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Hachiko's Strike Witches Tv Review

Strike Witches

Strike Witches tv Review

Related: Brave Witches

Story & Characters

All right, MiniTokyoites. It’s time for you to open up those history textbooks, because class is in session. Today's lesson: World War II NEVER happened. That's right. World War II never happened. At all. I want you to forget about the liberation of Berlin and the death camps, or the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the German lighting war, or the Battle of the Bulge, or even D-Day. The stories you hear from veterans of the Enola Gay flight, or the lives brave men sacrificed on the fields of Normandy...erase them from your head because they are the stuff of myths.

Actually, what happened during that time was something different: the Allied and Axis Powers had a bigger threat to deal with: the Neuroi. And this was a menacing fleet that neither side could stop. Not even both sides combined could hold the Neuroi at bay...

Until a group of eleven young women representing countries from both the Allies and Axis rose to this insurmountable challenge.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, sets the stage for Strike Witches. It is the story of the 501st Wing, and how one newcomer makes an impact that would be felt for 13 straight episodes. The different countries that the Witches hail from are similar to those involved in the war. For example, the Fuso Empire is the Empire of Japan, Karlsland is Germany, Suomus is Finland, and Liberion is the United States. And all of the Witches are inspired by their male counterparts. For instance, Charlotte E. Yeager is inspired by Chuck Yeager, while Francesca Lucchini is inspired by the biplane fighter ace Franco Lucchini.

While the background for the plotline and the characters are well-intended, the plot synopsis feels formulaic and unoriginal. Here is a young girl by the name of Yoshika Miyafuji (inspired by her male counterpart Kaneyoshi Mutoh), who is the daughter of the presumably-0eceased creator of the Striker Units, and after a slight hesitation, signs herself up for it. It's akin to the Spirit of St. Louis getting its entire trajectory wrong, and flying towards the Bermuda Triangle instead of Europe.

The plot doesn’t start to thicken and go somewhere until late in the series. By this point, somewhere translates to nowhere for Strike Witches, and by the end of the show, it still doesn't bring closure that I would have preferred. So for this, I give the story a 5.

Rating: 5

Art

Next chapter, please. Now if you like airplanes, this series is for you. If you like anthromophizations, this series is for you. If you like airplanes AND anthromorphizations, this is a series made for you. Gonzo cuts very few corners, if any, in animating Strike Witches’ battle scenes. The background work is rich and crisp, putting you, the viewer, in front of the action.

The visual effects from the action scenes have a shimmery, 3-D feel to it. They mix well with the sound. I commend the texture details, especially when you see the Neuroi cores get destroyed by the Witches.

The cut shots and panning transitions of this Strike Witches are, how should say it, an adventure. And those of you know where I am hinting at. One might say, "Hachiko, you don't even need to go further, because the details of the water and sky in Strike Witches are fantastic (pun not intended)."

And allow me to ask you this question: Who doesn't love seeing a young girl slip into some gear, gain ears and a tail, and propel herself like a [airplane name] or [another airplane name], carrying artillery? It's an interesting take on the fighter planes and overall aircraft of World War II.

The low points for the art are the service shots. I feel they are over the top. Too over the top. The fan service of Strike Witches may be the reason why some viewers may gravitate to this show. The censoring is there for a reason.

I will give the art a 7.

Rating: 7

Sound

Turn to the next chapter in your books, boys and girls.
At this point you are reading this review and may be saying, "Wow. This is a series that I'm not going to give even a single blink to, thanks to Professor Hachiko’s review." But there are some pluses, if few. Strike Witches' background music is a refreshing plus for the ears. It's a mixture of nice, light orchestral tones juxtaposed with muscular brass melodies. The latter harkens back to the old days: your Project A-Kos and Macrosses of the world. It's nothing too special, but it's a melody suite that soothes.

The opening and ending songs of the show ("Strike Witches" by Yoko Ishida and “Bookmark a Head" by the main cast) aren't remarkable, but are also worth taking a listen.

As for the voice actors and actresses, there are a number of familiar faces, headlined by Rie Tanaka (Minna Dietlinde Wilcke) and Miyuki Sawashiro (Perrine H. Clostermann) and for the most part, they deliver a solid performance. The one actress that I feel Gonzo struck out on is Erica Nakai, who plays the role of Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen. She sounded too flat, not enough energy, and if I was director Kazuhiro Takamura, I would have chosen someone different to play the role.

Rating: 7

Presentation

In conclusion, Strike Witches is a show that may interest those who are sticklers for heavy fan service, as well as the curious watchers who want a different take on the saga that is World War II. Tune out the Holocaust, and forget about the significance of D-Day, or the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. Those things NEVER happened. What really took place during those turbulent early 1940's was a clash between those 11 wonderful young Strike Witches and the Neuroi.

But if you are all about seeing a good storyline that will make you want to crave the next episode, and the next, and the next...I probably would not recommend this show to you, and advise that you proceed with caution. I like Strike Witches for the service cuts, but when it comes to a plot that we all can follow, it misses the mark. So for Presentation, I give this a 5.

That's about it for this review. Class dismissed.

Rating: 5

Final Verdict

5.6667 (average)

Reviewed by Hachiko, Nov 08, 2008

Comments

  1. Hachiko Nov 08, 2008

    Hallelujah! We finally have a Strike Witches section! I have been itching 3 to 4 months to finally get this posted. Cheers, MT.

  2. chefmike Nov 09, 2008

    Not having seen this show yet I would probabably love it for the fan service. Come on you must admit that anime would not be as popular as it is if not for the fan service. The only ones who would object to it is probably pre-adolescent girls. Fan service is a bigger draw to anime than alot of people would like to admit.
    That said, the historical premise sounds a bit messed up. As with a few other animes it sounds like Japan is made out to be the victim and not the perpetrator of massive atrocities commited in the name of the emperor. One should read of what Japan did to the people of Shanghai and other other countries in the name of racial superiority before believing all that is said of WWII in the animes. One should never forget that or the reasons for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We should alwys learn from history. Anime can help on that. One has to wonder about how fanservice is mixed with this "version" of history.

  3. kenny52690 Mute Member Nov 10, 2008

    i never really watch this anime be4 but from review given here n the pictures i search from the net, i can see its quite interest me a lot with all girls fighting with mecha thingy and plus it seems to me that there gonna be a lot of fan service too^^

  4. Hachiko Nov 10, 2008

    chefmike, while I (along with a majority of denizens on MT) wil admit that fanservice is a magnet, I am a stickler for a good plotline. Given the background, surely a good plotline to go around would have resulted in a higher score for SW.

  5. chefmike Nov 10, 2008

    Hachiko, I agree with you. Good strory line and character development are essential foe for great anime. My favorite animes do not have fan-service in them. The animes with lots of fanservice serve a different type of purpose but are still an intregal part of the whole anime scene.

  6. davidh01 Nov 11, 2008

    This is the first review of yours I've read and I'm pleased with what I've seen. Plenty of detail, a lot of interesting observations and no spoilers. Many reviews become a rant/rave but you've done a fine job here keeping a neutral and balanced perspective. If only others would take a leaf out of your book... Well done.

  7. Hachiko Nov 11, 2008

    chefmike and davidh01, thanks. I learned from experience that this is how I should write my reviews from now on. Don't forget that as always, a little mechanics/grammar tune-up before you have it take off doesn't hurt either.

  8. Hachiko Nov 13, 2008

    Glad you liked it, vinzard.

  9. MetalhedDex Dec 21, 2008

    I haven't gotten to see this show but I really want to and not for the fan service either. I saw the first episode and the animation was really smooth and while I'm partial to the fan service, it's just not possible for me to be able sit down and watch it at home. Great review though, you quelled my urge to see it. I like the style you used as well. Lesson Learned :P

  10. tsuyoshi7171 Feb 21, 2009

    en mi opinion se parece mucho a sky girls

  11. narunarunarunaru Feb 28, 2009

    keep it up...

  12. DOUBLESKIPHEART Mar 07, 2009

    Strike Witches is great. And mm... the fan service. <3

  13. beryl0402 Mar 15, 2009

    nice review. keep writing!

  14. chumbariwap123 Apr 23, 2009

    wooo, good review, perhaps keep writing

  15. pigmypuff Jun 03, 2009

    go go

  16. SebastianvonKane Jul 17, 2009

    Fair.
    Strike Witches is merely just yuri fan-service. Other than that, there's not many other elements to be appreciated.
    I think is fair enough to be checked.

  17. lordryo Jul 21, 2009

    This is one of the best animes ever, if you can look past the nopan, you'll be very pleased with Strike Witches. Very engaging story and character development, I'd rate 10/10

  18. yukirina Aug 06, 2009

    good review
    thanks

  19. Fanatik007 Aug 15, 2009

    good review

  20. SchRita Aug 23, 2009

    Thanks for the review!

  21. Ninininha Aug 30, 2009

    xDD

  22. Rodrigo0010 Sep 03, 2009

    good job! nice review

  23. Andy1308 Sep 25, 2009

    i just watched this anime not long ago,but i think i saw its promo pic in 2007..nice review though..!thanks!

  24. SchRita Oct 31, 2009

    Thanks for the review!

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