Dark Machine

Dark Machine is a Japanese mixed-media project produced by Project Carbuncle. It includes a video game that uses blockchain and Web3 elements. An anime television series titled Dark Machine: The Animation and produced by Production +h. is set to premiere in 2026.

Dark Machine
Genre	Mecha Science fiction Sports (eSports)
Created by	Project Caruncole Keiichi Yano
Video game
Dark Machine: The Game
Produced by	Gorō Taniguchi
Designed by	Hidetaka Tenjin
Platform	PC, iOS, Android
Anime television series
Dark Machine: The Animation
Directed by	Kazumi Terada
Produced by	Gorō Taniguchi (creative)
Written by	Team Carbuncle (Takaaki Suzuki, Tatsuhiko Urata, Atsuo Ishino, Satohito Sata)
Music by	Sugizo
Studio	Production +h.
Original network	Fuji TV
Original run	2026 – scheduled

Premise

Dark Machine takes place in a futuristic world where the world is at conflict over energy resources. This follows the discovery of Palmer crystals, which provide a high amount of energy to power the world, but has also gained the attention of competing factions. As part of this conflict, factions have developed highly advanced mechs, initially for harvesting Palmer crystals, but have since been modified for use in underground battles.

Dark Machine: The Animation is set in Golden Valley, a special economic zone in Japan that uses the popular esports game Dark Machine to boost the local economy. A young man named Kairi arrives in Golden Valley following the death of his grandfather. Following an encounter with a young girl named Rudora, and getting involved with a conflict with Ajima, a powerful Dark Machine player, Kairi finds himself thrust into the world of Dark Machine.

Characters

Kairi (カイリ)

Voiced by: Kensho Ono^[1]

Rudora (ルドラ)

Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro^[1]

Shinn (シン, Shin)

Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama^[1]

Bran (ブラン, Buran)

Voiced by: Riho Sugiyama^[1]

Isana (イサナ)

Voiced by: Saya Aizawa^[1]

Ajima (アジマ)

Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura^[1]

Media

Video game

The Dark Machine game was announced on February 9, 2024, with a release planned for PC, iOS, and Android. The game is created by Keiichi Yano, is produced by anime director Gorō Taniguchi, and features art by Hidetaka Tenjin. The game features blockchain and Web3 elements.^[2]

Anime

An anime promotional video was first presented at the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024,^[2] with an updated video with additional scenes being shown at the Tokyo Game Show later that year in October.^[3] An anime television series titled Dark Machine: The Animation and produced by Production +h. was announced on November 23, 2025. The series is directed by Kazumi Terada, features Taniguchi as a creative producer, Tenjin as the mech designer, and character designs by Kō Yoshinari and Akira Mitani. Takaaki Suzuki, Tatsuhiko Urata, Atsuo Ishino, and Satohito Sata are credited as scripwriters under the name Team Carbuncle. It is set to premiere in 2026 on Fuji TV.^[1]