Shuumatsu no Izetta

The fact that Japan was on Germany's side during WWII along with how we dropped nukes on them during said war really makes things uncomfortable whenever that country decides to dip their hands into alternate WWII fiction. Especially since they can't demonize the actual Germans, so they have to call them names like Germanians or Britanians or Americans (oh wait) whenever they have to portray actual antagonists. Germanians who are pretty damn fluent in Japanese for a country that wants the world to be ruled by the master race, but what do I know about alternate history? Well I may not know much, but Ido know that if you want to show your child a good entry in that genre, Izetta: The Last Witch is better left in that bargain bin where you found it. The show is centered on a young princess named Fine and her attempts to stop the evil Germanians from taking over her country on the eve of this war that shares the same name as the world-spanning conflict of the 1940s, but otherwise has no relation to it whatsoever. Because in addition to all the usual changes that are made to the history in order to make a WWII story fresh after it's been exploited by the entertainment industry like ten thousand times, we now have magic in this world. And I'm not talking about the cultish Hellboy/Conqueror of Shamballa/Maria the Virgin Witch religious magic, although it wouldn't surprise me if the writers of this show took inspiration from that. This one deals more with basic witchcraft, except witches use anti-tank rifles to fly around rather than brooms and can decimate entire armies in ways that an entire army of Jedi would cry foul at. Said witchcraft takes the form of a young red-haired girl named Izetta, a witch-in-hiding who was saved by Princess Fine in the past, and now that they've both grown up, Izetta vows to use her magical powers to help Fine's kingdom win the war and launch a thousand yuri fanfictions in the process. However, the opposing Germanians are aware of the existence of witchcraft and vow to discover Izetta's weaknesses in order to tip the war back in their favor. From there, the show basically spreads itself out way too thin, trying to juggle multiple characters, viewpoints, and genres all at once. In theory, this means something for everyone. In practice, this means absolutely no one is satisfied. See, I know Izetta got a lot of attention from anime fans upon initial watch because it dumped a lot of elements that people were intrigued by to the point that they were interested in what it might become over what it actually is. Every time I read an initial positive impression for this show, they never praised anything resembling actual story direction, always concentrating on individual scenes or characters who seem likable and all that stuff that sends out warning lights that the show is going to turn to shit within a few episodes like 99% of all anime out there. Although to be fair, I didn't expect the show to be as tonally inconsistent as it ended up being, dedicating entire episodes to the breast sizes of the females (because that's totally appropriate to talk about during wartime, isn't it?), only to shift to a no-name male soldier who ends up getting an early perish because he knew too much. Since this is a war story, that means we have to sit through the usual boring "being a soldier is bad" storytelling with all the pointless deaths, men turning into monsters, and blablabla that I really hate about war fiction. But you know what's worse than a war story that throws out its elementary school-level cliches like we haven't heard them before? A war story that throws out its elementary school-level cliches, only to shortchange it with elementary anime cliches. I mean can someone explain to me why all the high-ranking soldiers that hang around Fine happen to be cute girls with big racks? Why exactly do I have to watch them trying to give Izetta a shower, and why exactly should I care about them getting their own episode when they have about as much impact on the plot as a malfunctioning cell phone? Didn't exactly help that the episode itself was just plain bad, focusing on them taking care of a male soldier who happened to be on the opposite side, and anyone who didn't see that ending coming has obviously never watched a war story in their life, and you should have picked a better one to start with. The characters themselves are pretty generic. Fine is a headstrong princess who wants to serve her country and protect the people, and that philosophy isn't challenged at all during the show's runtime, making it hard to sympathize with any of the arbitrary struggles that she faces along the way. Izetta is pretty much defined by her devotion to her. Pretty much every other good guy is characterized the same way only they can't lift tanks. And the bad guys are pretty much characterized by either "kill the witch" or "die soldier die". Really, Fine is pretty much the only person who's in a position to spearhead the story, but because she doesn't take much action nor does she have her actions challenged, she's about as qualified to guide the viewer as she is to run the country in general. Just about the only thing she really cares about is risking her friends' lives, specifically Izetta's, on the battlefield - and the majority of what qualifies as her arc involves her making sure that her witch friend is safe whilst dealing with a war that outsiders shouldn't be involved in. That sort of relationship couldn't carry a two-hour movie by itself. Why on earth would it be able to carry twelve episodes? As for the magic angle, I think Izetta was actively trying its best to make it as bland as possible, because it hits all the usual cliches you'd expect from an anime gimmick thrown into a generally serious situation. It has limits so the good guys don't get completely overpowered. It's used for generic slapstick that no one over the age of eight would find funny. After initial usage, it's never used with the same amount of efficiency again. Oh, and did I mention that the enemy side happens to have someone with similar powers? To which I respond with "how does that make any horse-fucking sense?". If they had someone on their side who could use magic, why would either the writers or the characters need to devote so much time to discovering Izetta's weaknesses in the first place when they can just send someone on her level who would definitely know how magic actually works in this world beforehand? And where the fuck did this girl come from anyways? I can't recall her ever being foreshadowed prior to her initial appearance in the last third of this show, so the only possible answer I can come up with was that even with the Germanians discovering her weakness, the writers didn't have an idea how to make a suitable final conflict so they threw Sophie in at the last minute. One other way the magic in Izetta is misused is that the show ends up putting so much attention on the gimmick that it loses focus on the actual story that was initially hinted at at the very beginning. The final conflict is pretty much one big magic duel that has nothing to do with WWII and introduces a bunch of out-of-nowhere plot elements leading to a paint-by-numbers ending that makes Luke Cage's finale look like Fullmetal Alchemist's (either anime adaptation). I should point out that Izetta: The Last Witch is made by a newbie studio who I know nothing about, but apparently doesn't have any recognizable veterans amongst their ranks, because the animation in this show is absolute ass. Everything looks way too flat, the magic spells have no personality, and just about anybody could have directed this show. As such, don't expect that final conflict I mentioned to be a suitable payoff for all the mismanaged elements that came before. And if you're watching this show for the yuri, put away those virgin boners, because you're not gonna get much of a resolution out of that either. There really isn't a single thing I can recommend Izetta: The Last Witch for. It only has one not-so-unique idea that's only on-screen like half the time at best, and it failed to make anything interesting happen with it when it bothered to show up. The show is cheap junk food: unfulfilling and you feel kind of weird after experiencing it, but you can't really describe why. My recommendation? Toss it into the same hellfire we threw Corpse Princess and that shitty Romeo x Juliet show and forget everything about its existence, just like we did with those shows.

"Izetta - the last witch" - is good anime in alternative history genre. Events of anime happen in alternative Europe of ~1939, where Germania tries to conquer the world, and as "real" (from other fiction) nazi they study occultism and magic. And there is what to study - because in this world magic is real. And easy prey for Germania as little alpine country Principality of Elystadt suddenly get support from Izetta - the last witch of this world. Magic vs technic, science and cunning, great setup for nice anime. And there is probably the main problem, anime at the beginning show so great potential, whichis really poorly realized, so many people even drop this anime in the second half of season. But it is not bad at all, just do not expect much, and you will not be disappointed. ==Story== (7/10) Story is decent, it was interesting to follow warfare and politics at that world, despite the fact that politics are shown really childish and primitive. Cool guys from secret police of both countries were shown much better and darker. History of witchcraft was well presented, and some little stories too. Also relations between main characters Fine and Izetta - is great and cause you to imagine what happens next. But really inappropriate fan-service and some misunderstanding in motivation at the end, where it can be better written, spoils the story. ==Characters== 6.5/10 One more problematic side of anime. No, mostly characters are good, someone even great, just looks at the agents of secret police Berckmann and Muller, some other supporting characters are great too, germanian pilot for instance. Ortfine despite hers childish and sometimes dumb speeches had some charisma and looks like the proper aristocratic girl. But Izetta - oh, she is just one dimensional. It is pure naivety and mindless loyalty, whatever is going on, Izetta reacts just the same way. If at the start of series you did not notice this, in the second half it so unbearable to ignore. Still relation between Fine and Izetta are nice, except for some predictable Izetta moves. Main villain is pretty generic and can be found at any average anime ==Art and Sound== 10/10 I love it! Alpine landscapes - just beatiful, tech and building - also drawn nicely, and there is no complaints about character. I love this style, whatever it is. Sound is even better, some german alpine motives create great atmosphere. Battles also had music accompaniment, which fit war well. OP - is nice, but nothing specific, ED - calm cool song. ==Enjoyment== 9/10 The main problems of this anime are Izetta and the fact that it could be better (maybe, maybe not), but this two facts does not spoil me anime. I got many positive emotions while watching. Decent story, great music, some great characters and emotional chemistry between main characters. P.S. It is good anime, but hype spoil so much in the eyes of viewers.

Shuumatsu no Izetta is an anime from late last year. It was written by Yoshino Hiroyuki who did some work for Code Geass & Kuroshitsuji. He also wrote the anime adaptation for Dance in the Vampire Bund, which was pretty dreadful. The studio behind it was Ajia-Do, which I remember from Magic Tree House. So, with this staff the series could go either way. Let's find out how it does, shall we? Story: Our narrative is set in an alternative world at the beginning of World War II. Princess Finé of Elystadt is going to the allies to plead for help against the Germanian forces. Sheand her guards are being chased by Germanian soldiers when she spots a strange capsule on the train. She tries to open it but the Germanians find her before she can. She and her guards manage to escape, but she's taken prisoner after reaching the Britannian minister. She's taken aboard a plane with the mysterious capsule when it opens, revealing a young red-haired girl who Finé knows very well, Izetta. Izetta uses her magic to rescue Finé and their struggle against Germania begins. There are some relatively minor story issues. First off, there are some contrivances. For example, there's a character who learns a secret because two higher ups in Elystadt's military are discussing it outside where anyone could overhear them. Surely, they are strategic masterminds. There's another case where a Germanian spy happens to make friends with a couple of supporting characters who he randomly encounters without knowing who they are and he makes friends with them in a very short time just to try and make a confrontation betwixt him and one of them more dramatic. It doesn't really work. The length is also a bit of an issue. There are some really good ideas that really could have used more time to be properly fleshed out. The secret of Elystadt's original White Witch, the death of Finé's father very early on, the political gambits that Finé takes to try and save her nation. Frankly, there are enough ideas here that the series could have been twenty six episodes without ever feeling like it was dragging and the pacing wouldn't have had to be so rushed. That being said, when you factor in the time constraints, the series is really well written. It has strong sources of tension that get explained as well as one could reasonably expect them to be in a twelve episode series. The series is good at touching on all the beats that it needs to, even when there are ones that could have benefited from greater extrapolation. I also appreciate that every plot point comes into play. There's a scene where a certain character dies for the sake of a state secret and it doesn't seem like it's going to be important but then it comes into play for two different plot points later. The way the series brings propaganda into play is superbly handled. It's certainly a series that keeps you engrossed with every episode ending in a way that makes you curious about what comes next. Characters: The characters are the biggest strength of the series. Most of the supporting characters are well enough fleshed out to have verisimilitude. Which adds gravity to the situations. Sophie is a compelling character, particularly when you learn the truth behind her hatred of Elystadt. The best part of the characters, however, is Izetta & Finé's relationship. It is expertly handled with a strong back story to illustrate how they got to the point they're at when we first see them in the series and with a good degree of development over the course of the series. They're both strongly fleshed out characters and having a very powerful dynamic only serves to highlight their best, and in a few cases worst, qualities thanks to the ways they interact with one another. Art: The artwork in this is largely excellent. The backgrounds are quite lovely and there's clearly a lot of work put into the various military gear, outfits and animation. The one complaint I have with the artwork is that some of the scenes cross the line into crass fan-service. Which can be distracting when they're trying to have a serious scene. Sound: The entire vocal cast does well. There aren't any weak links in that regard. The strongest performances come from Akaneya Himika & Hayami Saori. The two of them really manage to sell the chemistry between their characters. Amamiya Sora is also really good in this. We can thank Michiru for the music. Which is excellent. Ho-yay: There's a lot in this series. This is one of those anime that's technically not shoujo-ai, but might as well have been. There are a lot of scenes where the artwork and atmosphere give the impression that Finé and Izetta are going to start passionately snogging and then the scene will have to shift before the rating goes all the way up to Rx. Finé cross dresses at one point, seemingly just so she can dance with Izetta at a party. There are also some indications that Bianca would be interested in turning their relationship into a poly-amorous one and there's a former journalist turned tutor who seems interested in the pair of them as well. There's a maid, Lotte, who seems interested in Izetta. I wonder if these two meet a lot of other women who are interested by coincidence or if Elystadt's royal family just hires a lot of lesbians by design. Final Thoughts: Shuumatsu no Izetta certainly has its narrative flaws. It's got its contrivances, it can be somewhat crass with its fan-service and it really would have benefited from a longer run. That being said, there's a lot to like about it. The tension is strong. The characters are nicely fleshed out. The dynamic between our leads is amazing. The artwork largely looks legitimately lovely. The acting and music are strong. As a whole, I found it highly endearing and rather enjoyable. If you're interested in seeing a WW II fiction that factors in magical powers and escapes being classified as shoujo-ai by a minor technicality, this one is for you. For myself, I give it a very respectable 8/10. Next week I've actually got a short request to look at, it's going to be Sakamichi no Apollon.

"The fairy tale of the White Witch who appeared in modern times surely left something inside the hearts of people all over the world." I could only wish Izetta. I could only wish. Izetta at first seemed like a love letter to my anime taste. Beautiful girls flying on guns, flipping tanks and piercing planes with giant swords. What's not to love? A lot apparently. *Quick side note: I watched this as it was airing, if that changes anything.* Story: 4 This is the biggest downfall of Izetta. The first few episodes were absolutely fantastic for me. They set up the alternative World War II setting well, introduced the main cast,that looked unique at first glance, showcased some kick ass action and more. However, as soon as the battle started to calm down, I felt as if the writers didn't know what to do. The SOL moments were okay, but the "battle of wits" between people at the side of Elystadt and Germania was straight up butchered. Each action they took was a bit too predictable. I refuse to believe that Germanians had only one smart person on their side, that could figure Izetta out. I refuse to believe that a secret place hidden under a castle had a secret passage the whole time, that just randomly opened when someone needed to escape. Finally, I absolutely refuse to believe that Elystadt didn't expect to be crushed just because of some wins, even if important from a strategic point of view. This is not how war works. No matter if magic exists or not, there are always a ton of people that have to work on every detail, but here we have only a handful. Another big problem I had, was the introduction of the main threat way too late into the show. I am not a fan of that decision to say the very least. The story does end nicely, but there are still some stories that were not completed. The last few scenes showed that there could be a special episode or something like that coming up. With all the bad stuff out of the way, there were some cool ideas in there. There was a lot of creative directing in each action scene, groups of guerrillas attacking from the forest looked believable (for the short time that we saw them), the media propaganda was used nicely, the setting was explored well and the relations between witches and normal humans were really interesting. Unfortunately that can't fix all the problems I had with the rest of the shows story. Long story short, the writing flopped way too fast, way too hard. Art and Animation: 9 The most surprising thing about the show is how good it looks. The Ajia-Do studio wasn't well known before making Izetta, so that makes their achievement even more outstanding. This series looks gorgeous. Every character design, while a bit more moe than I expected, fits. Some scenes, especially the more SOL oriented ones, get a bit less care, and you can spot some mistakes, but dear Lord, the action scenes look fantastic. Every scene from each bigger battle is handled in a great way. I don't have many complaints here. Sound: 7 It's fine. Nothing spectacular, but it fits the specified time period and can get you hyped or put you in a pensive mood when it needs to. Bonus point for the opening, both visually and on the music side. I liked it, but music is of course subjective. The seiyuus do their job well too. Berckmann sounds like an asshole, Izetta sounds like a lost girl, and Fine sounds like a strong princess. Good stuff. Characters: 5.5 At a first glance the cast looks unique enough. A witch in a World War II setting? Sounds good. An all female princess guard? Seems interesting. A smart Germanian to rival the princess? Looks promising. Unfortunately most of them flopped like a bunch of old pancakes. Izetta was ineresting to the very end, I thought she would get more development and new motivations other then "I love you Fine-samaaaa", but she wasn't a bad MC. Fine on the other hand was. She seemed to be a strong, independant princess, but she ended up only playing a minor role. Everything was done for her, she was mostly there just to represent her country. However, I have to mention that she risked her life on numerous occasions for the good of her country, so there's that. When it comes to the sides, they just... didn't work. They try to contrast characters or have a random romance pushed in, none of that made much sense and their development was rushed. Their actions didn't have important repercussions on themselves or anything else. I have to admit though, while they were all simple characters that were a bit dumb at times, I liked them. I couldn't say that I didn't. They had strong love for their duty and their homeland. They didn't do their job well enough though, thus I consider this score appropriate. Enjoyment: 8 For the first few weeks, this was my favourite anime of the season. The action scenes were full of hype and the story looked promising. In the end I did like the characters, I was satisfied with the ending and I am glad that I watched it. I will remeber it fondly, because there were a lot of ideas that I personally liked. I haven't watched any World War II anime before, so I can say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, but also incredibly sad by how much it disappointed me later. With all that, I can say that at the very least I cared about the characters and the story. I wanted to see how it will end and ultimately, the positive feelings outweighed the negative ones, mostly thanks to the awesome action. Overall: 6 A low 6 at that. There were some moments where I wanted to pull my hair out because of how stupid I found some episodes, but there were also moments where I grinned like an idiot after all the awesome fights. This show wasn't good for me, but I still embraced what it gave me. Thank you Shuumatsu no Izetta for teaching me not to get hyped for a show after a few good episodes and showing me some of the most awesome scenes of the year. It was a bumpy ride, but I think I can reccomend this to someone who will think that this looks interesting, but be cautious. It may disappoint you much more then it disappointed me. Of course this is purely my opinion, and I reccomend you to develop your own.

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