"Armored Trooper Votoms" review: Fascinating mecha design and a moving story

Armored Climber MOSPEADA - Armored Climber MOSPEADA

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

October 2, 1983 - March 25, 1984 Every Sunday 9:30-10:00

■Broadcasting station

Fuji TV Network

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 25

■ Director

Katsuhisa Yamada

■ Production

Fuji Television, Tatsunoko Productions, Anime Friend

■Works

©Tatsunoko Productions

■ Story

The year is 2050. The Earth is under attack by the alien lifeform Inbit, and humanity is under their occupation. Thirty years later, humanity, having fortified their military base in a Mars colony, launches a mission to recapture the Earth, but suffers another major defeat. Stick, the only surviving young soldier, heads for the enemy's base, "Reflex Point," together with new comrades he meets on Earth, including Ray, a young man born on Earth.

■Explanation

A journey of young people fighting to reclaim the Earth occupied by an alien lifeform, heading for the enemy's base. A road movie-like sci-fi youth drama featuring a variety of sophisticated mechanics, such as the "MOSPEADA" bike that can be used as a powered suit, and the "REGIOUS" combat mecha that can transform in three stages.

■Cast

・Ray/Naoo Oyama・Stick/Bin Shimada・Fouquet/Mika Doi・Mint/Miyuki Muroi・Yellow/Hiroshi Suzuoki, Mika Matsuki・Jim/Tomoaki Nishimura・Aisha/Miki Takahashi・Sorgy/Tomoko Kato, Waka Kanda・Butler/Yoshu Otsuka・Refress/Noriko Obara

■ Main staff

・Producer: Yoshida Kenji・Planning: Inoue Akira, Suzuki Toshimitsu・Music: Hisaishi Joe, Ogasawara Hiroshi・Series Composition: Tomita Sukehiro・Literary Director: Shoji Nahoko・Main Characters: Amano Yoshitaka・Mechanic Design: Aramaki Shinji, Kakinuma Hideki・Art Director: Sato Hiroaki・Animation Directors: Udagawa Kazuhiko, Arai Yutaka・Opening Animation: Kaneda Yoshinori・Mechanic Supervision: Kubota Masayoshi・Producers: Maeda Kazuya, Kimura Kyotaro, Iwata Hiroshi (episodes 1-5), Yui Masatoshi (episodes 4-25)
Chief Director: Katsuhisa Yamada Production: Fuji Television, Tatsunoko Productions, Anime Friend

■ Main Characters

A young soldier from Stick Mars Base. As a survivor of the second Earth landing force, he is heading for the Reflex Point.
Ray is a young man born on Earth. He has a carefree personality and although he clashes with Stick, who is his polar opposite, they become companions on the journey together.
A delinquent girl born on Earth. She runs away from home and travels with Stick and the others.
A survivor of the first Earth landing force on Yellow Mars Base. She disguised herself as a woman and became a singer, but decided to fight again.
Mint A girl born on Earth. She is traveling in search of her ideal lover.
A survivor of the first Earth landing force to the GM Mars Base. In charge of mecha maintenance.
A mysterious, unidentified girl that Aisha and her companions discover during their journey and decide to accompany them.

■Subtitle

Episode 1 / Prelude to the Attack Episode 2 / March of the Broken-Hearted Girl Episode 3 / High Noon Duel Concert Episode 4 / Mood for Survival Song Episode 5 / Live-In Heist Operation Episode 6 / Stubborn Girl Blues Episode 7 / Ragtime of the Dead Hero Episode 8 / Jonathan's Elegy Episode 9 / Lost World Fugue Episode 10 / Reclaim the Battlefield Episode 11 / Lullaby of Distant Hope Episode 12 / Fortress Breakthrough Boogie Episode 13 / Sandstorm Playback Episode 14 Mint's Wedding March Episode 15 Ballad of the Breakup Episode 16 Trap Reggae Episode 17 Midnight Sun Serenade Episode 18 Veteran Polka Episode 19 Glacial City Forte Episode 20 Night Sky Birthday Song Episode 21 Murderous Arpeggio Episode 22 NY Be-Bop Episode 23 Black Hair Partita Episode 24 Dark Finale Episode 25 Symphony of Light

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・In Search of the Lost Legend・Lyrics by Masayuki Ueno・Music by Yukihide Takekawa・Arrangement by Joe Hisaishi・Singer by Andy・Ending
Blue Rain Lyrics: Masayuki Ueno Music: Yukihide Takekawa Arrangement: Joe Hisaishi Singer: Mion Matsuki, Andy

The appeal and evaluation of MOSPEADA

MOSPEADA is a science fiction anime series produced by Tatsunoko Productions that aired from 1983 to 1984. This work is a road movie-style youth ensemble drama that depicts the journey of young people to reclaim the Earth that has been occupied by the alien life form Inbit, and is also known for its attractive mechanical design and music.

Story and Characters

The story begins in a Mars colony 30 years after Earth was attacked and occupied by Inbit in 2050. Stick is the only survivor of a failed attempt to recapture Earth from the Mars colony, and the story follows his journey to the Reflex Point on Earth with new companions. During his journey, Stick meets unique characters such as Ray, Fouquet, Mint, Yellow, Jim, and Aisha, all of whom were born on Earth, and grows as he fights alongside them.

The main character, Stick, is depicted as a young soldier from the Mars colony, a strong-willed character who is a survivor of the second Earth landing force and aims for the Reflex Point. Meanwhile, Ray is a young man born on Earth who is characterized by a carefree personality, and is the opposite of Stick, but they deepen their bond as they travel together. Fouquet is depicted as a delinquent girl who runs away from home and meets Stick and the others while traveling. Yellow is a character who disguises herself as a singer in drag, but decides to fight again, and Jim is a reliable presence in charge of mecha maintenance. Mint is a girl who travels in search of her ideal lover, and Aisha is depicted as a mysterious girl who is discovered during the journey.

Mechanic Design

One of the great attractions of Genesis Climber MOSPEADA is its mechanical design. In particular, the bike-type powered suit "MOSPEADA" incorporates the innovative idea of ​​transforming into a robot form during battle. The three-stage transforming combat mecha "Regios" is also impressive, and the talents of the mechanical designers Aramaki Shinji and Kakinuma Hideki shine in this work. These mechanics play an important role as the story progresses, and are elements that draw the viewer in.

music

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of Genesis Climber MOSPEADA. The opening theme "In Search of the Lost Legend" and the ending theme "Blue Rain" were written by Masayuki Ueno, composed by Yukihide Takekawa, and arranged by Joe Hisaishi, and the singing voices of Andy and Mion Matsuki add to the atmosphere of the work. Another distinctive feature is that the subtitles of each episode are named after a musical genre, making the work a perfect blend of music and story.

Evaluation and impact

Genesis Climber MOSPEADA has been highly praised since it was first broadcast, with particular attention being paid to its mechanical design and music. The series was later remade in America as "Robotech," and gained popularity overseas as well. It is also highly popular among fans in Japan, and the series is being reevaluated in various forms, including the release of DVDs and Blu-rays, and the sale of figures and models.

Recommended points

Genesis Climber MOSPEADA is recommended not only for sci-fi anime fans, but also for those interested in mechanical design and music. In particular, the designs of the motorcycle-type powered suit "MOSPEADA" and the three-stage transforming combat mecha "REGIOUS" are visually appealing and well worth seeing. Another unique feature is that the subtitles for each episode are named after a musical genre, allowing you to enjoy a work that combines music and story. Another appealing aspect of the series is that it is a youth ensemble drama that depicts the growth and deepening bonds of its unique characters.

summary

MOSPEADA is a science fiction anime series that depicts the journey of young people to reclaim the Earth that has been taken over by an alien lifeform. The story, woven together by the mechanical design, music, and unique characters, is full of charm that draws viewers in. In particular, the designs of the motorcycle-type powered suit "MOSPEADA" and the three-stage transforming combat mecha "REGIOUS" are must-sees, and the series can be enjoyed as a combination of music and story. This is a work that I would highly recommend to fans of science fiction anime and those interested in mechanical design and music.