Satoshi Chiba interview, 2023

There are many key names to know when reviewing the roster of major contributors to Armored Trooper Votoms, from Creator Ryosuke Takahashi to all the major staff members who worked with him. Then there are those we’re indebted to without even knowing it yet. You’re about to meet one of...

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Reference sketch gallery

Neither Jim nor I could afford a VCR in early 1983, so we banked on the kindness of our friend Steve Harrison, who DID have one and had recorded the TV series. One afternoon we went through them and Steve would hit pause and I sketched like crazy before any...

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Deform catalog 1

They’ve been branded by many names over the decades: Super Deformed, Robo-chan, Choro-Q, and others. Over time, the blanket term “deform” has settled in as a reference point. It’s a classification for representations of a character or mecha that in some way distorts the original image, usually for cute/comedic effect....

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Deform catalog 2

Bandai Converge figure series, 2016 Scopedog Turbo Custom Bloodsucker 6-type A.T. set 5PRO Studio Robonimo figure series, 2018 Scopedog with Chirico Scopedog, Melkia colors Scopedog with Round Mover Scopedog Red Shoulder Custom with Vanilla Scopedog Turbo Custom Brutishdog with Fyana Bloodsucker with Ypsilon ArtStorm/Beaver B2FIVE figure series, 2019 Scopedog with...

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Deform catalog 3

Kotobukiya D-Style model kits, 2014 Scopedog Turbo Custom, Sunsa War Chirico type Scopedog Turbo Custom, Sunsa War Gregor/Baiman/Muza type Burglarydog Scopedog Berkoff Squad type from Pailsen Files, with Pailsen figure Cavico Choypla Series model kits, 2020 Scopedog Scopedog in Melkia colors Scopedog Red Shoulder Custom Brutishdog Scopedog Rane Custom from...

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General products

When you think Votoms merch, the Armored Troopers jump right to the top as the most obvious products, whether they be toys or model kits. But there’s plenty more gas in the tank, as this wide variety of goods will demonstrate. All of these were released after the year 2000....

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Takara-Tomy products

When you give Armored Trooper Votoms more than a passing glance, you quickly find the Takara toy and hobby company built into its DNA. The concept itself originated as a joint production of Sunrise and Takara to generate toy and model kit sales. Takara released cutting-edge versions of both during...

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Modern garage kit catalog, Part 2

In Part 1, I began the thankless and impossible task of cataloging all the Votoms garage kits released since the year 2000. They’re presented alphabetically by company, and this part picks up with a company called Ocelot. This is still a constantly-growing body of work as new kits are released...

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Supreme Survivor graphic novel, 1997

In the year 1986, it was my dream to one day draw a for-real Armored Trooper Votoms comic book series. I developed one and put a lot of it on paper (see it here) before abandoning that dream as untenable. There just wasn’t a path to make it happen. Ten...

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