Armored Trooper Votoms Red Shoulder Document: The Roots of Ambition - In-Depth Review

"Armored Trooper Votoms: Red Shoulder Document: The Roots of Ambition": Kiriko's past and the secrets of the Red Shoulders

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

March 19, 1988

■Release and sales

Toshiba video software

■Frequencies

60 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Original story by Hajime Yatate, original story by Ryosuke Takahashi

■ Director

Director: Ryosuke Takahashi

■ Production

Sunrise

■Works

©Sunrise

■ Story

The Red Shoulders are a mysterious special forces unit whose full details are not even revealed to their allies. Kiriko Cuby is transferred to their home planet, Odon. However, it is a strange planet that is only called a base, and forces the people to fight for survival. On this eerie planet, Kiriko tries to recover her lost past, but...

■Explanation

This is a story that depicts the story of the main character, Kiriko, before the TV series. The story revolves around the obsession with Kiriko (a supernatural being), an immortal warrior, discovered by Pailsen, the founder of the special forces Red Shoulders, who appeared in the OVA "Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder," and part of Kiriko's secret is revealed.

■Cast

Kiriko, Hozumi Goda, Gregor, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Byman, Kaneto Shiozawa, Moosa, Ryusei Nakao, Carson, Taku Takemura, Lehman, Masaru Ikeda, Mackay, Arno Tahara, Nehalko, Takeshi Watanabe, Larkinson, Masaaki Tsukada, Pailsen, Norio Otsuka

■ Main staff

・ Original story/Hajime Yatate
・Original story by Ryosuke Takahashi ・Screenplay by Soji Yoshikawa ・Character design by Norio Shioyama ・Mechanical design by Kunio Okawara ・Art by Kazuo Okada and Mitsuharu Miyamae ・Chief animation director by Norio Shioyama ・Editing by Tsurubuchi Films ・Sound by Yasuo Urakami ・Music by Hiroki Inui
・Director: Takashi Imanishi ・Director: Ryosuke Takahashi ・Producer: Toru Hasegawa

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and production of the work

"Armored Trooper Votoms: Red Shoulder Document - The Roots of Ambition" was released as an OVA in 1988 and is a prequel to the TV series "Armored Trooper Votoms". Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi and produced by Sunrise, it was made by the main staff of the Votoms series. This work is an important episode that adds depth to the entire series by delving into the past of the main character Kiriko Cuby and depicting the ambitions of Pailsen, the founder of the special forces Red Shoulders, and Kiriko's secrets.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of this work begins when Kiriko is transferred to the planet Odon, home of the Red Shoulders. Planet Odon is a strange environment where a harsh struggle for survival unfolds, and Kiriko explores his own past in the midst of it. The story revolves around Pailsen's abnormal obsession with Kiriko and Kiriko's own secret as a supernatural being. This setting not only deeply moves and excites the viewers, but also serves as an important key to unraveling the mystery of the entire series.

■Charm of the characters

Kiriko Cuby is a character in which Goda Hozumi's performance as a voice actor shines. As his past and secrets are revealed, viewers empathize with his suffering and growth, drawing them into the story. Also not to be missed is Otsuka Norio's profound performance as Pailsen. Pailsen's madness and ambition are portrayed realistically by Otsuka's voice, adding depth to the story. Other unique characters, such as Kobayashi Kiyoshi as Gregor and Shiozawa Kaneto as Byman, add excitement to the story.

■Mechanic Design

The mechanical design was done by Kunio Okawara, and the AT (Armored Trooper) design, which is a symbol of the VOTOMS series, is beautifully drawn. The Red Shoulder AT in particular has a distinctive design and coloring that sets it apart from other units, making for a visually striking effect. Another highlight is the depiction of the AT adapting to the harsh environment of planet Odon, making this a must-see for mecha fans.

■Music and Sound

The music is by Hiroki Inui, and the background music, which matches the tense battle scenes and the scenes depicting Kiriko's inner thoughts, adds excitement to the story. In particular, the music, which creates the eerie atmosphere of the planet Odon, has the power to draw the viewer into the world of the story. Additionally, the sound effects by sound director Yasuo Urakami and the performances by the voice actors are also important elements that enhance the realism of the work.

■Video and Production

Directed by Takashi Imanishi, his skill in effectively depicting the story in the short 60-minute time frame is outstanding. In particular, the scenes depicting the bizarre environment of the planet Odon and the confrontation scene between Kiriko and Pailsen are visually impactful and tense. Furthermore, the character design by animation director Norio Shioyama also succeeds in portraying Kiriko's inner thoughts through his expressions and movements.

■ Recommendation points

"Armored Trooper Votoms: Red Shoulder Document - Roots of Ambition" is a must-see for fans of the Votoms series. By revealing the secrets of Kiriko's past and the Red Shoulders, viewers will not only gain a deeper understanding of the series as a whole, but will also be deeply moved and excited by it. In addition, the mechanical design, music, sound, visuals and direction are all of a high standard, bringing out the maximum appeal within the OVA format. In particular, the story depicting Kiriko's growth and Pailsen's madness will leave a strong impression on viewers.

■ Related works and viewing order

This work is a prequel to the TV series "Armored Trooper Votoms," so to enjoy the whole series, we recommend watching the TV series first. In particular, watching it together with the OVA "Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder" will give you a deeper understanding of the story of Red Shoulder and Kiriko. Also, be sure to check out the other OVAs and movies in the series, as they are important episodes depicting Kiriko's adventures and growth.

■ Summary

"Armored Trooper Votoms: Red Shoulder Document - Roots of Ambition" is an important work that adds depth to the entire series by depicting Kiriko's past and the secrets of the Red Shoulders. The appeal of the story, the appeal of the characters, the mechanical design, the music and sound, the visuals and direction are all of a high standard, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. This work is highly recommended not only for fans of the Votoms series, but also for viewers who want to enjoy mechanical action and a deep story.