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Luminous Witches
Work In Progress This article is still under construction. It may contain factual errors. See Talk:Luminous Witches for current discussions. Content is subject to change. |
Five long years after the Neuroi invaded Europe, with setback after setback and loss after loss, humanity's morale is at an all-time low. Determined to continue doing what she can, retired witch Grace Steward has been attempting to get more funding and resources for the Aviation Magic Band, but is making little progress with the disinterested League of Nations Air Force brass. Not willing to give up on her desire to bring some measure of happiness to the war-weary public, Grace sets out to recruit more members for the Band, which will ultimately number nine in addition to herself; the 72nd Joint Fighter Squadron soon earns the name Luminous Witches, and sets out on a world tour.
With a roster of witches who, for a variety of reasons are unable to serve on the frontlines, Luminous Witches is not as combat-focused as other elements of the World Witches universe. Instead, the 72nd JFS is effectively a combination of air demonstration squadron (akin to the more modern Red Arrows, Blue Angels, or Snowbirds) and USO Tour, entertaining civilian and military audiences alike with aerobatics and music. The story begins in March, 1944 as Virginia "Ginny" Robertson makes her way to London from her home in rural Scotland, having until then lived a simple farming life without real appreciation for her talents as a witch. The Luminous Witches visit many locations not before seen in the Witches universe, and encounter many new and established characters during their mission to spread happiness through the power of music. For a world map featuring the Luminous Witches' world tour route, see the Talk Page.
Luminous Witches begins the same month as Strike Witches and takes place alongside as well as after that season, then continues parallel the first half of Brave Witches.
For more in-depth explanations of the lore and setting of the World Witches universe, see the first season's page.
Warning: Some descriptions and images are spoilers for the series, read at your own risk.
The following weapons were used in the anime series Luminous Witches:
Pistols
Tokarev TT-33
An Orussian officer at the LNAF meeting is seen with a holster for a Tokarev TT-33; the other officers, all of various nations, presumably have their own service pistols as well. The continued existence of the League of Nations is an excellent example of how much of the turmoil and political unrest of the real world 1920s/30s never came to pass in this universe.
Rifles
Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*
The Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* makes two small appearances, more notably in the hands of a Britannian sentry at RAF Heston, as well as what is most likely also an SMLE slung over the shoulder of a Free Gallian soldier in his recently liberated homeland.
Machine Guns
Browning M1918A2
In a flashback to Operation Dynamo in 1941, Captain Grace Steward and her two wingmen do what they can to cover the Dunkirk beachhead, armed with BARs. As with all witches, Grace is inspired by a real world military aviator; fitting her role in the story, she's based on actor and B-24 Liberator pilot James "Jimmy" Stewart, who would eventually retire as a brigadier general.
Degtyaryov DP-27
Future Luminous Witches member Lyudmila Andreyevna "Milasha" Ruslanova and other Orussian witches are armed with DP-27s in a flashback. It's also standard issue for Free Gallian witches serving on the Eastern Front, such as Rosalie de La Poype of the 503rd Joint Fighter Wing. This marks the animated debut of the Typhoon Witches, which leaves the 505th Joint Fighter Wing as the last of the eight JFWs to not have an anime appearance thus far; the Mirage Witches feature prominently in the Contrail of Witches manga.
MG 42
The witch-version MG 42, redesigned to use Patronentrommel 34 drum magazines, is held by future Luminous Witches member Aira Paivikki Linnamaa in another flashback. This flashback was originally captioned as taking place in 1941, which would make the MG 42 anachronistic, however the BD release corrected this to 1942. This correction is further reinforced by official artwork that depicts Aira using a KP/-31 before this, standard among Suomus witches prior to the MG 42. MG 42s are also used by Alexandra Şerbănescu and Ottilie Kittel of the Typhoon Witches, while another is seen in the hands of Yoshika Miyafuji in a scene that parallels the sixth episode of Strike Witches.
Ho-103
The Ho-103 appears in the hands of Imperial Fuso Army witches Fumiyo Kawaguchi and Tomomi Nishisugi. Although the Ho-103 has been used by Army witches in various manga, such as Amaki Suwa (who appeared in Strike Witches and Strike Witches 2, though unarmed), this is the gun's first appearance in a Witches anime. It features an added pistol grip, off-hand grip, and ammo box, but is otherwise unmodified.