Kanno Naoe

Kanno Naoe (管野直枝), nicknamed Nao (ナオ), is one of the main characters of Brave Witches. She is a witch of the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing, originating from Fuso, affiliated with the Fuso Imperial Navy, and the "partner" of Karibuchi Hikari.

Background[]

Born to strict parents, as a child Kanno was an obedient girl that had a taste for reading. She idolized literature and wrote down a diary of Tanka and poetry. She had an admiration for Gallian literature and specialized in the Gallian language at the naval academy. She does not drink alcohol.

She was often picked on by others during the time of her training, including her instructors. Kanno also had the habit of, out of a vigorous fighting spirit, approaching the target until she reached the very limit. At times, this would result into a collision and the damaging of the Striker Unit, something that would earn her the nickname of "Destroyer" (デストロイヤー). On the other hand, because of this she would also come to specialize in tactics of closing in upon the opponent and then avoiding him by a paper-thin difference.

Simultaneously with her appointment as a Pilot Officer, Kanno was assigned to the European Dispatch Fleet and put in the Operation Barbarossa. Assigned to the ground units, she provided inland support for the Petersburg Invasion Operation. Afterwards, she took up the duty of defending Petersburg. Also, although it happened only on paper, she would later be moved from European Dispatch Fleet to the 201st Flying Corps and then to the 343rd Flying Corps.

In the middle of the fight in Europe, and with the intensification of the interchange of witches between nations, she would later become a member of the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing when it was established.

Personality[]

Kanno is described, in one word, as Napoleonic; despite her small size, she is bold and daring in the air, brash and sometimes belligerent socially. It is an attitude she forces on herself because of the war with the Neuroi: when her Witch abilities woke up, she roused herself by repeating the prayer: "to fight a Neuroi, one should have a ferocious personality". This attitude doesn't lend itself well to teamwork or cooperation, but under Flight Lieutenant Pokryshkin this is dampened somewhat, perhaps because she resembles an elder sister of Kanno's childhood, whom she remembers fondly.

Kanno embodies a daring combat-style, in which "if you run out of bullets use a blade, and if the blade breaks use a body blow". She also operates to good effect against big targets and her pet theory is that "the larger the enemy, the more worthwhile it is to defeat it". Her forte is to do a nose dive from just above the target and fire as the two pass by each other.

Kanno had refused to accept Hikari as a member of the 502nd, because Kanno thought that Hikari was not like her original partner, Takami, anymore. But when Hikari showed her intelligence and will to fight to Kanno, she began to accept her, and they eventually become close friends later.

Abilities[]

Her inherent magic is the Compression-formula Super Hardness Defensive Magic Circle (圧縮式超硬度防御魔方陣, Asshuku-shiki chōkōdo bōgyo mahōjin) or simply theSuper Hard Shield (超硬シールド, Chōkō shīrudo). It is an ability that compresses the diameter of a magic shield until some dozens centimeters and raises its strength. Kanno can also cover her glove with this shield to punch the target, so this technique is called Tsurugi Issen (剣一閃, "Sword Flash").

Striker Units[]

Miyabishi Type 0 Carrier-based Fighter Legs Model 22 Kou (unknown machine number)[]

The unit of (at the time) Pilot Officer Kanno assigned to the Brave Witches. Nothing is drawn on it except the national marking because she destroys her units in quick successions. White water-based paint was applied lightly to create a winter camouflage.

Yamanishi Shiden Model 21 (No. 502-15)[]

When the European standard unit was changed to the Shiden-Kai, this unit was sent to Kanno, who was promoted to Flying Officer. It looks like it has been used a lot, probably because she didn't destroy it as fast as she used to. Victory markings for 2 large Neuroi and 5 small Neuroi can be seen on it.

Appearances[]

Anime

Strike Witches: The Movie, unnamed cameo
Brave Witches
World Witches: Hasshin Shimasu!!

Manga

Light Novel

Brave Witches Prequel

Video Games

Other

Trivia[]

Kanno's familiar is the bulldog.
Kanno is based on Japanese flying ace Kanno Naoshi (菅野直). One of his nicknames was Bulldog, Kanno's familiar is a reference to this. Besides that, he was also nicknamed "Destroyer" and "Yellow Fighter".
Kanno has a scar on her left cheek, and cover it with patch.