Armored Trooper Votoms

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Armored Trooper VOTOMS
Logo from show opening
Sōkō Kihei Botomuzu
(Armored Trooper VOTOMS)
Genre Action, Mecha, Science Fiction
TV anime
Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi
Studio Sunrise
Network TV Tokyo
Original run April 1, 1983 – March 23, 1984
No. of episodes 52
OVA: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Last Red Shoulder
Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi
Studio Sunrise
No. of episodes 1
Released August 21, 1985
OVA: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Big Battle
Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi
Studio Sunrise
No. of episodes 1
Released July 5, 1986
OVA: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition
Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi
Studio Sunrise
No. of episodes 1
Released March 19, 1988
OVA: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Shining Heresy
Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi
Studio Sunrise
No. of episodes 5
Released March 21, 1994-November 21, 1994

Armored Trooper Votoms (装甲騎兵ボトムズ Sōkō Kihei Botomuzu?) is a 52-episode anime television series, created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, aired in Japan from April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984 on TV Tokyo.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The series followed a main character named Chirico Cuvie (Kiriko Kyuubi), a former special forces Armored Trooper pilot and former member of the Red Shoulder Battalion, an elite mecha force used by the Gilgamesh Confederation in its war against the Balarant Union—both interstellar nations within the distant Astragius Galaxy. Gilgamesh and Balarant had until recently been locked in a century-old galactic war whose cause was long ago forgotten. Now, the war is ending and an uneasy truce has settled.

Chirico Cuvie is suddenly transferred to a unit engaged in a suspicious mission, unaware that he is aiding to steal secrets from what appears to be his own side. Chirico is betrayed and left behind to die, but he survives, is arrested by the Gilgamesh military as a traitor, and tortured for information on their homeworld. He escapes—triggering a pursuit extending across the entire series, with Chirico hunted by the army and criminals alike as he seeks the truth behind the operation. He is driven to discover the truth of one of the objects he was assigned to retrieve in that operation: a mysterious and beautiful woman who would become his sole clue to unraveling a galactic conspiracy.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Technology

VOTOMS main character Chirico Cuvie in AT-pilot battle attire
VOTOMS main character Chirico Cuvie in AT-pilot battle attire

Except for its starships and medical technology, the VOTOMS universe is fairly low-tech (and is often described as hard science). Soldiers and combat vehicles alike are equipped with missiles and projectile weapons; only large spaceships have energy weapons, and then only in small numbers. The main weapon of the conflict is the common Armored Trooper (also known as AT), a mass-produced humanoid combat vehicle piloted by a single soldier. They are also known alternately as VOTOMS (Vertical One-man Tank for Offense & ManeuverS).

The ATM-09-ST Scopedog, mainstay all-purpose unit of the Gilgamesh Confederation
The ATM-09-ST Scopedog, mainstay all-purpose unit of the Gilgamesh Confederation

ATs are rugged, simple machines equipped with one or two weapon systems, usually a light automatic cannon and a rocket or missile pod. They stand between three to four meters tall, with the pilot occupying most of the chest area and the head. Batteries are used to energize a special liquid in the limbs' "muscle cylinders" to emulate a range of human-like motion. ATs can be readily maintained in the field and can even be put together from spare parts using little more than a simple workshop.

[edit] Trivia

  • VOTOMS was a direct inspiration for the Heavy Gear role-playing game. VOTOMS has its own official role-playing game, developed by R. Talsorian Games and using the Fuzion system.
  • Ryosuke Takahashi had reported that he will be producing a remake of "VOTOMS" for broadcast in 2007.

[edit] Computer Gaming

VOTOMS has had several outings on many different video-game platforms. All these games were only released in Japan.

  • X68000: Dead Ash
  • PC8801: Black Unicorn
  • PC-9801: Votoms: The Real Battle
  • Super Famicom: Votoms - The Battling Road
  • PlayStation: Blue Sabre Knights
  • PlayStation: Armored Trooper Votoms - Uoodo and Kummen
  • PlayStation: Brave Saga
  • PlayStation: Armored Trooper Votoms Lightning Slash
  • PlayStation: Armored Trooper Votoms Steel Force
  • PlayStation: Brave Saga 2
  • Dreamcast: Sunrise Eiyuutan
  • PlayStation 2: Sunrise Eiyuutan 2
  • WonderSwan: Harobots
  • Game Boy Color: GB Harobots
  • Game Boy Color: Brave Saga Shinsou Astaria

For a limited time the Armored Trooper Votoms - Uoodo and Kummen game included a Red Shoulder Custom model. Chirico also figures in the Sunrise Eiyuutan (Sunrise Heroes) game for the PlayStation 2. A PlayStation 2 VOTOMS game was planned for the 20th anniversary of the series but was eventually cancelled despite screen captures that showed promise.

[edit] Spin-Offs

  • Armor Hunter Mellowlink, a 12-episode OVA series set in the same universe, but with a different story and characters.

[edit] Related links

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