English Dub Review: Brave Witches “The Witch of Sasebo?”

Find out what we thought of the season premiere!

As Brave Witches episode 1, “The Witch of Sasebo?” opens, there’s a brief prologue explaining that in 1939 Neuroi craft invade. In order to combat the Neuroi, striker units were created. These units were comprised of young girls with magical powers, known as witches.

The first thought I had while watching was how the general premise paralleled Saga of Tanya the Evil. Digging into specifics, the shows are fairly different. But the alternate history and young girls with magical powers remain pretty similar.

Flash forward to September 1944. It’s the Fuso country of Sasebo, and there’s a young witch-in-training, Hikari Karibuchi. She visits her father, a skilled technician. I really appreciate the balance of retro-inspired scenery and science fiction elements. Hikari’s father works on a long row of radio machinery that seems slightly outdated considering the advent of magical powers.

Hikari’s sister, Takami, is a sub-Lieutenant in the Third Aerial Squadron. Moreover, Takami is slated for a visit home before her dispatch to the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing in Peterburg, Orussia. The 502nd unit is known as the Brave Witches. Aspiring to join her sister, Hikari decides to try out in a selection exam.

Unfortunately, while spirited and a strong runner, Hikari lacks strong magical powers. But when she’s competing against a fellow classmate Mia Misumi, Mia plummets into the water, Hikari saves her. Hikari is therefore dispatched to Europe.

I like the alternate history a lot. It’s well-crafted and seems there’s some mystery about a girl in a photo. Additionally, I’m curious about the origins of the Neuroi craft. The magic is neatly portrayed. When using their powers, girls sprout ears and a tail. It’s not explained why. But in addition to magical abilities, witches also use gear. This is like a toned down steampunk. It’s not as heavy-handed as Full Metal Alchemist or even Sherlock Hound. Nevertheless, there’s still a steampunk undertone.

The music is excellent and pretty toned down. Unlike Hand Shakers, it’s not overbearing. There’s a fun, upbeat vibe to the series, at least in “The Witch of Sasebo?” I’m curious as to whether that’s poised to change after the deployment. Additionally, I’m keen to learn more about the Neuroi and what they are as well as where they came from. Ultimately, “The Witch of Sasebo?” arrived as a strong first entry in the Brave Witches saga.

SCORE
8.5/10