“Armored Trooper VOTOMS – The Complete 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. But for anyone mecha fan who wants to watch this series, this complete collection is too awesome too pass up!
Image courtesy of © Sunrise. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Armored Trooper Votoms Complete Collection
SERIES AIRDATE: 1983-2011
DURATION: 2515 Minutes – 52 Episodes + 6 compilation movies, SD OVA’s: Last Red Shoulder, Big Battle Origin of Ambition, Brilliant Shining Hersey (episodes 1-5), Pailsen Files (Episodes 1-12), Genei ~Phantom Arc (OVA Episodes 1-6), Irvine, Votoms Finder & Chirico’s Return.
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: August 11, 2020
Original Series:
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):
Original Series:
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
This complete collection also includes the Recap Compilations (x6), SD OVA’s: Last Red Shoulder, Big Battle, Origin of Ambition, Brilliantly Shining Hersey (Eps. 1-5), & Pailsen Files (Eps. 1-12). As well as HD OVA’s: Genei ~ Phantom Arc (Eps. 1-6), Case; IRVINE, VOTOMS FINDER, & Chirico’s Return.
The acronym stands for Vertical One-man Tanks for Offense & ManeuverS, but don’t let the “Tank” part of the name VOTOMS fool you. Lightly armored, cheaply produced and powered by an explosive fuel mixture, these one-man power-suit systems are walking deathtraps, and only a fraction of the soldiers who dare to venture into combat inside one will survive their full deployment.
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 (which would be released from 1985-2011). A spinoff 12-OVA episode series ttiled “Armor Hunter Mellowlink” was released in 1988 (Note: The spin-off is not included in this set).
This is possibly one of the largest classic mecha collections I have seen released in the US for an amazing price. What’s fascinating is that the series was released as two different sets in 2019 and here we are in 2020 and both sets are now offered as one ultimate collection.
Before I begin my review, there are a few things that is important to emphasize. A) Do not compare this with Mobile Suit Gundam B) Do not get too hooked with the characters that you watch because this anime series depicts the fragilty of war and it doesn’t matter who the characters are or their importance to the series, war is war and people die, whether or not they are popular or not. People die in war and “Armored Trooper Votoms” is an anime series that spares no punches.
What is “Armored Trooper Votoms”?
The original 52-episode series (1983-1984) 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.
In 1985, a 50-minute OVA titled “Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Last Red Shoulder” would be released and it takes place after the “Woodoo” storyline (first film) and is about Chirico Cuvie meeting with friends from his old military unit and their plans to get revenge on General Pailsen.
In 1986, a one hour OVA titled “The Big Battle” was released and features Chirico Cuvie and friends participating in a mecha gladiator match.
In 1988, a one hour OVA titled “Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Origin of Ambition” is a prequel to the main series and focuses on Chirico Cuvie and his time as a member of the Red Shoulder elite military unit and his encounter with General Pailsen.
When it was thought that “Armored Trooper VOTOMS” was over, a new OVA series featuring five episodes would be released six years later titled “Shining Heresy” (1994) and is the sequel to the TV series. Chirico Cuvie who was in a cryosleep is awakened and sets out to find what happened to Fyana and why she has disappeared.
Once again ,there would be no “Amored Trooper VOTOMS” series for almost 14 years until the release of “Armored Trooper Votoms: Pailsen Files”, a 12-episode OVA series (2007-2008) and is considered a prequel to the main series and a sequel to “Origin of Ambition”.
Two years later, “Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Genei – Phantom Arc” would be released and is a six episode OVA series released from March to October 2010. It is considered as a sequel to the original TV series and “Shinin Heresy”. The series revolves around married couple, Vanilla and Cocona Varta as they revisit the adventures they went through with Chirico.
In November 2010, “Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Case;Irvine”, a single OVA featuring Irvine Lester (who repairs tank-like robotic AT’s).
In December 2010, “Votoms Finder”, an alternate universe OVA revolving around Tesuno Aki (a Bottoms guard for scrap salvagers) was released. Tesuno is asked from a man from uptown city to rescue a kidnapped girl.
And in 2011, “Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Alone Again”, which is a 50-minute OVA and a sequel to “Shining Heresy” and prequel to “Genei ~ Phantom Arc” and revolves around Chirico Cuvie visiting a town and meets Gotho and his buddies for the first time in 32 years.
VIDEO:
“Armored Trooper Votoms – Complete Collection” is presented in various formats. The original series 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 from the TV episodes edited to create six animated films. There is nothing significant in terms of quality differences from the series and animated films.
Of course, as one can imagine, the more modern the anime series, the better they look and the more recent VOTOMS releases are in HD (1080p High Definition)
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Armored Trooper Votoms – Complete Collection” is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 2.0. While the more modern series are presented in Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1. Dialogue and music are presented crystal clear through the front channels and English subtitles are easy to read.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Armored Trooper Votoms – Complete 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 2019-2020 and this time around, I gave myself time to watch the series, the films 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 the original series is 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.
As you get to the the more recent series, these episodes are in HD and are vibrant in 1080p High Definition. But at the same time, most fans of the series are probably going to be clamoring for the old school cel animation but overall, you are getting the best versions of the series, films and OVA episodes to date.
It’s been almost a decade since anything new for VOTOMS was released and these episodes are no doubt to keep the “Armored Trooper VOTOMS” relevant, as Gundam has successfully accomplished. Votoms may not have the fan-base like “Gundam”, but there is a following and there are fans who clamor for old school anime series and “Armored Trooper VOTOMS – The Complete Collection” is no doubt one of the best collections I have seen released for the price (to be fair, Maiden Japan also released the equally phenomenally priced “Mobile Suit Patlabor” set for a great price as well!).
In Japan, in August 2020, a new novel to be released at the end of September was announced titled “Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Child God’s Child” and takes place ten years after the OVA “Amored Trooper VOTOMS: Genei – Phantom Arc” and focuses on the adventures of Chirico and a child entrusted to him by the Wiseman. So, that gives hope that after this novel is done, there are more stories for “Armored Trooper VOTOMS”, the only thing, where “Gundam” tends to have new series for every generation to enjoy, “Armored Trooper VOTOMS” is a series that tends to focus on the adventures of Chirico and those who grew up with the series are a much older demographic. But the only thing that will keep this series alive are old school anime fans, mecha fans or mecha SRPG fans and for those who are interested or curious in the series.
Personally, it’s great to see this long-standing series continue to be released, but even more impressive that Maiden Japan has released the anime series from 1983-2011 in one collection that is not just affordable but for the price, it’s insanely cheaper (just to think that people paid an arm and leg back then for LD’s that featured only a few episodes).
Overall, “Armored Trooper VOTOMS – The Complete 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. But for anyone mecha fan who wants to watch this series, this complete collection is too awesome too pass up!
For the price and the amount of content, “Armored Trooper VOTOMS – The Complete Collection” is highly recommended!
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