Episodes: 12
How: On Demand
Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary: {From Wiki} Set in an alternate 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 in a fictional recreation of events occurred in the World War II with the national armies joining forces to confront an overwhelming alien threat together instead of fighting among themselves.
The titular Strike Witches are young women with high magical potential who are recruited into military organizations around the world to fight against the enigmatic Neuroi, which began an invasion of unprecedented scale on human territory in the year 1939. This puzzling enemy force has appeared frequently and without warning in many areas across the world throughout history. 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. A defensive field is also created 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, defending the Britannian home islands, in the first season, as a parallel to the Battle of Britian, and struggling to retake an occupied Italian Peninsula in the second season as a parallel to the late stages of the Adriatic Campaign.
Thoughts: First thing I noticed? None of the females seem to wear pants. Undies Everywhere. This was a little discouraging at first but it seemed to have a plot.
Alternate Earth has been attacked by UFOs called Neuroi.
The only people with the power to fight these Neuroi are young female "Witches", With the aid of Striker Units they fly around pantless, use magic and guns to destroy the Enemy.
Well, Maybe that's a bad description but... it gets the point across. There are A LOT of characters in these 12 episodes, Most of them quite likable.
The Mains...
Mio Sakamoto; 19/20 Years Old, The most mature Witch in the 501st. She knew Dr. Miyafuji and was the first witch to use a Striker Unit. Sub Commander of the 501st, She trains the others in the squadron and seems to have a soft spot for Yoshika.
Yoshika Miyafuji; 14/15 Years Old. Her father Dr. Miyafuji designed the Striker Units before he died in the war... Having received a very late mail from him she is recruited by Sakamoto... At first she was dead set against violence but that changed {rather quickly} after an attack by the Neuroi.
She joins the 501st and quite excels as a Strike Witch.
Brief Summary...
The 501st fight the Neuroi. Well, Maybe there's more to it. The episodes are a nice of mix of silly, character building and battles. Episode 7 is a bit.... unusual. There's a Panty Thief on base, One girl {Hartmann} misplaces her panties and "borrows" another girls who then takes someone elses.... It makes for some awkward and strangely amusing situations.
Things get rolling in Episode 9 when Yoshika out "dueling" Perrine goes ahead of the other Witches on a Neuroi call, This Neuroi however is different. It's shaped itself as a human and plays childishly with Yoshika.. Until the others get there. Sakamoto not realizing what was really going on attacks the Neuroi who then shoots thru her shields and escapes when the girls go to catch her.
A Friendly Neuroi? Everyone trys to convince Yoshika that it was just trying to trick her but... she can't believe it. Even after being put on a 10 day confinement she sneaks off base and goes to find the Humanoid Neuroi.
This doesn't go unnoticed, Minna is given orders by the higher ups to shoot Yoshika down. Of course the Witches couldn't just shoot her, going out looking for Yoshika they finally find her...and the Humanoid Neuroi. It's being friendly once again so they just stay back and watch... as it leads Yoshika into the Neuroi Hive.
Inside the Hive the Neuroi shows Yoshika many video type screens of things that had and were happening, One shows a Core in a room with a large Mech. Outside the Hive a giant Mech has shown up, The friendly Neuroi coming outside to investigate{?} is killed then the entire hive is.... Nice weapon.
Yoshika is uninjured in the incident but once all the Witches get back to base they find General Maloney there, The Military turns on the girls and due to Yoshika's actions and the Witches not following orders to shoot her down... the 501st is disbanded.
The Giant Mech is there as well, It's revealed to be "Warlock" ... Long story short. Maloney has been using a Neuroi Core to make a new weapon... Robot...Mech... to fight the Neuroi. That way they wouldn't have the need for the Witches...
As all the girls are going "home" the Warlock is sent out to fight more Neuroi, Bad stuff happens and yes.. it kills a bunch of Neuroi but the Warlock itself turns against the Humans. Warlock attacking the ship Yoshika, Perrine and Mio are on the other girls all just happen to see what's going on and rush back to base to get their striker units..
Everyone, One way or another get their Strike Units back and go out and defeat the Warlock {Which actually melds with the entire battleship during endgame.}. That Hive is Destroyed, The Country it was over is saved and all the 501st is sent off to other places.
Yoshika is sent back to her home in Fuso.
At the end it shows Yoshika healing a bird that her best friend Micchan brings to her, suddenly something falls from the sky and crashes in a nearby bush. It's a Witch! The girl is there to deliver yet another letter... from Yoshika's father.
TidBit: I forgot the most important things! When the Witches powers are activated they grow
Bunny/Kitty/Puppy ears/tails. I'm sure there's some correlation of who has what sort of ears/tail but
it wasn't really discussed.
Favorite Episode: Episode 6- It focuses on Sanya. Enough said.
Weakest Episode: Other then six, Most were hovering about the same level.
Favorite Character{s}:
Sanya; 13/14 Years Old. Black Kitty Ears! She's the night witch, Doing the night watch she likes to sing when she flys about. The quiet one of the 501st, Her special powers are radar like which help her during her night missions.
Francesca; The youngest, 12 years old. She's childish and likes to skip out on training to go play around base, often seen sleeping in unusual places {trees,rafters}. Seems to like grabbing peoples breasts as well... When "active" she has Black Leopard Ears and Tail.
Least Favorite Character{s} At first it was Perrine but she has even grown on me, Her hang up on Sakamoto is still a bit annoying though....
