Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Girls & Panzer: das Finale 2 (2019)

If you enjoyed “Girl & Panzer: Complete TV Series” and OVA Series, then more than likely you are definitely wanting to watch the “das finale” films! Recommended!

Click here to Purchase This Blu-ray on Amazon

TITLE: Girls & Panzer: das Finale 2

ANIME RELEASE DATE: 2019

DURATION: 66 Minutes

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, English and Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1, Subtitles: English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATING: TV 14 V

Release Date: November 23, 2021

Directed by Mizushima Tsutomu

Series Composition by Yoshida Reiko

Original Character Design by Shimada Humikane

Character Design by Sugimoto Isao

Design by Makiuchi Momoko

Anime Production: Actas

Featuring the following voice talent:

Ozaki Mami/Caitlynn French as Hana Isuzu

Kayano Ai/Jessica Calvello as Saori Takabe

Fuchigami Mai/Margaret McDonald as Miho Nishizumi

Iguchi Yuka/Molly Searcy as Mako Reizei

Nakagami Ikumi/Rebekah Stevens as Yukari Akiyama

Tsuda Minami/Alexis Tipton as Andou

Nanase Ami/Alyssa Marek as Cutlass

Yonezawa Madoka/Amber Lee Connors as Flint

Anzai Chika/Avery Smithhart as Oshida

Cat Thomas as Marie

Fukuen Misato/Christina Stroup as Anzu Kadotani

Sakura Ayane/Dawn M. Bennett as Ogin

Ueda Kana/Elizabeth Maxwell as Momo Kawashima

Taichi Yo/Morgan Berry as Murakami

Takamori Natsumi/Sarah Wiedenheft as Rum

Takahashi Mikako/Serena Varghese as Yuzu Koyama

After falling for BC Freedom High’s clever deception, the Oarai Girl’s High tank-maidens find themselves faced with an entirely different battlefront than expected. However, Yukari suspects that any bluff that could have been carried out so easily by so many people must have some basis in fact. So, as the other school teams prepare for combat across the competition, Oarai digs down with a plan to undermine the groundwork beneath their opposition.

Too much digging is dangerous, though, and the girls are next troubled to discover that the foundations of Momo’s personal life are equally unstable. With the victor of the Koala Forest High vs. Chi-Ha-Tan Academy battle as their next opponent, it’s a war on all fronts! Plus the events preceding the BC Freedom battle are revealed!

The popular anime/manga series “Girls & Panzer” is coming to an end.

And to end the storyline featuring Oarai Girl’s High School, a total of six films are planned, the third film was released in Japan back in March 2021.

And now the first film of “Girls & Panzer: das Finale 2” (2019) has been released on Blu-ray courtesy of Sentai Filmworks!

What is “Girl & Panzer” about?

In winter 2012 and spring 2013, the Japanese anime TV series “Girls und Panzer” captivated audiences in Japan for its cute girls who take part in tank battles and utilize tank strategies to take on their more powerful rivals.

“Girls & Panzer” takes place where various high school academies compete in sensha-do (Tankery) competitions and one of the families that have dominated the Tankery scene are the Nishizumi family.

But for Nishizumi Mih , she has transferred to Oarai Girls Academy because it doesn’t offer Tankery and for her, to get away from it is the best thing she can only hope for. Despite practicing and was involved in Tankery at a previous academy.

And immediately, she makes friends with Takebe Saori, a girl who loves to read women’s magazines on how to attract guys. Also, Isuzu Hana, a refined teenager who practices ikebana (flower arrangement).

But as the group try to find out what club to join for the year, Miho is called by the President, Vice President and PR spokesperson of Oarai High School in regards to their selection for club activities and because of her experience, the president tells Miho that if she doesn’t choose Tankery, she and her friends will be kicked out of Oarai High.

Upset about what the President has said, Miho notices Saori and Hana arguing on her behalf and if anything, she is very happy to have friends behind her. Not wanting to see them kicked out of school because of her, Miho decides to join Tankery if it keeps her and her new friends out of trouble.

But the real reason why the President of the school has put their hopes on Miho to join the Tankery club is because if Oarai Academy does not win the Tankery competition, their school will be closed down.

Meanwhile, Miho, Saori and Hana make new friends: Yukari who is excited about Tankery and a moody, always half-asleep Mako Reizei and the five together are able to make a great team and along with other Oarai Tankery members, they notice that Miho is actually a fantastic commander that can lead them during competitions.

But will Oarai Academy have what it takes to take on the favored academy to win the Tankery competition?

And several years later… Girls & Panzer: das Finale

The second film continues the Oarai Girls Academy in a tank battle versus the BC Freedom Academy. Meanwhile, the Tankery Competition continues with Oarai Girls Academy taking on Chi-Ha-Tan Academy.

Meanwhile, “Taiyaki War” OVA is also included and goes into detail of the two rival factions of BC Freedom Academy.

VIDEO:

“Girls & Panzer: das Finale 2” is presented in 1080p High Definition and I have to say that Actas did a wonderful job with production of this series. From the mechanical designs of the tanks, the focus on the treads and movements of various tanks is very well-done. Character designs for each of the characters, environments is colorful, vibrant with beautiful art backgrounds. But I was very pleased of the detail and the research that went into the creation of the tanks and how each tank operates.

I didn’t notice any banding issues or compression during my viewing of the animated film.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Girls & Panzer: das Finale 2” is presented in Japanese and English DTS-HD MA 5.1. The film features crystal clear dialogue and music via the front and surround channels. Both soundtracks are well-acted. This film features quite a bit of action, so it’s great to have a film that utilizes the surround channels fairly well.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Girls & Panzer: das Finale 2” comes with the “Taiyaki War!” OVA, textless opening and ending themes, Japanese promo and “Girls & Panzer: das Finale 2” trailer.

“Girls & Panzer” has always been an enjoyable and delightful series about a group of underdogs who enter a Tankery competition and must take on the best high schools.

I have enjoyed this series since the series was released in North America and even went as far in visiting Ibaraki Prefecture and visiting the seaside town of Oarai where the protagonist team is from.

But if you have watched the TV series, the OVA’s, the first animated film, then surely, you’ll more than likely watch “das Finale” because the series is coming to an end.

For the most part, we get two tank competitions featuring Oarai Girls Academy and the strategies employed. We get to see a glimpse of other team competitions as well.

In addition, we get an OVA showcasing the two rival factions of BC Freedom Academy.

As for the Blu-ray, picture quality is very good and because they are OVA episodes, there is a bit more detail in the OVA episodes versus the standard TV episode. Lossless audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, in English and Japanese.

Overall, part of the excitement of watching “Girls & Panzer” is seeing the various teams and strategies employed during battle. And in this latest film, we get to see Oarai Girls Academy trying to figure out how to beat their two opponents. Granted, the second competition will be continued in “Girls & Panzer: Das Finale 3” but its quite thrilling and fun to watch this series!

If you enjoyed “Girl & Panzer: Complete TV Series” and OVA Series, then more than likely you are definitely wanting to watch the “das finale” films! Recommended!

Click here to Purchase This Blu-ray on Amazon

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