If you hang around Anime News Network, one of their columns is "Hey, Answerman!" One feature of said column is "Hey, Answerfans!" where the writer poses a question on anime-dom for the surfers to answer.
Last week's question was "What is/was the anime series that reminds you why you're an anime fan?"
So I wrote an e-mail detailing my experience with the series "Strike Witches", and when I looked at this week's "Hey, Answerman!" my e-mail was there!
If you're curious as to what I wrote, here it is:
Originally Posted by Me!
The one series that reminded me why I'm an anime fan would have to be Strike Witches. Now normally, I don't really care for sci-fi or action anime, but since there was a little magic involved (eg. the "transformations" when the girls get into their Striker Units), I was piqed and decided to give it a shot.
So the big day Strike Witches premiered arrived, and I sat down to watch it--right when it got to the first major fight scene and Yoshika was told to take shelter...CLIFFHANGER!!!!
I was stunned--it was starting to get good, and I had to wait a week to see what happened next?
So I kept coming back, eager to learn how the different characters would get out of the battle/tough situation du jour. I could relate to Yoshika's desire to help people, and I connected with Mio's firm but gentle guidance to lead the rest of the Witches. But the longest week of the run was episode 9, when Mio was shot down. The pleas of Yoshika over the To Be Continued... screen were my own: Please, Mio, don't die!
All that week, I began thinking about what would happen if Mio lived, and what direction the series would travel in if she died. If she lived, I would be estatic; but I also had to account for the very grim possibility that the character I loved most could die. When I learned at the beginning of episode 10 that Mio was going to live, I heaved a huge sigh of relief.
It has been a long time since I was that concerned over an animated character, and in the end, Strike Witches turned out to be one of my favorite series--and one I hope gets a sequel soon.
(If this is better suited to Other Chat, let me know.)