Review for Strike Witches Complete Series Collection (Review)
Sunday, 2nd October 2011, 16:22

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Introduction
Imagine a world where World War II never happened. Imagine a world where instead, 1939 heralded the arrival of aliens that proceeded to lay waste to the world, driving humanity back and to the verge of extinction. Imagine a world where the only defence against the aliens turned out to be magic, where young witches riding technologically advanced 'brooms' went into battle in the skies against the invaders. Imagine a world where for girls and young women, the only clothing invented for use below the waist was the humble panty, stocking and garter belt. The first two 'imagines' might have got you to Gunparade March, but all four in conjunction can mean only one thing. The UK release of Strike Witches: Season 1 is upon us, which, despite the recurring young female, panties motif got through the BBFC unscathed with a 12 rating.

Truth be told, I haven't exactly been looking forward to Strike Witches, yet another show heavy in fan service, in a year where most of the anime released in the UK has been dripping with the stuff. It's easy to lose sight of the reason why you watch this stuff in the first place, when your initial point of contact keeps being the animated T & A. There's also a part of me that has long wanted to watch Strike Witches. It's notable for me in that it is the first anime that streamed online legally that I didn't watch, although since then, I've missed the majority of online shows through lack of time. Back when Strike Witches was streamed, it was practically the third or fourth such show, when online anime was still really just a test case being heralded by Crunchyroll in conjunction with Gonzo animation. For Strike Witches they tried something different, they put the episodes behind a paywall for everyone, while allowing the free and legal option for only a few hours each week after the Japanese broadcast. That equated to a sensible time for the Pacific Coast of the US, but it was something daft like 2am for the UK. Now that Season 1 is here, I can finally see what all the fuss is about. Panties at 11 o'clock! Dive! Dive! Dive!

In 1939, the Neurois appeared, enigmatic alien creatures that attacked without warning, initiating a world war that drove humanity back, pushing mankind into ever-smaller enclaves. It was the work of one scientist that discovered a defence against the Neurois where no conventional weapon had effect, magic. Those skilled in magic, inheritors of the gift, in other words witches could stand against these creatures and defeat them. The scientist developed technologically advanced 'brooms', Striker Units that the witches wore as mechanical legs with propellers on, that they could ride through the sky at great speed.

Yoshika Miyafuji of the Fuso Empire is strongly talented in magic, having inherited the skill from her mother and grandmother, although she lacks skill and experience. But she doesn't want to fight in the war, and hates violence. For her father was the scientist who found the Neurois' weakness, and after leaving her, promising to return, her tenth birthday present was a letter informing her of his death. Yoshika's talent is one for healing, and that has brought Major Mio Sakamoto all the way to Fuso to recruit her. A desire to protect the ones she loves, and the sudden possibility that her father may still be alive, convinces Yoshika to go with Mio back to Britannia. For Britannia is the front line in the battle against the Neurois. If Yoshika is to fulfil her ambition to protect, she'll have to join the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, an assorted selection of young girls who have come together from all over the world to battle the Neuroi menace, the Strike Witches.

All 12 episodes of the first Strike Witches Series are presented across two discs, although the single OVA episode released a year prior that inspired this series isn't here.

Disc 1

1. Magical Girl
2. That Which I Can Do
3. You're Not Alone
4. Thanks
5. Fast, Big, Soft
6. We're the Same

Disc 2

7. Nice and Breezy
8. I Won't Forget You
9. What I Want to Protect
10. I Want You To Believe
11. Into the Sky…
12. Strike Witches

Picture
Strike Witches gets a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer, which courtesy of Madman Entertainment down under gets a proper PAL conversion. That means the image is as clear and sharp as you would expect of the DVD format, with none of the standards conversion issues that plagued earlier NTSC-PAL discs. For a Gonzo animation, the character designs are surprisingly robust and consistent, while the actual animation remains at their usual high standard. Some of the dogfight sequences are really well accomplished. Of course there is the requisite fan service, and panty shots, intrusive camera angles, and pudenda and booby bounce abounds. There is also that slight bright haze that is typical of Gonzo anime, which is something of their trademark style, but also means an overall softness to the image. It's all pleasant and watchable enough though.

Sound
You have the choice of DD 5.1 English and DD 2.0 Stereo Japanese, with optional translated subtitles and a signs only track. I went with the Japanese, as always and found it to be acceptable if unremarkable. The characters are voiced to their particular clichés, while the action sequences make use of the stereo to good effect. I noticed that the Japanese audio did have an unfortunate crackle to it around 34 minutes into disc 1, but that was the sole flaw that I heard. I gave the English dub a spin, and I have to admit that the 5.1 does work wonders with the airborne action sequences. The dub actresses do avoid the potential Hetalia situation of comedy accents for the multinational characters, but they are still the adult actresses playing a shopping mall full of high-pitched teenaged girls, which can be a little annoying.

Strike Witches is one of the shows that suffers from licensing issues, namely Funimation couldn't get the rights to Lili Marleen, an insert song in episode 8. Another song from the Strike Witches game soundtrack CD by the same voice actress is substituted, and you won't notice the change unless you're specifically aware of it beforehand.

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