DVD Review: Strike Witches the Complete First Season

Strike Witches: theComplete First Season

(Funimation, 300 minutes)

http://www.funimation.com/strikewitches/

In an industry oversaturated with nudity and half naked women groping each other, Strike Witches sets itself apart from the crowd by outdoing nearly everything that has come before it.

Originally a series of novels before being produced by Studio Gonzo and released in America by Funimation, Strike Witches is the story of a young girl overcoming her fears in an effort to protect the ones she loves from an army of unstoppable invaders poised to take over the world; at least that’s what you would think the series is about except for the fact that every 5 seconds there is a panty shot shoved in your face. Then on top of that you have to deal with scenes in hot bathes or girls fondling one another’s breasts. Everything about this show is gratuitous, but I digress.

In an alternate reality not totally unlike our own, alien beings called Neuroi have begun invading earth, conquering nations and changing the landscape of the planet. Everything thus far has proven useless against the extraterrestrial ships except for a group of magical witches. Using new technology that gives them the power of flight, as well as their own unique abilities, this group of girls is drafted into the military and dubbed the “strike witches”.

The main protagonist of the story is a young girl named Yoshino, whose father is also the inventor of the boots used to give the witches their flying capabilities. For the longest time, she believed her father to be dead; that is until she receives a letter from him, prompting her to set out in search of him. Over the course of the first two episodes, she displays powerful magical abilities that warrant the military’s attention. Believing that this is the best way to find her dad while also helping others, Yoshino joins the “strike witches”.

From there, the series sets about on introducing characters, delivering fan-service, showing Yoshino training, delivering more fan-service, etc. The truth is, not too much happens. After the introductory episodes, everything becomes formulaic. The girls go about their lives on the military base, teasing each other and attending to other things until a Neuroi ship appears, forcing them into combat.

Even the story, as interesting as it sounds, is really a hodgepodge of ideas crammed together. Magical girls, alien invaders, a young girl searching for her lost father, all contained within a retro setting. It’s almost as if the writers drew a handful of ideas from a hat and said “let’s make it work”. The problem is, it doesn’t, not fully anyway.

So what about the positives? Studio Gonzo is known for its mixed results in artistry but Strike Witches is top notch. This is a gorgeous show, with character designs to match. On top of that, the main character is appealing to watch, with a solid story behind her actions.

So all in all, while Strike Witches receives a passable grade, it’s not exactly recommended. There is an audience for it, the multiple plot devices guarantees that, but consider it more of a guilty pleasure than anything else.

Strike Witches the Complete First Season - C