Strike Witches
is a Japanese media mix franchise originally created by Fumikane Shimada via a series of magazine illustration columns. The illustrations have since inspired several official light novel, manga, and anime series and various video games. The series revolves around teenage moe anthropomorphic girls who use machines attached to their legs to do aerial combat. The original video animation preview episode was released in January 2007. The televised anime series later aired between July and September 2008. A second season aired between July and September 2010. A standalone film that continues the storyline was released in March 2012 and a three-part OVA series was released between September 2014 and May 2015. A third season aired from October to December 2020. A spin-off, titled Brave Witches, aired from October to December 2016, and a second spin-off, Luminous Witches, aired from July to September 2022.
Plot
On an alternate Earth during the World War II era, the world has been invaded by a mysterious alien force known as the Neuroi who take on forms similar to aircraft and spread a corrosive miasma. As a result, the armed forces of the world have allied together to combat the Neuroi threat instead of fighting among themselves. As the regular weaponry have no effect against the Neuroi's technology, the military instead calls upon Witches, young girls who possess magical abilities capable of fighting against the Neuroi. The Witches, who are inspired by famous real-life pilots, grow animal ears and tails when using their magic, and can use special machines known as Striker Units, which feature designs based on real-life aircraft, to fly through the sky and increase the strength of their magical ability in combat.The light novel series follows the Suomus Independent Volunteer Aerial Squadron, focusing on a dogfighter named Tomoko Anabuki. The main anime franchise follows Yoshika Miyafuji, a girl from the Fuso Empire who joins the titular Strike Witches to investigate the death of her father and help fight off the Neuroi. The spin-off anime series, Brave Witches, follows a Fuso girl named Hikari Karibuchi, who joins the titular Brave Witches to fight in the place of her injured sister Takami.
Production
In a postscript column in Comp Ace, Fumikane Shimada had mentioned his desire to use his Mecha Musume concepts across a variety of media, leading to the production of the Strike Witches OVA by Gonzo. However, at about the same time Fumikane was also contracted to create the character designs for Sky Girls, which had its televised run in late 2007. During this time there was no word on the further development of a Strike Witches animated series, although promotional items such as plastic figures of the OVA's characters were released. Not until December 2007 was the anime officially announced, after which details were slowly released, such as the casting of the remaining main characters that had no lines in the OVA.Media
Light novels
Three separate light novel series have been published. The first, Strike Witches: Suomus Misfits Squadron, was written by Noboru Yamaguchi and illustrated by Hashigo Ueda. The first volume was published on September 30, 2006, and the third and last on June 28, 2008. The Suomus Misfits Squadron series is set in a different time period and location from the anime, and uses a different cast of characters. A reboot of the first series of light novels began in October 2018. It is written by Toshihiko Tsukiji and illustrated by Kōsuke Tsukinami. As of October 2020 four volumes have been published using the title Silent Witches Suoms Iranko Company ReBOOT!.The second light novel series, titled Strike Witches: Maidens' Volume, was written by Hidehisa Nanbō and illustrated by Hashigo Ueda. As of June 30, 2010, the fourth and last volume has been published. The publication of this series coincided with the anime television series, and uses the same cast of characters; however, while some of the chapters are adaptations of the anime episodes, several are original.
The third light novel series Noble Witches is the stories about the 506th Joint Fighter Wing. The timeline of the story happens in between from the beginning of the Season 2 anime to the before of the film. It is authored by Hidehisa Nanbō. The first volume was published in Japan on 1 January 2015. Volume 2 was published on 1 May 2015 and Volume 3 is published on 1 October 2015. Volume 4 was published on 1 March 2016 and volume 5 was published on 1 November 2016. The latest volume 8 was published on 1 May 2018. There are versions with the five original CD dramas from volumes 3 to 7.
Manga
There are ten manga series of Strike Witches:;Strike Witches: Maidens of the Blue Skies
;Strike Witches: Maidens in the Sky
;Strike Witches: The Sky that Connects Us
;Strike Witches Zero: 1937 Fuso Sea Incident
;Strike Witches: One-Winged Witches
;Strike Witches: The Witches of Africa
;Strike Witches: Aurora no Majo
;Strike Witches: Kurenai no Majo-tachi
;Strike Witches: Erica Hartmann 1941
;''Noble Witches: 506th Joint Fighter Wing''
Self published works
;Strike Witches: Witch in Africa;Strike Witches: Witch in Africa
;Strike Witches: Tiger in Desert
;World Witches: Witches of the Sphinx
;''Sengoku Witches: The Witch of Honnoji''
Anime
An original video animation directed by Kunihisa Sugishima and produced by Gonzo was released on January 1, 2007. The first anime season was produced by Gonzo and broadcast in Japan from July 3 to September 18, 2008. Aside from the traditional televised broadcast, the series was also made available with English subtitles and an English dub through YouTube, BOST TV and Crunchyroll, using a simultaneous release schedule similar to that of The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk, also produced by Gonzo. The YouTube and Crunchyroll broadcasts operate under a streaming window, allowing users to freely watch each new episode of the series on the day of their release for a set amount of time. Crunchyroll also offers individual episodes to be purchased and downloaded during and after this streaming window has ended. An uncensored version of the series was later released on Region 2 DVD, containing nudity that was obscured for the TV broadcast. The first volume was made available on September 26, 2008, the second on October 24, the third volume on November 28, the fourth volume on December 26, and the fifth volume on January 30, 2009. The anime has been licensed by Funimation and was released on March 30, 2010.A second series, Strike Witches 2, was produced by AIC and aired between July 7 and September 23, 2010. The season was also licensed by Funimation and was simulcast on its video portal, with a home video release in September 2011. The release was held back until October 2, 2012. Manga Entertainment released the series in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2012. A three-part OVA series produced by Silver Link titled Strike Witches: Operation Victory Arrow, which features three short stories taking place between the second anime season and the film, was released between September 20, 2014, and May 2, 2015.
A spin-off series by Silver Link, titled Brave Witches, began airing on October 5, 2016. The series is not a continuation of the previous seasons and instead focuses on the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing. Crunchyroll simulcasted the series worldwide. Funimation has released an English dub of the series. The series is scheduled to be released on Blu-ray and DVD in 2017. A 13th episode aired in theatres in 2017. Madman Entertainment is importing Funimation's release in Australia and New Zealand.
On July 8, 2018, a Strike Witches anime project titled Strike Witches: 501st Joint Fighter Wing Take Off! was announced as part of the World Witches series to commemorate the franchise's tenth anniversary. The 12-episode anime adaptation is based on the 2011 comedy spin-off 4-koma manga series by Makoto Fujibayashi. It aired from April 9 to June 25, 2019, on Tokyo MX, TV Aichi, MBS and BS11. The original cast of Strike Witches returned to reprise their roles. Acca effe and Giga Production are animating the series with Fumio Ito as director. Seiko Nagaoka, returned from Brave Witches to produce the music at Nippon Columbia. Production I.G and Anime Beans have been credited for animation production assistance. Funimation streamed the series with English subs the same day as Japan, with an English dub set for premiere on April 23. The spin-off also received a 30-minute nationwide theatrical release planned for October 4 with returning cast and production committee from the spin-off TV show. A new anime series titled World Witches Take Off! aired from January 13 to March 31, 2021, with the cast and staff from Strike Witches: 501st Joint Fighter Wing Take Off! reprising their roles. The series will run for 12 episodes. Crunchyroll streamed the series with English subtitles.
A third season of Strike Witches series titled Strike Witches: Road to Berlin has been announced and aired from October 7 to December 23, 2020. David Production animated the series with Kazuhiro Takamura returning as director, Striker Unit is handling the series composition, and Tatsuhiko Urata is credited as the chief writer. Seikou Nagaoka will produce the music at Nippon Columbia. Funimation streamed the series with an English dub, while Crunchyroll streamed the series with subtitles.
Another new Strike Witches anime project titled as Luminous Witches was announced. Initially scheduled to air in 2021, it was later delayed to 2022 due to "various circumstances." Shaft animated the series with Shouji Saeki, who served as episode director and scriptwriter for Strike Witches and Strike Witches 2, directing the anime and handling the series composition. Shinya Murakami is credited for the "Witches series literature." Kadokawa produced the music for the release. The series aired from July 3 to September 25, 2022. The cast members performed the opening theme song "Wonderful World", as well as the ending theme song "Watashi to Minna no Uta". Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series.