Armored Mecha Votoms Udo's Appeal and Evaluation: In-Depth Review

"Armored Mecha Votoms Udo": A record of a battle engulfed in blood and gunpowder

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

February 21, 1986

■Release and sales

Toshiba video software

■Frequencies

55 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Original story by Hajime Yatate, original story by Ryosuke Takahashi

■ Director

Director: Ryosuke Takahashi

■ Production

Japan Sunrise

■Works

©Sunrise

■ Story

After witnessing a woman known as the "Base Body," a top-secret military secret, Kiriko Cuby is pursued by the Melchia Army. After the war, Kiriko reunites with the Base Body in the city of Udo, and is targeted by the secret society that is hiding behind her. This is the start of a battle that plunges the city of Udo into a storm of blood and gunpowder.

■Explanation

This is a compilation of episodes 1 to 13 of the TV series. Unlike the video series of other works released previously, this is a compilation of each part, such as the "Udo" and "Kumen" chapters. This makes the story more dense and makes it a more worthwhile watch.

■Cast

・Kiriko/Hozumi Goda・Gouto/Kosei Tomita・Vanilla/Shigeru Chiba・Cocona/Yoko Kawanami・Isukui/Yusaku Yara・Borrow/Kenichi Ogata・Rocchina/Banjō Ginga・Fianna/Kazuko Yanagida・Boon/Tetsuaki Genda・Zulu/Tetsuo Mizutori・Lape/Kazunari Futamata・Shepherd/Daisuke Gori・Bomo/Kento Shiozawa

■ Main staff

・Planning and production: Nippon Sunrise ・Original concept: Yatate Hajime ・Character design: Shioyama Norio ・Mechanical design: Okawara Kunio ・Art: Tojo Toshihisa, Okada Kazuo, Nakayama Masuo, Miyamae Mitsuharu ・Chief animation director: Shioyama Norio ・Editing: Tsurubuchi Films ・Sound director: Urakami Yasuo ・Music: Inui Hiroki ・Chief director: Takizawa Toshifumi ・Original story and director: Takahashi Ryosuke ・Producer: Hasegawa Toru

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and creative intent of the work

"Armored Machine Soldier Votoms Udo" was released as an OVA in 1986, and is a compilation of episodes 1-13 of the TV series. The OVA media format was a new attempt at the time, and was adopted as a way to allow viewers to enjoy the story from a new perspective. To further deepen the dense story of the TV series, director Ryosuke Takahashi divided each episode into an "Udo Arc" or "Kumen Arc," aiming to make it easier for viewers to understand the flow of the story. This work is designed to allow viewers to reevaluate existing episodes and enjoy them from a new perspective.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Armored Mecha Votoms Udo" begins when Kiriko Cuby witnesses a woman known as the "Sotai," a top-secret military secret. This event changes Kiriko's fate drastically, and he becomes pursued by the Melquia Army. When he reunites with Sotai in the town of Udo after the war, he also becomes the target of the secret society hiding behind her, and the town of Udo is engulfed in a storm of blood and gunpowder. This story depicts the cruelty of war and the human survival instinct, as well as betrayal and friendship, and deeply moves viewers. In particular, the process of Kiriko's character growth, the difficulties he faces, and the strength with which he overcomes them leave a strong impression on viewers.

■Charm of the characters

Kiriko Cuby, the main character of this work, is played by Hozumi Goda, whose acting skills as a voice actor bring out the charm of the character. Kiriko is depicted as never giving up and fighting alongside her friends, even in the face of difficult situations. Other characters, such as Kousei Tomita as Goto and Shigeru Chiba as Vanilla, also have distinctive personalities that add excitement to the story. In particular, Yoko Kawanami's performance as the base body exudes a mysterious aura, while realistically expressing her inner conflict, deeply moving viewers.

■ The appeal of video and music

The visuals of "Armored Mecha Votoms Udo" are supported by the character designs of Shioyama Norio and the mechanical designs of Okawara Kunio. In particular, the AT (Armored Trooper) designs are realistic and sophisticated, enhancing the power of the battle scenes. Additionally, Inui Hiroki's music effectively conveys the tension and excitement of the story, stirring the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the background music during battle scenes has the power to draw the viewer into the world of the story.

■ Work evaluation and recommendation

"Armored Mecha Votoms Udo" is a compilation of the TV series, but it allows viewers to enjoy the story from a new perspective. In particular, the story, which depicts the cruelty of war and the human instinct for survival, deeply moves viewers. Also, do not miss the character growth and individuality, as well as the appeal of the visuals and music. This work is highly recommended not only for those who are already fans of "Armored Mecha Votoms", but also for those who are experiencing it for the first time. It is a must-see, especially for those who like realistic robot anime and war dramas.

■ Related works and recommendations

If you enjoyed "Armored Mecha Votoms Udo," we also recommend the following related works:

1. "Armored Soldier Votoms" TV series

This is the TV series that is the origin of "Armored Mecha Votoms Udo." This work, consisting of 52 episodes, is a magnificent story depicting the adventures and growth of Kiriko Cuby. In particular, it focuses on the realism of war and the human drama of the characters, deeply moving the viewers.

2. "Armored Soldier Votoms: The Pailsen Files"

This OVA series is the sequel to "Armored Machine Soldier Votoms". It depicts the new adventures and battles of Kiriko Cuby, giving viewers a chance to enjoy the story from a new perspective. In particular, it depicts the process of unraveling the mystery of the Pailsen Files and Kiriko's growth, leaving viewers with a deep impression.

3. "Armored Mecha Votoms: Phantom Arc"

It is a spin-off of "Armored Machine Soldier Votoms" and tells the story of Kiriko Cuby's past. In particular, it depicts Kiriko's childhood and the process of how he became an AT pilot, giving viewers a chance to understand the character from a new perspective. In addition, the story of the Phantom Arc depicts the cruelty of war and the human survival instinct, deeply moving viewers.

■ Summary

"Armored Mecha Votoms Udo" is a compilation of the TV series, but it allows viewers to enjoy the story from a new perspective. In particular, the story, which depicts the cruelty of war and the human instinct for survival, deeply moves viewers. Also, the character growth and individuality, as well as the appeal of the visuals and music, are not to be missed. This work is highly recommended not only for those who are already fans of "Armored Mecha Votoms", but also for those who are experiencing it for the first time. It is a must-see, especially for those who like realistic robot anime and war dramas. By enjoying the related works, you will be able to understand the world of "Armored Mecha Votoms" more deeply.