Dark Machine: The Animation is getting a soundtrack release on December 9, 2026, with music by Sugizo and a choice between a two-CD collection, a curated double-vinyl edition and digital listening.
There is also an earlier date to note: “Pitch Black”, the anime’s Stellatus insert song, arrives digitally on November 11, ahead of the full album.
For anyone interested in the overlap between anime, competitive gaming and Japanese rock, the composer credit is the main hook here. Sugizo, whose bands include Luna Sea, X JAPAN and Shag, is making his anime-composing debut with this series.
An esports story with a cross-genre musical team
Set in a near-future version of Japan, the original TV anime follows Kairi as he pursues the number-one spot in Dark Machine, a hugely popular esport within the story’s world. The series has already begun airing, according to the announcement.
Sugizo brings experience in electronic music and composing for film and stage, alongside his work as a guitarist and violinist. His collaborators on this project span several musical backgrounds rather than sticking to a single band lineup.
Among them are Jiluka guitarist Sena, Vocaloid producer ATLOS, track maker Ubar-Tumar and Creature Creature’s Shinobu. MaZDA, from Sugizo’s live group Cosmic Dance Quintet, also contributes, alongside musicians from Shag and drummer-percussionist komaki.
That personnel list includes keyboards, percussion, drums and trumpet. Analysis: it suggests room for a broader sonic palette than a straightforward guitar-led action score, although the credits alone cannot tell us how those elements will sound together.
What’s included—and how the editions differ
The physical releases are not identical collections:
- Standard two-CD edition: 40 tracks covering the score, theme songs and insert songs, priced at ¥4,400 including tax.
- Two-LP edition: a selection personally chosen by Sugizo, priced at ¥6,600 including tax.
The vinyl release is therefore a curated alternative, not simply the entire CD programme pressed onto records. If you want the broader track selection, the CD edition is the one to compare first.
The album includes the television edits of opening theme “Sonzai Riyu Kai” by BUCK∞TICK and ending theme “Galaxy Mode” by Sandaime J Soul Brothers.
Its cover features new artwork by the anime’s mecha designer, Hidetaka Tenjin, whose credits include the Macross and Gundam series.
“Pitch Black” gets an early release
Stellatus is an idol group within the anime that also acts as a brand ambassador for the fictional Dark Machine esport. Its song “Pitch Black” pairs a fast-paced dance track composed by Taku Inoue with three character performances:
- Aluk, voiced by Nao Toyama
- Spica, voiced by Rei Nakashima
- Denebola, voiced by Nonoka Obuchi
The announcement schedules the song’s streaming release for midnight JST on November 11, with digital downloads also starting that day.
The full soundtrack follows on December 9 through streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music, plus download stores such as iTunes Store, Rekochoku and mora.
Why it’s worth watching from Malaysia and SEA
Our take: the useful angle for Malaysian and SEA readers is the creative crossover: an esports-themed anime with a score led by a musician whose work reaches across rock, electronic music and jazz-rock. “Pitch Black” offers an earlier entry point while the full soundtrack is still weeks away.
The listed physical prices are in yen. The announcement does not specify Malaysian retail pricing, local stockists or territory-by-territory digital availability, so treat the platform list as release information—not confirmation for every regional account.