We're Going To War

War. War is hell, but...War in anime is AWESOME! Nothing feeds the action and drama junkies better. In this theme alone, we are already assured that we will get some sort of gun fire, dramatic story, cool action scenes, and some amazing machines, mechs or otherwise. I've had this article idea saved for a little while, but I chose to write it now for one special reason. For the date of August 10, 2010. Why is that date so special you are asking? Well, check out this trailer by BANDAI for the first season of the anime Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.

        
 
That's right, today is the day that the Britannian Empire first attacked the independent nation of Japan and put into motion the events that would start the series of Code Geass. Similar to my previous list of Vampire Series Worth Your Time, this is a series that is all about War. For today, I call on all of the Anime Vice members into service. Cast aside your pacifist ways and dig into some wild action with these five series that I think are well worth checking out. What say you? 

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion & R2

Seeing how this is the date where Japan was changed into Area 11, let's start things off right. It's the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion franchise. It's also one of my favorite anime series. It is set on Earth in an alternative time line, somewhat akin to a "What If" the Revolutionary War of the late 1700s had never happened or failed. The Britannian Empire is sweeping across the world and overtaking nations and their people, stripping them of their names and replacing them with numbers. If I was to try and explain this series to the uninitiated I would describe it as the anime equivalent of V for Vendetta. The life of the hero, Lelouch Lamperouge, is forever changed when he stumbles into a getaway of Japanese rebels. There he comes across a young, green-haired girl, C.C., who grants him a power that is called Geass. With this power he can command the complete loyalty of anyone. They will answer any question, perform any act, and even happily take their own life. If you think that ability would make things too easy, boy, are you ever wrong. 
 
This is an amazing war time series. There is a very well told drama here, and some fanservice thrown in now and again. Though, the first season was shown later in the evening, and had much more in the way of nudity. The second season, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, had less nude shots and sexual themes. It has been a long time since one anime series has made me so shocked, moved, inspired, angry, and sad. The best kind of drama should invoke an emotional response, and Code Geass did that with flying colors. 

Watch the First and Second Seasons on Crunchyroll HERE

Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa

Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa is the movie that was intended to make up for the lackluster finale of the original anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist. While some of the events of the movie happen in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, the protagonist, Edward Elric, is trapped in the real world during the 1920's. In a time where many of the seeds were planeted that would ignite the greatest war in world history, World War II.  Ed is stuck in a world where alchemy just doesn't work for him, but he still is looking for a way to get back to his world. On the other side, Alphonse Elric, Ed's younger brother, is trying to find a way to him. Standing between them is the Thule Society. They believe that Ed's home world is the legendary land of Shamballa. If they can claim that power, they will rule the world.
 
I personally felt that the movie was pretty good, but still found the ending leaving me feeling unfulfilled. I never quite get why animes just can't have ends. They often feel more akin to a beginning to something different. There is hardly ever any closure.
 
Some of the events that are talked about in this movie were very accurate. I had heard that this anime movie was even being shown at some history classes in college. This is one of the rare series where I've enjoyed the English dub cast more than the Japanese cast. I don't know anywhere official that is streaming the movie, but it is available on DVD and Blu-ray in the US.  You can watch the trailer here.

Strike Witches

Adding the Strike Witches anime to this list may surprise some people. It is pretty much a loli series with an extremely odd panty fetish. Still, if you can get past that, the series is quite good. It's one of those war series that is just left of reality. The maps are of Earth, but the names of the nations are all changed. In the series, the Earth is invaded by a strange alien force called the Neuroi. The only force that can stop these aliens are a group of young girls called Strike Witches. This series follows the special front line unit of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing.
 
Before you dismiss this series altogether, let me tell you a few things that you might not have realized. Fist off, all the main characters are actually based on real world fighter pilots of the World War II era. Just as one example, Erica Hartmann is based on the real world pilot of Erich Alfred "Bubi" Hartmann. The Striker Units all the girls wear are based on fighter planes from the various countries, and the same goes for the guns they use. Even the design of many of the Neuroi are based on experimental air crafts. The series is littered with little Easter eggs for the finding. 
 
The show reminds me of a novel series by Harry Turtledove. He wrote quite a few novels talking about if aliens had invaded during the World War eras, and the human race had to unify against a common enemy. This idea is even commented on in the first season of Strike Witches, Episode 6. It's a good series that really did not skimp on the animation quality. The action can get pretty cool. It just would of been so much stronger if the girls had worn pants.
  
Watch the first season on FUNimation HERE
Second season being streamed by Crnuchyroll HERE

Gundam Series

One of the granddaddies of modern war animes has to be the entire list of the Mobile Suit Gundam series. It's a wide franchise that has created a vast number of wartime animes with those legendary mechs we all know as Gundams. There is almost always a war of some kind being waged in these series. With each passing battle, each nation comes out with a new kind of Gundam with amazing destructive power. It's all very "military industrial complex."
 
There have been so many Gundam animes. It's really difficult to pick just one. Also, I never got around to watching the more recent Gundam 00 anime. I would probably suggest the first real Gundam series I remember watching from episode one and to the end. That would be Gundam Wing.  In this series the different space colonies have sent out various model Gundam mechs to fight. One pilot is the skilled Heero Yuy. He is one of the pilots who is discovered on the beach by Relena Darlian. He thinks he has been exposed and mission failed. He attempts suicide, by that fails as well. Heero later attempts to assassinate Relina, but much to his own surprise, he keeps finding himself saving her.  

This series is filled with some seriously cool action and mechs. There was also a movie that expanded on the anime's finale, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz.
 
Watch the full season on Crunchyroll HERE 

Valkyria Chronicles

The Valkyria Chronicles is an anime series that was originally based around a Japanese strategy RPG for the PS3 of the same title. In some ways it's a bit similar to Strike Witches. Both take place a little off from reality and are set in a WWII-esque setting. The nations of the world also have their names changed, such as Europe being referred to as 'Europa.' Big difference between Valkryia and Strike Witches? Everyone is wearing pants in this one.
  
The two warring nations in this series are the Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance and the Atlantic Federation. Both are after a rich mineral fuel called Ragnite. The main protagonist of the character is named Welkin Gunther. He's sort of a spacey and innocent personality. Hardly the kind you would think would be good in a fight, but with his adopted sister Isara and a specialized tank called the Edelweiss, they are a force to be reckoned with in this great war. The series is filled with what you would expect, given it's origins in story and design. It has a lot of strategic themes and some racial intolerance. 
 
The reason I put this series on the list last is that I really couldn't find any official source that is airing the anime online. I'm also unsure about it's license status for the US. Odd when the game series was pretty popular.
 
I hope this list either brought back some good memories of wartime animes, or it possibly suggested something you might want to check out for the future. This is not intended to be a list of what I think are the absolute best. Just some series that I think are well worth a mention in the war themed class of anime. Do you have any suggestions?

-Kristoffer Remmell (FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.-