The appeal and evaluation of Strike Witches 2: The sequel's deepening and new adventures

Strike Witches 2: A tale of witches soaring back into the sky

"Strike Witches 2" is a TV anime series that aired in 2010, and tells the story of girls who fight against the monstrous enemies "Neuroi". It was written by Shimada Fumikane and Projekt kagonish, directed by Takamura Kazuhiro, and animated by AIC Spirits. It aired from July 8 to September 23, 2010, with a total of 12 episodes.

story

In 1939, humanity lost much of its territory to the sudden invasion of the monstrous enemy, the Neuroi. The Neuroi spread miasma and had the ability to absorb metal, making them impossible to counter with conventional military forces. The only ones who could stand against them were the Witches, who soared through the skies in new weaponry, the Striker Unit, and were endowed with magical powers. However, despite their efforts, the great nation of Karlsland fell, and the fate of humanity seemed to hang in the balance.

In the summer of 1944, in the far eastern island nation of Fuso, a witch was about to throw herself into battle. Her name was Miyafuji Yoshika. She was the daughter of a striker unit developer and a witch mother who used healing magic. Invited by Mio Sakamoto, a veteran witch, she headed to Britannia, a fierce battlefield. Carrying on her father's words, "Use that power to protect as many people as possible," Miyafuji met aces gathered from various countries in Britannia. That unit was the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, commonly known as the Strike Witches, a bastion of humanity formed to fight against the Neuroi.

Thanks to their efforts, the Neuroi in Gallia were wiped out, and it seemed as if a brief period of peace had come to Europe. Neuroi activity weakened in various places, and people focused their efforts on rebuilding their devastated lands. The 501st Joint Fighter Wing was also disbanded, and its members returned to their homelands to once again take up arms on a new battlefield. However, a giant Neuroi nest appeared in the skies above Venice, and humanity was once again faced with a crisis that threatened its survival. In the spring of 1945, Miyato, who had returned to civilian life, heard the news in Fuso.

Commentary

"Strike Witches 2" is the second series of the TV anime, and tells the story of countries around the world forming an alliance to fight against the Neuroi, the enemy of mankind. However, only girls with special magical powers can stand up to them, and Miyafuji Yoshika, along with aces from each country, successfully defeats the Neuroi in the Gallia region, gaining an irreplaceable and precious companion. Six months after the exploits of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, commonly known as "Strike Witches," Neuroi suddenly appear in Europe, where peaceful days had continued. To protect Europe, which is frightened by the threat of the Neuroi, "Strike Witches" once again take to the skies.

cast

The main characters are voiced by:

• Yoshika Miyafuji: Misato Fukuen
• Mio Sakamoto: Saori Seto
• Lynette Bishop: Kaori Nazuka
• Perrine H. Clostermann: Sawashiro Miyuki
• Mina Dietrinde Wilke: Rie Tanaka
• Gertrud Barkhorn: Mie Sonozaki
• Erica Hartmann: Sakura Nogawa
• Francesca Lucchini: Chiwa Saito
• Charlotte E. Yeager: Ami Koshimizu
• Sanya V. Litvyak: Mai Kadowaki
• Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen: Ayumi Ohashi
• Narration: Hozumi Goda

Many other characters also appear, each played by a unique voice actor.

Main Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Strike Witches 2". The original work was written by Shimada Fumikane and Projekt kagonish, the director was Takamura Kazuhiro, and the animation was produced by AIC Spirits. The series was composed by Striker Unit, military research and world setting was done by Suzuki Takaaki, character originals by Shimada Fumikane, anime character design by Takamura Kazuhiro, mecha design and mecha chief animation director was Terao Hiroyuki, character animation directors were Yamakawa Koji and Kurashima Takeyasu, art setting and art direction was Matsumoto Hiroki (Studio Easter), color design by Kai Keiko and Ikeda Hitomi, design works by Yamakawa Koji and Terao Hiroyuki, music by Nagaoka Shigetsugu, sound director Yoshida Tomohiro, and other professionals from various fields gathered together.

Main Characters

The main characters in Strike Witches 2 are:

• Miyafuji Yoshika : A novice witch from the Fuso Empire. Despite her lack of experience, she has great magical power and sometimes displays strength that astonishes those around her. At first, she disliked fighting, but gradually she began to use her powers to protect the people around her.
• Mio Sakamoto : A veteran witch and Miyato's mentor. Her right eye is a demonic eye, allowing her to see into the weaknesses of the Neuroi. Due to her age and weakening magical powers, she became an instructor at the witch training school, but now she throws herself back into the battlefield.
• Lynette Bishop : A witch with a gentle and calm personality, and Miyato's best friend. She is good at household chores such as sewing, cooking, and knitting. Although she is still a novice, she has a unique magic spell with ballistic stability, and has high attack power that does not suit her personality. Her nickname is Line.
• Perrine Clostermann : A Gallic noblewoman. She is very proud and has a haughty attitude towards those around her. However, this is often driven by her love for her country, and she can show an unexpected side to those she trusts. She seems to have a strong affection for Sakamoto.
• Mina-Dietlinde Wilke : A witch from Karlsland, she leads the 501st Joint Fighter Wing. She has the ability to grasp the space of the battlefield and often serves as the commander of her unit, but her aerial combat techniques are also very high. She is friendly and gentle, but scary when she gets angry.
• Gertrud Barkhorn : A witch from Karlsland, she is a world-famous super ace. She has a serious and stubborn personality, but she can also be shy, and when it comes to her younger sister, her stiff expression can sometimes crumble. She is skilled in physical strengthening magic.
• Erica Hartmann : A witch from Karlsland. She has genius aerial combat techniques and magic that allows her to control the wind, making her an ultra-ace who can reduce damage to both herself and her allies. However, she is lazy on the ground and often gets scolded by Barkhorn for skipping out on cleaning her room.
• Francesca Lucchini : The youngest member of the corps, originally from Romagna. Although she is still inexperienced, she is very talented and is adept at using light and heat magic. She often takes naps in hideouts she has made around the base. She is very close with Shirley and looks up to her like a mother.
• Charlotte E. Yeager : A witch from the Rebellion. She is sometimes called Glamorous Shirley because of her good style, and she likes it. She has a generous personality and doesn't worry about small details, and she is the mood maker of the unit.
• Sanya V. Litvyak : A witch from Orasha. She has the magic of wide-area exploration and her main duty is night patrols. She has a quiet personality and is taciturn. She doesn't have much contact with the other members because of their different lifestyles, but she really wants to get along with them better.
• Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen : A native of Suomus in Northern Europe, she has the ability to predict the future. She is a miraculous witch who has never been hit and has survived any situation. Her hobby is tarot reading. She seems to have feelings for Sanya that go beyond friendship.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "Strike Witches 2" are as follows:

• Episode 1: Back to the Sky (2010/07/08)
• Episode 2: The Legendary Witches (2010/07/15)
• Episode 3: What we can do together (2010/07/22)
• Episode 4: Hard, fast, and amazing (2010/07/29)
• Episode 5: My Romagna (2010/08/05)
• Episode 6: Higher than the Sky (2010/08/12)
• Episode 7: The tingly feeling (2010/08/19)
• Episode 8: Give me wings (2010/08/26)
• Episode 9: A Bridge to Tomorrow (2010/09/02)
• Episode 10: 500 overs (2010/09/09)
• Episode 11: To be me (2010/09/16)
• Episode 12: From the Sky to Eternity (2010/09/23)

Related Titles

The following works are related to "Strike Witches 2":

• Strike Witches OVA 2x2+3D Box Mechanized Maiden Secret Pack
• Strike Witches: Miyato and Lynette's Witches Base Visit
• Strike Witches
• Strike Witches the Movie
• Strike Witches Operation Victory Arrow
• Brave Witches
• Brave Witches Special Edition
• 501st Joint Fighter Wing
• Strike Witches ROAD to BERLIN
• Music band Witches
• Strike Witches 501st Squadron Takes Off!
• World Witches is taking off!
• Luminous Witches

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for "Strike Witches 2" are as follows:

• OP1
  • Title: STRIKE WITCHES 2 ~The Magic of Smiles~
  • Lyrics: Kazuhiro Takamura, Kota Mori
  • Composer: Kota Mori
  • Arrangement: Kaoru Ohori
  • Vocals: Yoko Ishida
• ED1
  • Title: Over Sky
  • Lyricist: Yuki Fukao, Kazuhiro Takamura
  • Composer: Mitsuru Wakabayashi
  • Arrangement: Jun Umehori
  • Sung by: 501st Joint Fighter Wing (Miyafuji Yoshika (Fukuen Misato), Sakamoto Mio (Seto Saori), Lynette Bishop (Nazuka Kaori), Perrine Clostermann (Sawaki Miyuki), Mina Dietrinde Wilke (Tanaka Rie), Gertrud Barkhorn (Sonozaki Mie), Erica Hartmann (Nogawa Sakura), Francesca Lucchini (Saito Chiwa), Charlotte E. Jaeger (Koshimizu Ami), Sanya V. Litvyak (Kadowaki Mai), Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen (Ohashi Ayuru))
• IN1
  • Title: Sweet Duet (New Version)
  • Lyricist: Seiji Miura
  • Composer: Funta7
  • Arrangement: Funta7
  • Sung by: Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen (Ohashi Ayuru), Sanja V. Litvyak (Kadowaki Mai)

Ratings and Recommendations

Strike Witches 2 continues the success of the first series, with an even deeper story and character growth. In particular, the growth of Miyafuji Yoshika and the bond with her friends are beautifully depicted, drawing viewers in. In addition, each character's personality is more clearly drawn, allowing viewers to feel the misery of war and hope through their battles and daily lives.

The animation quality is high, and the powerful battle scenes and beautiful background art are visually enjoyable. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending songs are particularly memorable.

This work is especially recommended for those who like military fantasy and girls' coming-of-age stories. It is also friendly to new viewers, as the background of the story and the relationships between the characters are carefully explained so that you can enjoy it even if you haven't seen the first series. In addition, there are many related works, so you can enjoy the world of Strike Witches even more deeply.

"Strike Witches 2" is a moving story about the courage and friendship of the witches who soar into the sky once again, and is a work loved by many viewers. Please watch it and experience its charm.