The original anime is helmed by Production +h.
The upcoming anime “Dark Machine: The Animation” has confirmed a broadcast date of 13 October 2026. The announcement was paired with additional cast announcements.
The series will air on Fuji TV, Kansai TV, and BS Fuji, streaming details are yet to be confirmed.
Dark Machine: The Animation
Premiere window: 13 October, 2026
Animation studio: Production +h.
Streaming platform: TBA
What do we know about Dark Machine: The Animation so far?
The additional cast members are:
- Nao Touyama as Aruku
- Nonoka Obuchi as Denevola
Previously-revealed cast meanwhile, are:
- Ryūnosuke Watanuki as Nyūdō
- Jun Kousaka as Hachiman
- Minori Suzuki as Bianca
- Rikuya Yasuda as Weiss
- Kenshō Ono as Kairi
- Miyuki Sawashiro as Rudora
- Kōki Uchiyama as Shinn
- Riho Sugiyama as Bran
- Saya Aizawa as Isana
- Yūichi Nakamura as Ajima
- Kazuyuki Okitsu as Myōjin
- Ryōta Suzuki as Ryō
- Genta Nakamura as Kinji
- Sōhei Horikane as Hiru
The story of the anime will take place in a “not too distant future” where Dark Machine is a popular gaming metaverse. The series is also planned for a global release, but the streaming platform has not been revealed yet.
Kazumi Terada directs the anime at Production +h., with Gōro Taniguchi (Code Geass director) is the creative producer. Macross artist Hidetaka Tenjin is the chief mechanical designer while Keiichi Yano is the project’s creator. Team Carbuncle, which includes Takaaki Suzuki, Tatsuhiko Urahata, and Atsuo Ishino, writes the series scripts with Satohito Sata.
Other staff members of the anime are:
- 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
The anime will appear at Tokyo Game Show on 21 September as a media tie-in to the video game.
What is Dark Machine: The Animation about?
Dark Machine is a visual mixed media project by Project Carbuncle which includes a video game, and now an anime adaptation.
The official website describes the story as:
The immensely popular esports game “Dark Machine” has captivated people and even transformed Japan's economic system.
Golden Valley is the only city in Japan designated as a “Dark Machine” economic zone.
At the top of this zone reigns Ajima, who has inherited the title of "Senki," the strongest “Dark Machine” player.Ajima had effectively gained control of Golden Valley through the “Dark Machine.”
The protagonist, Kairi, visits Golden Valley with her late grandfather's dying wish, “Find Senki,” in mind, and coincidentally encounters Rudra, a girl being pursued by Arudamiru, one of Ajima's subordinates.
Kairi, who becomes a “Dark Machine” player after being caught up in Rudra's events, gradually blossoms her talent after numerous fierce battles.
Can Kairi confront the “Thousand Demons” and forge his own destiny?Kairi's battle to reach the pinnacle of the “Dark Machine” begins now.