Girls und Panzer

[pfarber]

God Damn it Japan you did it again... I love you wacky guys!

GnP (Girls und Panzer) is a very short anime that revolves around the all female extra-curricular school activity of 'Tankery' (pronounced tanker-ie). Kind of like a mix of home-ec and etiquette class but in tanks. Yes, tanks.

While the series has many, many flaws (both plot and technical... a Char Bis keeping up with an PzKpfw IV or M5 Stewart?) it is fun to watch.. the finale included an Elefant tank, and a PzKpfw 4 and Tiger I in a drifting match... yes drifting (I love you, Japan).

Nothing really matters.. there is very little character development and no back story on any character save the female protagonist, Nishizumi Miho... the youngest daughter who has 'fallen out of the family'. The Nishizumi family runs the leading tankery school and is known for its 'everything for victory' approach... Miho breaks this and loses a match and dishonors the family... by saving the lives of a tank crew that has fallen into a river. Yay Bushido code!

The one that make this anime worth watching are the battles. The 3D rendered tanks are beautifully done and the 'combat tactics' are cool to watch. Yes, they do miss from a range of like 100m, but hey, its an anime. Most of the dialog is standard 'do your best!' and 'I'm scared' drivel.... typical slice of life anime fare.

That said its not a bad series if you remember its all about the tanks.

Oh yeah.. did I mention that the schools are all on old aircraft carriers... BRILLIANT!

And there is even a World of Tanks Girls und Panzer mod.

[pfarber]

I forgot to mention this... as part of the bonding montage before 'the big match' they watch Kelly's Heros.. well they show a few scenes from the movie.

Like I said... its a pretty good series. Just don't expect much..just tanks!

And the Girls und Panzer World of Tanks videos on youtube are hilarious.