W-Tails Cat: A Strange Presence

Sent to investigate strange disturbances in a remote region, elite female soldiers in mecha suits are the setup for W-Tails Cat: A Strange Presence, a 7-episode ONA from 2013 based on Shirow Masamune's art books. If that name sounds familiar, he's the mind behind Ghost in the Shell, and that DNA shows up here. The world feels dense with military tech and quiet tension before anything even explodes. Commander Aiko leads the W-Tails Cats, a specialized unit that handles missions conventional forces can't touch. Her team includes the combat-first Lieutenant Rina and the technically-minded Specialist Yuki. Early on, their assignment seems like routine recon, but the disturbances they're sent to investigate carry the weight of something much larger building underneath. The mecha designs are intricate and the action sequences are fluid — this isn't a show cutting corners on the mechanical side. The soundtrack mixes electronic and orchestral elements in a way that fits the cold, calculated atmosphere. If you've worked through Appleseed or Blue Gender and want something that scratches that same near-future military itch, this sits comfortably in that neighborhood. At only 7 episodes, it's a short watch, which means it's worth going in without high expectations and letting it breathe on its own terms. It's a niche pick rooted in a specific era of sci-fi aesthetics, but fans of that Shirow-style world-building will find it familiar and worthwhile.