The concept of "striking a witch" refers to the practice of physically attacking or harming someone believed to be a witch or involved in witchcraft. Historically, there have been instances where people accused of witchcraft were subjected to vigilante justice, including being beaten, tortured, or even killed. These acts were often driven by fear, superstition, and a desire to eliminate perceived threats to the community's well-being. The belief in witches and witchcraft has existed for centuries and spans across different cultures and societies. In many cases, accusations of witchcraft were fueled by societal tensions, jealousy, or religious conflicts. Witches were often seen as agents of evil who possessed supernatural powers and used them to harm others.
This is driven not by Mobile Suit combat, as the series has been so far, but a much largely conflict between “Earthians”—natives of humanity’s homeworld—and “Spacians”—people who are born and live in humanity’s nascent space colonies. Although it’s been there in shades (much of Suletta’s antagonism from her fellow students is driven by the fact as someone from Mercury, home to a small group of miners extracting precious resources in dangerous, debilitating conditions, is seen as a “country bumpkin), “Unseen Trap” makes this far more explicit on both the macro scale of the world beyond Asticassia and on the micro-scale divisions between the haves and have-nots of the student body.
We see it first at the school, where a student training exam in Asticassia s Demi-Trainer suits sees Chuatury Panlunch one of Sulleta s few potential allies at the school fail when her mech s viewscreen camera is sabotaged with time-delayed spray. Characters from the earlier television series, especially members of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, return in numerous cameo appearances throughout the movie, guiding Miyafuji and ensuring her safety in the land journey from Gallia France to Helvetia.
Witches were often seen as agents of evil who possessed supernatural powers and used them to harm others. The practice of striking a witch reflects the deep-rooted fear and paranoia that surrounded witchcraft. Accused witches were often identified based on suspicious behavior, unconventional practices, or simply by being different from societal norms.
Strike Witches
Set in an alternate timeline World War II, Strike Witches focuses on Witches, elite pilots with innate magical ability, who fly Striker Units and fight against the alien Neuroi who have attacked Earth and devastated most of Europe. The existence of magic makes the world inherently different, however most events and history are largely similar until the Great War. During the World War, powerful aliens attacked humanity, interrupting the war; although they were defeated, interruption of the war had lasting effects. Nazi-ism never formed in the Empire of Karlsland (based on Germany), the Bolshevik Revolution never occurred in Orussia (based on Russia), Ostmark (based on Austria-Hungary) still exists in full; also of note is that the Italian unification never occurred, leaving the Duchy of Romagna and Duchy of Venezia both on the Apennine Peninsula. Earth's geography differs slightly as well, notably the coastline of North America, but as a whole the world can be defined as "alternate timeline Earth"; for a world map, see the Luminous Witches Talk Page.
In 1937, the Neuroi attacked the Empire of Fuso (based on Japan), but thanks largely to the next generation of striker units and the witches flying them, the Neuroi were repulsed. In 1939, several Neuroi hives formed over Europe, obliterating cities, killing thousands, and forcing humanity to retreat. Much like the real world Fall of Europe in 1939/40, humanity's last free bastion in Europe became the Commonwealth of Britannia (based on Britain), a safe haven only because Neuroi are averse to crossing bodies of water. Given this context, humanity's countries are not at war with each other, but united to defend against the Neuroi, and as such witches and other military members from all nations work and fight alongside one another.
The story of Strike Witches picks up in early 1944, when Yoshika Miyafuji, due to her extremely strong magical ability, is recruited to by Squadron Leader Mio Sakamoto of the Imperial Fuso Navy to become a witch. The first season introduces the world and setting of the series, and follows Yoshika's struggles to become a witch in the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, known as the Strike Witches. The 501st JFW's base is located in Folkestone Harbour, which in the real world was an important strategic port, especially notable for its involvement in the Dunkirk evacuation. All witches in the series are based on real world WWII fighter pilots, those details noted for each character as they come up on this page.
In chronological order, Strike Witches runs parallel to Luminous Witches and is followed by Brave Witches, both of which are set before Strike Witches 2.
Warning: Some descriptions and images are potential spoilers for the series, read at your own risk.
The following weapons were used in the anime series Strike Witches:
Once accused, they would face severe consequences, which could include physical punishment or even death. Throughout history, accusations of witchcraft and the subsequent striking of witches have resulted in countless innocent lives being lost. Accusers relied on various methods to determine guilt, such as dunking or burning the accused to test their affiliation with dark forces. These cruel acts were seen as a way to eliminate the perceived threat and restore balance to the community. However, it is important to note that these acts were based on unfounded beliefs and superstitions. The fear of witches and witchcraft led to widespread hysteria, where innocent individuals were wrongly accused, imprisoned, and subjected to torture. The striking of a witch represents how deeply ingrained these fears were within society and the devastating impact they had on the lives of those accused. Today, the belief in witches and witchcraft has significantly diminished, and such acts of violence are considered barbaric and unjust. Accusations of witchcraft are now seen as a relic of the past, an unfortunate reflection of the ignorance and prejudice that prevailed during those times. However, it is essential to remember these dark chapters in history to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated in the future..
Reviews for "The Striking Witch: From Folklore to Pop Culture Phenomenon"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I found "Striking Witch" to be quite disappointing. The plot was incredibly predictable, and it felt like I had seen all the twists and turns before in other similar movies. The acting was subpar, with the characters lacking any depth or development. The special effects were lackluster and didn't add any excitement to the story. Overall, I was left feeling unimpressed and bored throughout the entire film.
2. Mark - 2 stars
I was really looking forward to watching "Striking Witch" based on the intriguing trailer, but the movie did not deliver. The story felt disjointed, jumping from one scene to another without fully explaining what was happening. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real motivation for their actions. Additionally, the dialogue was cheesy and forced, making it difficult for me to connect with the film. I was left feeling unsatisfied and confused by the end of the movie.
3. Sarah - 1 star
"Striking Witch" was a complete waste of time for me. The plot was weak and lacked any originality or creativity. It seemed like a hodgepodge of recycled ideas from other witch movies. The acting was atrocious, with wooden performances and exaggerated accents that were cringe-worthy to watch. The special effects were poorly executed and looked cheap. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates quality storytelling or filmmaking.