Shopping Guide
In the January 2013 issue of Monthly Model Graphix, a special article on Girls und Panzer, called “The Greatest Chance to Start a Model Tank Arrives! You’ve Never Seen Tanks Move Like This, Have You?”, was published. Yup, that title hits the nail right on the head.
The anime for Girls und Panzer, which is currently airing, doesn’t contain any romance scenes. On the contrary, it is an intense and fun school drama. At first glance, the girls seem quite normal. However, there is something that is very different about the world of this anime. That being the girls’ study of driving and operating tanks. Japan is known for its many disciplines, such as kado (the art of flower arrangement), sado (the art of tea ceremonies), and shodo (the art of calligraphy). Now it has one more discipline to add the the list: senshado (the art of operating a tank).
The main character of the series is Nishizumi Miho, whose tactful and effective strategies propel her to the head of the senshado team. Other characters include the radio operator Saori, who is cheerful and loves to chat, and the gunner Hana, who practices kado. Each character has a specialized role in tank operation.
Because the anime deals with tank operation, it is of course filled with battle scenes. However, the characters never suffer serious injuries, only minor ones. Of course common knowledge dictates that it would be dangerous if they weren’t careful, but even when they are shooting at each other, they don’t get hurt, even when the tanks are completely wrecked. What’s the reason for this? Your guess is as good as ours. In this type of anime though, it’s better not to sweat the small stuff.
Of course, one of the highlights of the anime is the tanks. The lineup of famous German and Japanese tanks is sure to receive a tip of the hat from people in the know. Those who don’t know can still enjoy it as well, as the tanks look really cool.
Using the traditional method of cel animation, a moving tank would mean drawing an insane amount of pictures all including an insane amount of lines. Moreover, undulations in the ground as well as vibration and movement need to be expressed in the rotation of the tank’s caterpillar tracks. Such a feat would have been nearly impossible in the past. However, with the current use of 3D CG, expressing such intricacies has become possible, and animators are able to precisely recreate a tank’s movement and sense of weight. Basically, without current technology, Girls und Panzer would not have been possible.
With the charm of the heroines, and the carefree and pain free world in which they live, this anime gives rise to a new form of fun military anime.
For those who have gained an interest in tanks after watching this anime, how about building a model tank of your own?
This article contains translated excerpts from: http://www.excite.co.jp/News/reviewmov/20121205/E1354641120776.html (Japanese)