801 T.T.S. Airbats

Genre: Comedy
Parental Guidance Recommended
1994-1996 Toshimitsu Shimizu, Studio Fantasia, Tokuma Shoten, JVC

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Cover Description:
From the creator of Rei Rei, Toshimitsu Shimizu, comes an elite group of pilots who all fight like women... because they are women!

They're the 801st Tactical Training Squadron of Japan's Air Self Defense Force, and if these high-flying femmes spent half as much time focusing on the opposition as they do in fighting each other, they'd be the most feared jet jockeys in the history of aviation!

The trouble starts as soon as Flight Maintenance Specialist Takuya Isurugi walks into the hangar housing the newly formed 801st Tactical Training Squadron. Exactly how does one ingratiate one's self with an entirely female flight squadron when you manage, in your first two minutes, to walk in on two completely naked pilots while holding their panties in your hand?

To make matters even worse, the naked pilots in question turn out to be arch-rivals Miyuki Haneda and Arisa Mitaka, top contenders for the title of "Ace of the 801st"! Faster than you can say "bombs away!" full scale aerialist-to-aerialist combat erupts with an unfortunate Takuya caught in the cross-hairs!

Even disregarding the fire fight between the two heavenly aces, there are still the "minor" problems of senior officers who want to shut the squadron down altogether, a rash of mysterious mechanical malfunctions, and an all important aerial acrobatics test looming on the horizon...

Will Isurugi and laid-back 1st. Sgt. Sakura Saginomiya be able to get the fledgling Airbats off the ground? Will Sgt. Mitaka do anything to get to be the 801st T.T.S.' top gun? Will Sgt. Haeda be able to overcome her frustrating fear of flying?

(5 Episodes)

FUN!!! >>> by skysenshi Not that I'm saying 801 T.T.S. Airbats is another brainless anime. In a way it is, but for a good reason. 801 T.T.S. Airbats is one of those comedies with no solid plot, but the creation of which might have been intended for relaxation purposes. Akin to many other light anime, it is something that an extremely busy workaholic like me would enjoy on a beautiful rainy day. No complicated, overly depressing plot to think of—just pure "lazy day" fun!

Well, for one thing, there is this fan fiction material, the inevitable love triangle of sweet woman, total loser (both in looks and in luck), and queen bitch. These three also belong to the 801st Air Force squad, which is composed of highly skilled yet delinquent women—the type that male chauvinist bigots would love to crush. And fail. The situation actually reminds me of a newer and equally short anime entitled the Virgin Fleet.

The first three episodes revolve around this conflict between insecure male superiors and the 801st squadron. This gets resolved later in by a higher, more respectable male official, and the episodes that follow turn into a vacation from the hilarious battle of wills.

The artwork, characterized by lighter hues framed in bold lines, are reminiscent of Ah! Megami-sama OAV. Of course, this comparison can't be helped, as Mr. Loser/Loverboy strongly resembles Keiichi of the aforementioned anime.

It's also quite interesting to note that 801 T.T.S. Airbats is done in collaboration with the Japanese Air Force. Perhaps we should thank this partnership for the tinge of realism in the flight exhibitions.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 10; Story 10; Characters 10; Sounds 10