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Luminous Witches Anime Reveals New Cast Members, Character, Video
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
The official website for the Renmei Kūgun Kōkū Mahō Ongakutai Luminous Witches (Allied Air Force Magical Idols Luminous Witches) television anime revealed a new character on Monday. The anime's website also revealed a new promotional video and cast members for the anime earlier this month. The newly revealed character is (Note: Character name spellings are not confirmed):
Maria Magadalene Dietrich, 15 years old. Her familiar is a flying squirrel, and she sings vocals. She hails from Karlsland, a country that prides itself on rigid order and its strong military tradition. While she is not part of the Night Witches early warning and detection air group, her familiar is nocturnal, and she often prefers the night and dark places, and dislikes daytime.
A Nico Nico Live stream on May 31 will reveal a new character.
The previously revealed cast includes:
- Ami Aimoto as Lyudmila Andreyevna Rouslanova (second from left in image above)
- Mai Narumi as Virginia Robertson (third from left)
- Minako Hosogawa as Inori Shibuya (fourth from left)
The newly revealed cast includes:
- Sayaka Tsuzuki as Eleonore Giovanna Gassion (leftmost)
- Ryō Mamiya as Aira Payvikki Linnamar (rightmost)
The anime's Twitter account also previously revealed the characters in their concert costumes.
The anime will premiere in 2021. The story centers on a unique squadron of "witches who don't fight." Instead, the squadron sing and perform music to protect the smiles of those who have been driven out of their hometowns by the Neuroi.
Humikane Shimada drew the character designs for the new Witches. Shimada and Projekt World Witches are credited with the original work. Shouji Saeki (episode director and scriptwriter for Strike Witches and Strike Witches 2) directing the anime and handling the series composition. Shinya Murakami is credited for the "Witches series literature." Kadokawa is producing the music.
An idol group based on the new project will debut this year.
The overall franchise's story centers on an alien invasion by beings known as the Neuroi. The only way to damage and ultimately defeat them lies in Witches, girls who possess magical powers and are capable of wielding Striker Units that enhance their abilities and allow them to maneuver in the air. The characters in the franchise are often based on real-life aerial aces from various nationalities.
The series is based on illustrator Humikane Shimada's mecha-girl illustrations, and Shimada is credited as the original creator and character designer for the franchise. The mixed-media franchise began with a manga in 2005, and a light novel series in 2006, both of which focus on different characters from the eventual Strike Witches anime. The anime premiered in 2008, and it spawned a sequel, a film, and an OVA series. The franchise also spawned the Brave Witches anime in October 2016, as well as numerous spinoff manga, novels, and games.
The new Strike Witches: 501st JOINT FIGHTER WING Take Off! (Strike Witches 501 Butai Hasshinshimasu!) TV and online anime series premiered on April 9, and the Strike Witches: Road to Berlin TV anime will premiere in 2020.
Sources: Luminous Witches anime's website (link 2) and Twitter account, MoCa News
