Strike Witches
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Vorlage:Nihongo is a light novel series originally created by Fumikane Shimada (who also illustrated) with Projekt K, and written by Noboru Yamaguchi. It was later adapted into two manga series, as well as an anime OVA directed by Kunihisa Sugishima and produced by Gonzo. The story revolves around teenage girls who are essentially moe anthropomorphizations of military planes. The OVA preview episode was released on January 1, 2007. A televised anime series later premiered on July 3, 2008. The TV version is officially shown on the internet by Gonzo in YouTube, Crunchyroll, and BOST TV with English subtitles.
Plot
Set in a world similar to Earth in the mid twentieth century, Strike Witches tells the story of a fight to protect that world using a combination of magic and technology. The titular Strike Witches, a group of young women with high magical potential, have been gathered together from various nations in a task force to fight against the enigmatic Neuroi, which made their first strike in the year 1939. This puzzling enemy force has appeared frequently and without warning in many areas across the world. The weapons of the Neuroi mostly take on forms similar to aircraft, but their most troubling tactic is the spreading of a corrosive miasma. Not only do normal humans have no defense against this miasma, but the remnants of the land affected by it are processed by the Neuroi into new weapons, crumbling huge sections of former nations into the sea. As the miasma seems to be unable to spread across large bodies of water, humanity has designated such areas as their main lines of defense.
In order to bring out their potential for use in battle, each Witch equips a unique machine onto their legs: the Striker Unit. With the Striker Unit equipped, they gain the ability to fly and their tapped magical potential provides the strength to utilize weapons far too heavy and powerful for a normal person. Also created is a defensive field that can protect the Witches from the Neuroi's miasma as well as other physical weaponry, making them humanity's trump card in the war. The franchise's main media focuses on the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, spearheading the counterattack in war-torn Europe.
Production
In a postscript column in Comp Ace, Fumikane Shimada had mentioned his desire to use his Mecha Musume concepts across a variety of media, leading to the production of the Strike Witches OVA by Gonzo. However, at about the same time Humikane was also contracted to create the character designs for Sky Girls, which had its televised run in late 2007. During this time there was no word on the further development of a Strike Witches animated series, although promotional items such as plastic figures of the OVA's characters were released. Not until December 2007 was the anime officially announced, after which details were slowly released, such as the casting of the remaining main characters that had no lines in the OVA.
While Shimada had participated in the initial production for both Strike Witches and Sky Girls, the two contrast in their execution of the mecha element. Sky Girls' Sonic Divers exemplify a futuristic approach, while the Striker Units are more fantastical with a closer connection to Shimada's original illustrations. With the use of World War II era prop fighters as a direct base for the details of each Striker and the weapons used by each Witch, the aerial combat aspect of the series is highly emphasized. In the OVA's mock battle sequence one can see various characters use tactics common to dogfights, such as exploiting the advantage of a smaller turning radius and attacking with the sun to one's back. Additionally, each main character uses a real ace pilot as their archetype, to varying degrees.
Distribution
Aside from the traditional televised broadcast and upcoming DVD sales, the series was also made available with English subtitles through YouTube, BOST TV and Crunchyroll,[1] using a simultaneous release schedule similar to that of The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk, also produced by Gonzo. The YouTube and Crunchyroll broadcasts operate under a streaming window, allowing users to freely watch each new episode of the series on the day of their release for a set amount of time. Crunchyroll also offers individual episodes to be purchased and downloaded during and after this streaming window has ended.[2]
Setting
The setting which Strike Witches takes place in is an altered version of Earth, ravaged by the Neuroi. Several large pieces of Earth's landmasses have been obliterated, drastically altering the appearance of the planet in comparison to its real-life counterpart. The nations which the main characters hail from are also based on major world powers of the time albeit with different names and altered territories.
Japan is known as Fuso, the United States is Liberion, Germany is Karlsland, France is Gallia, Great Britain is Britannia, the Soviet Union is Orussia, Italy is Romagna and Finland is Suomus.
Terminology
- Magic
Magic is a natural ability unique to Witches which manifests as a blue aura followed by the appearance of animal ears and tails. One exception is Mio's constantly glowing violet eye that she regulates with her eyepatch. Although physically taxing, control and technique can improve the expenditure of energy. Magic can be used for such things as healing, vastly enhancing strength and vision, and for stabilizing and enhancing weapons such as guns and swords.
- Witch
A female user of magic. Male users do not appear to exist in any of the media (though a mecha intended to supplant the Strike Witches is named "Warlock", or male magic user).
- Striker Unit
A pair of hybrid mechanical/magical propeller devices used by Witches for flight and worn over their legs. They are rigid, preventing movement of the knees and require close contact with the pilot's skin to activate, but can be disengaged on the field if needed. This is part of the reason the Witches do not wear pants while on standby (providing a vehicle for much of the series' fanservice.) When wearing a Striker a Witch's power is vastly increased, resulting in the constant manifestation of their animal ears and tails. It grants them the powers of high speed flight, increased physical abilities, and the ability to raise defensive shields. Strikers require high magical aptitude however and Witches who are either too weak or pass their prime cannot use them effectively. Each character's Striker is designed to resemble a type of World War II fighter plane.
- Witches Base
The 501st's personal base of operations in Britannian territory. It is an ornate castle that resembles Mont Saint-Michel, located on a small island jutting into the Strait of Dover near Folkestone. Its proximity to the Gallian coast makes it a strategic staging point for the Witches to quickly engage threats coming from the Neuroi-occupied European mainland.
- Neuroi
Mysterious entities composed of black honeycomb structure material harvested from conquered territory. They come in various sizes from small to gigantic; capable of self-sustained flight, rapid repair, and armed with directed energy weapons. Durable self-repairing Neuroi have special multi-faceted gems within them called Cores as their power sources and only Achilles' Heel. The Neuroi's designs, like many other elements in the series, have a historical basis in that they're modeled after experimental aircraft from the World War II era.
Characters
Episodes
Music
Opening theme:
- "Strike Witches: To Do What I Can" (Vorlage:Nihongo2), performed by Yoko Ishida
Ending theme:
- "Bookmark Ahead" (Vorlage:Nihongo2), performed by the main cast. "Bookmark Ahead" is sung as a duet, with the singers varying from episode to episode.