Vividred Operation First Impressions

Change of plans. Instead of focusing solely on the Fall lineup, I will also go for the Winter schedule since I am in no rush to finish any shows at the moment. With that being said, let’s take a look at the first two episode of the show I think will be Strike Witches’ potential successor if done right, Vividred Operation.

The first episode was more of a setup so there isn’t much to explain that the plot summary does not. In short, the show takes place in a futuristic world where the fuel problem was finally solved and world peace has been achieved. However, as we all know, there will always be people who oppose the idea of world peace. It’s a bitter truth we must all accept.

Akane is an optimistically energetic youth, which means she’s a ditzy, heroic airhead. Akane’s weapon is a boomerang, which is badass because I rarely see boomerang wielding girls…or guys for that matter.

Aoi’s a somewhat timid girl and Akane’s #1 broski who is still willing to fight for justice despite her shyness. She has super strength and her weapon is a hammer.

Since Akane is an airhead, naturally her little sister is the more dependent and domestically capable of the two…like so many other fluffy anime sisters, As for Gramps, you’ll have to see for yourself.

As I mentioned above, a futuristic setting where there is world peace.

Enter the Neu- I mean Alone. Seriously, it looks like a Neuroi. Anyway, the Alone are a threat Gramps predicted would become a major threat if not dealt with but nobody believed him then…and this is the result. Like all Mahou Shoujo shows and manga in existence, the military is powerless against this alien mech. That’s where our two heroines come in, complete with transformation sequences and panty shots. After that, teenage girls doing what the army cannot do…oh, and yuri subtext goodness.

Turns out the Alone’s too powerful for our heroines to take down by themselves, so…fusion time! However, after an EXTREMELY moe reason as to why they couldn’t merge the first time, they get it right the second time, complete with our first couple on the show. With the power of love, our blossoming lovers combine and transform intooooo…

A KOS-MOS or Mega Man cosplayer.

Akanoi/Aoine finish off the super Alone (More on that in a bit) with more “Naked” attacks and the day is saved, until the next Alone shows up.

So there you have it, a very interesting Mahou Shoujo anime whose only similarities to Strike Witches are the enemies (provided the Alone are all black and red) and panty shots. The show gave us a flashback interesting enough to make us want to learn more about where the Alone came from and why they want to cause pain and suffering to all.

Lastly, this girl showed up out of nowhere and blasted a Lance Armstrong arrow to juice up the Alone after being temporarily weakened. My best guess is she’ll either be a recurring rival or the future fifth Ranger. As we saw in the opening credits, there are two more Rangers who will join Akane and Aoi. I wonder if they will also go through the same ritual and Akane will get a harem?