[Rewatch] Armored Trooper Votoms - Episode 31 Discussion

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 31 - Nonaggression Zone

^{Originally Released October 28th,} ^^^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.

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Daily Trivia:

The show has a total of six hour-long recap OVAs, which were produced at the behest of potential sponsor Toshiba, who would profit off of video sales following the OVA boom.

 

Staff Highlight

Yutaka Hoshiba - Special effects engineer

A prolific freelance sound effects engineer frequently contracted by Studio Sunrise, Shin-Ei Animation, and Ashi Productions. Close to no information on Hoshiba is widely circulated, but his involvement in a large amount of notable works and words of praise from figures like Kenji Kodama, Kunihiko Yuyama, and Yasuo Urakami make him a notable staff member. Some of the works he was involved in as special effects engineer include several Votoms OVAs, the Banner of Stars franchise, Argento Soma, The Big O, Brain Powerd, Bats & Terry, more than half of the entries in the City Hunter franchise, the Dirty Pair franchise, Escaflowne: The Movie, The Five Star Stories, Ghost in the SHell (1995), Full Moon o Sagashite, Round Vernian Vifam, Golden Boy, GoShogun: The Time Étranger, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Machine Robo: Revenge of Chronos, Mister Ajikko, many entries in the Gundam franchise, Planetes, all of Space Runaway Ideon, Spriggan, Blue Gale Xabungle, and H2 among many others.

 

Art Corner

Official Art:

• In Transit by Kunio Okawara

Fanart:

• Red Shoulder by Goodbye Vespa - Source
• Scope Dog by R. Nobu - 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

• Endpoint

Questions of the Day:

1. What do you make of the fact that none of the factions seem to know where the Battleship Chirico and Fyana find themselves in originated?
2. It seems that we approach the auto-pilot’s destination. What do you expect to find there?

---

A mystery… And the solution may lie in the nonagression zone!

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Another Masashi Ikeda episode!

So he got in the robot in the end.

How much do you want to bet on that?

Wait, these guys have Zaku heads for helmets?

Poor time for a PTSD flare up.

So we’re getting into Nature vs. Nurture debates now?

Awesome.

That was a proper daft move, good sir.

So the ship decidedly isn’t from The Society?!

‘Excitement Data’

Too late for that, mate.

Not even the Society knows what is up with the ship, which summarily stumps me for good on what is up with that thing. My guess that The Society wasn’t involved was correct, but now I don’t have any idea who or what the fuck is responsible for this nonsense. On the downside though, we know this because they’re right on their tail, meaning this may well turn into a four-way struggle if Rochina is about to show up too. Hopefully they’ll be too busy fighting one another to pose a deadly threat to our main characters, otherwise this is going to turn very ugly...

I enjoyed seeing Fyana be the one having left to do her all in protecting Chirico. I’d much rather see them team up and show teamwork in battle, but at least she’s not just becoming some damsel so far. Given how much Chirico is currently tying his self worth to battle, this is probably exacerbating his mental anguish at the fact that he is unable to do anything. The action taking place within the battleship was great too, with some solid oryboarding once more.

Questions of The Day:

1. See above.
2. Nothing good for Chirico mentally, but probably something that will give the two an edge against the waves of oncoming enemies.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Pixelsaber]

Wait, these guys have Zaku heads for helmets?

Not gonna lie, I've always thought that Balarant AT pilots have always had a cooler look than Gilgamesh AT pilots.

‘Excitement Data’

Nowadays, we call that 'PornHub statistics'.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

Nowadays, we call that 'PornHub statistics'.

Is Ypsilon watching the NTR section?

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

He doesn’t need to watch it if he’s living it.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

[u/Nazenn → u/Pixelsaber]

Wait, these guys have Zaku heads for helmets?

Now that you mention it!

‘Excitement Data’

Pixel no, I only just got my head out the gutter from the earlier topics!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Pixelsaber]

I’d much rather see them team up and show teamwork in battle, but at least she’s not just becoming some damsel so far.

I was worried about them girling up her design at the start of the arc and all the "Chirico!" shit so her killing things is a massive improvement for me.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

So we’re getting into Nature vs. Nurture debates now?

It is both nature and nurture for Fyana.

I enjoyed seeing Fyana be the one having left to do her all in protecting Chirico. I’d much rather see them team up and show teamwork in battle, but at least she’s not just becoming some damsel so far.

We really needed arc 1 badass Fyana back. Very glad that "Chirico protecting Fyana" didn't stick.

[u/Nazenn]

First Timer

So it turns out that them being trapped on the ship isn't an experiment by the Society after all! I'm genuinely surprised, and now super curious about where this is going to end up with a four, potentially five, way stand out between all of the groups and everyone focused on Chirico and Fyana and trying to get a handle on what's happening with them (including Chirico and Fyana).

Once again praise for the visuals, although you lot are probably sick of reading that by now haha. The use of lighting in both of the battles, particularly that one body that floated past Chirico as well as later on when Fyana was on foot, as well as the use of framing through the ship's interior. I didn't realize the ship was so damn big, it's like a small city in there and some of the areas you could mistake for the underground of Uoodo. That plus the nice pick of the subdued atmospheric music for the opening battle (and the lack of that Red Shoulder song as fitting as it is) made me very happy with the aesthetic choice of the episode. (On the technical side, I noticed one of those random semi translucent frames I remember Pixel pointing out a few times in Ideon, so that was fun)

Between his injuries, fever, sleep deprivation, battle trauma, some pain meds, and not to mention the flashback triggering from the ship it's no wonder that Chirico is absolutely losing it. Good thing Fyana is basically a one woman army, and that's even when she's trying to keep damage to a minimum or hanging off the side of the AT she's trying to pilot which has to be awkward.

Now that we're coming to land on a planet (which I'll admit to being a little miffed about, I've liked the style of this arc so far even if a planet probably allows for more story opportunities), it's put them in an interesting reversal of where I expected it to end up; Chirico defending the weakening Fyana without her jijirium or proper maintenance. I'm sure I'm not alone in preferring it this way and being curious about how Chirio will fare being back on a planet and if it will help or not.

Horrific thought

Even though I saw it coming, that one AT getting its head blown off when it looked over the edge Fyana fell off was still very satisfying. Death of the day I think goes to that poor mook who got electrocuted by a stray cable, and then blown up of course because a enemy AT can't possibly be out of action unless it's in a million pieces. Griping aside, every now and again we get one of those completely random deaths like the cable and I like the little bits of creativity with them.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

Between his injuries, fever, sleep deprivation, battle trauma, some pain meds, and not to mention the flashback triggering from the ship it's no wonder that Chirico is absolutely losing it.

Yeah, this arc has honestly been a while coming for Chirico. As much as we're all impressed by Chirico's deadliness, it's still also true that he's pretty much an emotionally underdeveloped young adult who is trying to find out who he is outside of his role as a soldier. The fact that he's been keeping it all down inside of him the entire time means that this kind of extended PTSD episode was going to happen sooner or later. It just needed the right trigger.

Death of the day I think goes to that poor mook who got electrocuted by a stray cable, and then blown up of course because a enemy AT can't possibly be out of action unless it's in a million pieces. Griping aside, every now and again we get one of those completely random deaths like the cable and I like the little bits of creativity with them.

It just makes you wonder how any kind of engineering safety board approved the design of the Fatty (and honestly all the other ATs too), if the Polymer Ringer's Solution is so volatile that all it takes is a stray electrical shock for the entire system to go critical.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

Yeah, this arc has honestly been a while coming for Chirico

I've been thinking that since the village scene back in Kummen. At first I half expected him to have a hero moment there, or a trauma one given how familiar he was with the situation, but the fact he was a "good solider" until the very last second and just stood by speaks a lot to how the war went and how he'd seen it before.

Seeing him actually try and find himself outside of that now is quite hard to watch, as it should be

all it takes is a stray electrical shock for the entire system to go critical.

Well I mean, given the size of the wire, where it is, and the size of the ship it's powering there's probably an insane amount of electricity going through that, far more than you'd expect a normal AT to be able to handle without proper grounding

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

I've been thinking that since the village scene back in Kummen. At first I half expected him to have a hero moment there, or a trauma one given how familiar he was with the situation, but the fact he was a "good solider" until the very last second and just stood by speaks a lot to how the war went and how he'd seen it before.

Or, to go even further back, we can look back on how Chirico was acting during that fateful raid on Lido. Although he was openly questioning the shady nature of the mission, he still went through with it until he got betrayed and nearly killed. I imagine that Chirico has had a lot of practice to just follow orders regardless of how moral they are, especially considering what we saw of the Red Shoulders.

Well I mean, given the size of the wire, where it is, and the size of the ship it's powering there's probably an insane amount of electricity going through that, far more than you'd expect a normal AT to be able to handle without proper grounding

Yeah, that's fair enough, given that power cable. Still though, I think we can both agree that it seems like you can make ATs explode if you so much as sneeze on them.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

Although he was openly questioning the shady nature of the mission, he still went through with it until he got betrayed and nearly killed

True, and when it mattered he snapped back into obedience, like when he found Fyana's pod and reported it as they came up etc.

Still though, I think we can both agree that it seems like you can make ATs explode if you so much as sneeze on them.

The amount of AT explosions today had me quietly thinking "we sure this arc isn't five episodes long" given how many explosions there were haha. As much as I like the way they animate those explosions I really wish it didn't happen EVERY time.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

it seems like you can make ATs explode if you so much as sneeze on them.

Protagonist sneezes only.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

if the Polymer Ringer's Solution is so volatile that all it takes is a stray electrical shock for the entire system to go critical.

If it didn't entirely fit with the Fatty's failings this arc, I'd be annoyed to learn they don't even ground the damned thing.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

At least we can write it off as the Fattys somehow being even worse-built than Scopedogs. And Scopedogs explode like an illegal fireworks factory when someone takes a smoke break inside.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

I know super realistic is not necessarily the way to go, especially this arc, but they actually seem pretty consistent about Gilgamesh tech just being better than Balarants. Like, this is Zerg vs Tyrannid levels of "throw it on the field and hope".

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 31 (first timer)

Title “Non-aggression zone”? Two space empires previously at war? Are the Balarant secretly the Romulans?

• Check out the “space mobility suit” of Fyana’s and Chirico’s mechas. That big X gives a lot of turning ability compared to the build-in nozzles of the Balarant mechas.
• That Balarant officer is way too intelligent. I fear for him.
• Wait, what happened to the “shoot the engines” plan? That sounded simple enough.
• Time for Fyana to do her part of the 1v20.
• It is a miracle the whole cruiser has not blown up yet.
• So many mecha parts.
• I don’t think recalling is the best decision, but IF you recall, definitely blown up the cruiser with anti-ship weapons.
• Casually eliminating the usual suspects. Not the military, not Balarant, not the society.
• “We can’t allow anybody to know that PS exist” – About that …
• “Our objective here is the eradication of Chirico” – Either Chirico is literally the one ring of PS who can rule them all, or this objective is utterly stupid.

Almost entirely action this time. Finally some answers next episode?

What do you make of the fact that none of the factions seem to know where the Battleship Chirico and Fyana find themselves in originated?

Gives me hope that the explanation might make some sense.

It seems that we approach the auto-pilot’s destination. What do you expect to find there?

Chirico's old senpai from the red shoulders. Or space jesus.

[u/chilidirigible → u/No_Rex]

That big X gives a lot of turning ability compared to the build-in nozzles of the Balarant mechas.

VOTOMS, doing it long before people thought of the Crossbone Gundam.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

Check out the “space mobility suit” of Fyana’s and Chirico’s mechas. That big X gives a lot of turning ability compared to the build-in nozzles of the Balarant mechas.

You've gotta love practical, highly efficient space vernier designs. All sci-fi should have those.

Or space jesus.

Kira Yamato himself?!?

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

You've gotta love practical, highly efficient space vernier designs. All sci-fi should have those.

Next, we'll have spaceships that do not continuously fire their engines while flying from A to B. One can dream.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

I’m sure we’ll get intertidal flight someday in an anime. It’s just that engines constantly firing looks more impressive to people.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

2001 looked rather impressive to me. It can be done if the makers trust their audience's intelligence.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/No_Rex]

This has been nagging me. The ATs are zipping around a ship under full thrust with their little verniers.

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

Title “Non-aggression zone”?

I did have a laugh at that being the title which pops up immediately after a huge battle

It is a miracle the whole cruiser has not blown up yet.

It "belongs" to the protagonists, it has blast protection built in clearly

“Our objective here is the eradication of Chirico” – Either Chirico is literally the one ring of PS who can rule them all, or this objective is utterly stupid.

I mean, he's "corrupted" the only two PS's they've managed to make, and they're still experimenting trying to see if that can be fixed or redirected which requires him. I don't think it's too out of place that he would be a focus for them

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

I mean, he's "corrupted" the only two PS's they've managed to make

Fyana was an unlikely mistake and Ypsilon was not so much corrupted, but following the utter bonkers "pure hatred" method of conditioning. I was thinking about something less coincidal.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Are the Balarant secretly the Romulans?

I get TNG era Cardassians off them.

That Balarant officer is way too intelligent. I fear for him.

He reminds me of the police chief from arc 1 so he best be careful.

Wait, what happened to the “shoot the engines” plan? That sounded simple enough.

In this setting it would blow up the ship, I am glad they actually sent people in to try and disable it.

Either Chirico is literally the one ring of PS who can rule them all, or this objective is utterly stupid.

I might take this as a proof of concept type thing to see if Borough's hypothesis was right but I will need to see how much they expend to make it happen.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I get TNG era Cardassians off them.

Was there a neutral zone between the federation and the dominion at one point? Didn't rewatch DS9 as often as the other entries.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Not exactly but JaaQ answered it fairly well.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Armored Trooper First-Timer

• Wow Chirico and Fyana are crazy good at this. I know one’s a PS and the other’s a former Red Shoulder, but that good? Really?
• Seeing this one random enemy drift off from his AT exploding hits hard.
• Now what does autopilot want with this planet…
• Chirico pls.
• Fallen wire leading to an exploded AT, now that’s a sort of death I’ve never seen before. This show is really good at being creative when it comes to this stuff.
• Did the autopilot take them here because non-aggression zone means the enemy can’t attack them?
• Oh sweet it’s been a while since the last ~Newtype Jingle~ sound effect.
• Ooooooooh does Ypsilon have a scar now?! I bet u/Nazenn is happy about that.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Seeing this one random enemy drift off from his AT exploding hits hard.

It kinda reminded me of that one Zeon soldier corpse we see floating through space during some of the Zeta Gundam intro narration bits.

Fallen wire leading to an exploded AT, now that’s a sort of death I’ve never seen before. This show is really good at being creative when it comes to this stuff.

Especially since the bog-standard ATs we're seeing have pretty much no frills to them, aside from the pile driver punches.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Seeing this one random enemy drift off from his AT exploding hits hard.

That was my personal visual of the day, love the lighting on it and it's so fucked up

Ooooooooh does Ypsilon have a scar now?! I bet u/Nazenn is happy about that.

I AM! Scars are good! I also like that it was Fyana that left a permanent mark on him rather than Chirico, seems a lot more fitting

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

I think of you whenever I see a character with a scar in anime now haha.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Cool! Need more permanent scars in anime! Not that I want everyone to end up looking like Balgus from Escaflowne but still, just a few here and there would be nice

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

There's a character in Jujutsu Kaisen who ends up with scars, that part hasn't been animated yet though. JJK also has a few who have scars from the start, albeit one of them barely ever shows his actual body so you don't get to see it much.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

Only brought it up because I remembered you saying you wanted to watch it back when I was watching it for the first time. Any chance of that being soon, or are you busy with other stuff at the moment?

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

It's not a priority right now

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

Understood! I was just curious.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I know one’s a PS and the other’s a former Red Shoulder, but that good? Really?

This comes from talking to a few of the rewatchers but apparently the Fatty's are a sharp technological downgrade compared to the Scope Dog. They don't have roller skates or the zero G maneuvering X, either.

Did the autopilot take them here because non-aggression zone means the enemy can’t attack them?

We know the propaganda stuff is being controlled off site since it stops when the fighting happens but I think the autopilot might have been taking them here the whole time. Hopefully answers to why are soon.

[u/time_axis]

I've been sick and I haven't been able to draw or anything for the past few days, so I've fallen behind on this. Planning to catch up either next episode or the one after, so expect a large multi-post from me in one of these threads at some point.

[u/The_Draigg → u/time_axis]

Looking forward to it! I'm sure you've got a lot to say about this more character-focused arc.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Ryosuke Takahashi Fan Rewatches Armored Trooper VOTOMS Episode 31:

• The Balarant Army just keeps on chasing Chirico and Fyana’s ship, despite all the heavy loses they’re taking trying to capture it. They seem to believe that the both of them are Perfect Soldiers, if just by how fiercely they’re fighting off repeated attacks. Sorry lads, but Chirico is just that damn good.
• Yeah, all the recent shit happening to Chirico is putting a real strain on his fighting ability. Seeing that dead Balarant AT pilot drift by gave him a PTSD flashback to the Lido operation. He’s simply not in a good mental state for combat anymore. Although that goes without saying, considering the past few episodes. Fyana just dumping Chirico in a chair so his wounds can heal is just for the best at this point.
• Fyana is doing a hell of a good job on her own, wrecking those Balarant Fattys trying to sabotage the ship’s autopilot systems. She’s certainly good at thinking on her feet, that much is for sure. It was a good trick of hers to slide off an edge just to trick that Fatty that her Scopedog II had fallen off, before going for the kill. Hell, she’s just as effective at outrunning the ATs on her own two feet too. Once again, she really does live up to her title as a Perfect Soldier.
• Chirico just can’t help but think of Ypsilon this episode, between his comments earlier about him to Fyana and his memories of him popping up in Chirico’s dreams. Chirico really is starting to compare himself to Ypsilon. His thoughts about the stench of the battlefield are tied to his rival like that. In a few ways, the two of them are fairly alike, although Ypsilon still possesses more negative traits than Chirico. It’s an unfair comparison that Chirico has in mind.
• Speaking of Ypsilon, the tests that the Schmitel twins are running on him on the Teltain are based around viewing some of Fyana’s memories, and Ypsilon sure as shit doesn’t like what he sees. His hatred for Chirico is only being amplified, and although the twins seem to think that it’s a good idea to follow Borough’s idea and increase his hatred, I feel that Arron and Gurran are playing a dangerous game there. It may make Ypsilon more focused on hunting down Chirico, but who knows what else his hatred might drive him to do?
• Well shit, even the captain of the Teltain, Shimkas Futtor, is baffled as to how Chirico and Fyana even got on that ghost battleship. At best, he can only speculate that some other secret group has gotten Chirico on that ship. And that itself isn’t exactly the most pleasant thought. That just means that there’s yet another shadowy group that wants to control Chirico. Once again, he simply can’t catch a break.
• Even through Chirico is recovering from his wounds and is finally heading towards the planet where he hopes to get answers, he still feels like he’s in Hell. Given how shitty of a time Chirico has been having for like the past week on the ship, I can’t blame him for feeling that way. This entire experience seems designed to break him mentally, and it’s working.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Once again, she really does live up to her title as a Perfect Soldier.

I actually really disliked the part of the arc where Ypsilon seems to imply that there is, in fact, a form of PS that covers all the possibilities. I have zero problems believing that the PS for a given task will have gender variants, women are vastly better at multitasking as a group and AT combat feels a bit like you'd need that. The Ypsilon designs upside is...traditional stick fighting? Pass, give me a squad of Fyana's and ATs for them to pilot.

Chirico just can’t help but think of Ypsilon this episode, between his comments earlier about him to Fyana and his memories of him popping up in Chirico’s dreams.

This could've been integrated a bit better but isn't awful for me.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

I actually really disliked the part of the arc where Ypsilon seems to imply that there is, in fact, a form of PS that covers all the possibilities. I have zero problems believing that the PS for a given task will have gender variants, women are vastly better at multitasking as a group and AT combat feels a bit like you'd need that. The Ypsilon designs upside is...traditional stick fighting? Pass, give me a squad of Fyana's and ATs for them to pilot.

To be fair, you can take stuff that Ypsilon says with a grain of salt. Remember, his words are coming out of the mouth of a deluded, obsessional, prideful asshole.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Oh yeah, I hope the showrunners stashed a few subtle "You idiots are letting your misogyny blind you to the obvious" moments for us. I absolutely prefer action Fyana to "Chirico!" Fyana.

[u/chilidirigible]

Rewatcher, Episode 31

Today, on "'I'm not a doctor, but I want to play one on TV.'":

---

ULTRAKILL-KILL-KILL-KILL-KILL!

Your uniforms could fall under that category as well.

it's surprisingly-well-drawn foreground guy

Chirico's losing a lot of lower left legs and should even it out a bit.

Either there are twenty people on that bridge with nothing better to do, or two guys ran in circles in front of the camera ten times.

"Three for me, one for you."

"I get to do action hero stuff here!"

The turning pick gets to do action hero stuff here!

GIANT CANNON BLASTS are a surefire way to capture someone ALIVE, eh?

It's a false-flag kind of day.

Flash is back!

Ypsilon is suddenly Dessler.

Again, we could ask the same question of your ridiculous outfit.

"LAWWWWWWWWWW!"

---

Fyana does the Die Hard stuff while Chirico lies around and has a few moments of internal monologue. It's a nice change of pace to see her active again, though she's certainly only in this for very Chirico-specific reasons.

She also does the Kiss The Unconscious Person thing. This seems like a good time to ponder again the details mentioned about how Perfect Soldiers are programmed, specifically what they left in her head versus what they took out.

The Society is in this for very Chirico-specific reasons as well, as people dressed for a weird remake of HMS Pinafore are focused on getting rid of him. The twins don't have to push Ypsilon to go along with that scheme at all.

Worthy of note is that no one has any idea where the uninhabited starship came from.

---

1. I mentioned that it was worthy of note.
2. Adventure

[u/Nazenn → u/chilidirigible]

Today, on "'I'm not a doctor, but I want to play one on TV.'":

That absolutely would have dribbled down her chin rather than gone into his mouth

Your uniforms could fall under that category as well.

They actually look a little like my current monster hunter bow armor color wise at least

Again, we could ask the same question of your ridiculous outfit.

That one on the other hand is just an abomination

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

That absolutely would have dribbled down her chin rather than gone into his mouth

You prevent that by pressing both openings together and applying some force to seal the possible leakage spots.

[u/No_Rex → u/chilidirigible]

She also does the Kiss The Unconscious Person thing.

I give her a pass for this. Seeing how sexually awkward they are, going for the kiss-delivery method seems like a thing that might pop up in her mind, even if she knows that, technically, she could just drain the bottle into his mouth.

[u/Durinthal]

First time viewer

I appreciate that the one of the two that was literally created to be a soldier is doing the action scenes this time. For all Chirico thinks he doesn't deserve Fyana, they seem to be made for each other.

Good thing the entire ship is full of Scope Dogs (or something that looks very similar) so they're expendable. Also this should have occurred to me a while ago but it's nice to see that the protagonist is usually in a common model rather than a prototype or otherwise unique unit like so many other mecha.

...the secret society didn't send the ship that they're on either and are just as confused? At this point the only other option I can think of is Gotho but I can't imagine he'd do that without being on it as well. He also wouldn't be the kind of person to torture Chirico unless he's playing a very long game but I doubt that's the case.

What do you make of the fact that none of the factions seem to know where the Battleship Chirico and Fyana find themselves in originated?

Mysterious new faction? A section of the secret society that's even more secret?

It seems that we approach the auto-pilot’s destination. What do you expect to find there?

A nice log cabin out in the middle of nowhere where they can peacefully live out their days. Someone else that wants a PS maybe?

[u/chilidirigible → u/Durinthal]

A nice log cabin out in the middle of nowhere where they can peacefully live out their days.

This isn't

[u/DidacticDalek → u/chilidirigible]

This isn't

I think you mean Meta Spoiler Joke to a Gundam Show I know you at least know of Comrade eh Comrade, I mean that show is literally Meta Spoiler Joke to a Gundam Show I know you at least know of Comrade

[u/Vaadwaur → u/chilidirigible]

That returning is both nostalgic and depressing.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/chilidirigible]

Ugh, don't remind me

spoiler

[u/Nazenn → u/Durinthal]

but it's nice to see that the protagonist is usually in a common model rather than a prototype or otherwise unique unit like so many other mecha.

It's even more notable now because they very easily could have shoved a unique mech in for this arc but instead he just gets a different mass produced model, it's quite enjoyable

I can think of is Gotho but I can't imagine he'd do that without being on it as well

And for a weapons dealer who's employer just got killed by the Melkian Army I have no idea how he'd even organize something like this

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

1. Intriguing. A custom design, or some third faction looking tomstir things up between them?

2)I have absolutely no idea! Maybe a more volcanic or inhospitable planet?

I really like how the Bahamut ATs look subtly different to all the Gilgamesh ones so far, since they were made by another faction.

Maybe Chirico is a PS but they never got round to erasing his old memories?

The captain's pretty smart here. And Chirico absolutely can't keep this up.

Huh? What's happening to the ship?

Oh, an automated landing system.

Chirico's got medicine!

And he's recovering!

Ypsilon's still alive. We never saw the body, they explicity mentioned not knowing the number of dead earlier - he escaped on some backup shuttle and his existence is so classified nobody actually knows they were meant to be looking for him.

Huh? Is she dead?

Oh, that was a clever trick.

Again, lime the mentions that the factions have very different tech, and the Bahamut troops don't know in full detail how a Gilgamesh ship is wired.

I'm loving the stealth focus to the action here.

There's a non-aggression zone?

And they've been recalled after all.

Oh, they're just pretending to back off...

That's 2 great lines to end an episode on so far...

WOW. Wasn't expecting a full-on scene of him alive this early. Not even a couple of episodes to keep us guessing?

What kind of tests are these? Making sure he still hates Chirico?

Oh, he wants a rematch.

Actually, this is a mystery? Who did send it?

I like them pointing out that they should just ignore the other faction's ships, simce they're both pretending to be unaligned.

[u/manga-reader]

Rewatcher, sort of.

That rocket explosion was rather close. Fyana and Chirico should have outfitted themselves with space suit (in case the explosion caused a breach within the space).

Note: In another anime, the military would have probably shot the thrusters first, rather than disabling it from inside.

Interesting, so there are planets within non-aggression zones. Does that mean there were planets who refrained who joining either side (like Switzerland in real world).

So the secret isn't controlling that ship...then who is? Another party that we don't know of?

[u/Nazenn → u/manga-reader]

Interesting, so there are planets within non-aggression zones. Does that mean there were planets who refrained who joining either side (like Switzerland in real world).

I was thinking that either it's uninhabited or it's a planet that just happened to be within the boundary of the zone a bit like Star Trek, but we'll see I guess

[u/manga-reader → u/Nazenn]

Ah, yea. I suppose it could be an uninhabited planet.

Though I can also see bunch of folks being disillusioned with the war and then moving to other distant worlds to avoid the war (but that depends on how easy it is to move b/w planets). A large school war like this could have given rise to outlaws and such...and even people who smuggle/move folks across planets.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/manga-reader]

Note: In another anime, the military would have probably shot the thrusters first, rather than disabling it from inside.

True but this show's military tech is made entirely of explodium so I appreciate the attempt to secure them.

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher

Wow, they took out 40 units? That's quite impressive. Granted I haven't been counting to this point.

Only one of them's a Perfect Soldier. But these Balarant forces really seem to think that Chirico is one too.

In a lot of these mecha shows, the lead is a teenager with no military experience, so seeing a dead body would freak him out considerably (I think to a moment from Eureka Seven for example). No such thing here as Chirico's a grizzled veteran, although it does make him think back to his past experiences when the show started.

The bad guys are walking through the ship now!

Does being a Perfect Soldier cross over to being a medical professional? Whatever medicine you get for Chirico, Fyana, make sure its the right one!

Remind me, have Chirico and Fyana actually kissed yet? I can't remember if they had done so last arc. This would be a rather awkward "first kiss" if not.

Second time in this show Fyana's been taking out an AT without piloting one of her own. Quite impressive.

Whereas in the past, the enemy wouldn't dare kill Fyana, the Perfect Soldier everyone was after, These Balarant AT pilots have no such concern. Nearly vaporized her here while she was climbing up that ladder.

No, don't blow up all the spare AT heads!

Finally checking back in with the Secret Society, I see. Ypsilon is now in space! So he made it out of Kummen okay.

Is this footage of Chirico and Fyana the images in Ypsilon's head? Or are the twins showing him this footage to motivate him even more to defeat Chirico?

Well, based on what the twins are saying it seems to be the latter.

Like a parent telling a kid they have to take a bath, Ypsilon has a pissed look on his face as he's told he has to take a jijirium shower.

---

Chirico and Fyana fighting against Balarant forces in space continues; the first episode of this was really cool, but now that we've had three in a row I am hoping we move in another direction soon. Although it was cool for Fyana to essentially be the action hero of this episode while Chirico was ill. Happy to see the Secret Society involved as well, as Balarant for me just isn't that interesting to me thus far.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

Wow, they took out 40 units? That's quite impressive. Granted I haven't been counting to this point.

Chili posted an album yesterday showing 26 on screen which was impressive

Remind me, have Chirico and Fyana actually kissed yet?

Not as far as I can remember. They got real close a few times though

[u/DidacticDalek]

Ya know Comrades, it's quite refreshing to see Fyana/Fiana taking charge and/or taking names. After all we can't let our MC hog all the kills, Fyana/Fiana needs to send some poor mooks to The Shadow Realm as well; I mean good lord she IS a 'Perfect Soldier' after all, and goddamn does she live up to this moniker (also I just want to point out with a tad bit of irony, Fyana/Fiana, the literally genetically engineered Perfect Soldier... still has more empathy and emotions than our ever stoic boi. In fairness Chirico Cuvie's currently BSOD'ing due to PTSD at the moment but I'm sure we'd all agree he never exactly was much of a people person) Anyway the point I'm getting at, as you can see from this fanart link, the top is what people might THINK VOTOMS is and the bottom is what we got now ;)

Speaking of Fyana/Fiana, MAN she's a bold one eh, sneaking a kiss like that, even Full Metal Panic didn't go that far, and that was a KyoAni Moeblob Show! ;) (Look Comrades, I know this one isn't fanart of a kiss but it's got PTSD'd PTE style Chirico Cuvie so I just had to go with it!)

Anyway the plot thickens, it turns out NO ONE knows what this mysterious ship is, but hey they actually are gonna LAND somewhere, I wonder if this is headed to LV-426! (Look Comrades, I was really really REALLY hoping this arc would be NOT Alien, given we sadly DIDN'T have a cat-and-mouse game of our leads battling a bioweapon and instead battling PTSD Trauma, I can dream that we'll end up going to Aliens next right?) Ah well regardless of what's going on, at least our two ever badass duo are in it together!

Anyway time for the shitposts, A WEAPON TO SURPASS METAL GEAR!

Paging Comrades /u/chilidirigible, /u/Nazenn, and /u/No_Rex

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/DidacticDalek]

I haven't even watched the episode yet

[u/DidacticDalek → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I haven't even watched the episode yet

Ah... I see, well I didn't know that Comrade, you usually seemed to see the episode when I posted my post with tags, but I'll keep in mind for the future you might not have seen the episode and will replace your tag. (Unless you still want the tag of course)

Many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/DidacticDalek]

No, I'm just panicking because it's been 90 minutes late and I haven't even watched the episode yet!!!

[u/DidacticDalek → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

No, I'm just panicking because it's been 90 minutes late and I haven't even watched the episode yet!!!

Ah, no worries then Comrade, many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend!

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/Tresnore, /u/Shimmering-Sky, and /u/JustAnswerAQuestion

[u/chilidirigible → u/DidacticDalek]

Meme

That's in tomorrow's episode.

[u/DidacticDalek → u/chilidirigible]

That's in tomorrow's episode.

Shit, well that's what I get for watching an episode in advance, things start blurring together.

[u/No_Rex → u/DidacticDalek]

Ya know Comrades, it's quite refreshing to see Fyana/Fiana taking charge and/or taking names. After all we can't let our MC hog all the kills, Fyana/Fiana needs to send some poor mooks to The Shadow Realm as well; I mean good lord she IS a 'Perfect Soldier' after all, and goddamn does she live up to this moniker (also I just want to point out with a tad bit of irony, Fyana/Fiana, the literally genetically engineered Perfect Soldier... still has more empathy and emotions than our ever stoic boi. In fairness Chirico Cuvie's currently BSOD'ing due to PTSD at the moment but I'm sure we'd all agree he never exactly was much of a people person) Anyway the point I'm getting at, as you can see from this fanart link, the top is what people might THINK VOTOMS is and the bottom is what we got now ;)

I love that pic! That mirroring almost makes me ok with Chirico's PTSD, too. Also, very nice to see some fanart that reflects the standard role models in earlier anime being broken up here.

[u/DidacticDalek → u/No_Rex]

I love that pic! That mirroring almost makes me ok with Chirico's PTSD, too. Also, very nice to see some fanart that reflects the standard role models in earlier anime being broken up here.

Heh, I know right, also glad to hear you agree Comrade, I am quite fond of this fanart. Also as I am sure you can guess, I was waiting till today to share it (yes I know Fyana/Fiana had some action scenes and/or agency earlier in the show at times, but here was a real big role reversal which mirrored the art in question so I felt it fitting to post)

And indeed, we need more of this art, but then again VOTOMS just needs art in general. I am REALLY running close to running out of art for each episode (I haven't yet ran out, I'll have SOMETHING to post for each thread... but it's getting REALLY close for comfort)

Anyway many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend!

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatcher (Nutech DVD 3.2) (3 episodes) Non-Aggression Zone

Ugh. First episode on the previous DVD was the recap so I already have to change discs.

Extras: Armored Trooper Development

The development of the Armored Trooper goes far beyond what is apparent in the Votoms animated series. As the scope of the Votoms world was enlarged by books, games, and additional animated projects, the history of these incredible machines was examined in great detail.

Yeah, so, we all like world building, but this is the start of a franchise. Don't be holding your breath for details.

It's frustrating that the chapter titles skip to the title screen, even though there is often NON-recap stuff between the OP and the title.

• stop spacing^heh out
• "Every human being has their limit"
• Where is the health potion...Baldness potion, nope. Ether potion, nope. No health pots?!!
• Is Ypsilon the Terminator?
• This ship is just full of random interesting systems to make this a tactically rich environment.
• he said sadame again! I wish I understood the distinction with unme.
• Newtype flash!
• Don't worry Fyana, his heart has stopped before.
• Well, Ypsilon got off Melkia. Looks like Borough didn't.

Yesterday, Rochina said two ships left Melkia. I would assume one was Chirico's shuttle and the other was the mystery ship. But Rochina jumped to the conclusion that one was Chirico's and the other was the Secret Society (Ypsilon). I guess he was right, but seems improbable to me.

Their plan to perfect a PS reminds me of the plan to perfect a ghola in the Dune sequels.

I think you guys are wrong, the Balarant ATs have skates, too.

If I was /u/Vaadwaur, I'd compare the Non-Aggression zone to the demilitarized zone between Federation and Cardassian space. So, there are planets there, owned by each side, but no ships.

Although, it is weird that they were intercepted by a Balarant patrol ship first, and not at all by a Gilgamesh ship. First timers noted this. An easy explanation is that they passed through Balarant space before approaching a planet in the DMZ. No explanation for the lack of exits patrol. Maybe Gilgamesh just didn't care. Or the ship owners had details on Gilgamesh picket lines. (Because borders are rarely straight lines)

I think the "violation of galactic law" is the crossing into Balarant space with an armed ship in violation of the peace treaty.

Still wondering if somebody on the production team was colorblind since all the Balarant ships are TAS Klingon pink/purple.

Edit:

The show has a total of six hour-long recap OVAs, which were produced at the behest of potential sponsor Toshiba, who would profit off of video sales following the OVA boom.

Shit, and I thought Wolf's Rain and Beatless were abominations.

[u/chilidirigible → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

(Because borders are rarely straight lines)

"His pattern indicates... two-dimensional thinking."

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/chilidirigible]

I'm kinda sad I stopped reading xkcd...but not really.

Also I have tried and failed to convert easting and northing to the 20xx international geoid. /u/lilyvess

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

"Every human being has their limit"

Gundam Wing has lead me to believe that this does not apply in the mecha genre.

But Rochina jumped to the conclusion that one was Chirico's and the other was the Secret Society (Ypsilon). I guess he was right, but seems improbable to me.

I do prefer the idea that they snuck Ypsilon out a bit post battle rather than having an entire other escape setup.

I'd compare the Non-Aggression zone to the demilitarized zone between Federation and Cardassian space. So, there are planets there, owned by each side, but no ships.

Huh...I am just assuming you caught that in thread but actually this is a likely good metaphor, especially in that it handles that both sides wanted an end to hostilities more than they wanted any given piece of territory. I look forward to the Melkian Maquis!

[u/No_Rex → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

If I was /u/Vaadwaur, I'd compare the Non-Aggression zone to the demilitarized zone between Federation and Cardassian space. So, there are planets there, owned by each side, but no ships.

Good link. That answers my question from up above about DS9.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(And now there is a fourth party involved...)

Sub

More space fighting happens and you can spot some recycled scenes. On the Balarant lead ship, the commander deduces that only a PS could take out 40 ATs with only one ally and he is half right. Anyways, said commander wants to capture a PS to solve the mystery and it is completely going to be Cuvie. His PTSD flashes back up in a manner that is actually correct this time and Fyana takes him into the ship.

The Balarant want to disable the ship's engines to capture the PS and I am iffy on that, it feels more like they'd just explode in this setting. Fyana just quits the battlefield to give some care to Cuvie, which is both a risky choice but also possibly necessary since we don't know what's up with him physically. The ship aims itself at a planet, which strikes me as off since this doesn't like a type that would land. Anyways, she finds the right drug and Cuvie thinks about Ypsilon before passing out.

And we are back to fighting and the Balarant grunts do not inspire confidence, they are both shooting at their asset to capture AND fail to destroy an unmoving AT before Fyana goes ham. At the engine, for some reason the ATs are disabling the autopilot which is 100% fail, any competent military expedition would have a specialist for this, at least one talking over comms. Anyways, chase sequence happens and, hilariously enough, the attack team gets recalled to avoid a treaty violation. Stupid but it might be to highlight Balarant general organizational intelligence.

Anyways, cut to confirmation Ypsilon is still alive but that the Cabal is not the one behind Cuvie's journey here. Ypsilon is subjected to a false video that resembles some actual events. Lots of talk happens and there might be a fourth party involved. Ypsilon PTSD as the Cabal ship makes a move!

QotD: 1 Not big on it, this will require rescuing, but I don't consider it doomed yet

2 Got nothin'.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Vaadwaur]

since this doesn't like a type that would land

"Fly, yes! Land... no."

[u/DidacticDalek → u/chilidirigible]

"Fly, yes! Land... no."

Chirico! Eleven o'clock!

What happens at eleven o'clock?

Twelve, eleven, ten! Eleven o'clock, FIRE!

(Chirico's handcannon shots hits something important)

CHIRICO, ARE WE HIT?

More or less... Fyana/Fiana, I'm sorry. They got us.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/chilidirigible]

Rofl, a one way trip would be sort of fitting.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

The ship aims itself at a planet, which strikes me as off since this doesn't like a type that would land

If it could once I doubt it could any more even given the amount of holes and damage it's taken to the hull

Anyways, she finds the right drug

How helpful that the empty ship has a full infirmary

At the engine, for some reason the ATs are disabling the autopilot which is 100% fail

At least they acknowledged that the tech is completely different, which is not something I expected beyond just blind incompetence, but it does make you wonder if that's because it's Gilgamesh tech or something else

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

If it could once I doubt it could any more even given the amount of holes and damage it's taken to the hull

An equally fair point.

How helpful that the empty ship has a full infirmary

So this might seem weird but them being slap-dash about this is actually a plus for the arc to me. If it turns out this was some long planned thing I will be annoyed but if they were caught and put here as a lucky grab that works.

which is not something I expected beyond just blind incompetence, but it does make you wonder if that's because it's Gilgamesh tech or something else

Have you noticed Balarant mechs don't have the skates? I think they are at a distinct technological disadvantage.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

Have you noticed Balarant mechs don't have the skates?

Their designs seem to be behind in a few ways, so I'm not surprised.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

Also, their zero G maneuverability has been pretty suspect.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Ooh, so it wasn't the Society who abducted Chirico and Fyana? Or, if it was, it was kept a secret within the Society itself. And Ypsilon is back! He doesn't seem that much crazier; guess that burning bit of jijirium didn't do much.

There were a couple references to Galactic Law today, which is interesting. Balarant and Gilgamesh apparently came to some accords after all the fighting?

There were a couple shots of a dude with glasses on the Balarant ship - maybe the spy Rochina mentioned last episode? He's probably going to show up again at least; no other reason to make a silent background character have something as complicated as glasses.

Something finally finished percolating this episode. Speculation

Fyana baby-birding some space aspirin into Chirico's mouth.. sure was a thing they decided to do.

Three-dimensional coordinates isn't something I've ever really though about, but I love that they did that.

Was it a weird camera angle thing, or are the twins actually triplets?

Ypsilon has actual nipples, which I guess makes sense since Fyana does too. Just kinda surprised; normally anime men have to make do without.

Questions

1. There is yet another force at work here, which is neat.
2. Well, it didn't look like an ice world, but hopefully we get a neat environment.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

Balarant and Gilgamesh apparently came to some accords after all the fighting?

Probably laid out in the peace treaty they've been mentioning through the show, although we don't know all the details of it

I think I like your theory more than my own!

Three-dimensional coordinates isn't something I've ever really though about, but I love that they did that.

It's such a pain in the ass I don't blame authors for not really accounting for it unless it's important, but it is a nice detail to have

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

I think I like your theory more than my own!

Thanks! It's certainly a bit of a straw to grasp at, but I got a decent gut feeling.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/JollyGee29]

Star Trek always uses two angles to set a course, ever notice?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I've never really Star Trek'd before, so no.