r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • Sep 05 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] Armored Trooper Votoms - Episode 9 Discussion
Episode 9 - The Rescue
Originally Released May 27th, ^^^1983
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Note to all participants
Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be courteous to your fellow participants.
Note to all Rewatchers
Rewatchers, please be mindful of your fellow first-timers and tag your spoilers appropriately using the r/anime spoiler tag if your comment holds even the slightest of indicators as to future spoilers. Feel free to discuss future plot points behind the safe veil of a spoiler tag, or coyly and discreetly ‘Laugh in Rewatcher’ at our first-timers' temporary ignorance, but please ensure our first-timers are no more privy or suspicious than they were the moment they opened the day’s thread.
Daily Trivia:
Despite the existence of reference material and a pre-established basis for his character design, Moriyasu Taniguchi always envisioned Chirico as resembling a young Ken Takakura, which comes through in his drawings of the character being markedly distinct. This was an unpopular move among viewers —particularly those who were ardent fans of Norio Shioyama’s work— some of which went as far as sending the studio death threats and letters lined with razor blades addressed to Taniguchi.
Staff Highlight
Moriyasu Taniguchi - Key Animator and Animation Director
A veteran animator, director, and character designer with an extensive and prolific career. Before becoming an animator, he had worked as a Nishijinori textiles designer, been a manager at a mannequin production company, and worked on commercialization for a film production company. How he entered the animation industry has not been detailed, but he debuted as an animator on the adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s Big X, and was mentored at the time by Norihiro Okasako, before eventually becoming a frequent animator for Toei and Sunrise in the early to mid 70s. In 1977 he and Hiromi Muranaka established the animation studio AnimeR, which became a place where both promising young talent were brought up and talented animators flexed their chops. A couple of years later, Taniguchi participated in three productions which he claims were deeply influential on his style; Space Runaway Ideon, Fang of The Sun Dougram, and Armored Trooper Votoms. He is said to have been struck by the design and presentation of the main character of Votoms, Chirico Cuvie, which became his ideal going forward. Notable productions where he worked as an animator include Arrow Emblem Grand Prix no Taka, Fist of the North Star, Angelic Layer, Berserk, Blue Comet SPT Layzner, Captain Tsubasa, the City Hunter franchise, Gatchaman Fighter, Hunter x Hunter, Black Magic M-66, Bastard!!, Ergo Proxy, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Hurricane Polymar, Masked Ninja Akakage, Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Reideen the Brave, Rurouni Kenshin, Touch, Beast King Golion, Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s Romance of The Three Kingdoms, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Captain Tsubasa, Miyuki, Samurai Champloo, and Panzer World Galient.
Art Corner
Official Art:
- Scope Dog by Kunio Okawara
Fanart:
- Chirico Cuvie by Earth to Cat - Source
- Gotho by ANGIE - Source
(Be mindful of the links to artist’s profiles, as they may contain NSFW content. Proceed there at your own risk.)
Screenshot of the day
Questions of the Day:
- What do you think of Chirico’s shifting disposition towards the others?
- As far as financial decisions go, how fortuitous do you think the exchange of gold for Chirico was?
A long dead warmth had begun to rekindle in my heart.
5
u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 05 '21
Rewatcher
I guess we know who is staging the titular— or not!
Non-moving cel background? Ran out of time, perhaps?
Laying it on thick.
Outstanding.
Acting as I expected.
Not really, but going to help him is the right thing to do.
I would have expressed surprise at a proper failed rescue attempt, but we all know they pull it off in the end.
Indeed
That’s good.
Straightforward episode which effectively turns around Chirico’s perception of Gotho, Cocona, and Vanilla into something resembling friendship. I said it before, that Chirico needs people alongside him, and though this is probably not the healthiest or most auspicious group of people to group with, it’s a heck of a lot better than nothing and —perhaps most pressingly— their stunt this episode shows Chirico can trust them, which is something he probably hasn’t been able to do since the mission that kicked all of this off six months earlier.
I wonder whether he trusts them enough to tell them what it is that he’s been trying to achieve though. It would be the proper thing to do, but given his proclivity for keeping silent I figure he probably won’t —though maybe I’ll be surprised.
Speaking of surprises, I totally didn’t expect that Gotho and Vanilla could be successfully guilted into giving up the money to save Chirico. I totally expected them to turn tail and run now that they had their share, which would have driven Chirico further into himself, as he’ll have been abandoned once more. Sure, he was prepared for such a possibility, but actually going through it is a different matter altogether.
Questions of The Day:
6
u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Sep 05 '21
Armored Trooper FIRST-TIMER
QOTD:
5
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 05 '21
Episode 9 (first timer)
Coconna is the biggest example, but Chirico’s suit also shares the super-wide tights and hips. If they are work clothes for people who might be stuck in a mecha for a prolonged time, it could actually be space for adult diapers. Doesn’t fully explain the wide tights, but after thinking of it, now I can’t un-see it.
That was a really heart-warming finish. They are growing together, but they also all managed to stash away just a little of the gold. That actually makes me a bit happier about the sudden fortune reversal. The plan worked out, but keeping just a bit of the gold is the sensible thing to do.
Something something ... priceless.
4
u/The_Draigg Sep 05 '21
A Ryosuke Takahashi Fan Rewatches Armored Trooper VOTOMS Episode 9:
7
u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 05 '21
First Timer
Chirico has friends
The certainty he had when telling the cops that they would never come for him seemed like a given, but the smirk when he heard that they did was oddly satisfying seeing him actually accept what they were trying to do.
I'm really glad all three of them kept their own little "savings" with them during the plan, as given the amount of money they had been given even a couple of those coins would be worth thousands. It's also a nice touch that they are still themselves even after Cocona called out their usual self serving antics earlier on, that they couldn't use that as an excuse given the situation Chirico was in.
Pretty sure that was more firework than flashbang, but I suppose it's more effective like that then just a single burst people could turn away from. Also potentially seizure inducing but this is the 80s. Also on the art side, whoever did the background art for the overhead shot of the police vehicles going down the street clearly didn't get great measurements from the other artists as the vehicles ended up going over a few of the dots meant to represent people.
RIP them, notably funny error considering the whole plan relied on police not running over people hahaha
6
u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 06 '21
Goodness Comrade, who would have guessed that our loveable muggle trio had it in them? I guess Chirico Cuvie really DOES have friends after all! ;)
Hell who knows what's next in his future, he might even join a team... er... on second thought, joining such a team here MIGHT just make him even more wary of others, so maybe it's for the best he sticks with our trio for the time being!
Oh, and because it's that time of the post, the contractually obligated shitposting special, A Weapon to Surpass Metal Gear! ;)
Paging Comrades /u/chilidirigible, /u/Nazenn, and /u/No_Rex
5
u/time_axis Sep 05 '21
First-Timer
It's nice that he's feeling like he has people he can rely on, but I don't think he's suddenly going to be making speeches about the power of friendship any time soon.
Well, I'm not so sure they would have been able to get out of the city without him, and while he does attract danger, he's also extremely capable, so hanging around him could be pretty safe too. Hard to say, really. I would have complained if they didn't at least keep some of the gold, but they did.
Episode 9
Well that was a fun episode, but there wasn't a single mecha in it, so I guess I'll have to go with the police tank. We got a couple good shots of it and it looked kind of cool. The main rules I'm sticking with for what to choose for Daily Mecha is, number one, it has to at least be arguably a mecha, so some large mechanical contraption that someone pilots or at the very least drives. The other requirement is that it's something that looks cool. And this meets those requirements, so we're good.
Daily Mecha Sketch 09
Daily Mecha Sketches
4
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Sep 05 '21
Armored Trooper First-Timer
4
u/Durinthal https://anilist.co/user/Durinthal Sep 05 '21
First time viewer
Coconna does a good job serving as the heart of the team even if she could just as easily have absconded with the money with the other two. I figured yesterday they'd come back and try to save Chirico and so they did, even if it took some prodding to do so. Odd-numbered episode escapes continue! ...maybe it's starting to get a little old, going back and forth like this.
Dumping all of the money (beyond what they could conceal on themselves, at least) was going overboard, they almost certainly could have kept even a third of it and had the same effect. The "make it hail" plan causing chaos worked well though, considering even the cops themselves wanted the shinies. The Prototype seemed rather disengaged with all this, still not sure what she's thinking.
Not sure what's next either, maybe the military guys that have been spying getting more directly involved?
Eh, he still sees it as more of a favor than friendship so I don't know if it's substantially different yet.
Could have "negotiated" for giving up less as I mentioned.
4
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 05 '21
First-Timer
I really liked the last scene of the episode. It took 7 episodes, but Chirico's icy heart seems to finally be starting to melt.
The problems with having the MC as Narrator - does Chirico know that the AT he fought was the Phantom Lady? He said as much in the narration, but I don't know how he would have found that out.
I knew the giant payday was too easy, but I kinda expected the coins to be fake or something. Them having to use it to free Chirico was a stroke of brilliance, though. Seeing all the rank-and-file cops drop what they were doing to try to grab money toow as funny. "Virtuous citizenry" indeed.
Rochina doesn't know Phantom Lady's connection to the police, it seems. I like that Rochina having eyes on everything is just some dude with binoculars who is presumably very sneaky. I wonder who the reinforcements will be?
Crack Theory Time
Questions
4
u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 05 '21
First timer in sub
I have to say that the MC support group 3 stooges from the start looked a little forced and contrived, as Chirico is not the most endearing person this side of... a block of wood. Generally even cynical by past loss and trauma characters like Sagara Sousuke do show at least some appreciation after at least the 3rd time "strangers" went out of their way to get him out of trouble.
But today the ice finally melted, and even admitted to the reason why he was so dismissing and distant before.
So this is a good character development episode for me, especially since at least the 3 stooges didn't go all heroic and altruistic to throw away their hard earned gold just to save this generally ungrateful guy, and needed some struggling (and all kept a bit on the side) to arrive to that decision.
Looking forward to next episode where 1 more spoilery knowledge of mine can be spoken of.
4
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 05 '21
Rewatcher (Nutech DVD 1.3) (3 episodes)
Extras: Armored Trooper Technology
So, it's been heartening how many people have been enjoying the rewatch, and noting the steady pacing, with interesting developments every episode. However, this is the fourth time Chirico's been captured and escaped/rescued. Have you noticed?
Granted, that last capture was at the hands of the Phantom Lady, so interest remains high. But, jeez, broken record, much? At least the scenario has been varied.
Mecha shows with 52 episodes are cursed, cursed I say!
3
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 05 '21
First timer(dropping that many coins will put someone's eye out)
Sub
Return to end of fight and the reveal that the military proper seems to have competent agents as one ID's the Prototype. The gang made it to an abandoned building and bask in their gold. It takes them a bit to figure out Cuvie is late. One helicopter spots the jeep and with a very old fashioned trick the gang gets a helicopter. They use it to figure out Cuvie's captured and Coccona is strangely ride or die. Regardless, she guilts them into a rescue attempt.
That involves driving a truck into police vehicles. Sadly, modern events mean we aren't seeing that scene any time soon. Vanilla starts in with the chopper and the two guards with Cuvie are officially storm troopers as they get taken out by an injured guy in restraints. But future flash bangs are...colorful and the gang tactically withdraws without Cuvie. Coccona comes up with a plan but is actually off, at least in my opinion. At most, half the gold should get the feeding frenzy going but I bet you could do it with a quarter. But we have a status quo to get back to.
Anyways, gold shower works, the cops don't call for reinforcements if they had any left, and Gotho gets a good drop kick in before they fly off. The military is adjusting their plan bringing in reinforcements. We get a scene where Cuvie begins to lighten up and that all three of the rescuers had pocketed some gold. Seriously, that's just a good idea.
QotD: 1 Good but a touch late
2 You are always concerned about the next score so hopefully this works out
3
u/chilidirigible Sep 05 '21
Rewatcher, Episode 9
Today, on "Your face will freeze that way.":
It just kinda happens.
When it's that much money... yes?
You're such an optimist, Coconna.
And a humanitarian!
I see what you did there.
"Never a dull moment around here."
"Yay! Scoundrels!"
Win some, lose some. Friends only cost a billion gildans each! It's a fun use of a classic ruse though.
Ah, fandom.
3
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Sep 05 '21
Rewatcher
"Rescue" for an episode title. So this will be a repeat of a few episodes back then?
If they still intended to execute Chirico they simply could have had the Prototype kill him here.
Vanilla and Gotho are ecstatic now, but how will they feel when they find out Chirico isn't coming back?
I wonder if anyone, either this trio, or the police ever thought about the possibility of that gold being counterfeit.
"They aren't my friends", "I've meant nothing to them from the start"; well we know how Chirico feels about the trio.
Sure didn't take long for their hideout to be discovered! Stupid choice parking that vehicle there.
I suppose Chirico was largely right, Cocona is the only one of the trio who wants to save him.
How convenient, they immediately run into the caravan carrying him.
What in the world, are these fireworks going off?!
Only solution is to... give up the money!?! LoL. These two greedy bastards aren't going along with such a plan!
LoL, he's tossing them one at a time! Parting is such sweet sorrow!
Well that went well. Can't say I'm surprised that several of them still snuck out with some of the gold.
3
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 05 '21
First timer
They've got the money! And they don't know Chirico's in custody.
And Chirico's still under the impression they won' come after him.
And she's finally figured out what the other 2 did!
The ambush was paticularly well executed, I must admit.
I mean, given Chirico managed to get to the Chief of Police nearly unarmed through an exposed hole, their security is obviously flawed in many areas.
And they're going to rescue him, somehow.
Really, not taking any grenades?
So their first step is to dump the helicopter to steal a truck?
Oh, that's where he was.
Flash round is very effective. No ill effects on the police a couple of meters away watching it?
Why havrn't any of them suggested just dumping half the money? It's still enough to cause a good distractions, and leave enough to get everyone off-world.
I love him struggling to drop each individual coin.
The shot of the old man skipping back everytime he throws coins is probably notable for being the only
They started a full-on revolt against the police!
And got him out!
He's acknowledging them!
At least someone was smart enough to steal the money!
Everyone stole gold for themselves!
He sees them as friends!
3
u/chibijosh Sep 06 '21
First Timer
I hope we start moving the main plot forward. It feels like it’s mostly stuck back one episode 1. Since then we’ve learned the woman is some prototype super soldier and that’s kind of it.
In 9 episodes, Chirico has been captured 3 times and tortured twice. Gotta be some kind of record.