Audience reviews
5 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Mulahey
This is a fun entry in the VOTOMs franchise. It provides some nice world and setting expansion, more detail on Chiricos past, and fun adventures along the way.
The good:
- The politics of the Gilgamesh Federation, the details of the war, and the interplay between Paisen and Wokkam are all pretty well done.
- Chirico is Chirico, but he get a pretty classic "misfit squad" of soliders around him here. They are a simple but fun cast who do a great job filling out the adventure.
The combat is on a ludicrous scale; it really is like Total Annihilation. Everyones responses to the Secret of Chirico is reasonable and enjoyable.
The bad:
- Doesn't look very good. The CG for the mecha, especially, is poor with models being too low-detail- though I'd say this is better than, for example, IGLOO.
- A…
Read at the sourceSCLFI
VOTOMS director Ryosuke Takahashi’s career is uncharacteristic in that, of the many series he has authored or directed, VOTOMS is the only one to ever receive sequels of any sort, and it was not until the release of Pailsen Files in the 2000s that it managed to receive a full 12-episode anime rather than sporadic OVA releases. Equally uncharacteristically for a sequel, Pailsen Files is a largely unique entity, one that displays an interest in taking the series and setting in a new direction, rather than furthering the same ideas that its original entry had already conceptualised.
One area in which this new approach is made evident is through the use of distinct locations, allowing it to portray a more convincing image of an entire galaxy. By moving regularly between different planets, eac…
Read at the sourceWitchFromMercury
The CGI in this is disgusting lets get out of the way first. The models are way too undetailed and the frame rate is too low (and this was advertised as having the latest CGI (it's like between a PS1 game and a PS2 game).
But this anime was extremely funny with all the ridiculous ways the military tried to kill Chirico and his squad to see if they are actually "abnormal survivors."
The story was really good and entertaining (even though it's not as gritty or dark as the original VOTOMS and much more lighthearted).
I thought it was worth watching though. It takes place after Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition and by the time the anime begins the Red Shoulders have been disbanded and Chirico is placed in a new squad made up with other members of the military that are believed to be…
Read at the sourcepunishedsneed
Pailsen Files is only worth watching if you've seen the original AT VOTOMS, alongside the Roots of Ambition / Treachery / Red Shoulder Document OVA. If you haven't seen those, don't bother...
The story is mediocre at best. It does have some decent twists, but it gets predictable and formulaic after a while. Plus, there's not much fear that anyone is going to bite it; until the very end! I won't spoil anything, but the concept Pailsen Files runs with -- the same concept Roots of Ambition runs with -- can easily remove tension. Despite having 12 episodes (plenty for an OVA) the writers missed opportunities to toy with that concept and introduce proper tension, instead waiting to roll that out at the very end.
The art is alright, and I'm happy it's cel animation, but the CGI makes the prese…
Read at the sourceWin32error
After 1994's Shining Heresy more or less failed, the Votoms franchise went quiet for over a decade. It's return further explores the familiar grounds of Chirico Cuvie's past, and serves as somewhat of a sequel to Red shoulder document: Roots of ambition. If this sound a little inaccessible that's because it absolutely is made for fans familiar with both the original Armored Trooper Votoms and it's follow-up OVA's. To make matters worse, the mechs are now done with CGI, and mid-2000's CGI at that. Pailsen Files really is just for those interested in the franchise, but past that it's quite a good show that scratches an itch no other votoms show does.
Coming off the conclusion of Roots of ambition, the titular Yoran Pailsen is in deep trouble as the full force of a military tribunal comes do…
Read at the source
