A: Bandai Namco Filmworks formerly known as Sunrise is
producing Die Graue Hexe. Sunrise originally produced the 1983 VOTOMS TV anime.
Q: Do I need to watch the
original VOTOMS before Die Graue Hexe?
A: It is strongly recommended. Die Graue Hexe is set in the same
universe as the original 1983 series and draws on its lore. Watching the
original provides essential context for the story and its characters.
Q: What is the VOTOMS
franchise?
A: Armored Trooper VOTOMS is an anime franchise that began in
1983 with a 52-episode TV series directed by Ryosuke Takahashi. It is widely
considered a defining work of the 'Real Robot' genre grounded, militaristic
science fiction focused on human soldiers rather than superhuman pilots.
Q: Why is VOTOMS
returning now after 15 years?
A: The return of VOTOMS was announced as part of Sunrise Animation Studio's 50th-anniversary celebrations, with Mamoru Oshii and Ryosuke Takahashi both attached to signal that this is a significant, carefully considered revival rather than a commercial reboot.