Armor Hunter Merowlink
Ryosuke Takahashi interviews

By the time Armored Trooper Votoms finished its first broadcast in Spring 1984, the momentum already existed to expand it beyond its initial framework. The setting was a huge, sprawling galaxy with any number of stories to be told. The first animated spinoff appeared in 1985 to take full advantage...

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Armored Trooper Votoms music catalog

The “main man” of Votoms music was Hiroki Inui. Born in 1949, he graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and was an arranger and keyboard player since the 1970s. He was also active in the field of broadcast music for television and radio dramas. Votoms was...

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Designer interviews, 1997

Both of these interviews were recorded during a Votoms event held at Sunrise Studio on November 14, 1997 Character Designer Norio Shioyama It was a difficult character whose subtle nuances varied depending on my physical condition that day Interviewer: What kind of orders did the director give you? Shioyama: At...

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Chaser Platoon design gallery 3

Conceptual sketches for cover art This one made it to the “finalist” category for the first issue’s cover, so I built it up. Penciled version, July 1990 Steve Krueger’s painted version, 1990. I’m pretty sure it was rejected because the color style didn’t match the publishing standards. “Finalist” for the...

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Votoms Bibliography, Part 3

The publications in this set represent a lot of dedicated digging, a lot of lucky discoveries, and a lot of patience. Some took years to track down while others just fell into my lap when I took the right turn on the right day. For each one, I have to...

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Takara box art, 1983-84

Unless otherwise credited, all art is by Rokuro Shiratori Masanori Onoue Masanori Onoue Shin Ueda Masanori Onoue Shin Ueda Shin Ueda, 1997 Shin Ueda, 1997 Artist unknown Artist unknown Bonus By Rokuro Shiratori for Dual Magazine Masanori Onoue Garage kit released by Lark Back to the Hub

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1985 side story by Ryosuke Takahashi

An amazing book was published in 1985 by the makers of the fan-run anime magazine OUT. It was titled Votoms Odyssey, and it dramatically expanded the world beyond the scope of anime. It coincided with the release of The Last Red Shoulder, which was the first OAV to expand on...

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V hub 2 temp

I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in my various exploits, capers, thrills and spills as an anime fan. I found my top two favorites early on and made them a part of my life in ways few others did. Those two favorites are Space Battleship Yamato and Armored Trooper Votoms. In both...

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