[Girls und Panzer] Who's the best? Ranking the Girls und Panzer characters

The anime "Girls und Panzer" is a story about high school girls who practice the traditional martial art of "Sensha-do," and one of the joys of the series is finding your favorite character, as there are many characters that appear. Here, I will arbitrarily rank the characters from 1st to 5th to see who is the best. However, since it will be unclear unless I decide what criteria to use for the ranking, I will evaluate them from the three aspects of the tank's legs, arms, and head, that is, driving, shooting, and command. Also, I will limit my ranking to characters whose faces and names are known in the series.

Genius Drivers

5th Place: Shinobu Kawanishi

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
First up is Shinobu from the duck team. At first, he was a bit wild, going full speed ahead and crashing into rocks, unable to back up and trying to force his way forward, but gradually he improved his skills. He made some great moments from the beginning, such as guiding the enemy flag vehicle in the match against Saunders and sprinting down a mountain road in the match against Anzio. The actual Type 89 can't run that fast, though... In the semi-finals, he also showed off some amazing driving, dodging all the shells and surviving a fierce attack from over seven Soviet tanks. If it weren't for Shinobu's driving, he would have been destroyed in no time. Apparently he can see the shells with his dynamic vision, which he's acquired by constantly watching volleyball spikes... He has some incredible eyes.

4th place: Koyama Yuzu

Source: Girls & Panzer © Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
This person's skills must have contributed greatly to Oarai's victory. The best moment was in the semi-finals, when they used the "Tokoroten Operation" to escape from Pravda's encirclement. He drove his 38t into a hail of shells from enemy vehicles, closing in to ground zero and creating an opportunity for an attack. With snow piled up and unstable ground beneath his feet, he endured the onslaught of four Russian tanks and closed in to ground zero, showing impressive piloting skills. In the finals, he also drove into Kuromorimine's powerful tank, confusing the enemy and creating an opportunity for his team to escape. We are impressed by his courage in charging into the enemy camp and his ability to respond to the chairman's unreasonable requests.

Third place: Tsuchiya

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
Third place would be Tsuchiya from the Automobile Club. As you'd expect from the Automobile Club, he nimbly piloted the Porsche Tiger, a heavy tank with poor maneuverability. In the middle of the final, he showed off his driving technique by suddenly accelerating in the middle of a stone bridge, causing it to collapse before crossing the bridge. Towards the end, he also used his large body to block the road, setting the stage for a showdown between flagship cars, playing a major role. In the movie version, a modified engine was used to remove the limiter on the Porsche Tiger, and with intense acceleration he pulled the Tiger II and T-34/85 behind in the slipstream, until the engine exceeded its limits, burst into flames, and destroyed itself. However, it was likely due to the maintenance of the Automobile Department and Tsuchiyama's driving skills that the Porsche Tiger, which was difficult to operate, was able to perform beyond its specifications in the TV anime and movie version.

Second place: Reizei Asako

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
The driver of Oarai's first tank is probably Asako. She was able to operate the tank without being taught how to operate it, just by reading the manual herself. She also demonstrated the highly challenging art of drifting in a tank during practice matches and the finals against St. Glorian. She completed all of Miho's difficult requests, such as driving up steep slopes, stopping halfway up a slope and turning the tank downwards, and running away while appearing unable to get away. Without Asako's sense, Team Anglerfish would not have been as successful. What's amazing about Asako is that she can easily pilot not only the German Panzer IV, but also the Japanese Type 89 and French B1bis. Tank piloting varies greatly depending on the country of manufacture, but with Asako it's a piece of cake. As expected of someone with top grades in her grade, she's a quick learner.

1st place: Mikko

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogate, Movic, Q-Tech
No one can deny that this person is number 1. This was her first appearance in the movie and she had fewer scenes than Mika and Aki, but she showed great driving skills and left a strong impression on the audience. It was in Operation Murderous Receive that he got serious. He suddenly took off from the grass, used the step to make a big jump and appeared in front of the enemy. He destroyed one vehicle while rotating with the momentum, and escaped, but was pursued by two Pershings. He was almost crushed under rubble while escaping, but he managed to slip through the gap. He then got one-on-one with the Pershing, but the Pershing rammed into him and cut the track. Just when everyone thought that was the end, Mikko changed the control lever to the steering wheel and suddenly took off again. The BT-42 has a Christie suspension, which is a structure that allows it to run on its road wheels even without tracks. He continued to run at full speed and toyed with the Pershing, but the left road wheel was blown off. Just when he thought that this was the end, he balanced on the remaining right road wheel and approached the Pershing, and the last Pershing was killed in a draw by zero-distance artillery fire, and he raised the white flag. Mikko's driving allowed them to destroy three superior Pershings and successfully complete the operation to destroy the Karl self-propelled mortar. There's no doubt that Mikko will be the MVP of the first half of the university selection tournament.

Genius Snipers

5th Place: Kadotani Anzu

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
Chairman Kadotani is a hidden master gunner from Oarai. Until the second round against Anzio, he just ate dried sweet potatoes and lazed around, but it was in the semi-final against Pravda that he showed his talent. It was during the "Tokoroten Operation" to escape from the enemy's encirclement. Working together with Koyama Yuzuko, he slipped between the enemies and destroyed the tracks of the T-34, rendering it inoperable. He took advantage of this opportunity to approach at close range and accurately bombard the weak points of the thin armor, destroying two of the four tanks, buying time for his allies to escape. In the final, he also took advantage of the Hetzer's low height to hide in the grass and bombard the enemy. He accurately destroyed the tracks of the Jagdpanther and succeeded in delaying the enemy's invasion. Although the number of kills was not as high as that of the Panzer IV or the Thunderbolt III, Chairman Kakutani's skill in destroying the tracks of the small target and confusing the enemy was genuine.

4th place: Isuzuka Hana

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
When it comes to Oarai's point getters, it's got to be Isuzuka Hana. Starting with his turning the tide in the match against Sanders, he destroyed T-34s one after another in the match against Pravda, and in the final he took aim at the Maus' weak spot from a difficult angle and destroyed it. In the final round of the final, while drifting, he did not miss a single opportunity to fire, accurately targeting the Tiger I's weak spot and destroying it. Normally, he only performs as well as an average gunner, but what's amazing about Hana is his high level of concentration, which allows him to fire hits without wavering even in tense situations, even in desperate situations where he thinks, "If we don't score, we'll lose." Hana's true strength lies in his high shooting accuracy when it really matters.

3rd Place: Akebi Sasaki

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
We must not forget this man, Oarai's best gunner. He showed his talent during a practice match against St. Glorian. Even though he started with no experience, he immediately hit a Churchill. Darjeeling was also in a cold sweat. In the finals, she scored many hits, but was frustrated that the Type 89's firepower was not enough to destroy it. However, the highlight of the match was the match against Anzio in the OVA. She hit the CV-33, a small target and highly mobile light tank, one after another with difficult on-the-fly shooting. Given the firepower of the Type 89, it was thought that even if it hit the target, it would never be destroyed, so the consecutive destruction in the match against Anzio was the most brilliant moment for Akebi and the volleyball team. This was a match where Akebi's artillery sense shone through. In the movie version, she also showed her skill in accurately targeting the opponent's weak points, scoring many hits. However, her firepower was still weak and she was unable to destroy the enemy. Akebi's line, "More firepower..." is heartfelt.

2nd Place: Naomi

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech

Naomi Sanders is one of the top gunners in high school tank warfare. During the pursuit of Oarai, she destroyed the Type 89 and M3 Lee in succession with mid-marching fire from a distance. The Sherman Firefly, closing in from behind with reliable firing, put pressure on Oarai. Although the first shot was dodged by the next target, the Type IV, Naomi would have hit her target if the Type IV had not suddenly stopped, and ultimately destroyed the Type IV. The entire battle against Oarai was Naomi's strength. In the movie version, she also showed accurate shooting, contributing to the destruction of the T-28. In the drama CD, she and Nonna, a top-class high school student, were killed in a draw, and they now consider each other rivals.

1st Place: Nonna

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
This Nonna is sure to be able to compete with Naomi. Like Naomi, Nonna has scenes where she successfully fires on the move, but what's amazing about her is that she manages to hit her targets despite the unstable footing on the snowy road and the fact that she's firing at night. Nonna was involved in all of the vehicles destroyed in the Battle of Oarai. (The 38t was probably the gunner's of the vehicle Nonna was the commander of.) In the movie version, she also fought to the end, destroying one Pershing with on-the-move fire and destroying another in a draw, despite poor visibility due to the rain. Despite the handicap of the IS-2 having a limited number of shells on board, her skill in not wasting any important bullets is sure to make her one of the best in high school tank warfare.

Extra: Akiyama Yukari

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogate, Movic, Q-Tech
Although she is not a gunner, Yukari also has an exceptional sense of shooting. To be honest, she could have been ranked, but since her main job is as a loader, we have excluded her from the ranking this time. She showed her true skill during her first time in a tank during an intramural match. Even though she was playing a tank game, it was her first time firing a real cannon, yet she destroyed a Type III with the first shot, hitting her target right away. Next, she took out a Type 89 with one shot, quickly rotating the turret 180 degrees and destroying a 38t tank with one hit. Yukari fired three shots and destroyed three tanks, meaning a 100% hit rate - an incredible sense of shooting. To achieve this for her first time is truly genius. It makes you wonder what would have happened if she had continued as the gunner.

Genius Commanders

5th Place: Anchovy

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogate, Movic, Q-Tech
You might wonder why she's the protagonist of the story and the captain of the winning school, yet she's in 4th place. It's true that Miho's strategies exceed the expectations of the captains of each school, and she's an excellent leader. However, as Darjeeling gradually began to read her mind and Maho began to give her advice, and as Oarai began to gain attention, it is true that cracks began to appear. Also, the strategies Miho comes up with are a bit reckless when viewed from the perspective of the novice members of the squad. Miho was also helped in part by her teammates who carried them out. However, her ability to develop a team of amateurs and lead them to victory is real. Although she is ranked second or third in leadership ability, we placed Miho in fourth place due to the great help she received from her teammates behind the scenes.

3rd place: Nishizumi Maho

Source: Girls & Panzer © Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
Maho, the captain of Kuromorimine, who should be a strong opponent, was placed third. However, Maho's individual ability is about as good as first or second place. Their mobile tactics are based around powerful, heavily armored tanks, and their strategy is easy to follow, as they face off against the enemy head-on without backing down, but they also have the ability to predict their opponents' tactics and crush them head-on. Even when something unexpected happens during a match, they are calm and responsive enough to quickly deal with it and reorganize their team. So why did they get third place? It's because the training of their team members was biased. Although they were well trained to face the enemy head-on in formation, which is representative of the Nishizumi style, they were not trained to deal with unconventional or unexpected tactics like Oarai, which is why they got third place. In other words, they followed the textbook too much. They may not have been blessed with good team members, as they were prone to taking provocations and acting on their own. However, it is the captain who should lead them. If they had been able to do that, they would have gotten second place.

Second place: Darjeeling

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogate, Movic, Q-Tech
Darjeeling has never lost to Oarai in the series. She has won both practice matches and exhibition matches. She predicts most of what Miho is thinking and always develops strategies that go beyond Miho. No matter what tricks Miho uses, Darjeeling remains calm and reads her thoughts and responds calmly. She also does not neglect to scout before the match, and has watched all of Oarai's matches since the practice match to prepare countermeasures. Since they lost to Kuromorimine led by Nishizumi Maho in the national tournament, it is difficult to say who is better between them or Maho, but considering the performance of their tanks, they were at a huge disadvantage, and more importantly, they are undefeated against Oarai, so I placed them in second place. Also, while Maho was unable to control her team when something unexpected happened, Darjeeling was able to lead her team well and deal with it, and she was always pushing Miho into a corner, so I placed her in second place for her leadership as well.

1st place: Shimada Arisu

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
Shimada Arisu, the successor of the Shimada school, is ranked among the university selections. Leading a group of older university students, she battled against the high school alliance, and launched an offensive from the beginning with a strategy that surpassed all the top high school captains. In the middle of the battle, she left command to the three vice-captains and watched from the sidelines. When the situation turned around, she started moving again, leading the strongest Centurion crew to destroy the high school alliance's vehicles one after another and regaining the upper hand. In the end, she was in a two-on-one battle with the sisters Maho and Miho Nishizumi, but even here she always had the upper hand against the two vehicles and cornered them. Even the captains of the strong schools were unable to turn the tide of the battle while Alice was in action, so Alice's leadership skills are immense. She is also trusted by her team members, and is so skilled that she can keep up with the Shimada-ryu Tankery, which is said to be a ninja tactic. She is also able to lead her team, so she can be said to be the strongest team and the strongest commander.

There are many other fierce warriors!

Source: Girls & Panzer ©Bandai Visual, Lantis, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Shogakukan, Movic, Q-Tech
There are many other characters in Garupan besides the ones mentioned here. There are people who operate tanks even if their faces and names are not shown. The crew of the Tiger I are also very skilled, and the crew of the Centurion that Alice pilots are so strong that they are almost cheating. There are so many talented characters that if these characters were included in the rankings, the rankings would be even more crowded. If you pay attention to the mob characters other than the main characters, Girls und Panzer will be even more interesting. Try to find your favorite character.