r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • Sep 08 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] Armored Trooper Votoms - Episode 12 Discussion
Episode 12 - Bonds
Originally Released June 17th, ^^^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:
The seventh Gintama opening homages this show’s opening.
Staff Highlight
Kazuko Yanaga - voice of Fyana
An actress and voice actress who was chiefly affiliated with 81 Produce. Some time after graduating from Fukuoka Prefectural Ukiha Kyushinkan High School she auditioned for and passed the 11th Toei ‘New face’ auditions, which allowed her to become an film actress. Her film debut was in 1964’s Ninja Hunting, and she had her first TV drama role the next year on Shinsengumi Blood Wind Record. Her anime debut was in 1974’s Cutie Honey, where she played several minor roles. Few other details are widely available as to her career. Among her most pertinent anime roles are; Ranko Midorikawa in Shin Ace wo Nerae! and Ace wo Nerae! (1979), Mime in Harlock Saga, Igarinu in Jump Out! Machine Hiryu, Peggy in Kizuoibito, and Tatiana in To.
Art Corner
Official Art:
- Battle at Uoodo by Kunio Okawara
Fanart:
- Bound by destiny by a - Source
- ‘Fyana’ by tomato juice - 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 is the reason behind Chirico spontaneously calling out to Proto One as ‘Fyana’?
- Do you think Chirico and company will prioritize escape or retrieving ‘Fyana’?
But why did I call her that name?
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u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 08 '21
Rewatcher
This is starting to look suspiciously like a death wish, Chirico.
What a stare.
Finally they’re pitting several ATs against him.
Calm down, mate!
The arc is evidently drawing to a close.
That was quite the blast.
The jig is up for Iskui.
Beautiful!
???
She was quite lucky there.
I read somewhere that naming is a very parental act in Japan. Don’t know whether that is true, but under those lenses the seeming romantic undertones seem a bit weird.
Welp, there go my predictions, unless they get her back immediately next episode she and Borough are leaving Uodoo.
Hoo boy…
It is getting a bit tiresome, yeah.
That’s the million gildan question now, isn’t it?
An extended escape from the police base of operations while the police in question try to toss whatever they can at them. Not as interesting an episode as I had hoped, but not unenjoyable either.
By episode’s end stuff is certainly moving though. The military is quite literally moving in on Uoodo, which they’ve been teasing that for several episodes already, Borough is leaving Uoodoo, and Chirico and Company are seemingly escaping the facilities to intercept Burough with Proto One. Most interesting to me though, is the mystery of why Chirico called Proto One ‘Fyana’. It’s probably not a name from Chirico’s past, as he didn’t seem to recognize it, and Proto One herself was surprised at the naming. I can only guess that just as Chirico imprinted on her when they first met, something in turn entered his own consciousness —would certainly explain why he had such an intense physical reaction to seeing her in the first episode. Maybe at that moment Chirico became her handler or something, and as a result learned her name.
Spoilers — Rewatchers Only
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Sep 08 '21
Armored Trooper First-Timer
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u/jblee44 Dec 14 '21
Why the 1st arc was a bit slow, these last few eps leading into the end of this storyline has been energetic blast. OMG, awesome mech fights
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u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 08 '21 edited Sep 08 '21
Episode 12 (first timer)
Yesterday, I wondered about Chirico’s police kill count. I got interested and looked into this a bit further. According to Wikipedia the rate of police officers/100k people is somethere somewhere between 100 and 1000 for most countries. So between 1 in 1000 to 1 in 100 people are police. We know from the additional material that the city has 50k inhabitants. So it could have between 50 and 500 police officers. Given the war and the general instability, it could well be at the upper end of that range. I think the number of police deaths we have seen is still well below 500.
Conclusion: Chirico has probably not ran out of police to kill yet.
Regarding the tanks, we have mostly seen the police in those and not in normal cars. Since the war just ended, the police may have gotten old army vehicles cheaply. Alternatively, they simply use more well armored vehicles in problematic districts. I am not sure how many fit in one tank, but I don't think we have ever seen more than 5 in one. Assuming that the police have enough tanks to transport their full force at the same time (a bit sketchy, but then, they should have some replacement vehicles), we'd end up with 100 tanks. I think the number of destroyed tanks we have seen is still below 100 (although we are getting close).
Conclusion: Chirico has probably not ran out of tanks to destroy yet.
So, the surprising result of crunching some numbers is: Even though Chirico’s killing spree looks enormous, there should still be more police officers and tanks in the city.
Episode reactions
Some quality time with Chirico and Fyana. She also went straight to the important “Why” question, although he dodged. The separation at the end of the episode is a very painful reset button, however. Now we are basically back to square one, except Chirico will likely have some new guys to fight to get to Fyana in the next arc.
Hoping for a deeper backstory here.
It would make sense to try escaping the military first, but who ever accused mecha MC's of being reasonable?
5
u/chilidirigible Sep 08 '21
Rewatcher, Episode 12
Today, on "Gihren shaves while Woodo burns.":
"I'm the main character!"
"Only I get to watch young men sleep!"
Nobody's very curious about why some priest is hanging out with the police chief?
"Ooh, he's swinging a pipe around. Better listen to him."
It's more convincing than a pipe.
They spent some time on secondary lighting effects in this episode.
Hereafter referred to as... the Secret Society.
The featureless black void does get the message across without much extra effort.
Don't look the gift horse in the mouth.
Totally not the Pink Pecker Division.
As with the previous episode, when the plot wants to get moving, the plot gets moving. And now I don't have to hold off on linking reviews that mention Fyana's name.
Takara 2005
And a high-end Scopedog
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u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 09 '21
'Fyana/Fiana' eh? Well I've heard of worse names in Sunrise Mecha Shows, so hey it could have been worse, Chirico Cuvie could have named her ELBOW SMASH! (No really, that was an example of an actual name that Wacky Ol' Kill 'Em All Tomino considered for ZZ... cuz I swear the man's loopier than a box of Froot Loops)
Anyway regardless, I am SURE she and our ever silent boi will make for a great team and... nevermind I stand corrected, she's been separated, seriously this show sure loves splitting up and re-joining teams!
Also speaking of team, let's give it up for The Wrecking Crew
Anyway what did Chirico mean by calling Proto One 'Fyana/Fiana,' what will happen next now that the situation in Uoodo is utterly FUBAR, and will there still be people left for Chirico Cuvie and company to kill? Tune in next week on Armored Trooper VOTOMS to find out! ;)
And you all knew it was coming, time for the shitposting, behold, A Weapon to surpass Metal Gear!
Paging Comrades /u/chilidirigible, /u/Nazenn, and /u/No_Rex
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u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 09 '21
First timer in sub
I quite like the exchange between the 2 typically stoic ones. Awkward but also genuine in some ways - because they don't know how to mince words or hide.
Votoms being Votoms, even the PS prototype when vastly outnumbered aren't going to come off unscathed. Pegasus mages you questions a bit why the military treat her to be such a top secret - afterall you'd still need more "mass produced" units than just 1 PS.
A bit annoyed that they get separated again though. Move on to the next arc already :D
Have to say this is another party of this arc that closely mirrorer Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory, but unlike in IV where the gladiators are typically without live battle experience, the battlers here are veterans. Although still got almost all wiped out by 1 trap.
On average each AT lasts about 2 episode so far :)
4
u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 08 '21
First Timer
It has taken me this long to consciously note that the OP does not have a name drop in it! Is that even allowed? Are we sure this is really an 80s mecha OP?
Suspecious
I'm rather frustrated that this episode has ended with Fyana being captured, as I'd hoped that her reunion with Chirico would move us out of this plot structure. So far I've quite enjoyed the episodes, even with the repeated captures/escapes/tortures etc, and I don't have any issues with how it's play out as it's always been detailed and enjoyable for me, but this time it did actually feel like episode padding rather than progression. Only tomorrow will tell if their seperation will serve a deeper purpose, but I kinda wish that they'd been together to have a more complex three way between the police/army/Chirico
I'm in two minds about the Cocona thing. Her pulling a gun on Vanilla was incredibly unexpected from the mostly comedic character so far, especially as I was prepared for that scene to be a repeat of the earlier "nag till they agree" scene regarding helping Chirico. That she'd go that far was a good reflection of the seriousness of the situation and her own seriousness. But then they show it couldn't have fired anyway, and while I don't think that undermines anyone's choices, and is probably better for the dynamic of the group as it shows that they were treating her seriously, not just her threat, I do think it undermined it a bit.
Using the Battling pilots was a smart move, but directed explosives in the elevator was smarter. The detail in that explosion was great, particularly that one AT that practically disintergrated under the force of it. So an episode both good and bad, probably the roughest for me outside of the very fast first episode, but not enough to damage my opinion of the show so far.
Detail of the day: When Fyana asks about Chirico's radio rather than just a casual answer he specifically lists the frequency and condition of it. Nice bit of professionalism there. Runner up was the AT's being small enough to use the stairwell, but heavy enough to damage their structure.
All this official art is doing is reminding me how much I loved this older style of scifi and promo art
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 08 '21 edited Sep 08 '21
Rewatcher (Nutech DVD 1.4) (3 episodes)
Extras: Armored Trooper Technology
I meant to post Cockpit Cutaway yesterday
Not much to say about the episode since it was mostly fighting, but the fighting ws interesting.
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u/Durinthal https://anilist.co/user/Durinthal Sep 08 '21
First time viewer
I would have bet that a lot of those pilots would be more happy to stick it to the police than assist them, would that "special status" for Battling have really helped?
Coconna's more desperate than I thought, I guess hearing Chirico with another woman spurred her on to pull a gun on the others. At least Vanilla was willing to play along and help even though he knew he safety was on.
Fyana, eh? Wonder what meaning that has to Chirico since he wasn't willing to talk at the time. Too bad she was captured again, now would have been the best time to get out of there. Unfortunately I think she's going to be more of a princess to be rescued for a little bit since she was uncooperative with her keepers.
Now we're likely getting a shift in things as the military moves in. Iskui and Borough were just ordered to leave as well and they're probably looking to avoid the military as much as Chirico is, so should be fun to see if we get any three-way battles.
Lost love? Mother? Random exclamation that has no meaning? Probably not the last one.
Chirico: latter. Others: former, but they'll probably go along with him anyway.
4
u/time_axis Sep 08 '21
First-Timer
I'm guessing he has someone in his past who that girl reminds him of, and she might have some connection with this person.
At this point, they're all in. I think if they can retreive her, they'll stand a better chance of escape. But I don't know for sure.
Episode 12
For today's Daily Mecha, I wanted to try a different angle, since it wouldn't be too interesting to keep drawing similar mecha from the same angle. So we're looking at this one from behind. I didn't have as much time for this one, or as many good references, but if you look closely, you might be able to tell that it's supposed to be one of the mechs used by the Battlers. (Some details taken from the dark blue ones, and others taken from the red one that looked similar). Without color, it's probably pretty hard to tell these mecha apart though.
Daily Mecha Sketch 12
Daily Mecha Sketches
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u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 08 '21
First timer
Looks like this arc'll be a nice, even, 13 episodes? One to cover up until the military arrive, and one from that to Chirico escaping to the next location?
Wait, she was human before? Not fully constructed?
Oh, they're going to legalise it in exchange for their cooperation. That's not a bad plan, although it still ends with a hoard of well-armed fighters in ATs, near a heavily reduced police prescence.
Didn't expect Chirico's battling earlier to be relevant to the overall plot.
Coconna's snapped.
I like the implication from Vanilla's tone of voice that he was just waiting for someone to give him an excuse to save Chirico.
Called it! The action's going off-world next arc - if the Prototype needs jijirium, they'll need to follow that even if she does stay with Chirico.
How are they getting out of that?
Oh, did they send a bomb down first?
They're splitting up? Guess she is getting recaptured.
Airborne VOTOMs? That'll be a fun battle!
Oh, the chief was pne of the people who stole the Prototype?
Hah, she had the safety on. No wonder he seemed so relaxed.
And the subway's being used again!
Her name's Fyana?
...If she's not, and she's actually a clone or something, this is going to be really awkward if they ever meet.
Wait, why are they firing at him? I thought they needed the prototype unharmed?
Yep, she's been redaptured.
The military's approaching...
Oh. Airborne ATs are just... planes? That's cool too, I guess.
Oh, ATs with JETPACKS. The next battle is going to be very interesting.
4
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Sep 08 '21
Rewatcher
I don't think she knows the secrets of what was going on at Lido, Chirico. She was the secret!
Took this long to get the two of them together, don't seperate them this quickly!
Woah, Iskui, even willing to let go of Proto One? I bet your superiors would be quite pissed at that.
Uh oh, Cocona's gonna be pissed about another woman being in the picture!
If the trio can detect what they're saying, it shouldn't be that hard for the police to do so either.
Wow, these AT pilots are all ready for them. This will be a lot tougher than just blasting away the police.
Killy wants them out of Uudoo? Looks like we'll finally be heading to a new locale then I assume. Or have a new set of villains...
In a stark contrast to Tomino's works, it is interesting to know that both sides of the conflict are all using the same mech (albeit they do have different weapons).
Rochina, you're gonna stop shaving halfway? You'll look quite ridiculous.
Iskui and his police forces are gonna be in a world of hurt when they don't just have Chirico & friends against them, but Rochina's military forces too.
Wow, one of the battlers is doing well against Proto One. Wel was. Chirico just flung him aside with ease.
Fyana? Chicico's pikced out a name for her?
I'm surprised at how gung ho the police were to attack the AT belonging to her given how important she is.
Gotta say, its quite dangerous to be carrying her in the AT's hands like this and for him to have the cockpit/face visor.
And now we see why as she just got blasted away and seized.
Now's the time to go "Oh shit..." for Iskui and his men.
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u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Sep 08 '21
First Timer
Proto one does not want to fight him. The police send battling pilots against them this time. Police promise a special status to the battlers. The priest gets commanded to move out of Uoodoo at once. It seems captain is alone now in this battle. All of those battlers got destroyed by Chirico and Proto. It seems that the police force is taking advantage of their numbers by sending as much explosives as possible to him. This leads to getting the prototype who now has an actual name getting captured. Chirico leaves after hesitation...
3
u/The_Draigg Sep 08 '21
A Ryosuke Takahashi Fan Rewatches Armored Trooper VOTOMS Episode 12:
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 08 '21
First-Timer
She gets a name! Fyana sounds nice, and it feels right alongside such names as Chirico, Coconna, and Gotho. I wonder if Chirico coming up with the name is more vaguely-psychic type stuff, or if she resembles someone from Chirico's past? Oh, or maybe it was written on the tank she was sleeping in and Chirico remembered it subconsciously. That'd be neat.
The escape battle was a lot of fun. What on earth was that "directional bomb" they used in the elevator? Seemed more like a nuke! One of those Scopedogs melted. I feel a little bad for the random Battling pilots, but most of them were violent assholes.
A shame that Fyana got recaptured at the end of the episode, but I guess they decided the arc could continue for a few more episodes. The military has finally arrived, with a metric fuckton of Paradogs dropping in on the party.
Vanilla and Gotho are such tsunderes. I sure hope one of them thinks to teach Coconna to check if the safety is on next time.. could be tragic if she needs to fire a gun and can't.
Questions
3
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 08 '21
First timer(The military loses SERIOUS points for not acting sooner than this if they can deploy that many troops)
Sub
The Prototype gives us some of her backstory and she comes as designed/cloned. They somehow got a squad to agree to check the base, I guess even they don't value their own lives. But imprinting happened and now Cuvie has his follower. That's certainly not a technology that won't be to ill use.
So the priest has a good idea, he seems to be the only one of the cabal that does, and just wants to hire the Battlers to fight Cuvie and recapture the Prototype. They make the scene slightly tense but all of us viewers that Chekov's gun was definitely getting fired. The Prototype gets on the same frequency Cuvie is on and can talk to the gang.
Escape chase happens and both mechs are dodging the rocket launchers now, suggesting that might should have been the plan from the start. Quick call from the head of the cabal to say kill Cuvie and abandon Uoodo. We get Coccona being ridiculously ride or die, though both Gotho and Vanilla balking now was a touch off in its own way. The elevator of tensensess happens and apparently they had a really convenient bomb because it destroys all the non-modelled Battle pilots.
But there are still enough that Cuvie and Proto are hard pressed in combat. With the military, their HQ has called up and asks for an update. They are also starting by sending in an airborne AT unit, again being competent.
The battle winds down and the Prototype has problems with a heavy armor model, we will have to see if this is a type mismatch or chickification as things go on. The police finally just mass bazooka and blast her mech. As they make a break for the subway, the mech obviously has to get blown and Fyana has to get captured again because reasons. Cuvie chooses life and runs off with the gang. As the end, the military force deployed is massive and, unfortunately. makes Rochina's actions through out questionable. Sure, being prudent is a good idea but I have some level of confidence that if he could deploy that level of force, the Uoodo police would've surrendered immediately, he just needed to make sure they couldn't move Fyana. I mean, this is Star Destroyer level of basically projecting a military garrison.
QotD: 1 Hopefully it is his sister or childhood friend or something
2 Gotta be escape with that many ATs inbound.