{"id":60273,"date":"2026-05-25T00:01:55","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T04:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/?p=60273"},"modified":"2026-05-25T02:10:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T06:10:47","slug":"girls-und-panzer-were-having-a-match-pt-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/?p=60273","title":{"rendered":"Girls und Panzer: We’re having a match! Pt. 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/em>, 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/em> 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<\/em>…that’s not just the title I’m choosing to use. WWII German machinery is featured prominently in this series. Is it a problem?<\/p>\n

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Thankfully, there isn’t any of the unfortunate<\/p>\n

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The three things that tend to stand out to viewers as questionable are that one member of the Oarai Academy History Club (also called the “History Fans Club”), the four girls that ride the Japanese Type 89 Chi-Ro, adopts the nickname “Erwin” and seems to idolize German tank commander Erwin Rommel. Secondly, the hero tank of the protagonist team is the German Panzer 4, a second tank is the German StuG 3, and even the 38(t), while being designed by and for Czechoslovakians, was mostly produced and used by the German tank forces in World War II. The third point doesn’t really come up until later, but has been in small glimpses. So, just keep in mind there is a third possible problem. Now, there are two things I don’t want to do: say “just trust me, it’s not like that” or get bogged down in a huge explanation of why “choosing these particular tanks for their particular roles” is actually story-relevant. Could I do that? The second one, that is? Sure, probably; but IT’S NOT IMPORTANT. A YouTuber I follow did some analysis of the (our real world WWII) history behind Girls und Panzer<\/em>. Some of the things he brought up, like alliances between countries at different points, CAN be relevant, but the characters usually call this out at the time. I really don’t think there are hidden allegories or commentary. This is a story about found family, lightly poking around family trauma, and friendship while high school girls shoot tanks at each other.<\/p>\n

It’s about FUN, and that’s what the next part of Episode 3: We’re having a match! is about. And this is important, which is why I kept it separate. As Team A is now complete with Mako agreeing to take Sensha-do, Saori announces their next move:<\/p>\n

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They go to a department store to “make the tank more comfortable.” First up, cushions; because if you sit in a tank too long your butt starts to hurt. Miho seems utterly shocked by this, but concedes there’s not actually anything stopping you from putting cushions on the seats. She just never thought about it. Saori also proposes slippers so you don’t wear shoes inside (less common in the West, Japan broadly is very strict about “inside” and “outside” shoes and strongly emphasizes removing outside footwear just inside the entrance to a house, school, etc. and donning inside slippers). Yukari strongly opposes this idea (which makes sense; we’ve already seen people enter and exit the tanks during a match). So Saori suggests they should at least paint the tank a different color. This really sets Yukari off.<\/p>\n

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Hana interjects that they could at least put in some air fresheners. Saori also wants a mirror and a phone charger. Miho looks on, still in shock. The next day, or at least the next scene, starts with a display of all Oarai’s tanks, repainted to one degree or another by their riders: The Volleyball Team’s Type 89 remains olive drab but is now covered in painted volleyballs, shouts, and slogans. Cheers, if you will. The StuG 3 is a garish combination of the four History Girls’ interests: German General Rommel, Julius Caesar, Sengoku era folk hero Sanada Yukimura, and Meiji restoration era woman Narasaki Ryo, best known for saving the life of her future husband Sakamoto by running half-naked through an inn to warn him of assassins. Most notably the low-profile StuG is ALSO decorated with four Sashimono; identification flags that represent each of the riders by their chosen insignia. These are…abnormally large.<\/p>\n

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The First Years’ American M3 Lee is now a bright baby pink, and the Student Council’s Panzer 38(t) is an extremely-visible METALLIC GOLD. The Panzer 4 remains unmolested on the outside…but the interior is now full of plushies, tissues, snacks and cushions. And some curtains. And drinkholders. None of which, according to at least one former U.S. tanker, is necessarily odd (other than the curtains). Miho, STILL in shock, stares unbelieving at the newly-decorated team of tanks. As the other team members admire their work, Saori complains about not repainting the Panzer 4, and Yukari bemoans how the three most-garish paint jobs have ruined the tanks. And Miho finally reacts. She begins laughing.<\/p>\n

Have these whack-jobs finally broken her mind? No. It’s true she never considered that tanks could look like this. But this is FUN. Is it good? Is it the best thing for Tankery? We don’t really address those questions, and the answers are probably obvious. But this is what everyone *wanted to do*. This is what made Sensha-do fun for all the girls. THIS is Miho’s revelation: that Sensha-do can be fun.<\/p>\n

After a practice montage, during which we learn how to calculate target distance using spotting information and the gunner’s reticle (don’t worry, you don’t need to know this…but it’s neat) the Student Council informs the Sensha-do team they will have a practice match this coming Sunday against St. Gloriana College, a school with a strong team that has won the National Championship tournament before and frequently appears in the finals. This worries Yukari for the stated reason, and Miho for undisclosed reasons, but the biggest drama comes when Student Council PR director Momo (monocle girl) announces the teams will need to meet at the Sensha-do barracks at 6:00 AM Sunday.<\/p>\n

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Despite protests, Mako is quite clear: 6 o’clock IS NOT HAPPENING. Promising to wake her up and even carry her to school is disbelieved: Can humans even be awake at 6 AM? To which Saori points out the teams are MEETING at 6 AM; Mako needs to wake up about 5. Which almost makes Mako faint on the spot. Clearly, there are things people just cannot do. Saori breaks out the big gun: if Mako doesn’t get her tardiness excused through Tankery, she might get held back a year…and have to call her friends “senpai,” a term of respect for those in a higher grade. (In the West we are fairly familiar with this concept these days but generally consider it a technicality or even just “cute,” but social boundaries in Japan are even today much more rigidly promoted and enforced. Having to refer to a former peer by a term of superior respect would be embarrassing.) But the final shot does it: “If you don’t graduate like you’re supposed to, your grandma is gonna be really mad.”<\/p>\n

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THIS…causes Mako to give in, and agree to the 6 AM meet time. No, I haven’t skipped anything; this is the first time Mako’s grandmother has been mentioned. It will not be the last, and they do develop this story. The Student Council meets with all the tank team leaders: Miho, Takako of the History Club, who goes by “Caesar,” Noriko of the Volleyball Team, and Azusa from the First Years. Momo leads the meeting, and has clearly been the passion behind everything the Student Council has done…even if her emotions tend to overwhelm her judgement and abilities. There’s probably a reason beyond mere seniority that the Council’s team Commander is the President despite how laid back Anzu is. Momo briefly outlines a plan where Oarai will use a tank to bait St. Gloriana into an ambush, which will allow the weaker tanks of Oarai to pelt St. Gloriana’s team at a close range. Miho clearly tunes out early on, and Anzu notices. While the other tank Commanders are impressed with Momo’s plan, Miho, at Anzu’s prompting, explains that St. Gloriana will not only expect such a tactic, they will seek to encircle Oarai from the outset. St. Gloriana is known for calm, patient, defense and deep penetrating strikes. They are not going to waltz into a baited trap.<\/p>\n

Momo looses her cool at the criticism, as she is wont to do, but Anzu responds (possibly intended all along) that Miho would be a GREAT team captain. Then starts applauding the instant promotion. Which, I will point out, Momo DOES NOT protest. Anzu follows this up by promising a *great prize* if Miho brings home a victory: a three-day supply of dried (sweet) potato skins (I previously pointed out Anzu is constantly munching on these.) Everyone in the room is…underwhelmed. Noriko asks if there will be a punishment for losing, and Anzu replies “I’ll have you do the Ankou Dance at the next Cool Evening Festival.” Don’t worry, you’re not supposed to know what that is because it’s specific to the anime. Miho’s friends, however, DO know what it is:<\/p>\n

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Yukari adds “a video of Miho doing that dance will definitely get uploaded to the internet”, and Hana notes that a person doing that dance in public will never live the experience down. Regardless, all three girls (Mako is asleep, presumably) promise to dance the dance with Miho if they loose, so she won’t be the only one to bear the shame.<\/p>\n

On the morning of the match, Saori is unable to get Mako out of bed. This, of course, is not a surprise. Mako is surrounded by alarm clocks, and only responds to Saori’s threats with “It’s a problem.” Finally, Miho arrives with the loudest noise they can muster: she and Hana drive up in the Panzer 4 and fire a blank from the main gun right outside Mako’s window. This finally rouses Mako slightly. (This also wakes up the entire neighborhood, actually) Driving through the “civilian” streets to meet up with the rest of the team, the Panzer 4 is recognized by people in the community. And several wish the reborn Oarai Tankery team luck in their match. The Oarai school ship (the Zuikaku, never mentioned in the series) docks at Oarai port, soon followed by the St. Gloriana school ship, the Ark Royal (also never mentioned. Also, if you HADN’T picked up by now there might be a theme going on, that would give it away. Sort of.)<\/p>\n

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The Zuikaku is the one on the right. The “little” one. The episode winds up with match preparation and the starting command given. The next episode with be Episode 4: Captain does her best!<\/p>\n

In which we will talk about what these “schools” are and probably how the series gently but passionately uses stereotypes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[638],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paige-writes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=60273"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60298,"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60273\/revisions\/60298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=60273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=60273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=60273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}