Good Smile Company Announces Original Mecha Anime Dandivine
Good Smile Company, primarily a manufacturer of figures and toys, is expanding into original anime production with a multi-year franchise plan that commits to a new combining robot series each year through at least 2028.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner.
Good Smile Company announced a new original mecha anime titled Jyuō Mujin Dandivine (Beast King War God Dandivine) on June 3. The anime is the first project in the company's new "God of Combined Series" franchise, which aims to release a new combining robot series every year. The series is set to premiere in October 2026. It is produced by LIDENFILMS and Kayak Animation, with Yi Cao directing. Toshiki Inoue handles series composition and scripts. The cast includes Takuma Terashima as protagonist Gekiha Shijima, Haruka Shiraishi as Akane Kuzumi, and Saya Aizawa as Kirei Shijima. Takanori Nishikawa performs the opening theme. The story takes place 20 years after the robot Dandivine defeated the Aposdoll enemy, in a world where the toy manufacturer that relied on Dandivine merchandise has declined. The company also announced a manga adaptation by TOGUCHI in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh, and will distribute a plastic model of Dandivine at Good Smile Fest 2026 on June 6-7. The anime commemorates Good Smile Company's 25th anniversary.
Inoue described the protagonist Gekiha as "a completely boring guy." He said he "wanted the protagonist to be nothing more than a handsome guy, so I made him thoroughly boring. Viewers will wonder, 'Is this guy ever going to become interesting?' But he doesn't. That's what makes him interesting."
The announcement came during a presentation event on June 3, where chairman Takanori Aki outlined the franchise plan. Development is already underway for future installments planned for 2027 and 2028, each built around a different combining robot concept.
Additional staff credits include robin as animation character designer, Majiro as original character designer, An (GOD BRAVE STUDIO) as mechanical designer, and Yoshikazu Iwanami as sound director. The teaser video previewed five mecha: Slash Unicorn, Dande Ace, Magna Titan, Blaze Garuda, and Dandivine.
The story follows high school student Gekiha Shijima, who receives an invitation from his uncle Yusaku Kuroiwa, the former main pilot of Dandivine, to pilot the giant robot. The toy manufacturer Kasuga, which relied on Dandivine merchandise, has fallen into decline after the robot's victory 20 years ago. President Genjuro Shijima prayed for Dandivine's revival, and the Aposdoll enemy suddenly returned.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.