The popular Girls und Panzer franchise is expanding with a four-part anime adaptation of the spinoff manga, Girls & Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite tankery teams in a new light when the films begin screening in Japanese theaters in Winter 2026. This adaptation promises to delve into the daily lives of the characters, offering a heartwarming and humorous take on the sensha-do world.
What is Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! About?
Girls und Panzer is a Japanese franchise created by Actas, centered around high school girls practicing tank warfare as a sport, called sensha-do (戦車道). The original series follows Miho Nishizumi, a girl who tries to avoid sensha-do but is ultimately drawn back into the sport to help her school.
Girls & Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! is a spin-off manga illustrated by Maruko Nii. Since 2013, Kadokawa has serialized the manga in Monthly Comic Alive magazine. It focuses on the everyday lives of the Girls und Panzer characters. The anime adaptation will explore the friendships and interactions of the Oarai Girls’ Academy team and other students deeply involved in sensha-do, offering a glimpse into their lives beyond the battlefield. The series is known for its comedic and heartwarming portrayal of the characters’ daily routines and relationships.
Anime Film Series: What to Expect
The anime adaptation of Girls & Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! will be a four-part film series.
- Release Date: The films are scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters beginning in Winter 2026.
- Production: The films are a co-production between P.A.WORKS and Actas.
- Director: Masami Shimoda (Zegapain series) is directing the anime.
- Series Director: Takahiko Usui (Girls und Panzer das Finale Episode 3 co-unit director) is serving as assistant director / series director.
- Series Composition: Noboru Kimura (Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture) is handling the series composition and scripts.
- Character Design: Isao Sugimoto (Girls und Panzer) is providing the character designs.
- Music: Shirō Hamaguchi is returning to compose the music.
- Cast: The original cast from the Girls und Panzer anime will reprise their roles, including:
- Mai Fuchigami as Miho Nishizumi
- Ai Kayano as Saori Takebe
- Mami Ozaki as Hana Isuzu
- Ikumi Nakagami as Yukari Akiyama
- Yuka Iguchi as Mako Reizei
The Girls und Panzer Phenomenon
The Girls und Panzer franchise has become a cultural phenomenon in Japan and beyond since the TV anime’s premiere in 2012. Here’s what makes it so popular:
- Unique Concept: The combination of cute schoolgirls and historical military tanks is a unique and captivating concept.
- Detailed Setting: The detailed recreation of Oarai Town in Ibaraki Prefecture, which serves as the setting for the series, has attracted many fans to visit, sparking a trend of “Anime pilgrimage (Seichi Junrei).”
- Realistic Tanks: The series is known for its realistic depictions of tanks, faithfully modeled after historical vehicles.
- Balance: A perfect balance of thrilling combat scenes and lighthearted humor. The anime is praised for combining thrilling tank combat with heartfelt stories of friendship and growth.
The World of Sensha-do
Sensha-do, translated as “the way of the tank,” is a martial art in the Girls und Panzer universe that involves operating tanks. It is considered a refined pursuit for young women, alongside traditional arts like flower arrangement and tea ceremony.
Where to Watch Girls und Panzer
Sentai Filmworks has licensed the Girls und Panzer anime series in North America. The original 12 episodes and OVA episodes are available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Girls und Panzer Spin-offs
Girls und Panzer has spawned several spin-off manga series, including:
- Girls und Panzer: Little Army: A spin-off depicting Miho Nishizumi in her childhood, as she participates in sensha-do during her elementary school days.
- Girls und Panzer: It’s More Love Love Operation! (Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu!): The spin-off being adapted into the upcoming anime film series.
- Girls und Panzer: 4-koma Panzer Vor!: A 4-panel comic strip manga.
- Girls und Panzer: Gekiga: A gekiga (realistic style) manga.
Girls und Panzer Anime Series
The Girls und Panzer anime series includes:
- Girls und Panzer (2012): The original 12-episode television anime series.
- Girls und Panzer der Film (2015): An anime film sequel to the original series.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: A six-part animated film series, with four films released so far (as of late 2024). The first film in the series was completed four days before its premiere in December 2017.
- Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! (2026): A four-part film series adaptation of the spin-off manga.
Other Media
The Girls und Panzer franchise has also been adapted into:
- Video games
- Novels
