A Lesson from a Robot
Rina D. Hall

Voltes V, one of the greatest anime of all time. For Filipino children growing up in the late 70’s, Voltes V was a big part of our lives. A robot that has taught us the value of defending freedom, equality and that fighting for what is right entails a lot of sacrifices. Yes, the theme of Voltes V is somewhat mature and a tad bit tragic, but it has successfully transcended that delicate balance between reaching out to the level of children and at the same time, imparting important lessons for people of all ages. The story of Voltes V started on a distant planet, some 14,000 light years away from earth; it started with a single man’s dream of freedom and equality for his people, a noble Boazanian who was a genius in the sciences. He came to earth and took the name of Dr. Armstrong, where he married a scientist, Dr. Maryanne Armstrong; together they have three sons that will become a part of the Voltes team: Steve, Big Bert and little John. Dr. Armstrong knew of the cruelty of the horned class in Boazania (the ruling class) and the demented ambition of its emperor to conquer the universe, he knew it won’t be long before Boazania will invade earth, and so started creating Voltes V.

Voltes V is a five-part robot that has a lot of powerful gadgetry like the ultraelectromagnetic whips, tops, finger missiles, chain knuckles, round beam, and the laser sword! With every Boazanian monster they fought, each Voltes team member learns more about each other and how working together not only saves the earth but also preserves their own lives. The Armstrong brothers are more personally and emotionally enmeshed in this struggle, learning that their father, the creator of Voltes V, was also Boazanian, and that they will one day be reunited with him.

Voltes V is laden with drama, emphasizing on the sacrifices that people have done to help in the struggle for freedom against oppressors, that is probably the reason why I have to wait for twenty years to learn what happened to the Voltes V saga, like I said, Voltes V was shown in the Philippines in the late ‘70’s but due to a certain dictator named Marcos, the Martial Law babies never got to see the conclusion of Voltes V until 1999. As for me, I have finally learned the mystery of Dr. Armstrong and was a little emotional at the end of Voltes V when Steve and his brothers learned about their connection to Prince Zardoz. Voltes V might have been a childhood favorite but when I watched it again and this time watch it in its fullest, I realized that it might have been a childhood memory, but I know that Voltes V will always be a part of my life and the lesson it imparts will always be remembered! Let’s volt in!

Rina D. Hall
15. Jul 2003 07:39:19

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