A press preview of the first act of the anime "Girls und Panzer ( Garupan)," was held in Tokyo on December 10th, with director Masami Shimoda and Mai Fuchigami, who plays Nishizumi Miho, in attendance. The anime depicts the daily lives of characters from Oarai Girls' Academy and their rival school, and director Shimoda said, "I tried to focus on all the characters. Erika is a high-energy character, and she changes especially. The highlight is seeing the tension rise and rise in the second and third acts."
The anime will be divided into four acts, with the first to be screened on December 26th, the second on January 30th, 2026, the third on March 6th, and the fourth on April 10th. Regarding the official spin-off being made into an anime, Fuchigami said, "I was surprised. I was really surprised that it wasn't a game or a voice drama, but this is what it's become! The main match is at its climax and there's a sense of tension, but I really enjoyed the comedy." Director Shimoda revealed about Fuchigami, "She tried to play a slightly darker Miho," to which Fuchigami smiled and said, "She pushed the boundaries every time, but sometimes she overdid it and had to be redone."
Fuchigami praised the film, saying, "I was surprised by the high quality. It has a strong comedic tone and the characters' proportions are a little cute, but I was pleasantly surprised. The finer details are drawn, the characters move well, and the food is drawn to look delicious, which is what makes it so appealing." Director Shimoda said, "I used the same techniques as in the main film, such as highlights in the hair and redness on the cheeks," revealing that he paid attention to even the smallest details.
As Fuchigami says, "The mothers are having a lot of fun. There's a lot to see from here on out, and fun episodes await. My impression of Darjeeling has changed too, and I think she's so cute!" It seems the anime will show a side of the characters that we've never seen before.
"Girls und Panzer More Love Love Operation!" is a manga by Nii Marco currently being serialized in "Monthly Comic Alive" (KADOKAWA). The catchphrase is "Everybody's Everyday Life, Full of Cheers," and it depicts the "everyday life that could have been" of the characters from Oarai Girls' Academy and rival schools.
"Girls und Panzer" is an anime set in a world where tank fighting, known as "Sensha-do," is considered an art form on a par with flower arranging and tea ceremony, and follows a group of girls as they join forces to win the national tank fighting championship. The TV anime aired from 2012 to 2013, and the movie version was released in 2015. Episode 1 of the final chapter was screened in theaters in December 2017, Episode 2 in June 2019, Episode 3 in March 2021, and Episode 4 in October 2023. It has been announced that Episode 5 will be screened in theaters in 2026.
