Armor Hunter Merowlink merch catalog
The merchandising for Merowlink isn’t as extensive as we might all like it to be. The series presented us with at least as many A.T. variants as any Votoms story that followed in its wake, but not a single one got turned into a standard model kit or even a figure. Nevertheless, if you’re prepared to go digging, there’s treasure to find. Below is everything I’ve managed to excavate since the debut in 1988.
Incidentally, the title Leechers Army Merowlink turns up far more often than the properly-translated Armor Hunter Merowlink. It has never been explained in official materials, but one interpretation is that Armor Hunters live off the blood of their prey like leeches. And with that pleasant thought out of the way, let’s get started…
VIDEO
Complete Stage File (LD box set), March 1995
This is still the most comprehensive and extravagant Merowlink product you can get with its large-format packaging, the only dedicated book for the series, and two soundtrack CDs. Video extras included creditless OP and ED titles and music videos for both songs.
See a photo gallery of the contents here
See the music video for Soldier Blue here and Vanity here
See the creditless OP title here and ED title here
Stage Completes (DVD box set), December 2006
It’s a step down from the LD set, but still a nice package on its own with updated materials. It has the same video extras as the LD set, all in standard definition.
Two booklets were included. Left: Liner notes book (color, 48 pages) containing episode guides and staff/cast interviews. Right: Defenseless City script book (B&W, 28 pages), containing Hiroshi Yamaguchi’s script for the Kiek Karadyne spinoff manga (seen farther down the page).
Also included in this set was an Ality Merowlink Microman action figure (seen farther down the page).
Perfect Soldier Blu-ray box
Bandai Namco, February 2021
This omnibus release of the entire Votoms catalog included all of Merowlink (upgraded for Blu-ray) and a copy of the first Music Collection CD (without OP and ED titles).
Order it from Amazon.co.jp here
MUSIC
Soldier Blue / Vanity 45 single
VAP, Nov 1988
The OP and ED themes were the first music release for the series. Soldier Blue was performed by Niro Sakai, and Vanity by the pop group Marquees.
Hear the full version of Soldier Blue here
Hear the full version of Vanity here
Soldier Blue / Vanity CD single
VAP, Nov 1988
Music Collection CD
VAP, Jan 1989
This was the soundtrack album for the series, released at roughly the halfway point. It included full versions of both Soldier Blue and Vanity.
Music File CDs, 1995
These discs were bundled with the Complete Stage File LD box and doubled the content of the first CD. Music File 01 overlaps almost entirely with the 1989 Music Collection, and 02 is almost entirely new material.
Listen to File 01 here and File 02 here.
Liner notes from the LD booklet:
SOUND TRACK EXPLANATION
The Complete Stage File includes a 2-CD set entitled “Music File.” These two CDs contain all the BGM and vocal tracks composed for Armor Hunter Merowlink. We hope that fans will enjoy the sound of Hiroki Inui’s music to the last detail.
The music collection of Merowlink was released on January 21, 1989 by Vap Inc. The compositions on that album were well received by fans at that time, so the structure of this album is basically the same. Music File 01 contains all the tracks from the first release, and 02 contains the tracks that were not included.
The soundtrack of Merowlink was composed by Hiroki Inui, a well-known composer of Ryosuke Takahashi’s works. In addition to Merowlink, Inui has also worked on the Votoms series, SPT Layzner, and other works by Ryosuke Takahashi.
Each of his works has a jazzy style, which is rare in anime music, and cool scenery that contributed greatly to the success of these works. I am certain all you fans know that this has been carried over to Merowlink.
Personally, the soundtracks of Mr. Inui are always attractive to me because of their instrumental theme songs. (The effective use of the theme song in the work is not to be ignored!) The soundtracks for a series of works are usually composed and recorded at the initial stage. Therefore, there is often a large gap between the motifs at the time of composition and when they are actually used in the work. (This is one of the charms of soundtracks…)
Sidebar: MARQUEES
If, like me, you’re obsessed with the ED theme Vanity, you may have wondered if the group that performed it has done anything comparable. While putting this page together I finally investigated that for myself and pulled together the complete discography, shown above: Marquee (VAP, 1989), On the Fence (VAP, 1990), and Marquees for Sale (Toy’s Factory, 1991). As with other bands I’ve looked into, their one anime theme turned out NOT to be typical of their catalog, which is mainly up-tempo, energetic, and riffy. It’s catchy and fun, but Vanity is a standout rather than a sampler.
ACTION FIGURE
1/18 Microman figure
Two versions of an Ality Merowlink Microman figure were released by Takara. This figure-only version was bundled with the DVD box set in December 2006…
…and this expanded edition came out in January 2007 as the “Micro Action Plus 02” set.
All Microman figures are insanely posable (to a degree at which the joints eventually lose tension, alas) with plenty of option parts. Merowlink came with two different heads, several sets of hands, and his trusty Anti-AT rifle.
But the most impressive bonus item was his beautifully-crafted “military bike” with spinning wheels and removable parts.
See an unboxing video here
MODELS
Merowlink has no mass-market plastic models to speak of, but when big companies leave a gap, garage kit makers usually rush in to fill it. One such company named R.C. Berg released five different part sets that can be used to modify their 1/20 Scopedog “21C” model into variations seen in Merowlink.
TK-01 1/20 Bounty Dog
TK-02 1/20 Fox Special
Wave also released a Fox Special at 1/35 scale; see video coverage here and here
TK-03 1/20 Ganard Custom
TK-04 1/20 Docman Custom
TK-05 1/20 Light Scopedog, Numerikov type
Another company that releases garage kits at 1/20 scale is Project Hurricane. Here are the Merowlink kits in their prodigious lineup…
1/20 Docman Custom
1/20 Fox Special
1/20 Cossack Dog
1/20 Bounty Dog
1/20 Ground Assault Fatty
1/20 Standing Tortoise, Snuke type
1/24 Bounty Dog
Traditionally, 1/24 is the next scale down from 1/20; this Bounty Dog resin kit was made by AAS/Junk Box
1/24 Fox Special
This was a one-off resin kit from a company called Nori Motors.
1/24 Fox Special
Another version by AAS/Junk Box
1/24 Bandit set
Upgrade parts made by Pocket Warehouse
1/24 Golden Half Special
Scopedog modification parts set by Titan
1/24 Standing Turtle, Stavros Custom Special
Resin kit by Dirty Finger
1/24 Cossack Dog
Scopedog modification parts set by Botokichi Garage/Annared
1/35 Fox Custom Special
Scopedog modification parts set by Giga
1/35 Fox Special
Another version from Iyasaka Workshop
Fox Special modification parts for Scopedog
Maker and scale unknown
1/35 Bounty Dog
If you dug deep enough, you could find three different Bounty Dog garage kits in 1/35 scale. This one from a company called Miyako…
1/35 Bounty Dog
…this one from Iyasaka Workshop…
1/35 Bounty Dog
…and this one from a company called Nomopi.
1/35 Light Scopedog, Numerikov Type
Resin kit from Nori Motors
1/35 Ganard Special parts set
Upgrade parts made by Phantom Club
1/35 Cossack Dog parts set
Upgrade parts made by Phantom Club
1/35 Fatal Gear & Delicate Slaughter
Scopedog modification parts, Pocket Warehouse
1/35 Gomez’s Custom
Standing Turtle modification parts, Pocket Warehouse
1/35 Stavros’s Custom
Standing Tortoise modification parts, Pocket Warehouse
1/48 garage kits by Mo-craft
Moving down into smaller scales, Mo-craft released these four: Bounty Dog, Fox Special…
Ganard custom, and Docman custom. And we’re not quite finished…
1/60 Bountydog
This one was an oddball from hobby manufacturer Kotobukiya, which had a large line of Votoms garage kits. It’s the only Merowlink model they did, and it was all metal. It included a tiny Merow to face off with.
1/12 Rulushi figure
The one and only character (so far) from Merowlink to be rendered as a garage kit is this charming version of Rulushi seated on a Scopedog head. This unique kit was released by a company named Overdard.
Votoms Micro World set 2
In 2007, Takara Tomy released their second batch of Votoms products in the smallest scale they’ve ever been: 1/144. At that size, an A.T. is only an inch tall. But it STILL needed assembly.
Of the ten sets that came in Micro World 2, two of them were pulled from Merowlink. The first was a teeny tiny Merow with motorcycle and a teeny tiny Fox Special for him to fight. The other was a teeny tiney Merow with motorcyle and Lulucy and a Numerikov Light Scopedog. Both sets are shown below, unassembled.
Anti-AT rifles
And we mustn’t forget Merowlink’s best friend, without whom he wouldn’t have lasted one episode. A company called Miehar Project released garage kits in two different scales. The one shown above was in 1/4 scale.
This one was released in 1/12 scale, which placed it in the 1/12 realm of various Votoms toys released by Yamato and Threezero.
But no one did a 1/12 Merowlink, so it was kind of an odd choice.
This version clocks in at 1/18 scale, made by a company G-Dash.
They also made one at 1/12 scale for use with 1/12 figures.
Then there are amazing one-of-a-kind DIY projects, such as this 1/1 Anti-AT rifle (a 3D printed model) made for a 2019 Votoms event.
See a making-of video here
BOOKS
Armor Hunter Merowlink 1
機甲猟兵メロウリンク
Ryusuke Takahashi himself wrote this novelization, covering the first five episodes of the OVA series. Unfortunately, there was no volume 2. Cover and interior illustrations were by Animator/Character Designer Moriyasu Taniguchi. See them all in a gallery here.
B&W, 256 pages
Asahi Sonorama, March 1989
Defenseless City
無防備都市
Written by Merowlink scriptwriter Hiroshi Yamaguchi, this spinoff manga bears the distinction of being drawn by a female artist, Yuki Otake, working under the pseudonym Fumiaki Shibata. Originally serialized over seven volumes of Bandai’s Cyber Comix anthology, this hard-boiled prequel pits intel officer Keik Karadyne against a rogue A.T. pilot, and includes a scene in which he gets his orders from Battentain to investigate the Planbandoll Scandal.
Interestingly, it’s named after a 1945 Italian film titled Citta Aperta (Open City).
B&W, 140 pages
Bandai, Feb 1993
Defenseless City originally appeared in Cyber Comix volumes 34, 36, 39, 41, and 46. It was featured on the covers of 34 and 39.
GAMES
Lightning Slash
Takara, 1999
Kiek Karadyne also pops up in the Playstation game Lightning Slash, seen in a moment at the midpoint of the Merowlink series. He temporarily replaces Rochina (who just defected to the Balarant side in his pursuit of Chirico) and comes into contact with the main character of the game.
Super Robot Wars X-Ω
Bandai Namco, 2015
Merowlink himself made the jump to the game world in this edition of the ever-expanding Super Robot Wars, which I just can’t get into because everything’s all chibi in there. But it’s good to see the boy finally get some more spotlight.
See him in action here
Read more about the game here
DOUJINSHIS
“Doujinshi” is the Japanese word for fanzine, and the world of Merowlink doujinshis is INTENSE. This is mainly due to the fact that women create more doujinshis than men (on average) and Merowlink earned a strong female following by being portrayed as a sympathetic character with long hair. That’s the working theory, anyway. Most of these are manga-based, and all contain spectacular illustration work.
Soldier Blue
50 pages, May 1989
Dog Face
32 pages, Aug 1989
War Dog
July 1990
7213 Side A
June 1989
7213 Side B
58 pages, Aug 1989
7213 C
32 pages, Dec 1989
These titles were a warmup for Fumiaki Shibata, who went on to draw Defenseless City.
Under Cover
42 pages, Dec 1989
Manual Merowlink
54 pages, April 1990
Various titles, 1990-91
(Not in my collection yet)
EX-10
54 pages, June 1990
7213 A+B+Last Stage
98 pages, Aug 1990
Man of Steel
72 pages, Aug 1990
Toki no nai Hotel
66 pages, Dec 1990
Trap
30 pages, March 1991
TOTAL
170 pages, Aug 1991
Under the Flag of Melkia
A jam ‘zine for a Votoms fan event
82 pages, March 1991
EX 2, Merowlink Big Special
Compendium of magazine articles and anime design works
118 pages, March 2002
Votoms Guild special
Anime design works
74 pages, Aug 2004
Merowlink is one of the greatest mecha OVA series of all time! It inspired me to purchase an M82 anti-materiel rifle (in CA compliant .416 Barrett rather than .50BMG, unfortunately). These things weigh well over 30 pounds and are not to be trifled with!
The Pocket Warehouse 1/24 Bandit Set Upgrade Parts Scopedogs look like the Wave 1/24 version but is the Dumping Beetle a complete kit?
*not exactly Wave- I meant Takara/Wave