T w e n t y S i d e d

The “getting familiar with riding tanks” match feels like it’s sorting the world a bit, but a fair warning: just as a commenter mentioned in my first post on Girls und Panzer, a HUGE cast is introduced. And this series is only 12 Episodes. Despite the many shorts and bonus content OAV’s, and MANY films; we will never get good characterization or story arcs for everyone shown SO FAR, let alone the additional characters introduced. Is this a failing? I would say disappointing more than an actual failure. There are a few people who make important contributions without getting the story support they probably deserve, but for the most part characters are used appropriately, and don’t get unnecessary lore dumps which would be a different sort of problem.

A secondary question probably deserves addressing, rather than spending too much time on the subject when a certain school is introduced: most of the world we live in, but especially the societies of the West and the Pacific Rim, still feel the looming presence of World War 2. On one hand, we are approaching one hundred years since the beginning of the war that bent the historical timeline significantly. On the other hand, certain practices in Germany especially during that period are currently fresh on everyone’s mind. Girls und Panzer is a Japanese production, so there is of course more representation of Japanese tanks and tactics (this will come up in the future, especially) than a western production would center. But also since this is a Japanese production, German World War 2 tanks, and you’ve probably noticed, some German regalia that some would find at least vaguely in poor taste; are featured. The actual name of the anime *is* Girls und Panzer…that’s not just the title I’m choosing to use. WWII German machinery is featured prominently in this series. Is it a problem?

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Girls und Panzer: We’re having a match! Pt. 2”

Paige Francis He/him