Strike Witches OVA (DVD Version)

ONOES UNEXPECTED TWIIIIIST!

This is a surprise, since I was going to watch the OVA myself. The DVD release packed a few more punches though, albeit not enough to justify the OVA altogether.

I watched the OVA before the DVD version came out. It vaguely explained anything, and only depicted a slight instance of the Witches’ nature of work. In a quick shift of events, it showed a showcase of a dogfight, their standard operating procedures, and some tidbits of history behind the magical piece of equipment that gave birth to prominent Witches: the Striker.

So Striker Units are Neuroi tech, eh?

Their moveout procedure differs from the anime version, as the Striker units are hauled to position, not pinned in the hangar machinery. The hangar machinery is used to lower Witches with their bare legs to fit the Striker in. The hangar machinery also does not automatically issue the Witches’ weaponry. The weapons are handed down to the Witches manually. The takeoff is also different. Aside from having wheels on the tips of the units, they reel off with their bodies arched backwards, then lift off moving their bodies forward. Kind of different from the forward dash liftoff from the TV series. They also take a longer liftoff time than the TV series (I mean, just look at the differences of the runways).

Then, the dogfight drill. The Witches were to have a battle drill outside a their base, which looked like an ancient place littered with runes and stones. And they’re using live ammunition?! What the fuck? Where are paint guns and air guns when you need them? If they dogfight was to let the Witches showcase some talent, then I would’ve preferred a play-safe drill. I mean, poor Lynne took a hit from a rocket! If it weren’t for shields, she’d probably be dismembered pieces of meat by now!

The classic “I’m behind your sun, owning your ass” tactic.

Then, there’s the normal stuff. Eating, drinking, work distribution, pastimes, and the like. If not for the lack of no-pantsu, the excessive Lynne-Yoshika-Franchesca scenes (which strengthened my liking on the trio), and the crappy dogfight, this would’ve been a thumbs-down. Good thing Shirley’s bubs were there to save the day.

The terror natto returns.

After the OVA came the extras. Chibi Yoshika and Lynne (so those images were used for this one after all) were so moe while narrating OVA specifics. Too bad it didn’t really justify the purpose of the OVA, since it’s not really even related to the TV retelling.

At fucking last, an authentic Strike Witches Type 99 Machinegun illustration. I’ve been scouring pictures of it for EONS.

Some pictures, you may be familiar with, like the bust chart, among others. But other depictions, such as the runway, HQ, and the hangar are also involved. After the explanation, more credits roll, and the promo vids for the OVA were rolled.

The next season? Yeah, right.