Anime Reviews (The '80s): Armored Trooper Votoms - TV Collection (a Neo-Tokyo Anime on Blu-ray Review) (1983-1984)

If you are looking for a classic sci-fi war/mecha anime series, then definitely give “Armored Trooper Votoms – TV Collection” a try!

TITLE: Armored Trooper Votoms – TV Collection

SERIES AIRDATE: 1983-1984

DURATION: 52 Episodes + 6 compilation movies

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 480p Standard Definition (4×3), Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Maiden Japan

RATED: TV MA VS

Release Date:March 12, 2019

Originally Created by Yatate Hajime, Takahashi Ryousuke

Chief Animation Director: Shioyama Norio

Music by Inui Hiroki

Character Design by Shioyama Norio

Art Director: Tojo Toshihisa

Mechanical Design: Okawara Kunio

Anime Production: Nippon Sunrise, Sunrise

Featuring the following voice talent (first name, family name):

Hozumi Gōda as Chirico Cuvie

Banjou Ginga as Cap. Jean-Paul Rochina

Issei Masamune as Ru Shako

Kazuko Yanaga as Fyana

Kousei Tomita as Bouleuse Gotho

Kyonosuke Kami as Ypsilon

Shigeru Chiba as Vanilla Vartla

Yōko Kawanami as Coconna

Akio Nojima as Aaron Schmittel

Banjou Ginga as Narration

Daisuke Gouri as Bully Kiderra

VOTOMS (Vertical One-man Tanks for Offense & ManeuverS) units are light and maneuverable on the battlefield, but in the hundred-year war between Gilgamesh and Balarant, they’ve essentially become expendable cannon fodder and pawns to be sacrificed.

The right pawn in the right place can change the course of the game forever, and when VOTOMS pilot Chirico Cuvie is mysteriously transferred from his elite unit to a top secret mission behind his own side’s lines, he quickly learns that something is very wrong. Betrayed and branded a traitor, Chirico finds himself on the run from both sides as he seeks to unravel the truth behind the conspiracy and learn the secret behind the beautiful woman who seems to hold the key.

Back in 1983, a military sci-fi mecha anime series titled “Soko Kihei Votoms” (Armored Trooper VOTOMS) aired on television.

Created by Takahashi Ryosuke (“Silent Service”, “Panzer World Galient”, “Gasaraki”), Yatate Hajime (“Accel World”, “Aura Battler Dunbine”, “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion”, “Cowboy Bebop”) and Sunrise, the anime series would feature mechanical designs by Okawara Kunio (“Gundam Build Fighters”, “Gravion”, many “Mobile Suit Gundam” series), “Yatterman”).

The series would last through 1984 with a total of 52 episodes created, six compilation films and nine OVA series (from 1985-2011).

And now the anime series and films and the OVA’s will be released on Blu-ray in North America courtesy of Maiden Japan.

The original series takes place during a time when the Gilgamesh and Balarant nations have been in a century-old galactic war and the cause of the war has been long forgotten. While the war is now heading towards the end thanks to an uneasy truce.

But the main weapon utilized in the war is Armored Troopers and their pilots, who are known as VOTOMS (Vertical One-Man Tank for Offensive Maneuvers).

The pilots have a low percentage of surviving because the Armored Troopers have thin armor and utilize a highly combustible liquid for its artificial muscle and so they are called “Bottoms”.

The series introduces viewers to Chirico Cuvie, a special forces Armored Trooper and former member of the Red Shoulder Battalion, as part of the Gilgamesh Confederation’s elite force.

Chirico is part of a suspicious mission, unaware that he is aiding to steal secrets from the Gilgamesh Confederation. While on a mission, he opens a capsule he is transporting and discovers a mysterious, naked woman. Who is she? What is she?

He is branded by the military as a traitor and is tortured and left to die in a cell but he manages to escape and the focus of the series is the Gilgamesh Confederation pursuing him.

He manages to join forces with Boleuse Gotho (a salvager and arms dealer), Vanilla Vartia (An excellent pilot) and Coconna (A fiery woman who always razzes her teammates).

As for the six films (Woodo, Kummen, Sunsa, Quent, Stories of the “A.T. Votoms”, “Highlights from the “A.T. Votoms”) are included, the films are compilations of the episodes edited to make up six films.

VIDEO:

“Armored Trooper Votoms – TV Collection” is presented in 480p Standard Definition. Of the classic anime series on Blu-ray, it’s not the best looking anime series from the ’80s to be released. The anime does look its age but by no means does it distract one from not enjoying the anime series.

As for the films, they are episodes edited to create six animated films. There is nothing significant in terms of quality differences from the series and animated films.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Armored Trooper Votoms – TV Collection” is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 2.0. Dialogue and music are presented crystal clear through the front channels and English subtitles are easy to read.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Armored Trooper Votoms – TV Collection” comes with no special features.

Back in 1981, a few years before “Armored Trooper Votoms”, Takahashi Ryosuke and Sunrise met success with their 75-episode anime series “Taiyo no Kiba Daguramu” (Fang of the Sun Dougram).

Takahashi explored war focusing on guerilla freedom fighters and was praised for its realistic take on military tactics.

For “Armored Trooper Votoms”, Takahashi and Sunrise’s next animated series, Takahashi explored hard science for a mecha anime series.

Whereas “Fang of the Sun Dougram” spanned 75-episode anime series (a documentary film as also made), “Armored Trooper Votoms” is 52-episodes long (plus six compilation films featuring episodes edited to make one film) plus nine OVA’s.

I have watched “Armored Trooper Votoms” in the past. In fact, I watched it in Japanese and I don’t think I would have gotten far without an old fan guide published by Tim Eldred back in the day titled “Votoms Viewers’ Guide”. Because despite my knowledge of Japanese, I had difficulty understanding the series because it’s a very smart anime series.

Takahashi Ryousuke has a way with characters, and in this case, you have the stoic Chirico, the elder Bouleuse, the hot tempered but yet crazy Vanilla and the fiery (and often whining) Coconna. It’s an interesting dynamic that no doubt fits the time period and the way of storytelling for sci-fi adventures of the ’80s.

But is it good? Do I classify this as one of my favorite ’80s sci-fi anime series? To be truthful, there were a lot of awesome anime that came out in the ’80s and when it came to sci-fi mecha anime series, the ’70s and ’80s provided us with a lot of sci-fi and mecha entertainment.

I grew up watching “Gatchaman”, “Gundam”, “Patlabor”, “Macross”, “Appleseed”,”Gunbuster” and personally, I felt those were anime series that stood out for me growing up.

While ” “Crusher Joe”, “Odin: Photo Sailer Starlight”, “Black Magic M-66” and “The Five Star Stories” were beloved anime that many of my friends enjoyed but yet, I wasn’t able to get into “Armored Trooper Votoms” like a few people at the time.

Granted, at the time, I went off Japanese episodes with English synopsis, later watching it on DVD but not completely, and to be truthful, as I have had it on my backlog of anime I purchased on DVD many years ago, I still haven’t given the time to watch it completely.

Fastforward to 2019 and this time around, I gave myself time to watch the series and the OVA’s and for the most part, I felt the series was good, not great, nor did I find it excellent. There are some character directions that I didn’t feel was necessary but it’s all subjective. And while I was entertained, I was not going crazy over it. I didn’t feel the “I want to watch Votoms again!” type of vibe and perhaps I have been spoiled by watching so many “Gundam” series or perhaps I found certain characters irritating.

With that being said, I appreciated Takahashi Ryousuke’s and Sunrise’s work a lot more than I did back then. I didn’t realize how much they devoted the animation to actual combat. And the more I watch older Sunrise animated series, I start to appreciate the role of animators using cels back in the day and what they had to accomplish.

I do recommend watching the series first and then the OVA’s last. I felt more appreciation towards the series that way, than if I watched things in chronological order.

As for the Blu-ray release, it’s important to note that this is a 480p standard definition release, not high definition. That’s important for those who are going to expect this series to look pristine and gorgeous. It’s not. The anime does show its age but considering you are get 52 episodes plus six films in one collection, personally that’s a steal. Considering how much the series was when it was released on DVD from Central Park Media back in the mid-2000s.

Overall, “Armored Trooper Votoms – TV Collection” is a wonderful Blu-ray release. For one, I applaud Sentai Filmworks/Maiden Japan for their continued efforts of releasing classic anime on Blu-ray and for the most part, full collections for an affordable price.

If you are looking for a classic sci-fi war/mecha anime series, then definitely give “Armored Trooper Votoms – TV Collection” a try!