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Gonzo to Post Strike Witches Online Globally
posted on by Egan Loo
GDH, the parent company of the Gonzo anime studio, announced that the Strike Witches television series will premiere on Japanese airwaves on July 3 and will also play overseas on the YouTube and Crunchyroll video-sharing websites. Gonzo's The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk- and BLASSREITER were among the first Japanese anime series to ever have their international online release timed nearly simultaneously with their Japanese broadcast premiere. Druaga just ended its first 12-episode run in Japan on Saturday, while BLASSREITER is almost halfway through its 24 planned episodes. Strike Witches will runs for 12 episodes. In the Strike Witches announcement, GDH did not mention BOST TV, the other website that has been offering Druaga and BLASSREITER online.
The Strike Witches television series and the earlier Strike Witches video project essentially provided a plot rationale for the artwork of an illustrator named Humikane Shimada (Sky Girls). Shimada is known for drawing mecha-girls: girls whose bodies have been merged with real-life and imaginary machinery and weapons. The story takes place on an alternate world similar to our own in the 20th Century, except for the existence of magical powers. These powers, which manifest themselves in girls but disappear as the girls grow older, allow these so-called "witches" to fly in the skies. When an enigmatic enemy attacks, the Last Hope of humanity lies in these witches who have been equipped with Striker Unit flying gear — hence, the name Strike Witches.
Thank you to Siegel Clyne for the news tip.
