Original subtitles

5 June 1940 Empire of Karlsland

Capital City Berlin

In 1939,

Humanity was faced with the sudden appearance of a mysterious foe.

They named them the Neuroi.

In the blink of an eye, the Neuroi successfully invaded most of Europe,

Stealing many people's homes and nations.

In their eleventh hour, humanity developed a new weapon with the sole purpose of combating the Neuroi.

A piece of aviation equipment to be used by Witches, girls born with the gift of magic,

The Striker Unit.

Witches from across the world were gathered to use these Striker Units against the Neuroi.

And so, an elite unit of Witches was formed,

The Allied Forces' 501st Joint Fighter Wing

They became known to the people as the "Strike Witches."

Episode 1

The Alps' Magical Girl

Helvetia Confederation

Lausanne Medical School

We've arrived.

Fuso Imperial Navy

Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto Mio

So, this is the place.

An exchange student from Fuso?

Ah, you must mean Yoshika!

You know her?

Yes! She's probably in the library right now.

I'll show you the way, please follow me.

What an impressive library.

Oh, there she is!

Yoshika!

Fuso Imperial Navy

Surgeon Ensign Miyafuji Yoshika

Hm?

What's the matter, Althea?

You have some visitors.

Hm?

Sakamoto!

Yoshika!

Owowow...

Are you alright, Miyafuji?

Long time no see, Sakamoto.

Well then, I'll be going.

Thanks for everything.

Thanks Althea. I'll see you later, okay?

Yeah, see you later.

Huh? You're putting your hat back on?

No matter how hard I try, I just can't get used to having my hair down.

Huh? But I think it looks great! Don't you think so, Hijikata?

Wha-?

Um... Yes.

So, what exactly are you studying in medical school?

Right now I'm studying hemostasis - how to prevent and stop bleeding.

Impressive. But, do you really plan to read all of those?

I do.

My short-term leave for school is only until the 501st reforms, after all.

You must really value your study time, then. That's good to hear.

But to be honest, these medical texts always put me right to sleep.

The circus?

That's right! Althea told me that they're in town and she invited me to go see it with her.

A traveling circus, is it?

You'll come too, won't you Sakamoto?

I've heard there's even a polar bear who rides around on a bicycle!

Huh?

What's going on?

It's the town square!

My leg!

Althea!

Yoshika!

Where's the animal tamer!?

It's no use! He won't listen anymore!

Oh no.

Miyafuji!

M-Magic!?

You mustn't do this! Behave yourself!

Huh? Wait...

Could it be...?

Alright!

Lieutenant Commander, what is Miyafuji doing?

Just keep quiet and keep watching.

Yoshika?

It's alright, calm down.

It's alright. Everything is alright.

Hey! That tickles!

Yoshika...

Amazing...

She was able to help the bear.

A cavity?

Yes. It was probably hurting so badly that it caused him to go into a rage.

I see. I must've only made it worse when I tried using my whip.

Sorry about that, boy.

But it's all better now, right?

How did you know it would work out?

Because, it's Miyafuji.

Thanks, but I'm still surprised.

I never knew you were a Witch.

Yeah, I guess I am.

But, why would you enroll in medical school if you already had healing magic?

Actually, there was a time when I couldn't use my magic anymore,

So I started to study medicine, that way I could help people even without my magic.

That's when I was invited to study here.

Does that mean you're part of a Witch unit?

That's right.

Miyafuji is a soldier.

It won't be long until she's back on the frontlines.

Huh? Ah, um...

Ah, I guess we haven't really been introduced.

I'm Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto Mio of the Fuso Navy.

Huh? You mean the Sakamoto Mio from the 501st Joint Fighter Wing who liberated Galia and Venezia!?

That's right. And Miyafuji, too.

Huh? What? Yoshika too!?

Yoshika, you were in the 501st Joint F-F-F-...

Um, Althea?

Whoa!

Yoshika!

Wh-What!?

So you see, my father is the commanding officer of a battleship in the Venezian Navy.

What? Really?

My father always used to say, "my reason for being is to help the 501st fight the Neuroi."

We're soldiers. It's our duty to keep up the fight.

That's right!

So, where is your father now?

Last I had heard, he was on a mission from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean,

But no matter how many letters I send, I haven't gotten one word back.

It's never been like this before...

Oh!

In that case, why don't we try contacting him by radio. What do you think, Sakamoto?

I don't see any issue in it.

Hijikata.

Understood.

This is Petty Officer First Class Hijikata of the Fuso Navy contacting the Venezian Navy Headquarters, please respond.

Father...

Understood. It's for you.

Hello?

Ah! Father? Thank goodness!

Yes, I'm with some people from a Witch unit right now. Yes.

Sakamoto, I'm glad I was able to fight with the 501st.

I was able to help protect people,

And that makes me glad to be a Witch.

Is that so?

You know Miyafuji, I'm no longer an official member of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing.

What?

Sakamoto, you're quitting the 501st!?

I'm over 20 years old. I'm at the point where I'm losing my magic.

I can no longer fight as a Witch.

I understand that, but...

Just imagining not being able to fly together anymore...

It won't be long now until our next large-scale operation,

And I don't exactly plan to die before then.

Large-scale operation?

Father?

Hello? Father? What happened?

What's wrong, Althea?

Something... Something's happened to my father's ship!

What?

What's the situation?

The radio's reception just dropped! I'm not sure what caused it!

What the-

Father!?

Impossible! An Iceberg heading towards us?

Father!? Father!?

Did you hear that, Miyafuji?

Iceberg?

Surgeon Ensign

21 (as of Autumn 1945)

Lt. Commander

18 August

Empire of Fuso

26 August

A pure-hearted Witch with a positive personality who posses the characteristic magic "Healing" and has a powerful reserve of magic energy. At one point, she lost her Witch-related abilities completely, but she miraculously regained them while on the verge of death. Her one desire is to help as many people as she can, and to that end she is willing to stubbornly throw herself into whatever needs doing.

A former Ace Witch who was active on various battlefields over the last 8 years. After turning 20 years old, she lost her magic power completely and retired from being a Witch, but she stills tries to support her juniors left in the military. Though she can be a ruthless instructor, her affable and open-minded personality has led many of her juniors to idolize her.

Nationality

16 (as of Autumn 1945)

Rank

Birthday

Age

Venezian Navy Battleship Doge

Battleship Doge's Captain

Carlo Grimani

Impossible! That can't be!

There's no mistake! It's headed directly towards us!

You mean to tell me the iceberg has its sights set on us?

Captain! If we continue on this heading we'll crash into it!

Turn the ship about! Reverse course, maximum speed!

Father!? Hello? Father?

I'm sorry, Althea. I'm going to have to hang up for now...

Captain!

The iceberg!

It's no use. We've lost all connection.

Father... What just happened?

I heard a shriek on the other end of the radio!

A shriek!?

Did you hear it, Hijikata?

No, I didn't.

It's true! I really heard it!

If that's true, then it's a Neuroi attack! We need to dispatch Witches to stop it!

Don't rush to conclusions, Miyafuji.

Neuroi have an aversion to water. They wouldn't try and disguise themselves as an iceberg.

And anyway, I can't just sortie Witches based on such unreliable information.

Athea,

Your father is a veteran captain. An encounter with an iceberg should be nothing to worry about.

Okay...

Athea...

Sakamoto, let me fly out to Antwerp!

What!?

Yoshika?

You said you heard a shriek, right Althea?

R-Right.

I'd be flying out on my own, you wouldn't need to call in for any backup.

Miyafuji...

I want to protect them!

Protect them...

Miyafuji...

You never change, do you?

A-Ah... I guess not...

But Lieutenant Commander, even if you give her clearance, we didn't bring any Striker Units with us.

Don't worry, Miyafuji.

Hijikata, start the engine.

You fiend, now you've done it.

All guns, open fire!

Your target: the giant iceberg!

An air force base?

I didn't know Helvetia even had one.

Even though Helvetia is surrounded by the Alps, there's no guarantee that the Neuroi won't make their advance here.

And, as I recall, they have a Striker Unit that they service every day, just in case.

Helvetia Air Force Base

Hey, sorry to keep ya' waitin'!

Service Crewmen Meyer, at your service!

A-A pleasure.

Man, to think the day would come that I could help out the 501st!

All my days of being a service crewmen have finally paid off!

What the-!?

Is... Is this it?

It's covered in spiderwebs...

Hey! Can this unit even fly?

Uh, well... Probably...

"Probably"!?

Well, hey now! It's in perfect condition! I swears it!

Ah...

Well...

Miyafuji, I'm sorry, but...

I'll fly it! Let me fly!

Wha-!?

Miyafuji...

Yoshika...

Don't worry, Althea. I'll make sure your father is safe!

Okay... Thank you, Yoshika!

Taking off!

Whoa!

What's with this unit?

Miyafuji!

Crap! The Sorcery Connector must be plugged!

What was that!?

If that's the case, it won't even be able to absorb half her magic.

You've gotta be kidding me!

Not a problem!

Miyafuji!

She's flying!

Amazin'!

She cleared the blockage by forcin' even more of her magic through!

She must have a crazy amount of magical energy!

Goodness, some things never change.

We need to go, too!

Roger!

Republic of Gallia Dijon Base

Hmm...

United States of Liberion Army Air Force

Captain Charlotte E. Yeager

Shirley!

Hey, Shirley.

Duchy of Romagna Air Force

Pilot Officer Francesca Lucchini

What's up?

Hmm...

See that contrail? That's a Witch, right?

Ah, yeah.

Wonder which unit they're from.

Republic of Galia Sedan Base

Is that a Witch?

Republic of Gallia Free Gallia Air Force

Flying Officer Perrine H. Clostermann

Commonwealth of Britannia Air Force

Flight Sergeant Lynette Bishop

I don't recall any units requesting to dispatch today.

Maybe they're defying orders?

I should hope not. There's only one person I know who would do such a thing.

Kingdom of Belgica Saint-Trond Base

Which unit is that?

I never received any flight plans headed for Antwerp.

Flying Officer Erica Hartmann

Imperial Government of Karlsland Air Force

Wing Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke

Maybe someone's going AWOL.

Squadron Leader Gertrud Barkhorn

If that were you, I'd already be chasing you down.

Empire of Orussia Libau Base

Flying Officer Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen

Suomus Air Force

Hmm... Mmm...

Eila, what's the matter?

Empire of Orussia Army

First Lieutenant Sanya V. Litvyak

My tarot cards say that Miyafuji is out flying right now.

But, isn't Yoshika at school in Helvetia right now?

Yeah, I guess so, but...

This is Miyafuji. I've passed over Antwerp and am heading out to sea.

Roger that. Our intelligence says her father's ship is the Littorio-class battleship Doge.

Understood.

Hm? Sakamoto?

What was that?

Doge! That's Althea's father's ship!

Direct hit, commader.

No good. Due to the size, it appears we have no effect.

Target is continuing its approach!

Tch. That damned iceberg is a monster.

Why is the battleship fighting an iceberg?

Target's distance is at 500m and closing.

At this rate, it'll overtake us before we can get to Antwerp.

Any word on reinforcements?

We can't get through via radio.

We can't allow that iceberg to get any closer to Antwerp!

Hard to port!

All guns, prepare high-explosive shells!

We'll fight it head-on!

Hard to port.

Steady!

That iceberg... It's like it's chasing the ship.

A beam!? How!?

Was that a beam from the iceberg!?

It looks like there's a Witch over there.

Could that iceberg...

Oh!

What is that?

I-It's huge.

It can't be...

An iceberg-type Neuroi!?

No way... Neuroi are supposed to avoid water...

How can it be an iceberg!?

Miyafuji? Respond! Miyafuji!?

Dammit! What's happening over there!?

To Be Continued