Armor Hunter Mellowlink

Armor Hunter Mellowlink
機甲猟兵メロウリンク (Kikō Ryōhei Merourinku)
Genre	Action, Mecha, Science fiction
Original video animation
Directed by	Takeyuki Kanda
Studio	Sunrise
Released	November 21, 1988 – April 28, 1989
Episodes	12
Novel
Written by	Ryōsuke Takahashi
Illustrated by	Moriyasu Taniguchi
Published by	Asahi Sonorama
Imprint	Sonorama Bunko
Published	March 31, 1989
Manga
Armored Trooper Votoms Gaiden: Defenseless City
Written by	Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Illustrated by	Fumiaki Shibata
Published by	Bandai
Published	February 20, 1993
Anime and Manga Portal

Armor Hunter Mellowlink (機甲猟兵メロウリンク, Kikō Ryōhei Merourinku^?) was a twelve episode anime OVA spinoff of Armored Trooper Votoms. It takes place in the same universe (and time, in some episodes, almost the same places) as Votoms, but the two stories are entirely independent of each other.

Mellowlink is the story of a soldier whose unit is sacrificed on the battlefield for reasons unknown. Although he was not meant to survive, the main character, Ality Mellowlink, manages to survive only to be framed for a crime he did not commit. Mellowlink escapes his captors and begins hunting down his former commanding officers, both to get revenge for his dead platoon members and to find out the nature of the conspiracy that led to their death.

The series is available for download on Bandai Visual's official website and the Japanese DVD boxset was released on December 6, 2006. The series was previously issued twice on laserdisc, once as six individual volumes, and once as a three disc box set along with the two soundtracks.

Characters

Ality Mellowlink (メロウリンク・アリティー, Merourinku Aritī^?)

The protagonist of the story is a former AT soldier whose squad, for reasons unknown, is stripped of their status near the end of the war and forced to fight as an infantry unit without armor and using only obsolete or old weapons. Basically they become a last stand unit that is not expected to survive. Episode 5: Battlefield shows us the reason why Mellowlink is in the position he is in. The challenges of fighting Armored Troopers out in the open eventually takes its toll on his squad and the majority of his squadmates are killed in fierce fighting with the enemy. His commanding officer Shoutaichou Shuepps, shields him from a pair of soldiers sent by the top brass to finish off the unit once and for all. Mellowlink the lone survivor then becomes a scapegoat from which the top brass all seek pin blame on him and his unit for anything that went wrong, ignoring the orders they gave to his squad. This becomes known as the Pranbandol Scandal and with the trap well laid Mellowlink storms out of the court, steals the AT rifle he used during the war as well as the dogtags of all his perished comrades. Escaping into the wilderness he plans his revenge on all the commanding officers that sentenced him and his unit to the miserable fate he now bears witness to alone. Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto

Lulucy/Furureru C. Helumesion (ルルシー・ラモン, Rurushī Ramon^?)

Pretty and adventurous, Lulucy is a young girl that has a serious interest in Mellowlink. After meeting in the first episode Lulucy became a fixture of the world in which Mellowlink inhabits. She is worldy, streetwise and willing to help Mellowlink in his mission on a few occasions. She is fond of referring to him simply as "Boy" using part of his last name, "Mellow" sparingly. It is revealed in episode 7 that she has a history with an important Commander in the military. Episode 8 further reveals that she is indeed the niece of Commander Oscar von Helumesion, a higher up in the military that is connected to the incident concerning Mellowlink's units disgrace and destruction. It is also revealed in episode 8 that she is a princess of the Kabia Nobility and her full name is Furureru C. Helumesion. Her father died and her mother unable to bear the loss committed suicide. Her uncle apparently stole the families money and prestige leaving her a drifter. Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa

Keak Cardine (キーク・キャラダイン, Kīku Kyaradain^?)

Tall, blonde and handsome, Mr. Jui is a shadowy figure that seems to always be in the same place as Mellowlink. Having first met Mellowlink in Episode 1 Mr. Jui randomly shows up in the vicinity of Mellowlink as his revenge mission progresses. The exact purpose of his interest in Mellowlink is hidden. Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka

Episodes

Armor Hunter Mellowlink consists of twelve 30-minute OVA episodes released in pairs from November 21, 1988 to April 28, 1989.

#	Title	Original release date
01	"Stage 01: Wilderness" "Suteiji Wan: Uirudanesu" (Stage 01 ウイルダネス)	November 21, 1988
Mellowlink is on the run as he tries to assassinate the first of his prey.
02	"Stage 02: Colosseum" "Suteiji Tsū: Koroshiamu" (Stage 02 コロシアム)	November 21, 1988
Mellowlink fights in an AT Battling arena, where his next target is considered "the best" AT pilot there is, and known for squeezing to death all those who lose to him.
03	"Stage 03: Jungle" "Suteiji Surī: Janguru" (Stage 03 ジャングル)	December 21, 1988
Mellowlink's next target is a Major who has carved out a life for himself as a rich man in the Kingdom of Kummen. While relishing a rare chance to hunt down Veela Guerrillas on his land, Mellowlink comes upon him mid-attack, and proves to be more than the Major bargained for.
04	"Stage 04: Leaning Tower" "Suteiji Fō: Rīningu Tawā" (Stage 04 リーニングタワー)	December 21, 1988
Mellowlink is trapped aboard a crashed ship, as he duels his next target to the death. This time however, it's him who is cornered.
05	"Stage 05: Battlefield" "Suteiji Faibu: Batorufīrudo" (Stage 05 バトルフィールド)	January 21, 1989
Mellowlink's motorcycle breaks down while traveling between locations. As he waits out a passing acid-rain storm, he dreams of the deaths of his comrades, and how his endeavor for revenge began.
06	"Stage 06: Prison" "Suteiji Shikusu: Purizun" (Stage 06 プリズン)	January 21, 1989
Mellowlink is locked up in a prison where his next target is the warden. Beset by both the other prisoners and the warden's interrogations, he bides his time as he awaits Lulucy to arrive, with her performing troupe, to give him his gun in secret.
07	"Stage 07: Railway" "Suteiji Sebun: Reiruuei" (Stage 07 レイルウェイ)	February 21, 1989
Mellowlink stows away on a train headed deep into wilderness territory where Bandits are prone to attack. The train swaps its original engine for a battle armed and armored engine as it takes on its new and all important passenger General Helumesion and Major Boil. Quietly Mr. Jui slips on board the train and coincidentally Lulucy is also travelling on the train as well. The train begins its journey and the raiders led by a Captain Ganard plot their attack. Ganard, a former commanding officer in the army is one of the many officers responsible for the misfortune that befell Mellowlink and his unit. Lulucy leaves her cabin and proceeds to the dining car for some breakfast. As she walks past the seated passengers the notices a bald obese man and turns to face him. It is her uncle General Helumesion. They exchange words as Mr. Jui observes from a distance. The conversation ends with Lulucy slapping her uncle. The bandits attack as military officers bring out weapons to return fire at them. During the firefight Mellowlink emerges on the outside of one of the rail cars. He recognizes the bright red AT leading the bandits as the personal mech of Officer Ganard and commandeering a bandit cycle, makes haste in attacking Ganard. Mellowlink manages to board Ganard's AT and Ganard fearing for his life rams the train, flinging Mellowlink harshly inside the train at the feet of Lulucy. After much verbal back and forth Ganard recognizes Mellowlink and his mission. They fight, with Mellowlink fatally impaling Ganard upon his rifle's bayonet then ejecting him out the hole in the train they came through. Helumesion and his second in command are safe as they disconnected the engine from the remaining cars. He laughs at the escape they have made. Mellowlink goes to the landing spot of Ganard and listens to his final words. As Helumesion's train escapes, Ganard remarks openly to Mellowlink that he allowed his real enemy to escape, referring to Helumesion. Mellowlink in shock questions Ganard and his last words are "That was the only guy you should kill." Mellowlink still unsure is made aware by Lulucy. She tells him Helumesion's full name and that as a merchant from Merukia the pranbandol was controlled by him. The episode ends with them stranded and Mr. Jui looking on remarking to himself that "Things just got interesting."
08	"Stage 08: Ghost Town" "Suteiji Eito: Gōsuto Taun" (Stage 08 ゴーストタウン)	February 21, 1989
Mellowlink and Lulucy flee the train after being discovered by border guards and become trapped in the ghost town of Kerama City. Kerama City was a processing refinery for "Polymalingeleki", the muscle activator/refresher for the ATs. Mellowlink uses this as a trap for the forces of Major Boil. Boil eventually corners Mellowlink and Lulucy and a fist fight ensues. Boil bests Mellowlink and takes Lulucy by force, his men accidentally set off the Polymalingeleki destroying much of Kerama City and forcing Mellowlink to abandon his hold on Boil's AT. Mellowlink watches as Boil flies off with Lulucy, firing his gun in the air in anger.
09	"Stage 09: Forest" "Suteiji Nain: Foresuto" (Stage 09 フォレスト)	March 21, 1989
Mellowlink fights to kill his next target and to rescue Lulucy, who has turned out be of Nobility. What's more, he is fighting at her castle.
10	"Stage 10: Castle" "Suteiji Ten: Kyassuru" (Stage 10 キャッスル)	March 21, 1989
Mellowlink's final showdown with Major Boil.
11	"Stage 11: Base" "Suteiji Irebun: Base" (Stage 11 ベース)	April 28, 1989
Mellowlink travels to the base where Helumesion is the commander. Lt. Cardine's true agenda is revealed.
12	"Last Stage" "Rasuto Sutēji" (ラストステージ)	April 28, 1989
Initially hunted down by the bases guard's, Mellowlink is able to escape with Lulucy when it it becomes apparent that the 100-year War has begun again, with the Balarant moving into position to bombard the base. Among the falling ordnance, Mellowlink returns to the base for one last final showdown in the name of his fallen comrades.

Theme songs

Opening: Soldier Blue (ソルジャー・ブルー^?)

Performed By: Norio Sakai

Ending: Vanity

Performed By: Kikou Ryouhei

External links

• Armor Hunter Mellowlink (OVA) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Official Bandai Channel Armor Hunter Mellowlink website (Japanese)
• Official VAP Armor Hunter Mellowlink website (Japanese)