Mamoru Oshii and Voice Cast Gather for Completion Premiere
On November 8, a special completion premiere screening was held at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills in Tokyo for the upcoming movie Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch (Hekse). The film marks the 50th anniversary celebration of Sunrise and represents a brand-new entry in the iconic real-robot franchise, scheduled for Japanese theatrical release on November 20, 2026.
Director Mamoru Oshii took the stage alongside cast members Miyuki Sawashiro, Mabu Ando, Shin-ichiro Miki, and Sumire Uesaka to greet fans who had just experienced the premiere screening.
“Are There Still Any Doubters?” — Oshii Reflects on Respecting the Franchise
Given the bold pairing of Mamoru Oshii’s directorial style with the legendary mecha series created by Ryosuke Takahashi, anticipation among fans was accompanied by a hint of nervousness. Addressing the audience with a smile, Oshii joked:
“To be completely honest… is there anyone here who still doubts this project?”
After bringing laughs to the crowd, Oshii reaffirmed his passion: “As a long-time fan of VOTOMS, I wanted to create a film that truly respects the original work, and I believe we accomplished that. I’ve had the concept for this story for about 20 years, so I crammed everything I wanted to do into this film.”
Cast Insights and Fan Excitement
The cast shared their thoughts on bringing their respective characters to life in this dark battlefield narrative:
- Miyuki Sawashiro (Ash): Plays a fearsome soldier known as the “Witch” who survives impossible operations. Sawashiro noted the challenge of bringing warmth and humanity to a character conceived as a symbolic concept.
- Mabu Ando (Maki): Plays an officer investigating Ash, serving as an anchor to ground the heavy worldbuilding for the audience.
- Shin-ichiro Miki (Barrack): Plays Maki’s serious subordinate, expressing how he carefully captured the high tension of being surrounded by life-or-death situations.
- Sumire Uesaka (Mechanic Girl): A self-proclaimed hardcore VOTOMS fan since her high school days, Uesaka expressed overwhelming gratitude to join the franchise 15 years after its last major installment, praising the gritty, realistic depiction of the Armored Troopers (ATs) in action.
A Fresh Take on a Legendary Mecha Classic
Closing out the event, Director Oshii highlighted the fresh technical approach taken for the film, working with new studio staff and experimenting with meticulous sound design tailored for theaters. With high-octane mecha combat and deep psychological storytelling, Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch promises to be a monumental release for real-robot anime fans worldwide when it hits theaters in late 2026.
Source: Yahoo News Japan