The anime is connected to the Dark Machine video game.
The mixed media project Dark Machine announced during a livestream that the franchise’s anime project Dark Machine: The Animation is premiering in 2026. A teaser trailer was released for the series, and the main cast and staff were also revealed.
Dark Machine: The Animation cast, staff, and other details
According to the official website and social media of the anime, the cast includes:
- Kensho Ono as Kairi
- Miyuki Sawashiro as Rudra
- Kouki Uchiyama as Shinn
- Riho Sugiyama as Bran
- Saya Aizawa as Isana
- Yuuichi Nakamura as Ajima
Kazumi Terada directs the anime at Production +h, while Code Geass director Gorō Taniguchi is credited as the creative producer. Macross artist Hidetaka Tenjin is the chief mechanical designer, with Keiichi Yano as the project's creator. "Team Carbuncle" featuring Takaaki Suzuki, Tatsuhiko Urahata, and Atsuo Ishino, along with Satohito Sata, are writing the scripts.
Newly announced staff members include:
- Main Character Designer: Kō Yoshinari
- Sub-Character Designer: Akira Mitani
- Costume Design: Mebachi
- Chief Animation Directors: Yumi Kuroiwa, Hideki Itō
- Storyboard: Masatsugu Arakawa
- Colour Key Artist: niko＊miko
- Art Setting: Hiromi Tateiwa, Engawa,Nariyuki Ogi
- Art Directors: Hiromi Tateiwa, Yusuke Ikeda
- CG Director: Akira Inami
- CG Action Director: Ryou Kimura
- Compositing Director of Photography: Naoko Tanaka
- Photography Supervision: Kentarō Waki
- Editing: Yuki Honda
- Sound Director: Takeshi Takadera
- Sound Effects: Tomoko Ohtsuka
- Music: SUGIZO
- Music Production: Flying Dog
Although connected to the original game, the anime will have its own unique setting and themes. In the story, Dark Machine will be a gaming metaverse and take place in the future. The official website describes the anime's story as:
The globally popular e-sports "Dark Machine" has excited people and even transformed the Japanese economy.
Golden Valley is the only city in Japan designated as a "Dark Machine" special economic zone.
At the top of the city is Ajima, the 7th "Sen Oni," who has inherited the title of "Sen Oni," the strongest "Dark Machine" player.Ajima has effectively taken control of Golden Valley through the Dark Machine. The protagonist, Kairi, visits Golden Valley with her late grandfather's last words in mind: "Find Senki." She happens to meet a girl named Rudra who is being chased by Ajima's subordinate, Arudamiru.
Kairi, who becomes a "Dark Machine" player after being caught up in Rudra's actions, gradually begins to develop his talent after repeated fierce battles.
Will Kairi be able to face the "Thousand Demons" and carve out his own destiny?Kairi's battle to become the top "Dark Machine" begins now.
Produced by Project Carbuncle, Dark Machine is a 7-versus-7 mech third-person shooting game