{"rewrite":{"id":"r_3e11c33edfeaaec8e8ed2ee6","clusterId":"c_4ceab40c855a370741ae8b89","slug":"vertex-force-original-anime-sets-october-3-debut-reveals-cast","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Vertex Force Original Anime Sets October 3 Debut, Reveals Cast","summary":"The original television anime Vertex Force, directed by Strike Witches and Vividred Operation creator Kazuhiro Takamura, will premiere on October 3 at 11:30 p.m. on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, with streaming on U-NEXT and other services in Japan. The announcement came on July 24 via the anime's official website, which also released a main promotional video, key visual, and the full main cast. Makoto Koichi voices protagonist Akira Todo, a 13-year-old middle school student living in Okinawa who feels inferior for lacking the \"Engine\" power his older sister Haruka inherited from their father. Kaede Hondo plays Haruka Todo, a cheerful 16-year-old high school girl who hides her power. Ami Koshimizu voices Eleanor Northbrook, an 18-year-old from the United States; Megumi Han plays Lala Zudenstein, a 16-year-old from Switzerland; and Rie Takahashi voices Yoko Nishina, a 16-year-old from Hokkaido. The story follows Akira and his family as strange events begin occurring worldwide, with unidentified enemies approaching. Takamura is directing at SMDE, with Gorō Kuji as assistant director. Kanetake Ebikawa handles engine design, and JNTHED handles ENIA design.","whyItMatters":"The project marks Takamura's return to original anime direction for the first time since Vividred Operation in 2013, with a production team drawn heavily from the Strike Witches and Gundam mechanical design pipelines.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eTakamura is also overseeing the series scripts alongside Masashi Suzuki (Lord of Vermilion: The Crimson King). Masahito Onoda (Brave Witches, Strike Witches: Road to Berlin) is the chief animation director, and Nobuaki Nobusawa (Clevatess, Astra Lost in Space) is composing the music. The CG director is Hiroyuki Tadokoro, with Zhang Peng Jian as modeling director.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe anime\u0026#39;s tagline reads: \u0026#34;Protecting the Earth, summer vacation begins.\u0026#34; Takamura gave a message when the anime was first announced, stating he likes cute girls, cool mecha, and anime, and this original anime \u0026#34;crams in everything he likes.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional staff include color designer Mineyo Ōnishi, art director Ryōka Kinoshita, art setting by Toshiki Amata, director of photography Masahiko Yagi, editing by Akinori Mishima, sound director Tomohiro Yoshida, and sound production by dugout. The animation production is handled by SMDE, which was responsible for the 3DCG of the Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion series.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCast comments have also arrived. Makoto Koichi described Akira as having a strong sense of justice but feeling inferior for always being protected by his sister. Kaede Hondo noted Haruka is cheerful and good at sports. Ami Koshimizu said Eleanor is competitive and hardworking. Megumi Han described Lala as calm and collected, aiming to become a clockmaker. Rie Takahashi said Yoko is kind-hearted but carries trauma.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Vertex Force, a new original anime from Strike Witches director Kazuhiro Takamura, premieres October 3. The story follows a middle school boy in Okinawa who feels inferior because his sister inherited their father's power and he didn't.","twitterPost":"Makoto Koichi, Kaede Hondo, Ami Koshimizu, Megumi Han, and Rie Takahashi star in Vertex Force, an original TV anime debuting October 3. Takamura directs at SMDE with mechanical design from Gundam 00's Kanetake Ebikawa.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Vertex Force, a new original TV anime from Strike Witches director Kazuhiro Takamura, will debut on October 3. The main cast includes Makoto Koichi, Kaede Hondo, Ami Koshimizu, Megumi Han, and Rie Takahashi. The story is set in Okinawa and follows a boy who lacks the special power his sister inherited.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-24/vertex-force-original-anime-reveals-october-3-debut-main-cast-in-promo-video/.239935\",\"title\":\"Vertex Force Original Anime Reveals October 3 Debut, Main Cast in Promo Video\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2607243d\",\"title\":\"New TV Anime 'Vertex Force' by Kazuhiro Takamura of 'Strike Witches' Fame Reveals Main PV and Key Visual; Comments from Makoto Koichi, Kaede Hondo, Ami Koshimizu, Megumi Han, and Rie Takahashi Also Arrive\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":9876,"outputTokens":1518,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1785034670,"createdAt":"2026-07-26T02:50:20.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-26T02:50:45.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-26T02:50:20.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_4ceab40c855a370741ae8b89","canonicalTitle":"News\nVertex Force Original Anime Reveals October 3 Debut, Main Cast in Promo Video","representativeArticleId":"a_9b002034df081396c25b8b0c","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[\"Vertex Force\"],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Kazuhiro Takamura\",\"Makoto Koichi\",\"Kaede Hondo\",\"Ami Koshimizu\",\"Megumi Han\",\"Rie Takahashi\"],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-24T10:26:51.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-24T10:50:08.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-26T02:50:45.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-24/vertex-force-original-anime-reveals-october-3-debut-main-cast-in-promo-video/.239935","title":"News\nVertex Force Original Anime Reveals October 3 Debut, Main Cast in Promo Video"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2607243d","title":"『ストライクウィッチーズ』の高村和宏監督が手がける新作TVアニメ『バーテックスフォース』メインPVとキービジュ公開。小市眞琴・本渡楓・小清水亜美・潘めぐみ・高橋李依のコメントも到着"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":["Vertex Force"],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["Kazuhiro Takamura","Makoto Koichi","Kaede Hondo","Ami Koshimizu","Megumi Han","Rie Takahashi"],"type":"announcement","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Vertex Force premieres on October 3, 2026 at 11:30 p.m. on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV.","Makoto Koichi voices protagonist Akira Todo, a 13-year-old middle school student living in Okinawa.","Kaede Hondo voices Haruka Todo, a 16-year-old high school girl who inherits a power called \"Engine\" from her father.","Kazuhiro Takamura directs the anime at SMDE, with Gorō Kuji as assistant director.","Kanetake Ebikawa is the engine designer and JNTHED is the ENIA designer."]}