Comments on: The scent of flames: Armored Trooper Votoms http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/ Anime fan forever Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:59:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: moritheil http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35864 moritheil Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:13:41 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35864 I actually looked at two episodes of this, but I couldn't really get into it. Part of it may have been that I wasn't able to fully grasp everything (I only had the RAW.) Going from your review and the comments above, it seems a lot more literary than I realized, though also a bit confused. I do think it's great that you reviewed the series, though - maybe I'll get back into it if I can find a translation! I actually looked at two episodes of this, but I couldn’t really get into it. Part of it may have been that I wasn’t able to fully grasp everything (I only had the RAW.) Going from your review and the comments above, it seems a lot more literary than I realized, though also a bit confused.

I do think it’s great that you reviewed the series, though – maybe I’ll get back into it if I can find a translation!

]]> By: BigFire http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35841 BigFire Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:37:55 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35841 Chirico Cuvie's parting thought regarding the woman that tried to kill him on Susna encapsulate him completely: "I want to tell her that I didn't kill her family, that my unit arrived to this world a week later. But none of that matter, because I was doing the same thing elsewhere". Chirico Cuvie’s parting thought regarding the woman that tried to kill him on Susna encapsulate him completely:

“I want to tell her that I didn’t kill her family, that my unit arrived to this world a week later. But none of that matter, because I was doing the same thing elsewhere”.

]]> By: bateszi http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35169 bateszi Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:36:23 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35169 @Classic Maiden: Thanks. This took a few days to write, so it's great to know you seem to be liking my blog! @anonymous: Always nice to hear from another Votoms fan! @karry: We'll see. As of this evening, I'm up to episode 41 and hopefully it isn't as frustrating as you make it sound! @Knurek: Oh, great, you've just gone and started me on another big read! I just had a quick look at the Wikipedia page for the Foundation series and it sounds so... epic, yet confusing at the same time; I've no idea which book to start with, so your advice would be more than welcome. @IKnight: Indeed, this was a case of trying to balance an objective critique with another, more 'fanboy'-esque tone, if just because I'm well aware a lot of people will probably look at this and just think 'ugly animation, real robot, slow' and be turned off, but at the same time, when you do finally find someone capable of enjoying it, it's almost like finding a kindred spirit; I really think Votoms is that divisive. As for the 'small things' (like Knurek alluded to above), the structure of Votoms has a really novelistic feeling. Everything seems carefully crafted and placed for a specific reason. May be that's just Ryosuke Takahashi's style? I get a similar feeling from Layzner. @gaguri: Oh, certainly. Perhaps it's simply a case of developing the skill to craft a post that's both obscure and accessible at the same time? I guess that's why some of this 'review' borders on 'meta-blogging'; it's just me trying to remain accessible while talking about some obscure, old mecha anime! Also, your refined taste in anime (as well as your command of English) was the first thing that really struck me about your blog, and is why I felt like I had to link it; anime fans into series like Kaiba, Casshern Sins and LoGH are so few and far between! :) @kopl: It's something that frequently gets under my skin, kopl. The refusal of people to try new things and their inability to accept anything that looks slightly different will frustrate me forever! Alas, this just means that when you finally do meet people with broader tastes in anime, the connection feels that much stronger! @Classic Maiden:

Thanks. This took a few days to write, so it’s great to know you seem to be liking my blog!

@anonymous:

Always nice to hear from another Votoms fan!

@karry:

We’ll see. As of this evening, I’m up to episode 41 and hopefully it isn’t as frustrating as you make it sound!

@Knurek:

Oh, great, you’ve just gone and started me on another big read! I just had a quick look at the Wikipedia page for the Foundation series and it sounds so… epic, yet confusing at the same time; I’ve no idea which book to start with, so your advice would be more than welcome.

@IKnight:

Indeed, this was a case of trying to balance an objective critique with another, more ‘fanboy’-esque tone, if just because I’m well aware a lot of people will probably look at this and just think ‘ugly animation, real robot, slow’ and be turned off, but at the same time, when you do finally find someone capable of enjoying it, it’s almost like finding a kindred spirit; I really think Votoms is that divisive.

As for the ’small things’ (like Knurek alluded to above), the structure of Votoms has a really novelistic feeling. Everything seems carefully crafted and placed for a specific reason. May be that’s just Ryosuke Takahashi’s style? I get a similar feeling from Layzner.

@gaguri:

Oh, certainly. Perhaps it’s simply a case of developing the skill to craft a post that’s both obscure and accessible at the same time? I guess that’s why some of this ‘review’ borders on ‘meta-blogging’; it’s just me trying to remain accessible while talking about some obscure, old mecha anime!

Also, your refined taste in anime (as well as your command of English) was the first thing that really struck me about your blog, and is why I felt like I had to link it; anime fans into series like Kaiba, Casshern Sins and LoGH are so few and far between! :)

@kopl:

It’s something that frequently gets under my skin, kopl. The refusal of people to try new things and their inability to accept anything that looks slightly different will frustrate me forever! Alas, this just means that when you finally do meet people with broader tastes in anime, the connection feels that much stronger!

]]> By: kopl http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35135 kopl Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:03:15 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35135 I love Votoms. It is a shame so many people dismiss older anime because it is "ugly" or has "bad animation" or whatever silly reasons they have. They just don't make them like this anymore. I love Votoms. It is a shame so many people dismiss older anime because it is “ugly” or has “bad animation” or whatever silly reasons they have. They just don’t make them like this anymore.

]]> By: gaguri http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35134 gaguri Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:41:36 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35134 I feel the same way about walking that tight rope between accessibility and obscurity. But in a way, I think that is why people come to my blog, and I'm sure people don't come to your blog for yet another opinion on K-on! (although I guess, titles like this are bit TOO obscure haha...). I'm not really a mecha fan, and the screenshots aren't particularly appealing, but I will keep this under my 'to watch if I feel like a old mecha show Bateszi recommended'-list. I feel the same way about walking that tight rope between accessibility and obscurity. But in a way, I think that is why people come to my blog, and I’m sure people don’t come to your blog for yet another opinion on K-on! (although I guess, titles like this are bit TOO obscure haha…). I’m not really a mecha fan, and the screenshots aren’t particularly appealing, but I will keep this under my ‘to watch if I feel like a old mecha show Bateszi recommended’-list.

]]> By: IKnight http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35109 IKnight Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:05:03 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35109 At the end of the day I'd also file <em>Votoms</em> under 'far from perfect, yet written well enough to be remembered', but since it hit the spot so well for me I'm always glad to hear that someone else enjoyed it. Chirico's comment to Ypsilon is rather interesting. I suppose the 'perfect' soldier might really be someone who'd seen through the glory of combat. There's a lot to say about the small things in this show, as your example of Chirico's scrap-metal chair demonstrates. At the end of the day I’d also file Votoms under ‘far from perfect, yet written well enough to be remembered’, but since it hit the spot so well for me I’m always glad to hear that someone else enjoyed it.

Chirico’s comment to Ypsilon is rather interesting. I suppose the ‘perfect’ soldier might really be someone who’d seen through the glory of combat. There’s a lot to say about the small things in this show, as your example of Chirico’s scrap-metal chair demonstrates.

]]> By: Knurek http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35105 Knurek Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:54:11 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35105 What I loved about VOTOMs (other than the purest real robots this side of Patlabor) was that it felt like a classic 1940's sci-fi book, in vein of Asimov's Foundation. What I loved about VOTOMs (other than the purest real robots this side of Patlabor) was that it felt like a classic 1940’s sci-fi book, in vein of Asimov’s Foundation.

]]> By: karry http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35099 karry Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:06:49 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35099 The characters are good, but the story doesnt make any kind of sense. Ending plainly sucks, the series just ends without explaining ANYTHING, and what it DOES explain seems really forced. You cant seriously believe that they actually thought they would 100% make a sequel. The characters are good, but the story doesnt make any kind of sense. Ending plainly sucks, the series just ends without explaining ANYTHING, and what it DOES explain seems really forced. You cant seriously believe that they actually thought they would 100% make a sequel.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35098 anonymous Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:58:15 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35098 Whow! ive actually seen this series, i loved it :) Whow! ive actually seen this series, i loved it :)

]]> By: Classic Maiden http://www.bateszi.me/2009/06/17/the-scent-of-flames-armored-trooper-votoms/#comment-35097 Classic Maiden Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:37:25 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/?p=1006#comment-35097 Much appreciated to read about an oscure classic like this! Love your blog :) Much appreciated to read about an oscure classic like this!

Love your blog :)

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