Where to Start Armored Trooper VOTOMS: All 8 Titles Ranked in Recommended Watch Order

“I keep hearing about VOTOMS, but where am I supposed to start?” If that’s you, you’re definitely not alone. Counting from the 1983 TV series all the way to the most recent OVA in 2011, Armored Trooper VOTOMS spans eight titles in animated form alone. And between the prequels, sequels, and gap-filler episodes, the timeline is all over the place, so jumping in blind is a great way to get lost.

But don’t worry. As long as you pick the right entry point, VOTOMS still hits hard today. Protagonist Chirico Cuvie’s “invincible loneliness” hasn’t lost an ounce of its edge since 1983. And the grounded, real-robot mecha design of the Scopedog still has a presence all its own more than 40 years later.

In this article, the SpotGeeks editorial team ranks all eight titles in the order you should watch them starting now. We score each one on four axes: Story, Animation, Characters, and Emotional Impact. The higher a title’s viewing priority, the higher it ranks, so if you just go in order from No. 1, you can’t go wrong. This information is current as of May 2026.

Use this guide to get even more out of “The Gray Witch,” the movie releasing in 2026.

Of the eight titles, the TV series, The Pailsen Files, and Alone Again are available on Amazon Prime Video. Nearly the entire lineup is also streaming on Bandai Channel and d Anime Store.

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Armored Trooper VOTOMS: All 8 Titles Scored and Compared in Watch Order

We scored each title out of 100 on four axes. The higher the score, the higher the viewing priority, so if you’re starting now, the best plan is to work your way down from the top. Keep in mind that “Animation” is judged from a present-day perspective rather than adjusted for production era, which is why the TV series scores lower and the recent OVAs score higher.

The TV series’ 72 for Animation is only natural given it was made in 1983, and the sheer strength of its content still keeps it in a commanding first place with 366 points. From The Pailsen Files onward, 3DCG keeps the animation consistent, and the more recent the OVA, the better it looks. Flip that around, and if animation quality is your top priority, starting with No. 2, No. 3, or No. 5 should still be a blast.

No. 1: Armored Trooper VOTOMS (TV Series) | All 52 Episodes, and Nothing Starts Until You Watch This

April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984. Fifty-two episodes aired on the TV Tokyo network. You can’t talk about VOTOMS without watching this, so let’s start with that obvious truth. Director Ryosuke Takahashi’s “journey of a lonely soldier” hasn’t faded one bit in more than 40 years.

Protagonist Chirico Cuvie is a former soldier who survived the Astragius Galaxy civil war, an interstellar conflict that raged for over a century. Across 52 episodes, he chases a mysterious woman known as a “Perfect Soldier (prototype)” through four arcs: Uoodo, Kummen, Sunsa, and Space. Every arc works on its own as a complete piece of hard-boiled sci-fi. And the realistic design of the ATs, starting with the Scopedog, pursues a “realism of weapons of war” that sets it clearly apart from Gundam.

It’s streaming on multiple services, including Amazon Prime Video, d Anime Store, and Bandai Channel (as of May 2026). Don’t let the 52-episode count intimidate you. Just watch Episode 1, “Children of the Battlefield,” first. Five minutes after he sorties, you’ll realize this is no ordinary anime.

No. 2: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Pailsen Files | A Prequel Reborn in 3DCG, and Required Viewing After the TV Series

A 12-episode OVA released from 2007 to 2008, plus a theatrical film (released January 17, 2009). It’s a prequel to the TV series, covering the period between Roots of Ambition and Episode 1 of the TV show. Director Ryosuke Takahashi, character designer Norio Shioyama, and other members of the original staff reunited for the first time in 20 years.

The “Unusual Survivor”: this entry digs into the secret behind Chirico’s constitution, the one that lets him survive no matter what. After you’ve seen the TV series, it takes you straight to the heart of the question, “Who is Chirico, really?” The combat scenes are rendered in 3DCG, so the AT battles have far more movement than in the TV series. From Episode 2 onward, the plot and characters kick into high gear, and from there it’s a nonstop binge.

The theatrical film is a complete edition that re-edits the 12 OVA episodes and adds new footage. One approach is to watch the OVA the first time through and the movie on repeat viewings. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Bandai Channel.

No. 3: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Shining Heresy | The Official Sequel Set 32 Years After the TV Series, and a Divisive Shocker

A 12-episode OVA released in 1994. It’s the official sequel, set in a world where 32 years have passed in-story since the TV series. Chirico and Fyana, who had been sleeping in cold-sleep capsules, are revived and get pulled into a galaxy-wide struggle for religious power.

It’s also a controversial entry that sparked fierce debate among fans at the time over “Fyana’s final fate.” Even so, its message, which takes a fresh look at Chirico’s loneliness and strength, deserves to be taken head-on as the continuation of the TV series. The music stands out too, with an achingly bittersweet OP and ED, and its songs are some of the most highly rated in the franchise.

It’s streaming on Bandai Channel. Watch it after finishing the TV series and The Pailsen Files, and the weight of the story doubles.

No. 4: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Last Red Shoulder | A Moving Gap-Filler OVA for the TV Series

An OVA released on August 21, 1985. It’s a gap-filler episode set after the Kummen arc of the TV series, and it settles the score between Chirico and the Red Shoulder unit. It answers mysteries the TV series left untold, like “the relationship between Rochina and Chirico” and “what the Red Shoulders really were.”

Its careful, OVA-quality storytelling and tightly packed script have earned it high praise, and it’s one of the most beloved entries among VOTOMS fans. Watch it right after finishing the 52-episode TV series, and you’ll find yourself rethinking “what that war really meant.” It’s available on Bandai Channel and Amazon Prime Video.

#5: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Alone Again | A Solid Short That Bridges The Shining Heresy and Phantom Arc

This short was released after an event screening on January 8, 2011. It fills in the gap between The Shining Heresy and Phantom Arc, following Teitania, now exiled from the Mar-Tial, as she hunts down Chirico. The setting is Gulfey, a desert trading city surrounded by 250 ATs, and watching Chirico single-handedly break that siege is exactly the kind of goosebump moment VOTOMS does best.

Plenty of fans say Alone Again “saved” them after the underwhelming Phantom Arc. The CG is a clear step up from The Pailsen Files, making this the smoothest watch among the recent OVAs. It’s available on Amazon Prime Video.

#6: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Phantom Arc | An Epilogue Where Vanilla and Coconna Chase Chirico, for Completionists

A six-episode OVA released in 2010. Set roughly 30 years after the TV series, it follows Vanilla and Coconna as they chase Chirico’s shadow and revisit places from their past. It’s a rare chance to see the old TV crew again in an epilogue, but a lot of fans call it “unsatisfying.”

Its real value is less about story density and more about the emotional hit of seeing familiar faces again. Watching it alongside #5, Alone Again, as the capstone of your series run is probably the order that hurts the least. It’s streaming on Bandai Channel.

#7: The Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition | A Deeper Prequel Dive for Hardcore Fans

An OVA released on March 19, 1988. It covers the stretch between Episode 1 of the TV series and The Pailsen Files, in other words, the era when Chirico served in the Red Shoulder. Told through the eyes of a man named Barnum Hilan, it shows Chirico back when he was still living purely as a “soldier.”

The deeper you are into the series, the more you’ll get out of it, but first-timers tend to finish it without much emotional attachment to Chirico. The ideal time to watch is after the TV series and The Pailsen Files, so you can work backward and enjoy “the road that man took to get here.” This is an OVA for connoisseurs.

#8: Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Big Battle | A Side-Story Short and Bonus Round for Core Fans

An OVA released on July 5, 1986. It’s a side-story short featuring characters from the TV series, best thought of as bonus content once you’ve finished the rest. The story is on the thin side and it doesn’t rate highly on its own, but it does quench the thirst of fans who just want to hang out in the VOTOMS universe a little longer.

Think of it as “dessert after watching everything,” something only core fans need to reach for. It’s the lowest priority for newcomers, and the right move is to save it for last after finishing the other seven.

 

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Wrap-Up: Starting VOTOMS Now? Here’s the Fastest Route In

Let’s lay out the recommended watch order for all eight Armored Trooper VOTOMS entries one more time.

If you want to grab the core of VOTOMS fast, two entries will do it: (1) the TV series, then (2) The Pailsen Files. Those two get you all the way to “who is Chirico, really?” and the mystery of the Perfect Survivor, which should cover about 80% of what makes the series great. If you have time to spare, add (3) The Shining Heresy and you’ll see Chirico and Fyana’s story reach its final destination. Everything from (4) onward is deep-dive content strictly for core fans.

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