Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Grey Witch Reveals Cast and Trailer

The Grey Witch visual for the new Armored Trooper VOTOMS film

Sunrise has released the main trailer, character visuals, stills, and cast information for Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Grey Witch. The new theatrical film is scheduled to open in Japan on November 20, 2026. For international fans, the announcement is a useful update on the film's creative team and Japanese release plan, but it does not yet confirm an overseas distributor, subtitled release, or streaming date.

What Was Announced

The official film site posted the main trailer and additional production information on August 21, 2026. The same update introduced character visuals and scene stills, while a separate cast notice identified the two central performers. Miyuki Sawashiro voices Ash Vamps, a soldier feared as the “witch” because of her survival record. Maki Ando voices Maki Staufenberg, an officer assigned to investigate Ash under a secret mission.

The supporting cast includes Shinichiro Miki, Yuki Kaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Satoshi Tsurugaoka, Tomokazu Sugita, Kenta Miyake, Chafurin, Hochu Otsuka, Daisuke Ono, Takayuki Sugo, Takahiro Sakurai, and Sumire Uesaka. The official staff update names Mamoru Oshii as director and co-writer, with Kei Yamamura also credited for the screenplay. Original mechanical design is credited to Kunio Okawara, while Kazuchika Kise is credited with the character-design concept. Tetsuya Nishio, Takashi Kojima, and Shingo Kogiso handle character design; Kenji Kawai provides the music.

Sunrise is producing the film with Production I.G. as production support, and Bandai Namco Filmworks is handling distribution. The official site describes The Grey Witch as the first part of a two-film theatrical project. The first film's release date is confirmed for Friday, November 20, 2026; the timing of the second film is not yet confirmed on the pages checked for this report.

Why It Matters

Armored Trooper VOTOMS began as a television anime in 1983 and built its identity around grounded military science fiction, disposable combat machines, and a harsh war setting. The Grey Witch therefore brings a long-running Sunrise property into a new theatrical format while keeping the franchise's Armored Trooper vocabulary at the center. The new material also places two women at the heart of the story: Ash is the soldier whose unexplained survival draws attention, while Maki enters the battlefield to uncover the truth behind her.

That setup gives the new film a clear point of distinction for viewers who know the older series. The official synopsis places the story near the end of the Hundred Years War, before the setting's familiar postwar period, and follows the two leads through a mission that becomes increasingly desperate. This is a prequel-era battlefield story rather than a simple continuation of an already-finished character arc.

The creative combination is also specific. Oshii, known internationally for Ghost in the Shell, is directing a new story within a franchise created by Sunrise and supervised by original creator Ryosuke Takahashi. The production list connects the project to veteran mechanical and music talent, including Okawara and Kawai. It may give longtime VOTOMS fans a recognizable bridge to the series' visual and industrial design language, while the new cast and theatrical presentation could make the film an entry point for viewers who have not followed every previous OVA.

Context for International Fans

At the time of this report, the official pages confirm a Japanese theatrical release, but they do not list a North American, European, or other overseas distributor. They also do not announce an international streaming service or a subtitled digital edition. International readers should treat November 20 as the confirmed Japanese date, not as evidence of a same-day release in other regions.

The ticket page is currently Japan-focused. Advance tickets for the first film went on sale on August 21 at a listed price of 1,900 yen, with separate card designs and bonuses. The page also lists an Animate bundle with a dog tag, online Movie Walker options, and other Japan-market ticket formats. These details help fans understand the release rollout, but they are not a substitute for an overseas ticket or distribution announcement. Availability, payment methods, and shipping may also depend on the seller and the buyer's region.

There is one additional official access point to watch. Sunrise announced that its official YouTube channel will introduce a paid membership service on September 1, 2026. The September feature is planned to include the VOTOMS series, and the notice says a members-only making-of video for The Grey Witch is planned. The announcement does not specify international availability, regional pricing, or subtitle coverage, so those details remain to be confirmed.

What Happens Next

The next practical checkpoints are the official theater list, further ticket notices, and any announcement about overseas distribution. Fans should also watch the film's official site and Sunrise's official YouTube channel for the September 1 membership rollout and the promised making-of material. A second-film schedule, international release information, and confirmed subtitle options have not been announced in the sources checked here.

For now, the August 21 update establishes the film's central cast, expanded staff, first-part release date, and a clearer look at its battlefield story. Those are confirmed developments; expectations about a global theatrical or streaming rollout remain speculation until Sunrise or Bandai Namco Filmworks publishes more information.

Information was checked on August 21, 2026, 8:55 PM JST.

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