History ShoutOut / LyricalNanoha

** In ''[=StrikerS=]'', Signum is often accompanied by a red-headed nun with [[BlowYouAway wind-based magic]] and a similar fighting style to Axel Almer. Lamia and Axel both debuted in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance'', where they were rivals. It gets more hilarious that when Axel gets into the spinoff game ''EndlessFrontier'', he fights on foot... with that red-headed nun's weapon - a bladed tonfa, and the ability to create tornadoes.

** The Riot Zanber Stinger form bears a striking resemblance to the weapon used by Shelke in ''DirgeOfCerberus''.

* Vita's hammer can take on a form that is a reference to ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'' and another which references ''GurrenLagann'' with a drill on the front. ''TTGL'' aired in the same season as ''[=StrikerS=]'' and the hammer is voiced by the same Japanese VA as Simon. Appropriately, that season showed Vita to be a {{Determinator}} like everyone's favorite HotBlooded ''GurrenLagann'' protagonists.
** Ginga's "Revolver Gimlet" attack also resembles ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', to the point that fans have dubbed it the "[[FanNickname Ginga Drill Breaker]]".

* The Numbers's outfits suspiciously resemble plugsuits from Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion, right down to the wristcuffs, shoulder armor things, and hair ornaments.

* Cinque wears a BadassLongcoat and has the ability to charge throwing weapons with explosive energy, similar to [[Franchise/{{X-Men}} Gambit]].

*** Fate herself often called "[[GundamWing Deatchscythe-chan]]" by fans.

* The plot arc of the first three series is broadly similar to that of the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' series ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'', with the blond nemesis doing a HeelFaceTurn and appearing as an ally in the second series, and a long TimeSkip between the penultimate series and the third installment, during which the protagonists grow up (''CharsCounterattack''). The main difference is that Fate, unlike Char, does not undergo a later FaceHeelTurn.

* Not an anime shout-out, but the ''A's'' in ''Nanoha A's'' is a phonetic sound-alike of "Ace," and that season also features the first appearance of "Belkan Knights," who utilize a triangle array in their magic. In ''AceCombat'', the Belkan Air Force uses a triangle as its emblem and is rooted in the traditions of the ancient orders of Belkan knights.

* The villains of ''Force'' are the ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars Hückebein]]'' family. And in both ''AceCombatZero'' and ''AceCombat5'', there is another AcePilot [=NPC=] who's nicknamed "Hückebein".

** Her other friend, Corona, summons a giant golem which has [[MazingerZ Kouji Kabuto's mech's]] [[RocketPunch signature attack.]]

* Much like in ''{{Macross}}'', TheMovie of the first season actually is an in-universe movie produced on Midchilda.

* Meanwhile, her [[PowerFist Revolver Knuckle]] and her sister's name are references to ''Anime/GearFighterDendoh'', while the physical appearance of the sisters, particularly hairstyle and ribbons, recalls Noriko and Kazumi, the pilots of ''{{Gunbuster}}'', which happens to have spiked rollerblades built in.

* Many of the attacks and techniques in the series are homages to mecha series, notably ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' and ''GaoGaiGar''. And especially Subaru, who can be considered a {{moe}} compact-sized ''GaoGaiGar''. Her TransformationSequence included the tornado and G Stone reveal from ''GaoGaiGar'''s Final Fusion. She also has GaoGaiGar's [[RocketPunch Broken Phantom]] and Protect Shade and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2 Alteisen]]'s Revolving Stake.

* Vita's hammer can take on a form that is a reference to ''GaoGaiGar'' and another which references ''GurrenLagann'' with a drill on the front. ''TTGL'' aired in the same season as ''[=StrikerS=]'' and the hammer is voiced by the same Japanese VA as Simon. Appropriately, that season showed Vita to be a {{Determinator}} like everyone's favorite HotBlooded ''GurrenLagann'' protagonists.

*** Gimlet is also a villain from GaoGaiGar.

* Vivio's friend Rio in the ''[=ViVid=]'' manga has a pair of spells called Enryu and Rairyu that conjure up twin dragons of lightning and fire. The spells are obviously named after [=EnRyu=] and [=RaiRyu=] of ''{{GaoGaiGar}}'' fame, and when both dragons are used together the resulting attack looks virtually identical to [=GekiRyuJin=]'s Xiang Tou Long attack.

** And the shout out was returned in ''GundamBuildFighters'', where way the Star Build Strike's Discharge System works suspiciously resembles the Starlight Breaker.

* Meanwhile, her [[PowerFist Revolver Knuckle]] and her sister's name are references to ''GearFighterDendoh'', while the physical appearance of the sisters, particularly hairstyle and ribbons, recalls Noriko and Kazumi, the pilots of ''{{Gunbuster}}'', which happens to have spiked rollerblades built in.

* ''[=ViVid=]'' character Einhart has the family name of Stratos. Part VehicularThemeNaming, part ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]]'' reference. She also has an attack called "[[{{Dancougar}} Dankuuken]]".

* Subaru's roller blades and "Wing Road" are possibly {{Shout Out}}s to ''Manga/AirGear'' or ''CombattlerV'', for that matter.

* In ''[=ViVid=]'', there are two competitors named Harry Tribeca and Vitoria Dahlgrün. Harry is a delinquent who uses [[PlayingWithFire fire techniques]] with her signiture attack named "Gun Flame." Victoria, on the other hand, is a refined lady who uses [[ShockAndAwe electric attacks]]. Both consider each other as rivals. Kinda reminds one of [[GuiltyGear Sol and Ky]] doesn't it?

* The second episode features an {{Expy}} of Ein from CowboyBebop being possessed by a Jewel Seed.

* Sankt Kaiser Olivie from ''[=ViVid=]'', a female legendary hero "king", look a lot like [[FateStayNight Saber]].

* Lutecia looks suspiciously like a loli [[FateStayNight Rider]].

** In ''Force'', to add up more Signum-Lamia comparison. [[spoiler:Signum gets curb-stomped and nearly killed off by newcomer Cypha of Huckebein through cheating]]. Comparisons could be drawn between Cypha and [[BigBadWannabe Wilhelm von Juergen]], the "newcomer" in ''SRW'', who debuts by [[spoiler: capturing, humiliating the hell out of Lamia and presumably killed her off (temporarily), through accidental exploitation of Lamia not being in her mech, in other words... accidental cheating]].

* The villains of ''Force'' are the ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars Huckebein]]'' family. And in both ''AceCombatZero'' and ''AceCombat5'', there is another AcePilot [=NPC=] who's nicknamed "Huckebein".

* In ''[=ViVid=]'', there are two competitors named Harry Tribeca and Vitoria Dahlgrun. Harry is a delinquent who uses [[PlayingWithFire fire techniques]] with her signiture attack named "Gun Flame." Victoria, on the other hand, is a refined lady who uses [[ShockAndAwe electric attacks]]. Both consider each other as rivals. Kinda reminds one of [[GuiltyGear Sol and Ky]] doesn't it?

** The [[strike:worst]] best offender has got to be the [[{{Expy}} abundant similarities]] between Signum and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance Lamia Loveless]] - on top of the similarities in background, personality, and even attacks, they also have [[KaoriShimizu the same voice]].

** It's somewhat ironic that Signum shares a [[KaoriShimizu voice actor]] with Lain.

* Agito was obviously inspired by [[{{Disgaea}} Etna]].

* Nanoha's Starlight Breaker is taken from [[Anime/SoulTaker Lightning Breaker]]. Viewers of ''Anime/SoulTaker'' should also find the glove device Jail used to fight [[SuperMode Sonic Drive]] Fate familiar.

* In the first scene of Caro's appearance, she's wearing a hooded cloak that looks suspiciously like one worn in the first appearance of [[FinalFantasyIX a certain other summoner/white mage staff chick.]] Which was, itself, a MythologyGag in reference to the original White Mage class from the NES [[FinalFantasy Final Fantasies]].

* Some of Fate's abilities/attacks have very familiar-sounding names. [[FinalFantasyVI Riot Blade]]? [[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic Drive]]?
* In ''[=StrikerS=]'', certain characters are given "limits" on their power that, with approval, they can release in order to power up. For most of the series, doing so is merely referred to as "releasing your limit", but in one episode, Nanoha specifically talks to Hayate about using her [[FinalFantasy Limit Break]], with "Limit Break" said in GratuitousEnglish more than once.

* He's also apparently a fan of ''SuperRobotWars''.
** The [[strike:worst]] best offender has got to be the [[{{Expy}} abundant similarities]] between Signum and [[SuperRobotWars Lamia Loveless]] - on top of the similarities in background, personality, and even attacks, they also have [[KaoriShimizu the same voice]].
** Nanoha herself resembles the [[SuperRobotWars Weissritter]], and her EmpathicWeapon has an "Excellion Mode".

** In ''[=StrikerS=]'', Signum is often accompanied by a red-headed nun with [[BlowYouAway wind-based magic]] and a similar fighting style to Axel Almer. Lamia and Axel both debuted in ''SuperRobotWarsAdvance'', where they were rivals. It gets more hilarious that when Axel gets into the spinoff game ''EndlessFrontier'', he fights on foot... with that red-headed nun's weapon - a bladed tonfa, and the ability to create tornadoes.

** Nanoha didn't stop there. The Materials in the Portable games have also been likened with [[SuperRobotWarsAlpha the Machinery Children]]
* Many of the attacks and techniques in the series are homages to mecha series, notably ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' and ''GaoGaiGar''. And especially Subaru, who can be considered a {{moe}} compact-sized ''GaoGaiGar''. Her TransformationSequence included the tornado and G Stone reveal from ''GaoGaiGar'''s Final Fusion. She also has GaoGaiGar's [[RocketPunch Broken Phantom]] and Protect Shade and [[SuperRobotWars Alteisen]]'s Revolving Stake.

** The Zanber Form bears a distinct resemblance to a [[SuperRobotWars Zankantou]].

* The villains of ''Force'' are the ''[[SuperRobotWars Huckebein]]'' family. And in both ''AceCombatZero'' and ''AceCombat5'', there is another AcePilot [=NPC=] who's nicknamed "Huckebein".

* Jail Scaglietti looks like [[SuperRobotWars Ingram Plisken]]. A technical genius who brainwashed two heroines into fighting for him, created an OppositeSexClone of himself as an assistant, was later cloned further, and eventually betrayed his masters.

* Lutecia's summon, Garyu, is an insect like humanoid monster with a similar design to a ''KamenRider''. To add to this, its arm can form a blade similar to the one [[KamenRiderAgito Gils]] can form, has a ScarfOfAsskicking and, in a fight with Erio, kicks in a very similar way to a Rider Kick.