Armitage III
| Armitage III | |
| File:Armitage1.jpg Naomi Armitage | |
| Genre | Cyberpunk |
|---|---|
| Anime | |
| Armitage III | |
| Directed by | Hiroyuki Ochi |
| Studio | Anime International Company |
| Anime | |
| Armitage III: Poly-Matrix | |
| Directed by | Takuya Sato |
| Studio | Anime International Company |
| Anime | |
| Armitage III: Dual-Matrix | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
Armitage III (Japanese: アミテージ ザ サード) is a 1994 cyberpunk anime series based around Naomi Armitage, a highly advanced "Type-III" android.
The series began with the 4-part Original Video Animation "Armitage III" and spawned two movies. The first film is a shortened version of the OVA entitled Armitage III: Poly-Matrix, redubbed in English. The second movie, Armitage III: Dual-Matrix is a sequel set some years after the original story.
Plot
Template:Spoiler The year is 2179. The overpopulation of Earth has lead to the colonisation of Mars - with the aid of the "first type" androids, men were able to begin terraforming the unfriendly environment of Mars and build the city of Saint Lowell. Seventy years after the start of colonisation, the city is completed and inhabited by great numbers of people and "second type" robots, much improved versions of the "first types".
The story begins with a space shuttle nearing the destination of Saint Lowell's space port. On board is Ross Sylibus, a middle-aged cop from Chicago, USA, Earth. Syllibus asked to be transferred to Martian Police Department to escape from his past and haunting memories of his beloved one being murdered by a robot. At the Saint Lowell's space port he is to meet his new partner - a young Naomi Armitage from MPD.
On the same shuttle as Syllibus, travels Kelly McCannon - "the last country singer in the Universe". As the shuttle nears the terminal, a mysterious man is seen entering the cargo section; soon after this, the intruder is noticed and the alarms go off.
Later, as Ross finally gets off the shuttle, he witnesses a disturbing scene at the airport. First he gets bumped into by the mysterious man with a big suitcase and two guards. Soon after that, a young woman with a gun orders the men to stop and get their hands up. Puzzled, Ross notices a few drops of blood spilling from the mysterious man's suitdcase. A shootout between the young woman (who turns out to be Ross's new partner, Armitage) begins. The two robot guards are killed by Armitage and the mysterious man is wounded, but manages to escape. However, he leaves his suitcase behind - inside of which is a dead body of Kelly McCannon. To everybody's surprise and horror, McCannon turns out to be a robot - a new, never-seen-before "third type" android, that cannot be told apart from a real human.
Later, the mysterious man hacks into the public TV system and broadcasts the material taped by shuttle's security cameras. The tape shows the man murdering Kelly McCannon and reveals the fact of her being a robot to the entire city. The mysterious man, who introduces himself as Rene D'anclaude, reveals unbelivable news - the "third types" have been among the regular people for a long time and nobody can tell them apart from humans. He also reveals a list of "thirds" - it turns out, that a lot of well-known people are actually robots. Riots begin in the city as people start to capture and burn all the "thirds" they can find. Meanwhile, Rene D'anclaude proceeds with his extermination of the "thirds". The two main characters start their investigation and eventually find out, that the victims are women... only women.
One of them, in a brief moment just before dying, sends out a message with the list of "thirds" to save them from being slaughtered. Armitage receives it and goes her way to stop D'anclaude - and reveal a few secrets in the process.
MAJOR CHARACTERS
Naomi Armitage
Naomi Armitage is an illegal "third type" android - the most human-like robot ever. Armitage's creator is Dr. Asakura, whom she calls "father". Armitage becomes Ross Syllabus' partner when he joins the Mars Police Department. She is voiced in the 1994 Japanese version by Hiroko Kasahara, the 1995 English dub by B.G.Mills and the 1997 re-edit movie version by Elizabeth Berkley.
Ross Syllabus
Ross transferred from Earth's Chicago Police Department after an incident with a robot that left him crippled and his partner dead. He is only able to walk using a cybernetic leg. This incident is the cause for his hatred of robots. Voiced in the 1994 Japanese version by Yasunori Masutani, the 1995 English dub by Hank Wilspank and the 1997 re-edit movie version by Kiefer Sutherland.
Renee D'anclaude
Renee is also a third that was programmed to destroy all other thirds. His appearance was used for the line of "assassinriods" that he and Dr. Asakura developed together.
Dr. Asakura
Dr. Asakura is an artificial intelligence researcher and, along with Renee D'anclaude, the creator of the thirds. Naomi considers him her father.
Julian Moore
Julian, whose alias is "Pluto", is the last model of the Third series, and the only male. He helps Naomi discover her true identity and her origin.
Liuetenant Randolph
The Head of TCS, (Technical Criminal SWAT).
MINOR CHARACTERS
Eddie
He is Ross' supposed friend. He helps him throughout the movie. Voiced in the English dub by Bryan Cranston
List of OVA episodes
- Episode 1: Electro Blood (50 Minutes)
- Episode 2: Flesh & Stone (30 Minutes)
- Episode 3: Heart Core (30 Minutes)
- Episode 4: Bit of Love (30 Minutes)
Armitage III: Dual Matrix
Set some years after the original plot, this film follows Naomi Armitage as she investigates a military attack on robotics plant on Earth.
It had been several years since the events of the previous OVA. Naomi Armitage and Ross Sylibus, now living under assumed identities, are living in St. Lowell on Mars, along with their daughter, as husband and wife.
External links
- Armitage III at IMDb
- Armitage III (OAV) ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia