Name(s): Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle / Soukou Kihei Votoms: Big Battle / 装甲騎兵ボトムズ ビッグバトル
Format: OVA (1 1-hour episode)
Studio(s): Sunrise

Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle – Battle of the Heterogeneous Species (geez) is one of many post-series addenda created for the Votoms franchise. Specifically, it’s one of the few that take place in the middle of the series despite being written after its conclusion. Big Battle fits in chronologically between the one year time span before the series epilogue. The great thing about it is that it can be considered canon without disrupting the original ending at all.

On the other hand, this means that nothing major to the main storyline happens in Big Battle. Then again, Votoms never really relied on its continuity so much and works best when viewed as a series of standalone Chirico adventures. Here, circumstances determine Chirico and friends have to face off against psychotic Balarant Perfect Soldier Radaa Niva. Cruel and evil to the bone, this standard character archetype is actually new for Votoms, and it feels more satisfying than ever to see Chirico and gang give the beat down to a thoroughly reprehensible guy. Niva feels like enough of a threat and even pilots a unique AT known as the Ecrevisse (or “Danger Melon”), and seeing a unique AT in Votoms is always a treat.

For the most part, this plays like an extended episode of the series. Unlike the other OVAs, Big Battle came out a mere two years after the series finished; which unfortunately means the animation isn’t much better. The soundtrack is reused as well. On the bright side, if this were a part of the series, it’d be one of its best moments. The Big Battle itself is an interesting premise, and despite the implications of its name is not a free-for-all fight. I don’t want to ruin the cool surprise I got, so I won’t give away the details.

For better or worse, this is completely on par with the Votoms series, and anyone who’s a fan owes it to themselves to check it out.