Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers
File:Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS logo.png 250px
Genre	Bishōjo, Magical girl, Science Fiction
Anime
Directed by	Keizō Kusakawa
Studio	Seven Arcs

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS (魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS, Mahō Shōjo Ririkaru Nanoha Sutoraikāzu) is the third season of the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha series. The Nanoha anime was, in turn, a spin-off of the Triangle Heart series of games and OVAs, specifically Triangle Heart 3: Sweet Songs Forever. This season aired shortly after the promotional event "Lyrical Party III" scheduled on April 1 2007.

StrikerS takes place after the epilogue of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's, aired between October and December of 2005. While the epilogue connected A's to a world six years later, StrikerS advances the timeline another four years, where the main characters have gone on to work for the Time-Space Administration Bureau (TSAB) and come upon a new case. The series focuses more on team-based battles and bureaucracy rather than individual rivalry and school life, due to the change in character dynamics.

Characters

Main article: Characters in Nanoha

Returning characters

Captain Nanoha Takamachi (高町 なのは, Takamachi Nanoha) (Age 19)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura

An experienced combat instructor who, with her intelligent device Raising Heart (sometimes called Raging Heart due to the Japanese pronunciation of raising) and her best friends, has done great work for the TSAB. Takamachi, commander of the Forward Stars Squad of Lost Property Riot Force 6 (機動六課, Kidō Roku Ka), despite her sweet and optimistic personality, is an S+ (restricted to AA for routine operations in Lost Property Riot Force 6 due to bureaucratic limitations) rank mage (the third-highest possible ranking) who will use force to subdue someone if absolutely necessary.

Investigator Fate T. Harlaown (フェイト・Ｔ・ハラオウン, Feito T Haraoun) (Age 19)

Voiced by: Nana Mizuki

Fate T. Harlaown is the commander of the Riot Force 6's Forward Lightning Squad and Nanoha's longtime best friend. She is also ranked S+ (restricted to about 2 ranks down for routine operations in Lost Property Riot Force 6 due to bureaucratic limitations), the third highest mage ranking. Fate's birth name comes from the Ferrari Testarossa.

Lieutenant Colonel Hayate Yagami (八神はやて, Yagami Hayate) (Age 19)

Voiced by: Kana Ueda

Hayate is a quiet and caring young woman who possesses one of the most fearsome Lost Logia that the universe has ever known. Ranked SS (restricted to about A for routine operations in Lost Property Riot Force 6 due to bureaucratic limitations), the second highest rank that a mage can attain (with SSS as the highest possible rank), she has a vast expanse of power that even the TSAB has trouble handling after ten years in the service. Lieutenant Colonel Yagami is the commanding officer of Riot Force 6, which she started, and is aided by Reinforce II, her unison device.

Reinforce II (リインフォースII, Rīnfōsu Tsuvai) (Reinforce Zwei)

Voiced by: Yukana

A cute, chibi character—approximately 30cm tall—that appears harmless, but is in fact a very strong reformatted Lost Logia. Easily annoyed but generally good-tempered, Reinforce II, Hayate's fully sentient unison device, is also her chief of staff.

Admiral Chrono Harlaown (クロノ・ハラオウン, Kurono Haraoun) (Age 25)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita

Commanding officer of the Arthra which is named after his mother, Admiral Lindy Harlaown, who stepped down in favour of a calm desk job. He is one of two people with the authority to remove the limiters on Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate and restore them to their true power levels; however, he can and will only do such in a dire state of emergency.

Second Lieutenant Vita (ヴィータ, Vīta)

Voiced by: Asami Sanada

A member of Hayate's magical servants/family, the Wolkenritter, Vita is an eternal child, in both appearance and personality. Temperamental and vengeful, she works under Nanoha as sub-commander of the Stars Squad. She is named for the Opel Vita.

Signum (シグナム, Shigunamu)

Voiced by: Kaori Shimizu

The First Lieutenant is the leader of the Wolkenritter, the dutiful Signum works as Fate's sub-commander in the Lightning Squad. She is named for the Opel Signum.

Shamal (シャマル, Shamaru)

Voiced by: Ryoka Yuzuki

A soft-spoken member of the Wolkenritter that specializes in defense and healing. She is a medical officer. She is named for the Maserati Shamal.

Zafila (ザフィーラ, Zafīra)

Voiced by: Kazuya Ichijō

The lone male member of the Wolkenritter, this wolf-man, a member of the support force, specializes in hand-to-hand combat. He is named for the Opel Zafira.

Yūno Scrya (ユーノ・スクライア, Yūno Sukuraia)

Voiced by: Kaori Mizuhashi

A Mage and Archeologist as early as the age of 9. He currently works for TSAB as the chief librarian of the Infinity Library. He is named for the Eunos series of cars.

New characters

Along with the new character designs, the series will introduce new characters. This new roster includes:

Private Subaru Nakajima (スバル・ナカジマ, Subaru Nakajima) (Age 15)

Voiced by: Chiwa Saito

A young woman who appears to use the modern-Belka magic system and currently achieved Rank B, which is that of an average mage. Her intelligent device, Mach Caliber, is a pair of roller blades. She also possesses a second device, Revolver Knuckle, an armed device which is also equipped with a Cartridge System. The Revolver Knuckle once belonged to Subaru's mother, and comes in a pair, with Subaru's sister, Ginga, possessing the Revolver Knuckle for the left hand. Subaru was saved by Nanoha four years ago in a Lost Logia incident at an airport on Midchilda, and it was this incident that inspired her to join the Armed Forces. Subaru met Teana while in the military academy, and were paired up by their instructors due to the two being the only ones using non-standard devices. While at the academy, Subaru was also a victim of harsh criticism among her peers, due to her father being a higher up in the military and the assumption that she is getting special treatment. Subaru is extremely fast and strong, and had problems working alongside Teana during their training days as she had difficulty controlling her strength. Working under Nanoha as front attacker of the Stars Squad, she greatly idolizes her commander. Subaru is a bit naive about the military world -- for example, she didn't know about limiters or what a Lost Logia was -- which allows for exposition to both new viewers and those that have not read the manga.

Subaru is apparently named for two Fuji Heavy Industries divisions, Subaru and Nakajima Aircraft Company; her seemingly Japanese name is in katakana and Western naming format, as she is a native of Mid-Childa.

Private Teana Lanster (ティアナ・ランスター, Tiana Ransutā) (Age 16)

Voiced by: Mai Nakahara

Subaru's pigtailed roommate. Her handgun-like device, Cross Mirage, uses a Cartridge System, and is considered a non-standard device, although she is schooled in the Mid-Childa magic system. The direction of the magic bullets that Cross Mirage fires can also be controlled by Teana. Teana is an orphan whom lost her parents when she was little, and was raised by her older brother ever since, though he is now dead. Teana met Subaru and were assigned roommates/partners in the military academy, and had been paired up ever since. Though she aspires to become a great Ground Combat Mage, her dream is to one day be able to take to the skies as a Sky Combat Mage. This feat will be very difficult for her because her magic ranking is considered too low and would make flight magic difficult. However, Teana is able to use magic to create illusions which is considered to be rare.This B-rated mage takes on the role of centre guard in the Stars Squad.

While the official website gives her name as "Teana", the opening animation calls her "Tiana". Her name appears to have been taken from the Nissan Teana.

Private Caro Ru Lushe (キャロ・ル・ルシエ, Kyaro Ru Rushie) (Age 10)

Voiced by: Mikako Takahashi

A pink-haired little girl with jewels on her gloves (which may be a reference to Magic Knight Rayearth, as were the names of the Wolkenritter) that are actually a new type of device, a "Boost Device" named Kerykeion. Though she is not proficient in attack magics, she is good at boost magics and can perform the unique summon magics. Her unique talent as a dragon summoner was frightening to the Ru Lushe clan, by which she was raised, and they banished her from their native land of Arzus. On the other extreme, the TSAB almost refused her because, though her talent was great, her skills were not refined. However, Fate T. Harlaown took her on herself. Caro appears to have a slight romantic interest in Erio. She is currently a Rank C mage, and is assigned to the Lightning Squad as fullback.

It has been speculated, given the naming conventions used for the other characters that are native to magical worlds, that her first and middle names together were modified from the Mazda Carol. There is also a motor vehicle named the Caro.

Private Erio Mondial (エリオ・モンディアル, Erio Mondīaru) (Age 10)

Voiced by: Marina Inoue

A boy whom Fate takes in and cares for, and the guard wing of the Lightning Squad. He uses an armed device named Strada. It is a spear (electricity attribute), similar to Signum's sword (flare attribute). He uses the modern-Belka magic system, but is also able to perform some Mid-Childa mobile magics like Sonic Move. Erio was adopted by Lindy Harlaown four years prior to StrikerS, as Fate was legally too young to do so. He is being monitored by the villain as a creation of "Project F", which may be related to the "Project Fate" that created the character of the same name. He is currently a rank B mage and was also said to be an artificial human. Erio shows signs of a romantic interest in Caro.

Erio is named for the Ferrari Mondial.

Friedrich (フリードリヒ, Furīdorihi)

Caro's dragonlike companion, raised by her since he hatched. He responds to Caro's commands and can grow to incredible size. Friedrich, unlike familiars, does not talk or have an alternate human or kemonomimi form.

Lutecia (ルーテシア, Rūteshia)

Voiced by: Natsuko Kuwatani

A purple-haired girl with a strange mark on her forehead, she works for Jail Scaglietti and his mysterious superior and client. She is seen in the opening credits standing on a magic square, similar to the magic square of Caro's Mid-Childa summon magics, and uses a jeweled glove Boost Device like Caro does. According the her profile on the official website, her summons are Belka-based, which makes her different from Caro who uses the Mid-Childa system. Her summons include the small robotic fly-like Insekt (インゼクト, Inzekuto) and the human-sized Garyuu (ガリュー, Garyū). Referred to in the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS Starter Book as simply "mystery girl". Lutecia's Boost Device is named Asclepius, and it has black and purple Boost Drives.

Her name comes from the Renault Lutecia.

Jail Scaglietti (ジェイル・スカリエッティ, Jeiru Sukarietti)

Voiced by: Ken Narita

A highly dangerous criminal that Fate has been chasing for years, he specializes in Lost Logia, and his interests lie in "biological manipulation and control". He is creating the accidents surrounding the Relics, meaning to use them for an unknown purpose, and using the long-thought-lost Jewel Seeds from the first season to do it. According to Fate, he likes to toy with his pursuers, and is especially trying to provoke her and Nanoha. He may have an interest in Project Fate, given his observance of Fate and Erio, and his lair being filled with people in glass jars much like Alicia had been. He has an assistant called Uno (ウーノ, Ūno), whom he talks to through a view screen.

His name come from the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.

Zest (ゼスト, Zesuto)

Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa

Another antagonist on the same level as Lutecia, first mentioned in the sixth episode. He is also known as "Knight Zest" (騎士ゼスト, Kishi Zesuto). He doesn't have much of a liking for Jail Scaglietti.

His name comes from the Honda ZEST.

Episode list

Main article: List of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha episodes

Theme songs

Opening

#1 "Secret Ambition" by Nana Mizuki

#2 "Massive Wonders" by Nana Mizuki

Ending

#1 "Spica of the Starry Sky" (星空のSpica, Hoshizora no Spica) by Yukari Tamura

#2 "Beautiful Amulet" by Yukari Tamura

References

Megami Magazine Volume 82

External links

• Official website Template:Ja icon
• Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia