801 T.T.S. Airbats

About 801 T.T.S. Airbats

If you are hunting for a new action series, 801 T.T.S. Airbats (Aozora Shoujo-tai) deserves a look (1994). The setup goes like this. At its core: When aviation mechanic (and anime fanboy) Takuya Isurugi is transferred to the 801st Tactical Training Squadron, he gets more than he bargained for. Moderated by hard-headed veteran ace Mitsuru Konishi, the "Airbats" are an all-female aerial acrobatic team consisting of loose cannons Miyuki Haneda and Arisa Mitaka, karaoke freak and gambling genius Sakura Saginomiya.

Also worth knowing: Both Haneda and Mitaka do not get along with each other, and their rivalry worsens when they both fall for Isurugi. With the entire JASDF having doubts about the team, the Airbats needs to work as a team or face total disbandment.

In an action series like this, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. This one is best suited to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with Studio Fantasia, which means the visual identity of 801 T.T.S. Airbats follows that studio's craft. The action focus matters here: fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 6.5/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. Released in 1994, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.