Genre: Magic/Science Fiction.

First aired: OVA Jan 2007. Anime series July to Sept 2008, on Fukui TV

TV Anime series written by Tsuyoshi Tamai. Directed by Kazuhiro Takamura. Animation by Gonzo

Music: Opening theme “Strike Witches, To Do What I Can” performed by Yoko Ishida.

Closing theme “Bookmark A Head” performed by varying members of the cast.

A single, and album of music from the series, was released by Columbia Music International August and October 2008. (All of the above sourced from Wikipedia)

Adapted from the Magazine strip and Light novels illustrated by Humikane Shimada.

Duration: OVA + 12 episodes.

Synopsis:

It is the early 1940’s and the world is at war, but this is not the conflict we now call WW2. Instead the world has been invaded by an alien race we call the Neuroi! Europe has fallen to them, and the island nation of Britannia is the front line of defence against their dreadful incursions. Nations from all over the world are sending soldiers, equipment and scientists to aid in the defence.

Spear-heading this defence is the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, based on a small island/peninsular in the Straits of Dover. This is a very special unit.

It comprises personnel from all over the world.

They are all teenage/young adult girls.

They are witches!

Their magical ability enables them to use the Striker Unit! A pair of magically powered engines that fit onto the girls legs, enabling them to fly at speeds close to the speed of sound, and carry heavy weapons. Thus, the girls are known as the “Strike Witches”

The inventor of the Striker Units was thought to have been killed in an explosion at his lab. However, at the start of our story, his young daughter, the latest in a line of witches with powerful healing magic, receives a letter from him. At the same time, she is visited by one of the 501st Officers, who is touring the world looking for new recruits. She agrees to go to Britannia with the officer in order to find out the truth about her father. On the way, their battleship is attacked by the Neuroi!



Principal Characters:



Miyafuji, Yoshika. (Voiced by Fukuen, Misato)

Her father invented the Striker Units. Her mother, and Grandmother are both healing witches, and she herself has considerable, but untrained, healing powers. This background has given her a natural aversion to fighting, and she initially rejects the recruitment to the Strike Witches. She goes to Britannia to seek knowledge of her father, who left when she was very young. Her arrival at the Base causes some resentment amongst the established squadron members.






Sakamoto, Mio. (Voiced by Chiba, Saiko)

The oldest serving member of the squadron, she was the first witch ever to use a Striker Unit, and she worked closely with Yoshika’s father. She has been sent to Fuso on a recruitment drive, and Yoshika was her principal target. She has a magical eye, which she conceals under an eye-patch, which is able to spot the enemy control units (cores). Destroying a core is the only way to bring down an enemy vehicle. She fights using a traditional Katana as well as other, more modern weapons.



There are 9 other members of the 501st Fighter Wing.

Perrine Clostermann - Hero worships Sakamoto, and as very jealous of Yoshika.

Lynette Bishop - A bit clumsy, but is the first to befriend Yoshika. They train together, with Sakamoto as their instructor.

Charlotte Yeager - A speed freak, who holds the land speed record, her dream is to break the sound barrier.

Minna-Dietlinde Wilke - The Commanding Officer of the squadron. Caring and considerate, there is considerable sadness in her past.

Erica Hartman - The member with the highest confirmed “kills” of Neuroi vehicles.

Gertrude Barkhorn - Another high kill pilot, she fights to protect her young sister, in a coma after a Neuroi attack.

Francesca Lucchini - Always goofing off, she is most often found asleep in unusual places.

Eila Juutilainen - Likes to play tricks, and tells fortunes using Tarot cards.

Sanya Litvyak - The night patrol specialist. Sleeps all day, often in other peoples rooms. Needs holding up and guiding about if required to be out of bed during the day.



What did I think?

My first thought was that this is a series produced almost entirely with a fan service in mind. The girls are all young and very pretty, and spend the entire series without any trousers or skirts on! This presents some very odd pictures at times, especially when they are in military uniform. From the waist up, with their smart jackets and caps, they are the very picture of military efficiency. Then, all they have on are their knickers (panties), or bikinis. Coupled with the appearance of animal ears and tails when they use their magical powers, you have “something for everyone” appeal.

The story is very watch-able. There are the usual breast comparison scenes, and on a few occasions we see the girls sharing a bed, but the expected yuri romance didn’t materialise, although it was always lurking just underneath the surface. One of the most enjoyable episodes is where Hartman can’t find her panties. She goes down to the bath house, and “borrows” a pair from a locker. This of course means that somebody else now doesn’t have any, so they also “borrow” some from another locker, and so on! We are treated to a scene where all thoughts of war are dispelled as the girls race around trying to catch the panty thief.

There is just enough character development for you to identify with most of the members of the squadron, and their reasons for fighting, but we never get to examine any in depth , and some not at all. The dogfight scenes are enjoyable, and don’t dominate the episodes, which is good.

It was obvious that Yoshika was going to provide some pivotal role to ending the war right from the outset. Her drive to get to know the Nueroi better results in her being placed under house arrest, and eventually to the unit being disbanded. When the new mechanised replacement for them goes rogue, it is down to her to save the day.

I do recommend that you watch it, as long as your not expecting to much. At 12 episodes, it is just long enough for some light hearted relief.

Season 2 is due out later this year (or so it said somewhere), and I will certainly be watching it!

-Review by emored13

Loli, Ecchi, Science Fictionish half meccha attachment, magic, unknown non-human conquerors. When you see all of these genres put together, you think comedy or bad show. This anime actually pulled through to make all of those things come together in a way that works; that alone is an accomplishment. You can kind of see the conquerors as "Angels" from Evangelion and the only way to destroy them is through a bunch of special children. This time, it's little girls who all have certain magical abilities. At the time they use their powers "Furry powers activate!" (not from the show, I just made that up), the girls grow matching animal ears and tails from bunnies to cats. Ofcourse they add the science fiction portion to the show where you put your feet in and it converts your magic into fuel to take flight and maneuver in the skies as if you were a jet. Then there are the heavy weapons that are somehow light enough to be carried by these little girls who are flying around with ease, shooting away at plane sized targets in the sky shooting lazer beams at them. The loli ecchi factor of the anime is good since it doesn't focus on that; ecchi focus is reserved for comedy and hentai. The girls seem to have certain some times indirect sometimes direct attractions to one another, which is always good. At the same time, it doesn't focus on the main story all the time but doesn't stray so far as to make it pointless. The balance for this anime was really well done, especially since they had an interesting combination of genres that normally do anything but go together. I would recommend this anime to those who enjoy watching any of the genres listed.