Details about the series’ opening theme song have also been revealed.
A new teaser video has been released for the upcoming anime “Dark Machine: The Animation”. The new update revealed that the original anime will air sometime in October 2026. Moreover, additional cast members and details about the opening theme song of the series have also been announced. The anime is part of a mixed-media initiative by Project Carbuncle.
Dark Machine: The Animation
Premiere window: October 2026
Animation studio: Production +h.
Streaming platform: TBA
What do we know about Dark Machine: The Animation so far?
The new cast members of the anime include:
- Ryūnosuke Watanuki as Nyūdō
- Jun Kousaka as Hachiman
- Minori Suzuki as Bianca
- Rikuya Yasuda as Weiss
Previously announced cast members of the anime include:
- 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 opening theme song of the anime is ‘Sonzai Riyu Kai’ performed by the rock band BUCK∞TICK.
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
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.