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4:00 PM on 04.06.2010   |   Brad Rice

Japanator Recommends: Strike Witches photo

When it first came out on Crunchyroll, I avoided Strike Witches. Part of it was because I don't do well with keeping up on shows that stream online, but it was mainly because I figured that I was just going to be getting a moe show that struck me as a bit creepy and fetishistic.

Nonetheless, FUNimation sent the DVDs to me, and I couldn't help but smile at their ad campaign for the series, so I threw caution to the wind and decided to sit down and watch it.

And, despite the ever-present lack of pants and copious amounts of girls loving each other a bit too much to just be friends, I found myself enjoying the show without feeling like I needed a shower. I guess it's kind of like drinking alcohol, but not having that hangover afterwards.

See what I mean after the jump.

Strike Witches
Creator: GONZO
Publisher: FUNimation
Released: March 30, 2010
MSRP: $59.98

Set in an alternate history of World War II, an alien race has started attacking the Earth and the united forces of man aren't enough to stop them. So they create a special division, the 501st Joint Fighter Wing -- also known as the Strike Witches -- to combat these monsters.

The Strike Witches are made up of teenage girls with magical powers. They fly by attaching these propellor devices to their legs, and fight with heavy machine guns. So, it makes the show pretty accessible to everyone.

I had initially written it off as a simple moe show, appealing to those with a plane/military fetish. I was expecting it to be girls with guns shooting big things and then grabbing each other's breasts while constantly showing their panties, since this is a world where girls don't wear pants.

And that's pretty much what I got. But it was still a great show.

Strike Witches is something you can't take too seriously. You're following a new recruit, Miyafuji, as she learns the ropes of being a Strike Witch, finds out more about her teammates and fights the enemy. Since most everyone has been stripped from their homeland in order to serve here in England, you get to see a lot of the girls bonding and becoming friends.

While a majority of the show is happy-go-lucky, until a plot develops to wrap up the first season of the show, there are still some dramatic moments that really manage to get you. Hardships in combat or training weigh down on some of the girls, and they go through these emotional struggles -- and then you realize they're not wearing pants.



Strike Witches manages to hit a lot of the right notes in terms of storytelling, and falls on the higher end of Gonzo's animation work. After a while, the show even becomes addicting, and certainly proves for a good time. And the no-pants thing? It actually fades into the background after a while, and in my experience, hasn't proved to be a barrier for non-anime fans to watch it.

We here at Japanator recommend Strike Witches. You'll enjoy it, and I assure you won't feel like a dirty old man after watching it.


Japanator Recommends: Strike Witches photo
Japanator Recommends: Strike Witches photo
Japanator Recommends: Strike Witches photo


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Legacy Comments

Huh, now this is surprising.

Is there any reason for them not wearing pants? Is it just a "pantless parallel universe" thing?

Either way, I'll probably not follow up on this recommendation anytime soon. There are a couple of reasons that put it way in the back of my to-watch list:

1) Fanservice.
2) It's a Gonzo show.
3) Generally it isn't a good idea to have too many girls or too many boys in one show.
4) "girls bonding and becoming friends." - In a pantless porno, this would be an exciting/viable plot to me. In a "happy-go-lucky" show, not so much.

Anyhow, glad to hear you enjoyed it! I'll come around to it eventually (just not anytime soom)
Strike Witches is pretty good, yeah. Also, I love you guys for the title picture of Lynette~ Oh~
I can't get past the ridiculous lack of pants.
Did you happen to notice that the girls don't ever wear pants?
I typically avoid this type of thing like the plague but I have to admit that it wasn't half bad.
It's really a surprise hit. Even if you don't think you're going to like it, check it out. The dub was enjoyable, too.
I was actually surprised by how much I liked Strike Witches (you know, after the pants-less-ness wore off)
Am I the only one or those Strike Witches remind you of Sky Girls?
I watched in its entirety awhile-back because of i was fascinated by the concept that there legs are integrated with propeller, PROPELLERS!! What type of person could think of such a thing ?! @_@

also I
I like pants. They're comfy and easy to wear.
I've seen it. It's like babysitting when you're high, if you can understand that analogy.

If you don't, that's probably all the better.
@mandril

It's a parallel universe but it also has functionality because it makes it easier for them to get into their striker units.
I love the show, bought my copy for 35 dollars at Fry's.

Karaoke Warrior Humikane Shimada was the character designer for both sky girls and strike witches. I thought sky girls had a more believable plot but found S.W. more fun and entertaining.
When someone's half-naked, it's important to know which half. With girls, either half is great; but with males, only the top half. Either way, I approve of panties and airplanes.

But how do they freaking take off and land? Or control their flight? I don't know what military leader would create such a weapon that's so inefficient

....or is it? The great Eddie Izzard once said that a transvestite brigade looking fabulous would dazzle the enemy and distract/confuse them long enough to kill them. The same might apply here.
The leg-propellers do look like a very original idea (and I admit, look quite nice) but I still can't get past the fact they're deliberately pantless. For some people some things fade into the background, for some of us those very same things slap us on the face every single second of the show (pretty much like I couldn't read Love Hina for the fact they were always naked, always punching Keitaro and always doing the same stuff. Couldn't just let it "fade").

@Nihon Freak: I beg to differ; it depends on what you like.
Just love the series, can't wait the next one. More panties and crotch camera angles!
Pants.

Or rather, the lack thereof.

I may have to give this one a go sometime. The cat-ear look combined with the mecha designs are so cute. (I guess they're meant to be air-intake ports, technically?)
I always felt Sky Girls was a better, less fanservice version of this anime and is vastly underrated. too bad It never got licensed ( i think)
I love this show and after watching the final episode, I can't help but play Raiden & Gradius 3.
I love this show and after watching the final episode, I can't help but play Raiden & Gradius 3.

Can't wait for the Xbox360 Strike Witches game.
I absolutely loved Strike Witches! Despite it being a fanservice anime it's actually very good and fun, with wonderful characters, great plot, excellent voice acting on both ends of the pacific, and great animation. Can't wait for season 2! Hopefully AIC will do a good job handling it...


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