Bandai Namco Filmworks announced on Sunday that Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu!, a spinoff manga by Maruko Nii within the Girls und Panzer franchise, will be adapted into a four-part anime project. The anime is set to premiere in theaters across Japan starting “next winter.”
The annual “Ooarai Haru Matsuri Kairaku Festa” event, originally scheduled for Sunday, was canceled by the staff on Saturday due to anticipated bad weather. However, the franchise will still host multiple stage events at AnimeJapan 2025 next weekend.
Staff & Production
The anime is being directed by Masami Shimoda (unit director and storyboard artist for Girls und Panzer and Girls und Panzer das Finale) at P.A. Works and Actas.
Takahiko Usui (Girls und Panzer der Film production advancement) serves as the series director, while Noboru Kimura (AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline, Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture) is in charge of scriptwriting and series composition.
Returning character designers Humikane Shimada and Isao Sugimoto are credited, with additional cooperation from Takeshi Nogami. Sugimoto is also handling character animation design. The chief animation directors include Kōsuke Kawazura, Yuki Akiyama, and Sayo Mizuno.
Shirō Hamaguchi returns to compose the music, while Takayuki Yamaguchi, previously a recording adjuster for the franchise, will serve as the sound director. Yasumasa Koyama will once again handle sound effects. Showgate is distributing the anime.
Returning Cast
The following cast members are confirmed to reprise their roles:
- 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
Maruko Nii launched the manga in 2013 in Kadokawa’s (formerly Media Factory’s) Monthly Comic Alive magazine. The 23rd volume is scheduled for release on March 22. The series provides a glimpse into the lesser-known daily lives of the Ooarai Girls Team and other students.
Girls und Panzer Franchise History
The original Girls und Panzer anime premiered in October 2012, running for 12 episodes. Its direct sequel film, Girls und Panzer der Film, debuted in November 2015 in Japan.
The franchise is also continuing with a six-part film series, Girls und Panzer das Finale.
- Part 1 premiered in December 2017, introducing BC Freedom High School and its winter battle.
- Part 2 opened in June 2019, concluding the battle between Ooarai Girls Academy and BC Freedom High School, while also showcasing fights involving Kuromorimine Girls Academy, Pravda Girls High School, and other schools.
- Part 3 debuted in March 2021, featuring six additional schools battling across three new battlegrounds.
- Part 4 was released in October 2023, continuing Ooarai’s fight against Continuation (Jaktkosota) High School following key losses in the previous match.
- This film also depicts the showdown between Kuromorimine and St. Gloriana, with Erika leading Kuromorimine and Darjeeling fighting her final match for St. Gloriana.
The franchise has yet to reveal details about Parts 5 and 6 of the Girls und Panzer das Finale series.