Classic mecha fans, this one is for you. Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Graue Hexe has locked in its next major update, and Bandai Namco Filmworks together with Sunrise are clearly treating this as a proper return for the franchise.
The new Votoms project will be released as a two-part theatrical anime, with the first movie scheduled to open in Japanese cinemas on November 20, 2026. The second part is also planned, though its release timing has not been announced yet.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, this is one of those announcements where the big question is obvious: will we get cinema screenings here, or will this stay Japan-only for a while? Nothing has been confirmed for Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, or the wider region yet, so for now this is mainly a date to watch if you follow Japanese theatrical anime releases closely.
Still, the project matters because Votoms is not some random new mecha IP. It is one of Sunrise’s old-school military sci-fi franchises, known for gritty armoured suits, grounded war drama, and a very different flavour from the shinier Gundam side of mecha anime. If you are the type who likes your robots more tactical and dirty instead of superhero-style flashy, Votoms has always been that lane.
There are also some strong names attached behind the scenes. Ryosuke Takahashi, the original creator of Votoms, is returning as supervising director. That should be reassuring for longtime fans who worry when older franchises come back decades later and suddenly feel like a completely different thing.
The music is being handled by Kenji Kawai, whose anime credits include Mobile Suit Gundam 00. That alone gives the project some serious weight, especially for viewers who care about atmosphere. Votoms lives or dies on mood — tension, machinery, loneliness, battlefield pressure — so the soundtrack choice is not just a small detail.
On the mechanical design side, Yoshihiro Sono and Shinobu Tsuneki are involved. Sono previously worked on Votoms: AT Stories, while Tsuneki’s credits include Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These. In other words, Bandai Namco and Sunrise are not just reviving the name; they are putting people with proper sci-fi and mechanical design experience on it.
Bandai Namco Filmworks has also released a new trailer on YouTube, giving fans a fresh look at the upcoming project. If you are already familiar with the Scopedog silhouette, that alone should be enough to get the old mecha brain activated.
Collectors also have something to keep an eye on. Bandai Namco revealed upcoming Die Graue Hexe merchandise from two group companies: Bandai Spirits and Megahouse.
Bandai Spirits is preparing a High Grade model kit and a Hi-Metal R figure of the title character’s Scopedog in Desert colour scheme. Megahouse, meanwhile, will release several smaller 8cm model kits under its VA-KIT Platoon line.
For Malaysia, this is probably where the hype becomes very practical. Even if the film does not reach local cinemas quickly, the merch likely becomes the first real way SEA fans engage with the new Votoms entry. Expect collectors to watch import shops, hobby stores, Shopee, Lazada, and Japan proxy services once pre-orders open. No RM pricing has been announced yet, so don’t kena poison too early without checking the final import cost.
More details on the model kits and figures will be shown at the 64th Shizuoka Hobby Show, happening at Twin Messe Shizuoka from May 16-17, 2026.
For now, the key date is simple: Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Graue Hexe Part 1 opens in Japan on November 20, 2026. The second movie will follow later.
Source: Siliconera