Armored Trooper Votoms: The appeal of a realistic battlefield and a profound story

Armored Trooper Votoms

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984 Every Friday from 17:55 to 18:25

■Broadcasting station

TV Tokyo

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 52

■Original Story

Original story by Hajime Yatate, original story by Ryosuke Takahashi

■ Director

Director: Ryosuke Takahashi

■ Production

Japan Sunrise

■Works

©Sunrise

■ Story

Taking advantage of the know-how cultivated in the previous program "Fang of the Sun Dougram," which was hugely popular for its elaborate military depictions, this work took it a step further. By depicting the robots not as characters but as thoroughly "machines," it gained the support of mecha fans and was praised as the pinnacle of military robot anime. The setting changes with each season, from underground cities to tropical jungles, space, and desertified planets, and a rich variety of storylines unfold. In addition, the main character is a young man with a deep emotional wound, something never seen in anime up to that point, which became a major feature of the work. Furthermore, the various ideas used in the humanoid weapons, the Armored Troopers, had a major influence on later robot anime.

From "Sunrise Complete Works Collection"

■Explanation

At the end of the Hundred Year War that split the Astragius Galaxy in two, Gilgamesh soldier Kiriko Cuby participated in a mysterious operation to attack an allied base. There, he witnessed a woman called the Base in a capsule. Kiriko, who had come into contact with top secret information of the Gilgamesh Army, was pursued by the military. He was rescued by friendly forces along the way, but was suspected of betrayal and escaped the base. He wandered from star to star, evading his pursuers, through many battlefields. He finally arrived in the city of Udo and witnessed the Base again, and began to investigate the mystery of the woman who had changed his fate. However, behind the scenes, an unknown secret society was plotting various schemes to eliminate Kiriko...

From "Sunrise Complete Works Collection"

■Cast

・Kiriko/Hozumi Goda・Gouto/Kosei Tomita・Vanilla/Shigeru Chiba・Cocona/Yoko Kawanami・Fianna/Kazuko Yanagida・Epsilon/Kyonsuke Kami・Le Shakko/Kazunari Masamune・Lotchina/Banjō Ginga・Battentine/Koji Totani・Wiseman/Hidekatsu Shibata

■ Main staff

・Planning/Nippon Sunrise ・Original concept/Hajime Yatate ・Original story/Ryosuke Takahashi ・Character design/Norio Shioyama ・Mechanical design/Kunio Okawara ・Art/Toshihisa Tojo (episodes 1-28)
Art setting: Kazuo Okada (episodes 29-52), Mitsuharu Miyamae (episodes 29-52), Masuo Nakayama (episodes 29-52)
Chief animation director: Norio Shioyama; Editor: Tsurubuchi Films; Sound director: Yasuo Urakami; Music: Hiroki Inui; Chief director: Toshifumi Takizawa; Director: Ryosuke Takahashi; Producer: Toru Hasegawa

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: "End of the War"
・Episode 2/"Udo"
・Episode 3: "Encounter"
・Episode 4/"Battling"
・Episode 5/"Trap"
・Episode 6/"Body"
Episode 7: "Attack"
Episode 8: "Deal"
・Episode 9/"Rescue"
・Episode 10/"Red Shoulder"
・Episode 11/"Counterattack"
・Episode 12/"Bonds"
・Episode 13/"Escape"
・Episode 14/"Assemble EX-10"
Episode 15: "Suspicion"
・Episode 16/"Sweeping"
・Episode 17/"Reunion"
Episode 18: "Sudden Change"
・Episode 19/"Intentions"
・Episode 20/"Fianna"
・Episode 21/"Backwards"
Episode 22: "Inspired"
・Episode 23/"Confusion"
・Episode 24/"Crossing"
・Episode 25/"Infiltration"
・Episode 26/"Approach"
Episode 27: "Blackout"
・Episode 28/"Destiny"
・Episode 29/"Two People"
Episode 30: "Phantom"
Episode 31: "Inviolable Space"
・Episode 32/"Epsilon"
・Episode 33/"Confrontation"
・Episode 34/"Planet Sansa"
・Episode 35/"Death Line"
・Episode 36: "Graves and Vengeance"
・Episode 37/"Prisoner"
・Episode 38/"Darkness"
・Episode 39/"Perfect Soldier"
・Episode 40/"Friends"
・Episode 41/"Quent"
・Episode 42/"Desert"
・Episode 43/"Legacy"
・Episode 44/"Forbidden"
・Episode 45/"Encounter"
・Episode 46/"Premonition"
・Episode 47/"Strange Event"
・Episode 48/"Successor"
Episode 49: "The Psychic"
・Episode 50/"Raging Clouds"
・Episode 51/"Shura"
・Episode 52/"Shooting Star"

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Armored Trooper Votoms" is a robot anime produced by Sunrise Japan that aired from 1983 to 1984, and has captivated many fans with its unique worldview and deep story development. This work stands out from other robot anime due to its realistic depiction of military life and the human drama of the main characters, Kiriko Cuby.

Story and Characters

The story begins at the end of the Hundred Year War in the Astragius Galaxy. Kiriko Cuby, a soldier in the Gilgamesh Army, takes part in a mysterious operation where he witnesses a mysterious woman known as the "Base Body." This event changes Kiriko's fate drastically, and he is pursued by the army. While evading his pursuers, Kiriko sets out on a journey to unravel the mystery of the Base Body, but behind it all lies a conspiracy by a secret society.

Kiriko is portrayed as a young man with deep emotional wounds, and his inner conflicts and growth are at the center of the story. The characters surrounding Kiriko are also unique, with each of them having their own background and drama, such as Gouto, Vanilla, Cocona, and Fianna. The relationships and conflicts woven by these characters deepen the story even further.

Mechanic Design

The mechanical design of "Armored Trooper Votoms" was created by Kunio Okawara, and is particularly notable for its realistic depiction of the Armored Troopers (ATs). The ATs are depicted purely as "machines," without the characterization seen in conventional robot anime. This approach was highly praised by mecha fans, and had a major influence on later robot anime. Other highlights include the variety of ATs and the realism of the battle scenes.

Art and direction

Art was handled by a diverse team of staff including Tojo Toshihisa, Okada Kazuo, Miyamae Mitsuharu, and Nakayama Masuo, and depicted a variety of settings, including underground cities, tropical jungles, space, and desertified planets. These settings skillfully change as the story progresses, enhancing the visual appeal. In terms of direction, under the direction of Takizawa Toshifumi, the film features skilfully drawn suspenseful battle scenes and psychological portrayals.

music

The music was written by Hiroki Inui and plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the background music that heightens the sense of tension in battle scenes and the emotionally rich melodies in scenes depicting Kiriko's inner thoughts have the effect of drawing out the emotions of the viewer. Additionally, the opening theme "Fate of the Flame" and the ending theme "In Love with Your Eyes" are also symbolic of the work.

Impact and Evaluation

Armored Trooper Votoms is regarded as a milestone in military robot anime due to its realistic military depictions and deep human drama. The design of the ATs and the realism of the battle scenes had a major influence on later robot anime, with many works using this style as a reference. Furthermore, Kiriko's character images and story development have deeply moved viewers, and the series has been loved for many years.

Recommendation

"Armored Trooper Votoms" is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy military robot anime and deep human drama. It is also recommended for those who enjoy the realism of the mechanical design and battle scenes. Furthermore, this is a work not to be missed by those who are interested in Kiriko's growth and the relationships between the characters. Please watch it and experience its charm.

Related works and media mix

Armored Trooper Votoms has been expanded into various media mixes, including not only the TV series, but also OVAs, movies, and games. In particular, the OVA series "Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle" was produced as a sequel to the TV series, and features an even deeper story and new characters. In addition, the movies "Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder" and "Armored Trooper Votoms: The Brilliant Heresy" are also must-sees for fans. By watching these related works together, you can enjoy the world of "Armored Trooper Votoms" even more.

summary

Armored Trooper Votoms continues to attract many fans with its realistic military depictions, deep human drama, and unique mechanical design. The story of Kiriko Cuby's fate and growth deeply touches viewers and is regarded as a milestone in military robot anime. Please watch this work and experience its charm for yourself.