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Armored Trooper Votoms Watch Order
10 entries · · community-maintained
Also known as Soukou Kihei Votoms, VOTOMS, Votoms Pailsen Files, Votoms Alone Again, Votoms Chirico's Return, Votoms Phantom Arc, Roots of Ambition, Origin of Ambition, Votoms Die Graue Hexe, 装甲騎兵ボトムズ
Where to start Armored Trooper Votoms: for a first watch, start with the 1983 TV series (Episodes 1-13), The Last Red Shoulder, Episodes 14-52 and The Big Battle, then the prequels. This Votoms watch order is in story order, so it lists the prequels Roots of Ambition and Pailsen Files (12 OVA episodes) first; both came out after the TV series and spoil its twists. After the TV series come Brilliantly Shining Heresy, Alone Again and Phantom Arc, the latest point in Chirico's story. Mellowlink, Case;Irvine and Finder are optional side stories. Mamoru Oshii's two-part Die Graue Hexe is a new story; Part 1 opens in Japan on November 20, 2026.
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First watch: TV Episodes 1-13, The Last Red Shoulder, Episodes 14-52, then The Big Battle.
Checked November 2026
Chronological order
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Fix this order
Red Shoulder Document
#1 · 1 entry
- 1Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition
Earliest point in the story (1988 OVA): Chirico's Red Shoulder training under Pailsen. Made after the TV series; most fans watch it later.
OVA
Pailsen Files
#2 · 1 entry
- 2Pailsen Files
12-episode CG prequel (2007-08) after Roots of Ambition, late in the war. It spoils TV twists, so most guides save it for after the series.
OVA
Pailsen compilation
#3 · 1 entry
- 3Pailsen Files the MovieOptional
Optional 2009 theatrical recut of the Pailsen Files OVA. Skip if you watched the 12 episodes.
Movie
Armored Trooper Votoms
#4 · 1 entry
- 4Episodes 1-13
Uoodo arc (1983): Chirico is betrayed after a secret mission and goes on the run. Stop after episode 13 for The Last Red Shoulder.
0/13
The Last Red Shoulder
#5 · 1 entry
- 5The Last Red Shoulder
1985 OVA set between the Uoodo and Kummen arcs: Chirico and ex-Red Shoulders strike back at Pailsen. Watch after episode 13.
OVA
Armored Trooper Votoms
#6 · 1 entry
- 6Episodes 14-52
Kummen, Sunsa and Quent arcs (1983-84): the rest of the TV series and the truth behind Chirico's past.
0/39
The Big Battle
#7 · 1 entry
- 7The Big Battle
1986 OVA set after the Quent climax and before the epilogue of episode 52. Self-contained; best right after the series.
OVA
Kakuyaku taru Itan
#8 · 1 entry
- 8Brilliantly Shining Heresy
Direct sequel (5 episodes, 1994) set 32 years after the TV series. Also called Shining Heresy.
OVA
Koei Futatabi
#9 · 1 entry
- 9Alone Again (Chirico's Return)
2011 OVA set between Shining Heresy and Phantom Arc, though it came out last. Also sold as Chirico's Return.
OVA
Genei-hen
#10 · 1 entry
- 10Phantom Arc
Phantom Arc (6 episodes, 2010): the latest point in Chirico's story, with Gotho, Vanilla and Coconna. Watch after Alone Again.
OVA
More on where to start
Checked November 2026
Then the prequels Roots of Ambition and Pailsen Files, then Shining Heresy, Alone Again and Phantom Arc.
The list below is story order, which puts the prequels first; most guides save them because they spoil the TV series.
Mellowlink, Case;Irvine and Finder are optional side stories.
What to skip
- Watch first
- Start with Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition.
- What to skip
- 1 entry is optional: Pailsen Files the Movie (Pailsen compilation). The story still tracks without them.
- Filler notes
- Pailsen Files the Movie (Pailsen compilation). Optional 2009 theatrical recut of the Pailsen Files OVA.
Side branches
Part of Armored Trooper Votoms, but outside the chronological order above. Each note says when it fits.
Armor Hunter Mellowlink
OVA · 12 episodes · 1988
Same war, different lead. Fully independent of Chirico's story; watch any time.
Case;Irvine
OVA · 2010
One-shot about Battling pilot Irvine Lester. Not connected to Chirico's story.
Votoms Finder
OVA · 2010
Alternate-universe one-shot with new characters and Altro mecha. Not part of the main timeline.
Votoms: Die Graue Hexe
Film · 2 parts · Part 1 Nov 20, 2026 (Japan)
Mamoru Oshii's new story, set late in the Hundred Years' War with new leads. Not part of Chirico's story. Part 2 date not announced.
The correct order to watch Armored Trooper Votoms, as one listShowHide
Watch Armored Trooper Votoms in this order. 10 entries, chronological.
- Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition (OVA)
- Pailsen Files (OVA)
- Pailsen compilation: Pailsen Files the Movie (movie) — optional
- Armored Trooper Votoms: Episodes 1-13
- The Last Red Shoulder (OVA)
- Armored Trooper Votoms: Episodes 14-52
- The Big Battle (OVA)
- Kakuyaku taru Itan: Brilliantly Shining Heresy (OVA)
- Koei Futatabi: Alone Again (Chirico's Return) (OVA)
- Genei-hen: Phantom Arc (OVA)
How this order works
AnimeChrono watch orders put every season, movie, OVA, ONA and special for a franchise in chronological story order, the order the events happen. When an OVA or movie takes place partway through a season, the episode range is split so it sits where it belongs. Entries you can skip are marked optional, and each order says where to start. Release order, sorted by air date, is a secondary view once every entry has a date. The orders began as a hand-curated set, and episode counts and air dates come from AniList. Fans maintain the orders from there. Any signed-in user can edit one. Edits from trusted contributors go live right away and the rest are reviewed first. Every change is versioned and can be reverted, and each order shows when it was last updated and last checked.
Something wrong or missing?
This order is maintained by the community. Report a problem, or sign in to fix it yourself.
Armored Trooper Votoms watch order FAQ
What order should I watch Armored Trooper Votoms in?
First watch: TV Episodes 1-13, The Last Red Shoulder, Episodes 14-52, then The Big Battle. Then the prequels Roots of Ambition and Pailsen Files, then Shining Heresy, Alone Again and Phantom Arc. The list below is story order, which puts the prequels first; most guides save them because they spoil the TV series. Mellowlink, Case;Irvine and Finder are optional side stories.
Where should I start Armored Trooper Votoms?
Start with the 1983 TV series, episode 1. Watch The Last Red Shoulder after episode 13 and The Big Battle after episode 52, then the prequels Roots of Ambition and Pailsen Files.
Should I watch Pailsen Files first?
Only for strict chronology. It is a prequel, but it was made in 2007 and spoils twists from the TV series, so most guides watch it after the series.
Where do The Last Red Shoulder and The Big Battle fit?
The Last Red Shoulder is set between episodes 13 and 14. The Big Battle is set just before the epilogue of episode 52, so watch it right after the series.
What order are the sequels in?
Brilliantly Shining Heresy, then Alone Again (Chirico's Return), then Phantom Arc. Alone Again came out last but is set between the other two.
Is Die Graue Hexe a sequel?
No. Mamoru Oshii's two-part film is a new story with new leads, set late in the Hundred Years' War. Part 1 opens in Japan on November 20, 2026.
What is the chronological order of Armored Trooper Votoms?
Start with Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition, then continue with Pailsen Files, Pailsen Files the Movie (Pailsen compilation), Episodes 1-13 (Armored Trooper Votoms), The Last Red Shoulder, and Episodes 14-52 (Armored Trooper Votoms), followed by 4 more entries. The full Armored Trooper Votoms watch order on this page has 10 entries across 9 series, listed in chronological viewing order.
What is the release order of Armored Trooper Votoms?
In the order they aired, start with Episodes 1-13 (Armored Trooper Votoms), then Episodes 14-52 (Armored Trooper Votoms), The Last Red Shoulder, The Big Battle, Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition, and Brilliantly Shining Heresy (Kakuyaku taru Itan), followed by 4 more entries. Release order follows air dates and is not the recommended chronological order.
How many episodes is Armored Trooper Votoms?
Armored Trooper Votoms has 52 TV episodes in this order, plus 1 movie and 7 OVAs.
Where do the Armored Trooper Votoms movies fit in the watch order?
Pailsen Files the Movie comes right after Pailsen Files.
Can I skip anything in Armored Trooper Votoms?
Yes. 1 entry is marked optional: Pailsen Files the Movie (Pailsen compilation). Everything else is part of the main story.
Is Armored Trooper Votoms finished?
Yes. Armored Trooper Votoms has finished airing, and this order covers everything released so far in chronological viewing order.
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