Strike Witches: Road to Berlin – 02
「結成ストライクウィッチーズ」 (Kessei Sutoraiku Uicchizu)
“The Strike Witches Come Together”
The girls are back in town.
Miyafuji Yoshika, Sakamoto Mio, Minna Dietlinde Wilcke, Lynette Bishop, Perrine H. Clostermann, Eric Hartmann, Gertrud Barkhorn, Francesca Lucchini, Charlotte E. Yeager, Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, Sanya V. Litvyak
「結成ストライクウィッチーズ」 (Kessei Sutoraiku Uicchizu)
“The Strike Witches Come Together”
The girls are back in town.
「アルプスの魔法少女」 (Arupusu no Mahou Shoujo)
“Magical Girl of the Alps”
Flying into the new season over a week early.
「501発進します?」 (501 Hasshin Shimasu?)
“501st, Take Off?”
For the Strike Witches aficionados out there.
「ストライクウィッチーズ 劇場版」 (Sutoraiku Wicchīzu Gekijouban)
“STRIKE WITCHES The Movie”
STRIKE WITCHES is surprisingly high up on my list of thoroughly enjoyable anime series which always makes it rather depressing to see how many people dismiss it with but a single glance.
「天空(そら)より永遠(とわ)に」 (Sora yori Towa ni)
“To Eternity Beyond the Skies”
After the story picked up with the full-frontal assault on the Neuroi hive, the conclusion to the series was filled with so much good melodrama that I loved every minute of it.
「私であるために」 (Watashi de Aru Tame ni)
“To Be Who I Am”
Much like the first season, the story breaks away from the laid back pacing and picks up drastically in the final two episodes. Mio’s fading powers are one focus, as is the all-out attack on the Neuroi Hive hovering above Venezia airspace. The real surprise? The Yamato has been equipped with a device that transforms it into a Neuroi for the task.
「500 overs」
Itou Shizuka‘s a witch! So it turns out that “500 overs” isn’t in reference to a huge increase in Erica’s kill count, but her one-to-one win-loss ratio against a fellow Karlsland witch back in her Air Force days, Hanna-Justina Marseille.
「明日に架ける橋」 (Ashita ni Kakeru Hashi)
“The Bridge to Tomorrow”
For a Perrine-centered episode, I wasn’t expecting this one to double up as a full-out beach one as well. I’m not complaining though, because when it’s in high definition it puts season one’s offering to absolute shame.
「翼をください」 (Tsubasa wo Kudasai)
“Please Give Me Wings”
We’re only at episode eight and AIC Spirits has already opted to cut out the opening in favor of a more movie-like introduction to the long-awaited new Striker Unit. Yoshika’s magical abilities have outgrown her A6M Zero, forcing her to upgrade to the J7W1 Shinden, a.k.a. “Magnificent Lightning”.
「モゾモゾするの」 (Mozomozo Suru no)
“It’s Squirming About”
Whether intentional or not, there’s a lot of mirroring between this sequel and the first season. It’s almost like a homage or sorts given the two years in between, with this episode taking a page right out of the seventh episode then.