T w e n t y S i d e d

Girls und Panzer: This Is The Real Anzio Battle! is an interesting mix of “retcon that isn’t really a retcon”, budget and intentions, character-exploration, and pushing the envelope of the series’ formula. Only about 45 minutes long the OVA does a good job of fitting into the series lineup appropriately. The Oarai tanks are all depicted as they were after the Saunders battle recounted in episodes five and six, but references new information from episode seven. Which makes perfect sense, as episode seven ENDS with a brief scene showing Oarai’s victory over Anzio. Ankou’s Panzer 4 is still shown with the short 75mm infantry support gun and the Char B1 bis that would be used first against Pravda does not appear. More interesting to me is figuring out the production decisions. The early parts of the OVA, everything “pre-battle;” are clearly lower-budget. In fact a couple of shots are nothing more than panned still-images with dialogue. This indicates to me the production team originally intended this to be included in the series. It should also be noted that one of the TWO recap episodes in this twelve-episode series first aired in the slot the Anzio battle would have occupied. Although, there are some caveats to that. The recap episode technically ends in the MIDDLE of the Saunders battle; not at the end. And the Anzio-battle-titled episode, as I documented; is entirely about all the OTHER things that occurred between the Saunders and Anzio battles.

What I *think* happened is that the production team started creating the Anzio episode, which even included sending off scenes to be animated. Many of these scenes were never completed before it was realized there were more important stories that had to be told *at this point*, so production was started on a NEW episode and, either at this point or soon, it was realized they just didn’t have the budget to do this new episode *and* return to scripting and animating the entire Anzio battle. As it was they were going to have to write up a recap episode just to give them enough time to get the new episode done. I don’t know when the team learned they were going to have enough support to continue the story into OVAs and movies, but I know it was before the end of the original production run. Because viewers at the time learned about the first OVA being the Anzio battle before the series ended. And it’s clear what parts were new when they did the animation. The battle itself has much more time and money behind it, including some outstanding shots. There *is* one more caveat to this theory, but I’ll touch on that at the end.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Girls und Panzer: This Is The Real Anzio Battle! (for real this time)”

Paige Francis He/him

Brief aside for today. The latest Galactic Season is live in Star Wars: The Old Republic. This season (number eleven if I remember correctly) replays the quests and rewards from two previous, early seasons. Each centered on a new companion, although I had actually already unlocked the second. As I understand it, that means I had actually logged in during the original season even if I didn’t take part. I certainly don’t remember doing anything. I’ll be going out of town with my parents later this month; I don’t know if it will affect what I write but it’s likely. I am preparing for more Girls und Panzer. The storytelling actually gets better in the upcoming films, although the physics lose some ground. The first movie “der Film” isn’t a summary or retelling; it actually completes the story told in the series. Which is to say, it addresses some of the “just because” that was going on.

It’s probably worth talking about the naming, as that could be considered part of the “WW2 German glorification” I talked about last time. “Girls und Panzer” is literally the name of the series. Intentionally. Sort of. A transliteration of the Japanese name is “Garuzu ando Pantser”. So, while the German word “panzer” is sonically emulated, the “und” is actually just the Japanese pronunciation of the English word “and”. The *however* part is that by intentionally using the word “panzer,” the German word for tank instead of “sensha (or some other options, depending on the situation) the Japanese word for tank; it is clear the creators were thinking in terms of German phrasing. And I don’t know Japanese well enough to tell you if there would be a logical difference between rendering “and” and “und”. So, it is broadly accepted, even in Japan, that the series is named Girls und Panzer.

Here’s the next *however*. Girls und Panzer der Film is not actually named “der film.” “Girls und Panzer” is, of course; the same as it has been. After that is just “Gekijoban“. It’s a Japanese word that means, in English “the film.” You can go see “Animal Crossing the Film” or “Zero: the film” and you’ll see the same word. Using “der Film” for international releases was a marketing decision that was seen as matching the “und Panzer” part of the title. Likewise, the set of sequel films collected under the title “Girls und Panzer das Finale” aren’t actually titled “das Finale.” They are titled “Girls und Panzer: Sai Shusho” which means “Girls und Panzer: The Final Chapter.” Again, marketing.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “A Bridge Post: SWTOR, GuP, and Fallout New Vegas”

Paige Francis He/him

Girls und Panzer: The Battle We Can’t Back Down From!!!

A title that seems more appropriate for the second episode of the Pravda battle, after Miho and the other Oarai students learn the Sensha-do team MUST win the National Tournament to prevent their school from being closed. Although of course, what was true then is still true: if they don’t defeat Kuromorimine they lose their school. Oarai has fought better against Kuromorimine than they did any other school (assuming the battle against Anzio went as we would expect. We don’t know…yet.). Their actions have been planned and controlled. Despite starting the battle disadvantaged in numbers and sheer firepower and armor per tank Oarai has managed to pick off Kuromorimine assets while only losing their newest team. Until the Panzer Maus appeared. The Maus has removed two more Oarai tanks, the Oarai team has no way to counter the Maus beyond hoping it breaks down (technically, this would be likely; but as it was never tested let alone used in combat its capabilities are speculative). And the main force of Kuromorimine is rapidly approaching their position. The situation looks hopeless.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Girls und Panzer: The Battle We Can’t Back Down From!!!”

Paige Francis He/him