Armitage III: Difference between revisions

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In the distant future, Mars has been successfully colonized by humankind and their robotic helpmates. Its domed cities are comfortable and cosmopolitan, and its population sophisticated and prosperous enough to support tours by famous performers from Earth. But one such performer, a country-western singer, is assassinated by a mysterious assailant when she arrives at the Martian spaceport.
In the distant future, Mars has been successfully colonized by humankind and their robotic helpmates. Its domed cities are comfortable and cosmopolitan, and its population sophisticated and prosperous enough to support tours by famous performers from Earth. But one such performer, a country-western singer, is assassinated by a mysterious assailant when she arrives at the Martian spaceport.


The investigation into her killing is assigned to police officer Ross Sylibus, himself newly transferred from Earth in the wake of a tragedy that left him the possessor of a bionic leg. He is partnered with petite, provocative plainclothes cop Naomi Armitage. What looks like a comprehensible (if tragic) killing, though, takes a confusing turn when it's discovered that the dead singer was not a human woman, but an android of hitherto unseen sophistication. And that she was not the only one of her kind living undercover among humanity -- nor was she the only one of her kind recently murdered.
The investigation into her killing is assigned to police officer Ross Sylibus, himself newly transferred from Earth in the wake of a tragedy that left him the possessor of a bionic leg. He is partnered with petite, provocative plainclothes cop Naomi Armitage. What looks like a comprehensible (if tragic) killing, though, takes a confusing turn when it's discovered that the dead singer was not a human woman, but an android of hitherto unseen sophistication. And that she was not the only one of her kind living undercover among humanity—nor was she the only one of her kind recently murdered.


What is the secret of the Thirds, the latest generation of robotics technology? Who is killing them, and why? And what is Naomi's own hidden secret? As Syllabus and Armitage delve deeper into the mystery, they must come face to face with prejudice, sisterhood, and ultimately the very definition of what it means to be human.
What is the secret of the Thirds, the latest generation of robotics technology? Who is killing them, and why? And what is Naomi's own hidden secret? As Syllabus and Armitage delve deeper into the mystery, they must come face to face with prejudice, sisterhood, and ultimately the very definition of what it means to be human.


A four-episode [[OVA]] miniseries written by [[Chiaki Konaka]], ''[[Armitage III]]'' is tightly plotted and action-packed, yet does not stint on philosophical questions and quandaries. It is old enough to have been created entirely with traditional hand-drawn animation; quality control is high, though, and there is no sign of "rushed" or careless work. Both characters and backgrounds are crisp and detailed -- the Martian cityscapes are a joy to behold at times, as are the main players in the drama, particularly Armitage herself.
A four-episode [[OVA]] miniseries written by [[Chiaki Konaka]], '''''Armitage III''''' is tightly plotted and action-packed, yet does not stint on philosophical questions and quandaries. It is old enough to have been created entirely with traditional hand-drawn animation; quality control is high, though, and there is no sign of "rushed" or careless work. Both characters and backgrounds are crisp and detailed—the Martian cityscapes are a joy to behold at times, as are the main players in the drama, particularly Armitage herself.


''[[Armitage III]]'', as brief as it is, spawned a sequel movie called ''Dual Matrix''. It is somewhat less compelling, plotwise, than the original series, and a switch from traditional animation to computer-assisted methods resulted in some unappealing changes in character designs -- Armitage, for example, went from looking cute-sexy in a leather-Loli way to looking like a psychotic housewife(though in all fairness, she sort of was a psychotic housewife, and with good reason!)
'''''Armitage III''''', as brief as it is, spawned a sequel movie called ''Dual Matrix''. It is somewhat less compelling, plotwise, than the original series, and a switch from traditional animation to computer-assisted methods resulted in some unappealing changes in character designs—Armitage, for example, went from looking cute-sexy in a leather-Loli way to looking like a psychotic housewife(though in all fairness, she sort of was a psychotic housewife, and with good reason!)


In North America, ''Armitage'' was one of Pioneer/[[Geneon]]'s first wave of imports in the early 1990s. Unlike most of the other shows in that noteworthy premiere, though, ''Armitage'' suffers from an uneven dub cast. In particular, Syllabus is quite wooden in English. To complicate matters, though, Pioneer [[Compilation Movie|edited together the four OVA episodes into a feature-length "motion picture"]] called ''Armitage III: Polymatrix'' and then dubbed it a ''second'' time with "name" actors -- Keifer Sutherland as Syllabus and Elizabeth Berkeley as Armitage. Pioneer has also brought the sequel movie to North America, with yet a ''third'' dub cast, this one featuring [[Juliette Lewis]] as Armitage.
In North America, ''Armitage'' was one of Pioneer/[[Geneon]]'s first wave of imports in the early 1990s. Unlike most of the other shows in that noteworthy premiere, though, ''Armitage'' suffers from an uneven dub cast. In particular, Syllabus is quite wooden in English. To complicate matters, though, Pioneer [[Compilation Movie|edited together the four OVA episodes into a feature-length "motion picture"]] called ''Armitage III: Polymatrix'' and then dubbed it a ''second'' time with "name" actors—Keifer Sutherland as Syllabus and Elizabeth Berkeley as Armitage. Pioneer has also brought the sequel movie to North America, with yet a ''third'' dub cast, this one featuring [[Juliette Lewis]] as Armitage.


A spoilerific note on the title: {{spoiler|1=The title is often read, incorrectly, as ''Armitage 3'', which might lead some viewers to wonder as to the whereabouts of the nonexistent "first two" Armitage OVAs. The title is correctly read as if it were the name of a person--''Armitage the Third''--which rather spoils the big reveal regarding Naomi's true nature. One imagines the creators might have selected the title intentionally, such that the viewer reads it differently before and after seeing the series.}}
A spoilerific note on the title: {{spoiler|1=The title is often read, incorrectly, as ''Armitage 3'', which might lead some viewers to wonder as to the whereabouts of the nonexistent "first two" Armitage OVAs. The title is correctly read as if it were the name of a person--''Armitage the Third''--which rather spoils the big reveal regarding Naomi's true nature. One imagines the creators might have selected the title intentionally, such that the viewer reads it differently before and after seeing the series.}}
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* [[Da Chief]]
* [[Da Chief]]
* [[Deadly Upgrade]]/[[Super Mode]]: In ''Dual Matrix''. "Heaven's Door."
* [[Deadly Upgrade]]/[[Super Mode]]: In ''Dual Matrix''. "Heaven's Door."
* [[Evil Knockoff]]/[[Evil Twin|Evil Twins]]/[[Robot Me]]: The twin Armitage clones from ''Dual Matrix''.
* [[Evil Knockoff]]/[[Evil Twin]]s/[[Robot Me]]: The twin Armitage clones from ''Dual Matrix''.
* [[Fan Service]]
* [[Fan Service]]
* [[Fantastic Racism]]: The witchhunt against the Thirds, and the anti-robot tension in Martian society in general.
* [[Fantastic Racism]]: The witchhunt against the Thirds, and the anti-robot tension in Martian society in general.
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* [[Small Girl, Big Gun]]
* [[Small Girl, Big Gun]]
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: ''Armitage III'' clearly takes inspiration from [[Isaac Asimov]]'s ''[[The Caves of Steel]]''. Though {{spoiler|Naomi Armitage}} is most probably cuter than R. Daneel Olivaw.
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: ''Armitage III'' clearly takes inspiration from [[Isaac Asimov]]'s ''[[The Caves of Steel]]''. Though {{spoiler|Naomi Armitage}} is most probably cuter than R. Daneel Olivaw.
* [[Straw Feminist|Straw Feminists]]: Earth's government. The [[Backstory]] is given in snippets, but a key plot element is that feminists have become political powerhouses equivalent to Greens. It is implied by the presence of an Earth "observer" that on Earth, women have gained status equivalent to modern-day South African whites - and few are willing to give that up just because [[Mars Needs Women]]. Space has been colonized, and Mars has been partially [[Terraform|Terraformed]], but has thus been unable to draw enough women to the planet to breed new Martians. Androids known as "[[A Mech by Any Other Name|Seconds]]" were created first as a source of labor, then upgraded to [[Ridiculously Human Robot|Ridiculously Human Robots]] as a immigration draw; come to Mars and leave the shrews behind for a [[Extreme Doormat|sweet, willing]] [[Mega Corp|conCeption]] [[Sex Bot]]! The long term solution was to {{spoiler|''build'' fertile women - the titular "Thirds"; robots so human that they can be '''impregnated''' -- and actually raise the children they give birth to. When the Straw Feminists find out about the plan, the threat to their power base pisses them off to no end, resulting in an ultimatum; scrap the baby machines or Mommy will come do it personally, [[The War of Earthly Aggression|along with as much of the landscape as necessary]].}}
* [[Straw Feminist]]s: Earth's government. The [[Backstory]] is given in snippets, but a key plot element is that feminists have become political powerhouses equivalent to Greens. It is implied by the presence of an Earth "observer" that on Earth, women have gained status equivalent to modern-day South African whites - and few are willing to give that up just because [[Mars Needs Women]]. Space has been colonized, and Mars has been partially [[Terraform]]ed, but has thus been unable to draw enough women to the planet to breed new Martians. Androids known as "[[A Mech by Any Other Name|Seconds]]" were created first as a source of labor, then upgraded to [[Ridiculously Human Robot]]s as a immigration draw; come to Mars and leave the shrews behind for a [[Extreme Doormat|sweet, willing]] [[Mega Corp|conCeption]] [[Sex Bot]]! The long term solution was to {{spoiler|''build'' fertile women - the titular "Thirds"; robots so human that they can be '''impregnated''' -- and actually raise the children they give birth to. When the Straw Feminists find out about the plan, the threat to their power base pisses them off to no end, resulting in an ultimatum; scrap the baby machines or Mommy will come do it personally, [[The War of Earthly Aggression|along with as much of the landscape as necessary]].}}
* [[Stripperiffic]]
* [[Stripperiffic]]
* [[Suicide Attack]]: D'anclaude has a habit of turning second-generation robots into walking bombs.
* [[Suicide Attack]]: D'anclaude has a habit of turning second-generation robots into walking bombs.
* [[Super Prototype]]: {{spoiler|Naomi}}
* [[Super Prototype]]: {{spoiler|Naomi}}
* [[Technopath]]
* [[Technopath]]
* [[Terraform|Terraforming]]: Taking place on Mars during the story.
* [[Terraform]]ing: Taking place on Mars during the story.
* [[There Can Be Only One]]
* [[There Can Be Only One]]
* [[The War of Earthly Aggression]]: A low-intensity version -- the Thirds were designed to help pave the way for Martian independence (because {{spoiler|[[Mars Needs Women]] even if they have to ''build them''}}), and D'anclaude's goal was to ensure that couldn't happen.
* [[The War of Earthly Aggression]]: A low-intensity version—the Thirds were designed to help pave the way for Martian independence (because {{spoiler|[[Mars Needs Women]] even if they have to ''build them''}}), and D'anclaude's goal was to ensure that couldn't happen.
* [[Torches and Pitchforks]]: D'anclaude drives the Martian populace to this against one of the Thirds.
* [[Torches and Pitchforks]]: D'anclaude drives the Martian populace to this against one of the Thirds.
* [[Virtual Ghost]]: ''Dual Matrix'' spoiler -- {{spoiler|Julian}}
* [[Virtual Ghost]]: ''Dual Matrix'' spoiler -- {{spoiler|Julian}}

Revision as of 05:42, 13 July 2021

In the distant future, Mars has been successfully colonized by humankind and their robotic helpmates. Its domed cities are comfortable and cosmopolitan, and its population sophisticated and prosperous enough to support tours by famous performers from Earth. But one such performer, a country-western singer, is assassinated by a mysterious assailant when she arrives at the Martian spaceport.

The investigation into her killing is assigned to police officer Ross Sylibus, himself newly transferred from Earth in the wake of a tragedy that left him the possessor of a bionic leg. He is partnered with petite, provocative plainclothes cop Naomi Armitage. What looks like a comprehensible (if tragic) killing, though, takes a confusing turn when it's discovered that the dead singer was not a human woman, but an android of hitherto unseen sophistication. And that she was not the only one of her kind living undercover among humanity—nor was she the only one of her kind recently murdered.

What is the secret of the Thirds, the latest generation of robotics technology? Who is killing them, and why? And what is Naomi's own hidden secret? As Syllabus and Armitage delve deeper into the mystery, they must come face to face with prejudice, sisterhood, and ultimately the very definition of what it means to be human.

A four-episode OVA miniseries written by Chiaki Konaka, Armitage III is tightly plotted and action-packed, yet does not stint on philosophical questions and quandaries. It is old enough to have been created entirely with traditional hand-drawn animation; quality control is high, though, and there is no sign of "rushed" or careless work. Both characters and backgrounds are crisp and detailed—the Martian cityscapes are a joy to behold at times, as are the main players in the drama, particularly Armitage herself.

Armitage III, as brief as it is, spawned a sequel movie called Dual Matrix. It is somewhat less compelling, plotwise, than the original series, and a switch from traditional animation to computer-assisted methods resulted in some unappealing changes in character designs—Armitage, for example, went from looking cute-sexy in a leather-Loli way to looking like a psychotic housewife(though in all fairness, she sort of was a psychotic housewife, and with good reason!)

In North America, Armitage was one of Pioneer/Geneon's first wave of imports in the early 1990s. Unlike most of the other shows in that noteworthy premiere, though, Armitage suffers from an uneven dub cast. In particular, Syllabus is quite wooden in English. To complicate matters, though, Pioneer edited together the four OVA episodes into a feature-length "motion picture" called Armitage III: Polymatrix and then dubbed it a second time with "name" actors—Keifer Sutherland as Syllabus and Elizabeth Berkeley as Armitage. Pioneer has also brought the sequel movie to North America, with yet a third dub cast, this one featuring Juliette Lewis as Armitage.

A spoilerific note on the title: The title is often read, incorrectly, as Armitage 3, which might lead some viewers to wonder as to the whereabouts of the nonexistent "first two" Armitage OVAs. The title is correctly read as if it were the name of a person--Armitage the Third--which rather spoils the big reveal regarding Naomi's true nature. One imagines the creators might have selected the title intentionally, such that the viewer reads it differently before and after seeing the series.

Tropes used in Armitage III include:

"Surely the ironic humor of this hasn't escaped you?"

"It's a little too angelic for my taste."

Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Armitage_III?oldid=1909958"