Mobile Suit Gundam may be the most iconic entry in the Real Robot mecha anime genre, yet it’s certainly not the sole contender in this field. A legendary mecha series is set to make a thrilling return, spearheaded by one of the industry’s top creative minds.

Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Garue Hexe heralds the revival of the Votoms series, renowned for its realistic approach that even surpasses that of Gundam. This new anime project not only resurrects the beloved franchise but is also helmed by the acclaimed Mamoru Oshii. With his remarkable expertise in sci-fi anime, Oshii is poised to elevate the new Votoms to potentially rival even the esteemed Gundam series.

A joint endeavor by Production I.G. and Sunrise, Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Garue Hexe is part of the celebrations for Sunrise’s 50th anniversary and marks the first addition to the franchise in over a decade. The recently unveiled teaser trailer has already stirred excitement, featuring a CG-rendered VOTOMS mecha unit in action. While specific details about the plot remain under wraps, the project’s status as an anniversary production ensures a strong focus on delivering a high-quality experience.

One of Anime’s Biggest Directors Brings Back a Mecha Classic

A collaborative project by Production I.G. and Sunrise, Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Garue Hexe is being created as both a celebration of Sunrise’s 50th anniversary and the latest project in the franchise in over a decade. The teaser trailer for the new anime has been revealed to hype up the upcoming anime, showcasing a CG VOTOMS mecha unit heading into action. Beyond that, not much is yet confirmed about the series or what its story will involve; however, given its pedigree as an anniversary production, it’s certain to have a lot of emphasis on quality.

That’s especially the case given the talent behind the series, with the anime’s director being none other than the talented Mamoru Oshii. A notable creator in the retro anime movie landscape, Oshii’s experience includes the anime war movie Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (which adapted his preceding Kerberos Panzer Cop manga), as well as the second anime movie in the Patlabor multimedia mecha brand and the iconic 1995 anime film adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. The latter, in particular, is one of the most iconic anime movies of all time and has remained a major influence on the industry and even Hollywood.

As seen in the brief trailer above, Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Garue Hexe (translated as Armored Trooper Votoms: The Gray Witch) will be released sometime in 2026. The name of the new anime ironically recalls two recent Gundam works: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury and the upcoming anime film Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe.

However, while Gundam has always overshadowed Votoms in popularity, the latter is no slouch in terms of success. In fact, the original 1983 anime was seen as far more realistic and grounded than even the original Mobile Suit Gundam, and this tone ensured that the burgeoning “Real Robot” anime genre wasn’t a one-off and instead became the director for the genre in the 1980s. Given how the success of the recent Mobile Suit Gundam anime has helped cause a resurgence in interest in mecha anime, now is the best time for Votoms to make a comeback.

Release Date

1983 – 1984-00-00

Network

TV Tokyo

Directors

Renji Kawabata, Ami Tomobuki, Yoshizo Tsuda, Ryosuke Takahashi, Ryo Yasumura

Writers

Soji Yoshikawa, Jinzo Toriumi

• Hozumi Goda

  Chirico Cuvie (voice)

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  Kazuko Yanaga

  Phantom Lady Fyana (voice)　※does not appear in all episodes.