Strike Witches TV series 03 – this is why today’s anime has no soul!

Where is the running/training on the beach? Where is the oneesama running up the stairs wearing iron geta (sandals)? Where is the necessary dead first love to inspire our heroine? Where is the atmosphere? Where is the powerful drum music? Where are the stand out characters?

None, none, none, none, none…

OK yeah, I’m being way harsh, but this is what I was talking about, lack of character distinction.

Seriously, all these girls (yes very cute moe girls I know) could’ve been from the same family, and I’m not talking about from Adam and Eve’s family.

– The protagonist of this show lost her father in a war (think Gunbuster).

– Unknown aliens are invading (think Gunbuster).

– The heroine goes through training on a military installation (think Gunbuster).

– Someone dies…uh, that’s probably not going to happen (don’t think Gunbuster).

– The potential love interest dies…uh…no, not unless you’re talking about yuri/girls love (DO NOT THINK GUNBUSTER).

– the heroine gets over it and pilots a god-like mecha that can destroy multitude of enemies…NOPE (I love Gunbuster).

– the ending songs is a much lighter and easier version, but it’s clearly a tribute to Gunbuster style music, and look! We have Miyafuji running in some sort of training mode (Gunbuster?).

OK, yeah, I’m probably stretching and making a vastly unfair comparison and this show happens to be the victim of my dissatisfaction with the fact that today’s animation studios are poor and it’s incredibly if not impossibly difficult for them to make gargantuan-budgeted shows like Gunbuster back in the ’80s.

But wait, didn’t Eva come out of ’90s and Diebuster come out of 00’s?

Yes, the studios are different, but I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about having heart.

(ooh, cheesy inspirational moment coming up…)

I’m talking about bravely do something that no one dares to be, and become hugely successful, so successful that you could pull a Evangelion Scam, where you could merchandise something every year since Eva, even though it has been 11 years since Eva came out, and make a movie, and still make big bucks.

I’m talking about actually braving the average otaku into something they don’t want to see – character deaths. Impossible situations with no easy way out. That winning isn’t guaranteed by simply braving up and facing the challenge. That in reality, the main character really doesn’t have that much of a potential but she has to work hard (OK, yeah, so Noriko has a knack for space battles, but she doesn’t have any magical powers at all).

I’m talking about guts! Bravery! Hard work! I…AHHHHHHHHHHH (burning up like a mecha otaku). LIFE ISN’T EASY AND FULL OF MOE-MOE MECHA MUSUME WITH MAGIC POWERS AND ANIMAL EARS!

OF COURSE the comparison isn’t fair. Not even close. This is a small time production catering to all the otaku fetishes, and Gonzo isn’t exactly getting a gargantuan budget to produce this show. Also, I like the fact that these girls aren’t wearing long pants, legs heh heh heh heh heh legs yeah yeah heh heh heh…Yuri, huh huh huh hu huh uh uh uhuh huh uhuh…

Minor breast play in this episode: 4

Pantsu style shots: 8

Naked legs: PLENTY

Who gives a shit about konjo (guts)? Who gives a shit about passion? Who gives a shit about hard work? All it needs is the jiggling breasts of Norko’s!

Then again, Gainax did, and that’s why Gainax, and to a large extend, Anno, is what it is today. Even though Gainax is better known for experimentation.

But that’s the shining example of having real guts for an animation studio.

P.S. Oh, about the show? Well, if you desire moelicious with heavy yuri overtone and no worries, just right (in the otaku fetish kind of way), then you’ll like it. It is a quite likable show.

Author: Ray

I'm a hardcore Anime Fan and I'm proud of it. I know so many things and I've acquired so much knowledge you wouldn't believe. But my love is anime. I've been drifting in this world for so long that I don't even know what an anchor means. I've seen so many shows that I've lost count. The only thing I'm sure of myself is that I care for the lowly and disenfranchised. I hate the rich and powerful and I love what I do, or what I can do. I like anime and I don't mind watching different types of shows. I have experience in different types of Japanese animation. I would be called an "expert" in a bizzaro world. One day, I'd like to start a revolution. I love the US, pizza, beer, sashimi, Chinese food, and steak. But I love freshly baked bread more than a well-aged steak. In reality, if I were born Japanese I'd be a real, hardcore Otaku. I love to love and I can hate strongly. I'm passionate in nature and I don't mind shedding tears. I can be reached at rayyhum777 at animediet. My Twitter is rayyhum777 at twitter.

4 thoughts on “Strike Witches TV series 03 – this is why today’s anime has no soul!

  1. Have you considered checking out Porfy no Nagai Tabi? In there, the lead character is nothing special at all, has a passion for cars, and has to go to huge lengths to find his lost sister back. There isn’t much action, of course. ^^;

  2. lol, a loyal gunbuster fan I see. While I can’t comment much on this article (post) since I’m puzzle myself.

    I guess my only qualm I have with anime today is how fan pandering they can be from moe to high school romance (yes I’m staring at you Kyo-ani) yet something like nadesico or vandread is a rare treat which you won’t ever see with the current trend in anime but I’ve learnt to accept and enjoy the anime for what it is rather than thinking back of the old days.

  3. Wrong kind of moe for you? You need the MOERU~, NEKKETSU AND TAMASHII from SRW. (maybe you should stop watching anime and start reviewing SRW plots)

    As for impossible situations, that is why “kill them all tomino” exists. I demand you go back and review the “galactic gigadeath event” animes where everyone must die in the last episode!

    Well, it is not that there is a lack of material in the general otaku domain of manga and games but anime companies don’t find it worthwhile right now. With a 13 episode format, it wouldn’t work that well anyways, so only anime companies that can sustain a 26×2 or 52 episode season can do it. Now if only all those clutter go away and we finally get our next FMP or even get MuvLuv Alternative animated…..

  4. @psgels -where do I find that one?
    @zaeris – but the old days they had soul!
    @Shin_Getter – I’ve got the SRW anime downloaded but I’ve watched like 3 episodes, and for Gurren Lagen? Only 9 or 10 episodes. I’m trying to watch all of G Gundam though..Sensei, teach me the power of man’s passion, please!

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