Izetta: The Last Witch

Set in an alternate Earth on the eve of the 2nd World War, the story follows Izetta, the  last surviving member of  a clan of witches that possesses the ability to magically manipulate any object that they touch. Izetta pledges to help protect Princess Finé and the tiny Alpine country of Eylstadt from invasion by the imperialistic forces of  Germania.

The characters are designed by BUNBUN, of Sword Art Online fame. The story is written by Hiroyuki Yoshino, of Mai-Hime and So Ra No Wo To fame.


 * Back From the Brink: Izetta joining the war gives a new chance for Eylstadtian to fight back.
 * Big Damn Hero: Just when the Eylstadtian forces were forced back to their last line of defense, Izetta appears, flying, wielding devastating magic against the Germanian planes and panzers.
 * Dark Secret: It's heavily implied that the Witches aren't quite the savior they were depicted in legends. The White Witch specifically have committed a betrayal, but the nature of that betrayal is yet to be revealed.
 * Downer Beginning: The anime begins with Fine being too late to secure alliance with Britannia, which enables the Germania to steamroll Eylstadt's defense. Furthermore, she is also captured by the Germanian army; at which point she considers suicide to prevent her from being used to force a surrender.
 * Fantastic Racism: It appears that people fear and loathe the magical. Izetta was almost lynched by an angry mob when she was a little girl, and only Fine's intervention saved her. On the other hand people who Izetta saved with her magic are deeply approving of her, so it's maybe more of a fear of the unknown than of the supernatural.
 * Fantasy Counterpart
 * Eylstadt is independent Duchy of Tyrol; in Real Life it's part of Austria.
 * Germania is a German Empire that didn't transition into Nazi Germany, thus retain its Emperor.
 * Westria is Switzerland.
 * Britannia is British Empire.
 * Thermidor is French Empire.
 * Livonia is Poland.
 * United States of Atlanta is the USA.
 * Izetta's folks are either Romani, or Irish Travellers.
 * Ghibli Hills: Eylstadt is a beautiful, idyllic place. Germanian invasion amounts to a Sugar Apocalypse for its citizens.
 * I Will Definitely Protect You: Izetta declares Fine to be her hope.
 * Improvised Weapon: Izetta magically launches medieval jousting lances against airplanes, at high speed. It is incredibly effective.
 * Ley Lines: A criss-crossing network of it throughout this world's Europe, though some places have less lines than others, resulting in less Mana. It's worth noting that most of Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East is almost empty of it.
 * Mana: Witches require Mana to do their magic, which is provided by Ley Lines. Some places are more scarce in Mana than others, this means that those places are indefensible for Izetta.
 * A Nazi by Any Other Name: Downplayed with Germania. They are a monarchy instead of republic, and only nobles can become military officers. They also failed to conquer this world's version of France.
 * So Last Season: Eylstadt's defense and doctrines simply can't match Germanian forces' superior weapons and tactics. They are trying to use trenches against combined arms assault, with grim result.
 * This Cannot Be!: A Witch in this age of science? Preposterous! Except nothing else can explain your army and air force being routed by a flying girl. The Germanian Emperor doesn't have this reaction to Izetta, however.
 * Undying Loyalty: The Eylstadtian are fanatically loyal to Fine, putting their lives before hers. And Fine is fanatically loyal to Eylstadtian, putting her life before theirs.
 * Witch Species: The Witches are something not quite human, though they can interbreed just fine.
 * You Have Failed Me...: The Emperor punishes the general responsible for the failed advance on Eylstadt by revoking his lands and reassigning him to camps in Livonia, an un-glamorous position.