Mamoru Oshii Returns to the Battlefield with Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe

The legendary mecha franchise returns with a new theatrical anime directed by the filmmaker behind Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor.

The battlefield is calling again. Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe has unveiled new trailer footage ahead of its Japanese theatrical debut, bringing one of anime’s most influential military science-fiction franchises back to the big screen.

Directed by Mamoru Oshii, the filmmaker renowned for Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor, the upcoming two-part theatrical project revisits the gritty universe of Armored Trooper VOTOMS, the classic mecha series that first premiered in 1983. The first film is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on November 20, 2026.

A New Chapter in a Classic Mecha Universe

Originally created under the direction of Ryosuke Takahashi and produced by Sunrise, Armored Trooper VOTOMScarved out its own identity within the mecha genre. Rather than portraying giant robots as invincible heroes, the series treated them as expendable military hardware in a brutal, seemingly endless war.

That grounded approach helped establish VOTOMS as a defining example of the real robot subgenre, where battlefield tactics, political conspiracies and the psychological cost of warfare matter as much as the machines themselves.

Die Graue Hexe, translated as The Gray Witch, introduces a new conflict within this universe. Set during the final stages of the Hundred Year War between the Gilgamesh and Balarant forces, the story follows military officer Maki Staufenberg as she investigates Ash Vamps, a mysterious soldier whose reputation for surviving seemingly impossible missions has earned her the nickname of the Gray Witch.

Her investigation unfolds against a backdrop of military tension, dangerous assignments and the lingering madness of a war that has consumed generations.

Mamoru Oshii Takes Command

Oshii’s involvement is one of the project’s biggest draws. Known for blending philosophical questions with atmospheric science fiction, the director brings a distinctive creative perspective to a franchise already defined by its bleak military setting.

The production also reunites him with composer Kenji Kawai, a longtime collaborator whose music has helped shape the atmosphere of several of Oshii’s most memorable works.

Ryosuke Takahashi, the creator of the original series, serves as supervisor, while Sunrise leads animation production with cooperation from Production I.G. Legendary mecha designer Kunio Okawara is also involved, preserving a direct connection to the visual legacy of the original series.

The result is a project that brings together key figures from different eras of anime, connecting VOTOMS’ mechanical roots with the cinematic sensibilities of one of the medium’s most distinctive directors.

Why VOTOMS Still Matters

For fans raised on contemporary robot anime, VOTOMS offers a different kind of science fiction. Its machines are not symbols of destiny or technological perfection. They are weapons operated by soldiers caught in systems far larger than themselves.

That perspective feels particularly suited to Oshii, whose work frequently explores the relationship between individuals, institutions and the machinery that governs their lives.

With Die Graue Hexe planned as a two-part theatrical production, the franchise is preparing for a substantial new chapter rather than simply revisiting its past. The second installment’s release date has not yet been announced.

ARMORED TROOPER VOTOMS: DIE GRAUE HEXE arrives in Japanese theaters on November 20, 2026.

For longtime VOTOMS fans, it is a return to a familiar battlefield. For newcomers, it could be an opportunity to discover a more grounded, unforgiving side of mecha science fiction.

The war never really ended. It only found a new way to begin.