Wyatt the Odd | 10 Dec 2012 11:21 p.m. PST |
Japanese Anime has been producing weapons-grade WTH for some time now, but the series called "Girls und Panzer" or (ガールズ&パンツァー (Gāruzu ando Pantsā)) stands out – along with being a contender for this year's "Most Gratuitous Use of German in a Title" award. Synopsis: The art of Sensha-dō, or operating tanks, is a traditional martial art for girls and international championships are held amongst girls schools. Schools with long-standing programs field teams of various tanks (usually from a single nationality). So, of course, the heroine's school fields a motley collection of a Pz.IVD, Type 89, M3 Lee, Pz.38(t), StuGIII and Renault B1 bis.
Yes, that is a pink Lee and the Pz 38 is gold.
The crew of the StuG learns that the basifen (back banners) blows the assault gun's ability to creep in under cover. Combat is non-lethal (somehow). I am actually contemplating doing the unthinkable and building this
ah
unit as a way to intro wargaming at Comic Con next summer. We had good success with demoing FoW this year with StuGs vs. T-34s that using anime might draw even more participants. The mix in the Oarai school team is a good way to introduce the concept of different skills and weaknesses in each tank. I just have to watch the series to see what other team to build. Saunders University High with their Shermans might be a good match as they can mix it up while still being vulnerable if they get too cocky. The Italians with the mix of P40, L3/33 and Semovente 75/18 might be too easy to knock about. Wyatt |
tauwarlord196 | 10 Dec 2012 11:26 p.m. PST |
I love that some of the big time scale model companies sneak in their boxes in the anime. Or perhaps that was the creators nodding their head to them. I'm unsure which I actually did mention before hand of making the StuG from there for FoW/15mm |
Super Mosca | 10 Dec 2012 11:39 p.m. PST |
Clips, though not whole episodes, are available on youtube. YouTube link -Kosta |
Karnophage | 11 Dec 2012 12:58 a.m. PST |
Try Crunchyroll for full episodes |
trailape | 11 Dec 2012 3:45 a.m. PST |
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79thPA | 11 Dec 2012 5:04 a.m. PST |
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ubberdorc | 11 Dec 2012 5:39 a.m. PST |
Well at least they did a good job on the tanks
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M C MonkeyDew | 11 Dec 2012 6:00 a.m. PST |
That is *awesome*. You never know what will come out of Japan next. Please tell me there is a chibi bunny-demon that randomly appears from time to time with exposition! |
Greywing | 11 Dec 2012 6:09 a.m. PST |
"weapons-grade WTH" +50 internets to you, sir. |
elsyrsyn | 11 Dec 2012 6:57 a.m. PST |
That is just too weird. The tanks are so well done in the cartoon, even to the interiors (love the girly touches inside), but the whole concept is SO bizarre – even for the Japanese. It is "weapons grade WTH" indeed! Doug |
taskforce58 | 11 Dec 2012 7:15 a.m. PST |
It's Anime. If you have to ask, you'll never understand. I gotta look up this series though, never miss a chance with cute girls + cool military hardware! I guess that modern JGSDF Type 10 MBT belongs to the "referee". Looking through the Youtube videos, in one episode they have those 5 battle a rival school's tank team which has a Churchill IV leading 4 Matilda IIs! |
Wyatt the Odd | 11 Dec 2012 8:00 a.m. PST |
The Type 10 belongs to the instructor. Hulu+ has episodes 4-7 in their entirety. Wyatt |
Grinning Norm | 11 Dec 2012 8:10 a.m. PST |
So has the first FoW army sporting this theme been spotted already? |
JCBJCB | 11 Dec 2012 8:19 a.m. PST |
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Legion 4 | 11 Dec 2012 8:29 a.m. PST |
Huh?!!?!?!? |
FatherOfAllLogic | 11 Dec 2012 9:04 a.m. PST |
Ha, ha, those Japanese
.. |
Patrick R | 11 Dec 2012 9:08 a.m. PST |
It's not bad, the girls are very cute and are typical schoolgirls. You have the cute one, the reserved one, a laconic one who has a serious sleeping disorder and the geeky tank fanatic who had no friends before taking up Tankwondo. And then there is the heroine, who is an experienced tank user, but she had a bit of a mishap and wanted out of the sport because if it, but she found true friends and she's happy playing again. If you think this will have all the classic tropes of US teen television, you are sorely mistaken. Each tank is driven by a particular club. The Type 89 is run by the volleyball team, while the Stug is handled by the history club (They all follow historical figures and dress appropriately, not some weird nazi fetish or something
) The team was recently reinforced by a Char B and another major tank was discovered in storage, but it has yet to show up. The Panzer IV was rebuilt into an F2 model with L/43 gun. The action is more like tag or capture the flag with tanks. They do a lot of driving around and shooting on the move, trying to lure the enemy into ambushes or just stay out of the line of fire. They do use live ammo, but the penetration is limited and the tanks are reinforced with carbon for protection, though some impacts will start fires or seriously crumple the plating. This is all repaired off-screen. Whenever a tank is considered knocked out a white flag will automatically deploy. The series is great fun to watch the latest episode is out today if I'm not mistaken. |
John the OFM | 11 Dec 2012 9:50 a.m. PST |
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Lion in the Stars | 11 Dec 2012 10:20 a.m. PST |
Why? just,
. why? Why not? Seriously, though, the Japanese have a pretty big crowd that are military fanbois, can tell you all the specs of [weapon system]. It'd be great fun to run all the different tanks/teams in a Tank Aces campaign
But who makes a JGSDF Type 10? |
Phil Hall | 11 Dec 2012 10:42 a.m. PST |
AHHHHHH! The Pink Panzer! |
Phil Hall | 11 Dec 2012 10:44 a.m. PST |
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donlowry | 11 Dec 2012 10:58 a.m. PST |
My son showed my an episode of this when he recently visited. Kinda fun. |
BuckeyeBob | 11 Dec 2012 11:03 a.m. PST |
HAH! LOL, this was too cool. the Brit team drinks tea while fighting. When a tank smashes into a store the owners smile in delight as a good omen and getting a free renovation, no one seems to mind exploding shells in the city
. YouTube link |
Meiczyslaw | 11 Dec 2012 11:28 a.m. PST |
They do use live ammo
What? Not paint? |
optional field | 11 Dec 2012 2:08 p.m. PST |
Interesting. I don't normally play FoW but I might be willing to try if this became an acceptable army
Is that a German Leopard 2 or a Japanese Type 10 that has a single crew member listed? |
Wolfprophet | 11 Dec 2012 2:18 p.m. PST |
I just have to watch the series to see what other team to build. Good luck with that. It's only been a few episodes into the entire show, currently airing and there no fansubs, let alone official subs yet. So
..unless you speak Japanese
. I love that some of the big time scale model companies sneak in their boxes in the anime. Or perhaps that was the creators nodding their head to them. I'm unsure which Modeling and gunpla in particular are major hobbies there from what I hear. I'd not be surprised if the modeling companies supported the show. I know there is a series dedicated to Gunpla where the participants custom build their own models from various parts, then, some how big battle? Which involved the mechs becoming real or something? I didn't quite figure that one out and wasn't interested enough to watch it because I do not do Gunpla
. I do occasionally paint the models for my friend though when he wants something to look better, but that's it. |
Deadone | 11 Dec 2012 2:37 p.m. PST |
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taskforce58 | 11 Dec 2012 3:54 p.m. PST |
> Is that a German Leopard 2 or a Japanese Type 10 that has a single crew member listed? It's a Type 10. |
rvandusen | 11 Dec 2012 4:04 p.m. PST |
I've been watching the Youtube clips. Great fun. |
Patrick R | 11 Dec 2012 4:27 p.m. PST |
If this doesn't melt your heart, nothing will
YouTube link BTW, ten hour version, so don't try to see the whole thing, it might leave scars
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spontoon | 11 Dec 2012 5:03 p.m. PST |
And why isn't there a team with an Infantry Tank MkI? |
spontoon | 11 Dec 2012 5:07 p.m. PST |
@Patrick R. Ten hours? Of driving through the snow and singing? Cruel and unusual punishment indeed! |
Ascent | 11 Dec 2012 5:21 p.m. PST |
That's just weird. So who's got an idea for rules for this then? |
infinite array | 11 Dec 2012 5:24 p.m. PST |
If you guys want full episodes, google search 'Girls und Panzer Anime flavor'. First result will get you episodes 1-9, all with subbed translations (with gratuitous German thrown in). I have to say, I'm enjoying the ratio of Girls:Panzer in the series. The producer has promised exactly zero 'panty shots' in the series, which can be pretty annoying in other series. And the character development is surprisingly well done. Kudos as well to my two favorite characters – the Rommel impersonater, and the tank-fan whose 'soul-mate' is Guderian. |
Patrick R | 11 Dec 2012 5:25 p.m. PST |
There are tons of anime about school girls competing in sports like tennis or volleyball, this is just the same, they use tanks instead of a ball or a hockeystick. I'm looking for suitable figures as tank commanders, but no luck so far. Anybody know of any suitable gashapon ? |
uruk hai | 11 Dec 2012 7:10 p.m. PST |
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taskforce58 | 11 Dec 2012 8:25 p.m. PST |
Infinite array you just won ten billion internets for suggesting that search! |
Spreewaldgurken | 11 Dec 2012 8:50 p.m. PST |
"AHHHHHH! The Pink Panzer!" I've seen a real pink panzer. A Soviet T-34/85 painted pink, with a middle finger coming out of the cupola, floating on a barge in the Voltava river in Prague last year.
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tauwarlord196 | 11 Dec 2012 9:23 p.m. PST |
Aha! I found the pic of the scale models I was talking about Tamiya and Italeri? I wish I could have a daughter with such tastes!
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wolvermonkey | 11 Dec 2012 11:23 p.m. PST |
Animeseason.com will have the whole thing with subs. Here's the link
..http://www.animeseason.com/girls-und-panzer/ |
rvandusen | 12 Dec 2012 2:47 a.m. PST |
I hope the producers of this show merchandise some 1/72 diecast models. I could use a Type 89 or four. |
Patrick R | 12 Dec 2012 3:13 a.m. PST |
"I've seen a real pink panzer. A Soviet T-34/85 painted pink, with a middle finger coming out of the cupola, floating on a barge in the Voltava river in Prague last year." IS II, note the rear MG ball turret, the muzzle brake and the wheels. |
Archeopteryx | 12 Dec 2012 3:37 a.m. PST |
The Prague tank is an icon of the Velvet Revolution, a war memorial painted by students in 1989 in defiance of the regime
. judging by the response to this thread it's pretty clear that these guys got it spot on – what do FoW boys like? girlz and tanks
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Griefbringer | 12 Dec 2012 5:11 a.m. PST |
So, of course, the heroine's school fields a motley collection of a Pz.IVD, Type 89, M3 Lee, Pz.38(t), StuGIII and Renault B1 bis. This sounds like a perfect excuse for fielding a mixed kampfgruppe of all of the odd tanks in your collection! I mean, what other historically credible reason one could have for fielding all of those vehicles at the same time? That said, rather than re-enacting said team, why not inventing your own tankitsu team? Coming up with a motley bunch of tanks for them could be half of the fun. How about a team with Mae West tank, BT-42 assault gun, Italian M11/39, Somua and Bob Siemple tank? |
Patrice | 12 Dec 2012 5:59 a.m. PST |
At first I thought the idea was COMPLETELY stupid. And I've never been interested in mangas (and especially NOT interested in mangas featuring bare-legged young girls!) But I've watched this a few minutes
and I think it's rather good. The tanks are well represented; there are some funny little ideas in the stories; the music themes are funny too and well choosen
In fact, I like it. |
Steve Roper | 12 Dec 2012 6:52 a.m. PST |
My wife and I watched the first three episodes last night – AWESOME. Check out episode 2. When the girls find their tanks one team is looking over the StuG and talking about its characteristics and one girl makes a disparaging comment about it. The response is a blistering rundown of what an effective tank it is culminating with the memorable line "Apologize to Finland!" and they all turn toward Scandinavia, bow and say "sumimasen" |
Garand | 12 Dec 2012 7:57 a.m. PST |
Aha! I found the pic of the scale models I was talking aboutTamiya and Italeri? I wish I could have a daughter with such tastes! First box is a hybrid Italeri/Dragon box, the one underneath is Trumpeter, and the two underneath that are Hobby Boss. There is a Tamiya box underneath those, and after that it gets too hard to see. BTW, there was a much better scene where they were in a hobby shop. On one of my armor modeling forums we played spot the kit too
:) Damon. |
taskforce58 | 12 Dec 2012 8:47 a.m. PST |
First box is a hybrid Italeri/Dragon box, the one underneath is Trumpeter I thought the second one in that pile looks like a Zvezda kit. Top shelve – Cromwell, Wolverine, SdKfz 222, Panzer II 2nd shelve – ???, Flakpanzer 38(t), Brummbar No Panthers or Tigers, that girl has taste! |
Griefbringer | 12 Dec 2012 10:57 a.m. PST |
2nd shelve – ???, Flakpanzer 38(t), Brummbar That first tank looks to me like the command version of Panzer I.
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Paint it Pink | 12 Dec 2012 11:19 a.m. PST |
And now you all understand why this is popular in Japan. Young boys like to look at girls and tanks. |