Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Girls und Panzer der Film Blu-ray Movie Review

Fans won't want to miss it.

Girls und Panzer der Film brings the fan-favorite action anime to the forefront with a bigger and more expansive feature-film narrative. The feature showcases the exquisite animation of production studio Actas (Girls und Panzer, éX- Driver). Produced by Kazuyoshi Nishikawa, Kiyoko Matsumura, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Shinichi Sugawara, Tomomi Kyōtani, and Youhei Hayashi, Girls und Panzer der Film is adrenaline-infused filmmaking with plenty of exciting adventure for fans of the original anime.

The return of the tank girls leads to some new adventures with fleet tanks on a new mission forward. Saori Takebe (Ai Kayano), Yukari Akiyama (Ikumi Nakagami), Miho Nishizumi (Mai Fuchigami), Hana Isuzu (Mami Ozaki), and Mako Reizei (Yuka Iguchi) face some of their biggest challenges to date as tankers. These spunky tankers have given their all to the wrecking mission and everything in their way.

Running off track and encountering new challenges and unexpected detours, these tank girls are now going up against an even more experienced team. The challenge could lead to the girls losing their own tanks and leaving the battle as the losers of the tale! The stakes are higher than ever before and without team effort and dedication the battle cannot be won. The tank battles ensue – and these girls won’t back down for nothing.

The characters find themselves in one of their biggest missions yet and the feature-length journey is one that highlights the characters and their personalities more so than ever before. The characters are truly essential to the production and the charm of the series. The quirky cast entertains – it is fun to spend some time with these characters as the cast experiences the ups and downs of the tanking world. An enjoyable ride, in part, because the characters enrich the story and provide viewers with relatable characters too.

The animation is one of the best elements of the production. Though the feature-film is surprisingly not as beautiful looking as the later finale feature-films, perhaps in part due to changing technology (as the first feature-length film was produced at an earlier time), the animation is still consistent enough that viewers will be thrilled with the outstanding visuals and sense of scale provided to the filmmaking. The animators do a great job highlighting the tanks and the battlefield and there is a sense of detail in the outdoor terrain that makes things more compelling. Under the chief animation direction of Isao Sugimoto (The Qwaser of Stigmata, Ben-To), Girls und Panzer der Film certainly delivers on the essentials: providing crisp and colorful animation with great detail.

The first Girls und Panzer feature-film.

The film also benefits from the original character designs by Humikane Shimada. Shimada did a great job creating the designs of these characters and these elements enhance the characterizations. The film has anime character designs by Isao Sugimoto (Girls und Panzer, Ultimate Otaku Teacher) and the designer utilizes the same core concepts from the anime series – which is what fans would hope for and expect given the franchise roots.

One of the most intriguing elements of the production is the mecha designs. The mecha animation is ushered in by mecha directors Masakazu Yoshimoto and Takeshi Itou. Yoshimoto and Itou are both skilled in exploring the mecha layers of the story and the tanks look exquisitely detailed and robust. Detail on the tanks is top-notch and the designs fit the action sequences nicely (providing a more enveloping and epic scope to these sequences).

The score composed by Shiroh Hamaguchi (Girls und Panzer, Ah! My Goddess) is enjoyable and provides the feature-film with plenty of exciting moments. The score highlights both the characters and their respective journeys and the action-packed sequences in the terrain of the outdoors. The score is enjoyable in its execution and has fun with the themes. Composer Hamaguchi delivers once again.

The cinematography by Hyo Gyu Park (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Attack on Titan The Final Season) and Yoshihiro Sekiya (Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, If Her Flag Breaks) simply works. The filmmaking is enhanced by compelling cinematographic elements. The bright and colorful visual components of Park and Sekiya make the experience more thrilling.

Written by Reiko Yoshida (Girls und Panzer, Castle Town Dandelion), Girls und Panzer der Film isn’t exactly a home-run in the story department as the storytelling seems to be the backdrop to the experience – not the fore-front of the filmmaking. The film focuses heavily on expanding the action sequences and Yoshida does a solid job of making sure these moments work well. Yet the plot-line is comparatively average in other respects and not one of the best moments in the Girls und Panzer anime franchise.

Directed by Tsutomu Mizushima (Joshiraku, Witch Craft Works), Girls und Panzer der Film is well worth watching. The anime film has plenty of exciting action set pieces and the animation is beautiful. The direction of Mizushima finds a nice balance between showcasing the adrenaline-packed action sequences and highlighting the characters as well. The visual style of Mizushima is a fun one. Audiences will enjoy the ride.

Girls und Panzer der Film Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks, Girls und Panzer der Film is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The presentation is excellent and the animation certainly looks stunning on the release. Colors look great and there is an abundance of "pop" to the art style. The animation shines with crisp, clear, and vivid details. The background animation is well highlighted and line art is nicely reproduced. The encoding is great. Action sequences are well encoded and the presentation doesn't struggle with showcasing the rigorous tanking scenes. An excellent presentation by distributor Sentai Filmworks.

Girls und Panzer der Film Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of audio options: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound (with English subtitles) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound. The lossless surround sound mixes are top-notch. The surrounds are actively engaged throughout the presentation. The dynamics are rewarding. The score is well integrated in to the overall experience and the surround channels highlight the music in an enticing way. The sound effects bring the action closer with the tank scenes making a big impression. A clear and crisp presentation. A great encode by Sentai Filmworks.

Girls und Panzer der Film Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Girls und Panzer in (about) 3 Minutes (HD, 3:52)

Clean Opening Animation (HD, 2:00)

Clean Closing Animation (HD, 4:25)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Sentai Filmworks: Sakura Trick (HD, 1:31), Princess Principal: Crown Handler Chapter 1 (HD, 00:38), Shikizakura (HD, 1:33), and Girls und Panzer das Finale (HD, 1:02).

Girls und Panzer der Film Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Girls und Panzer der Film is an entertaining and exciting action-packed thrill ride with plenty of tanking fun to reward fans of the established anime. The feature explores the saga in a more ambitious way: providing more energy and thrills as fans have come to expect from the series. The animation is undeniably beautiful and the production aesthetic soars on the whole. The Blu-ray release has a impressive video and audio presentation. The release includes a small selection of extras. Fans of the series will want to add the release to their collection. Recommended.