Izetta: The Last Witch

Did You Know?

• The series was simulcast by Crunchyroll, with Funimation streamed an English dub from October 19, 2016.
• The series, produced by Ajia-do Animation Works, aired in Japan from October 1 to December 17, 2016.
• Set in an alternate Earth on the eve of the Second 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.

Characters

Izetta is a 15-year-old girl and the story’s central figure. She is the final known descendant of the Weisse Hexe of Eylstadt. As a child, she met Princess Fine. To hide her witch identity, Izetta moved from country to country with her grandmother, which left her shy and insecure. When war breaks out, she breaks a personal rule against using her magic to interfere in human affairs and dedicates herself to protecting Fine and Eylstadt. Her magic can bring objects to life and turn them into weapons strong enough to destroy tanks. However, this power depends heavily on nearby ley lines, so how often she can use it changes based on where she is. She normally rides a modified Boys anti-tank rifle instead of a broom, but she can use any rod-shaped item, like a medieval cavalry lance, if needed. In the early episodes, she rides a modified PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle.

Ortfine “Fine” Fredericka von Eylstadt is the crown princess of Eylstadt and its only heir. She is tomboyish, kind, and strong-willed, and her people love her deeply. When her father dies from illness soon after Germania invades, she is forced to lead her country’s defense. Fine met Izetta as a child. Rather than being scared, she admired Izetta’s magic and became her closest friend. She once even protected Izetta from a mob of peasants who blamed her for setting a shed on fire. Because of her love for Izetta, and because one of Fine’s ancestors was involved in killing the original Weisse Hexe, Fine is hesitant to send Izetta into battle, worried about her safety.

Eylstadt is a small alpine duchy with a capital called Landsbruck. Its location is based on modern western Austria, specifically the states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, and its capital is modeled on Innsbruck. The national flag’s motto is “Ich bin tapfer und bin fromm,” which means “I am valiant and am pious.” The country’s military gear is mostly copied from the French Army between World War I and World War II. Germania wants to conquer Eylstadt simply to create a shorter route to its ally, the Romulus Federation, which would allow them to jointly invade the Mediterranean and Africa.

Rudolf is the Archduke of Eylstadt. He dies from illness shortly after the Germanian invasion starts, which forces his daughter to take the throne in his place.

Speculation

The Eylstadt family draws clear parallels to the historical House of Habsburg. The Habsburgs ruled the Holy Roman Empire for centuries and, after its dissolution, the Austrian Empire. Several details support this connection. The rulers of Eylstadt use the title Archduke, a rank strongly tied to the Habsburgs. The Duchy of Eylstadt lies in the westernmost part of Austria, directly across the border from the Habsburg ancestral lands in modern-day Switzerland. Additionally, Eylstadt’s national anthem shares its melody with the Austrian national anthem.