Armitage III: Poly-Matrix

At some point, creating a new version of an anime becomes obligatory. Expand, improve, and make it longer without any filler, like a South Park movie would with a tighter narrative constructed from a few supplementary scenes. The question is, did Armitage III: Poly-Matrix succeed or fail in that endeavor?

The film Armitage III: Poly-Matrix is an adaptation of the popular Armitage III anime. Armitage III: Poly-Matrix is a collection of the original OAV series' four episodes neatly packed in a ninety-minute package. Armitage III: Poly-Matrix was released as a video animation in 1996 and on VHS on October 15, 1997. Armitage III: Poly-Matrix, an anime film in the action and cyberpunk genres, was released on DVD on January 6, 2004. It is currently available to watch on Funimation. The film explores themes such as advanced androids, human-robot relationships, and the dangers of technology.

Chiaki J. Konaka, a Japanese novelist and author who wrote the scripts for the original Armitage III, also wrote the movie adaptation. He is best known for penning the storylines for the anime series Serial Experiments Lain, Digimon Tamers, Hellsing, and the television drama Ultraman.

The OAV for Armitage III included four directors. They include Hiroyuki Ochi, Satoshi Saga (eps 2-3), Takuya Satō (ep 1), and Yukio Okamoto (ep 4). Takuya Sato's episode one, which serves as the movie's and the OAV's introduction, sets the stage. Numerous popular television anime series feature his work, including Steins;Gate 0, Selector Infected WIXOSS, and Fate/Prototype.

Hiroyuki Ochi, the character designer for Armitage III, deserves a special mention. He has directed, storyboarded, designed characters, and overseen animation for numerous anime series, including Explorer Woman Ray, Solty Rei, Bastard!!, and Last Exile. Pioneer LDC and AIC co-produced Armitage III: Poly-Matrix. Yes, there was a time when Pioneer was a significant player in the anime industry. Finally, the Anime International Company (AIC) studio created Armitage III.

Because the storylines of the movie and the original anime video are very similar, I will summarize both of them here, but you can read the complete version of my review by following the link.

By 2046, people will have developed a healthy fear of robots and will stop using them. During this era, the existence of the robot type known as "seconds" becomes extremely dangerous. As far as the general public knows, the Seconds are the most recent robot series. Detective Ross Sylibus grew up in this society. After the death of his partner at the hands of a robot, Detective Sylibus requests a transfer to Mars.

When he arrives, he finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation involving a country singer on his flight. As he steps off the plane, his introduction to his partner, the sassy female police officer Armitage, plays out in front of his eyes. More women being murdered signals the start of a killing spree.

The investigation uncovers a previously unknown truth. Regarding robots, the Thirds are in a league of their own. More and more Thirds seem to be disappearing, suggesting that they are the target of a serial killer. In her pursuit of justice, Armitage reveals a secret. She herself is a third.

In Armitage III: Poly-Matrix, Naomi Armitage, a highly developed "Type-III" android, and Ross Syllabus, a police officer in a Martian colony, play the lead roles. Armitage, a cocky cybernetic cop in a seductive uniform, patrols a Mars city. She is an illegal "Third-type" android, the most human-like robot ever, and joins the Mars Police Department. When Ross Syllabus arrives on Mars, she becomes his partner. The duo discovers that a psychotic named D'anclaude is murdering women.

The main antagonist in Armitage III: Poly-Matrix is D'anclaude. D'anclaude is a man who discovers the secret of the newer Third-Type robots designed to interact undetected in human society and starts a movement to wipe them out. He is responsible for a rash of murders that begins when more women are killed.

The main difference between the movie and the OVA series is that the movie is a compilation of the four-episode OVA series edited into a 90-minute film. Some of the characters in the film have been redubbed. Keifer Sutherland (Metal Gear Solid, The Lost Boys) and Elizabeth Berkeley (Showgirls, Saved by the Bell) are the voice actors for Naomi and Ross in a brand-new English dub (there is no Japanese sub available).

Compared to the OVA series, I prefer the movie's original Japanese version because the English dub falls short. Sutherland and Berkeley are talented actors, but their voice work here fell flat. I adored Berkeley's performance as Jesse on Saved by the Bell, but Juliette Lewis, who provided Armitage's voice in the "Dual-Matrix" sequel, is superior.

The Armitage III OVA series and the film Armitage III: Poly-Matrix have fans, but opinions vary on which is better. There is no discernible difference in animation quality between the movie and the OAV. The original OVA also has more depth in terms of characterization. Even with the new material, the movie was more concise than before.

New sound effects were also added to this version of the film. Hiroyuki Namba of the Japanese progressive rock band Sense of Wonder composed the film's original score and theme songs. The ending theme was "Multi-Matrix," by Julian Mack.

The point about the behind-the-scenes action relating to Earth's position on Mars and the more profound politics remains. Perhaps the film was scaled down because AIC or Pioneer wanted to make more money. While Armitage II is a good anime, Ghost in the Shell quickly overshadowed it.

While it is a compilation of the OVA series and contains scenes not found in the OVA series, the Armitage III OVA series is more faithful to the original story than the film Armitage III: Poly-Matrix. The original OVA series consisted of four episodes, which were drastically reduced and edited for the film's theatrical release. Some scenes from the movie aren't in the OVAs, but those who watch the OVAs will get a much more in-depth look at the Thirds and the social conflicts between them and humans.

After all is said and done, I enjoyed both shows. The OAV was darker, with D'anclaude presented as a darker villain. On the other hand, the film was equally enjoyable as a cyberpunk action anime. It all comes down to personal preference; either way, you won't go wrong unless you prefer Japanese voice acting, in which case you must go sub, i.e., the OAV.