Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Movie 3: Unato Kessen

As one of the first anime/movies I've ever rated 9/10, i'm speechless of how i felt after watching this, it left me with this airy feeling, lightheaded but in a good way. And as my first review, i hope this will suffice you.

If you're just seeing if you should watch this, you can look at my Overall summery at the bottom.

And if you're looking for the manga of this, there's an adaptation but this anime is an original anime.

- STORY -
Yes, i know there will be people who will complain about how this anime's plot is similar to the whole stereotypical plot of post-apocalyptic world ... where a few characters happens to be overpowered and they save everyone else from disaster. But honestly, it's pretty hard to come by new yet exciting plots these days since every story gets oversaturated by others trying to copy and paste it for a quick profit.
Considering how it came after multiple post-apocalyptic animes like AoT, it's effort to make the plot unique and still entertaining was a success for my standards, not many animes of this genre I've watched had a good mix of despair and enlightenment.

- ART -
The art was amazing, especially the scenery art and some of the shots in the movie. It was colorful, yet not to the point of making it feel fake, it was surreal to look at. Even if I'm exaggerating a bit, I have to give them credit for how smoothly it was implemented.
The animation and art in the ending fits with the music perfectly likewise in the anime prequel.

- MUSIC -
Speaking of music in the movie's ending, it was really nicely done. But that isn't all, the subtle soundtracks playing in the background of a few selected parts of the movie really gave the whole shot(s) a new feeling to them, either excitement or dread, it was executed wonderfully to further increase the mood of parts of the movie.

- CHARACTER -
Well... Ahhh... I can't get over how well the relationship of Mumei and Ikoma developed over the course of this movie and even the anime season before this. It wasn't rushed, even if at first it felt like one of those "star crossed lovers" thing, it was slowly developed with time and it just brings happiness into my heart watching how they react to each other throughout the course of this movie.
The other characters weren't all that bad but, some of them seemed a bit of the "stereotypical characters that interfere with main character's plan, and is there to only make conflict".

- ENJOYMENT/OVERALL -
I really enjoyed this movie, it was satisfying to watch with all the well animated scenes with exceptional soundtrack to back it up.
And it's one of the few animes/movies I didn't want to skip forward or backwards while watching it, because the plot was rushed or too slow.
Even sitting through the whole ending credits felt worth it, to savor every second of this movie.

I really wish for WIT Studio to keep on developing this anime and it's plot, it seems like there is still much to explore in terms of character's relationships and the story itself. Even though the whole premise might be kind of dry since so many animes are using this kind of plot, they did a good job of making this unique.

I don't know if they can exceed the expectations coming from this movie, but if they can then, i really want to see this be continued since... We all know AoT can't last forever.

I will try to keep this review as succinct as the movie itself: this one-and-one-fourth hour movie is well-worth the time, even for those who were (like me) disappointed by Kabaneri's initial outing 3 years ago.

Unato Kessen is a direct sequel to the 12-episode season Kabaneri had in 2016, and as the title indicates, revolves around a battle at Unato. In terms of content, Unato Kessen breaks no new ground. What makes it a positive addition to the series is how it maintained the strengths of the series while being more deliberate in its storytelling. The art and soundtrack were both as impressive as ... one would expect with this series, and the many action sequences were fluid and entertaining to watch. Being roughly 3 regular episodes worth in length, the movie did not have a lot of time to work with, but instead trimmed away the hedges to squarely focus on the story and the development of Ikoma and Mumei. Frankly, I thought this was a massive improvement over how the 2016 season--which often felt a little out-of-focus--was handled. Nothing felt overdone or un-explored, it ended right when it should have, and it even gave us a very nicely animated ending song to boot.

In all, this was a content-packed movie and a must-watch if you enjoyed the 2016 season, but even if you didn't, there is still a lot to like about this continuation of Ikoma and Mumei's journey. Note, however, this is not a standalone entry, so those who have not yet watched the 2016 season should dive into that first.

Wit Studio no doubt they prove how great they are with the presentation of this series. The third Kabaneri of the iron fortress focused on Mumei and Ikoma after half a year of what happened to them. Their adventure continues and this time they have to fight Kabane once more.

The storyline goes fast. I am sure those of you who have watched this movie will know how to tell. Once again I emphasize even though the storyline runs fast but this film has a fairly long duration and the power is sure you won't be disappointed to watch it. Every ... second they offer is felt. This action-themed movie also has a romantic feel between the main character and heroine. I am sure that with this theme young people will be interested in watching it because the romantic theme is a theme that is very popular with most people and they also experience it.

Not only is the interesting storyline of art in this movie also very good especially during the battle scene. The character design is also pretty good especially with Mumei's main heroine which is very tempting. The background nuance is the same. The depiction of the background is very supportive of what else when the fight. Speaking of battles the effects of swords and shots are also very good. But what needs to be considered here is the design of characters from Kabane or enemies who are in this story. I mean they are very extraordinary depiction and selection of colors also impressed realistically especially when heading to the giant Kabane fight even when juxtaposed with monsters that are in Ultraman and Evangelion maybe this is also appropriate with them.

Egoist is one of the most popular female singer groups. They play a very important role in this movie because they fill a lot in between scenes with supporting music and one of them is the closing theme entitled "Ninelie". Voters are equally important, they also have worked quite well. The sound of the Kabane monsters that came out was also good, it felt like a real monster.

Of the many characters out there Mumei is one of them how not to design attractive characters and the nature that they have makes everyone interested in him. Taking the concept of zero to Hero where the main actors who were initially unreliable now changed dramatically. The two main characters are not humans but half-human beings called "Kabaneri". Even so, I also don't like the design of other characters like Ikoma, which I think is bad, if you notice the design of Ikoma's hair isn't a bit strange? But I don't hate it.

I honestly look forward to this movie for a long time. After finishing watching the TV series I became more interested in this series. Exciting battles and stories that are not too heavy are suitable for free time. Of the whole series is also not so good and also not so bad. Maybe there are still many people out there who think differently.

Ever wondered how unfair it is that certain series recieves hype they don’t deserve? Ever wondered why bad shows recieve tons of sequels and why people like them? Yes, I have as well... Well in Koutetsujou no Kabaneri‘s case, I had to do the oposite. Why there’s almost no hype for it? Why the hell people compare this with Attack on Titan and thus giving it low score? Why there’s no proper sequel for it?

Well, I still don’t have the answers for my first two questions (even though I have some sort of idea) but now my third question got answered with the third Koutetsujou ... no Kabaneri movie. So, Let’s take a look at it, shall we?


Setting,theme

Post-apocalyptic steampunk stories are really rare thing in the world of anime. Putting aside my possible bias for steampunk (I used to be into it in my early teens and I still kinda am) it‘s a welcomed breath of fresh air. Even though the story about humanity being on the verge of extinction thanks to ,,zombies“ is something we have seen thousand times before (especially in western media), this steampunk thing makes it remarkable. And the giant trains, don’t forget the giant trains!


Story

The story takes place after the events of the series. And no, compared to the series, this one is not rushed at all. It revolves around a battle of a certain town and nearby castle. Of course, both of our protagonists will have to face enemies among both undead and humans (again).


Characters

We will see good old Koutetsujou crew, along with some new faces consisting mostly of crews from other trains, soldiers and workers. Also new villain appears. And finally,finally the relationship between Ikoma and Mumei has some space to develop slightly (not gonna run into details tho, don’t wanna spoil it). Other characters(beside the main villain) sadly show little to no development at all.


Visuals and sound

It’s made by Wit Studio, so expect same kind of artstyle as Attack on Titan and epic action fight sequences. The fighting scenes are just sight to see. The CGI used here is on non-Berserk 2016 level (so it’s good). And in terms of sound? Well, nothing negative to point out here.


Overall

Don’t worry, it’s not rushed like the series, it’s packed with action while giving us some space for Ikoma x Mumei relationship development. We get to see a brand new city and a new type of opponent. And we get more of those steel monsters wandering the rails while crushing tons of undead. There’s only one negative thing I’ve found: It’s too damn short!!!

Wow just wow, This series has been one of my favorites since it aired and to wait for this movie to come out to Netflix and watch it for the first time has been a worthy wait indeed!!!!

The story is fantastic, keeps the same pace as the first season and it all connected so well!!

The art was on point nothing short of amazing there.

The music alone is one to keep you sucked in, brings alot of fulfillment to the series!!

Character developments <3, this movie made me fall in love with the characters all over again.

10/10 would watch again (and I have 3 times now) ...

SEASON TWO PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Movie 3: Unato Kessen (2019)


Story

Continues directly from the end of the first season or the second movie depending on how you watched it. Gets a nice recap shown due to the time since the end of the previous series/movie.

We have a bit of a jump into the now retaking of a large area with the unified forces. As you would expect the old lords have far too much confidence in small victories. Great distrust in the Kabaneri is still about also. We get a great story here with some frustration but its aimed at the characters that were introduced and their attitudes ... mostly. The relationship between Ikoma and Hozumi gets much more development and is played out nicely.


Art

The art is the same as before but perhaps a bit more polished as time has moved on since the last. Detail where detail is needed is great and where it drops is completely understandable. When for example embarrassment is shown it is great for a comedic value with Hozumi and her arms going like a windmill.


Sound

The best thing was the dance at the end which was great to watch during the credit area. Also, the sound and music throughout is once again a great fit and well done. EGOIST is just an amazing choice they used.


Character

Ikoma and Hozumi get a great development for the audience to witness. It is shown innocently and not in an in your face way which is wonderfully done. It was a long time coming to get actual progress.

Kurusu starts showing his feelings for Ayame a lot more on his sleeve as does Ayame towards him.

Yukina and Sukari also show a fair bit of relaxing emotion between each other.

As you would expect Suzuki and his broken Japanese is great. More shown of his backstory would be great to see.


Enjoyment

The movie is a very enjoyable watch. You will feel frustrated with people getting caught up in the emotion of minor victories and over confidence. You will also get a bit of a bad taste towards Ayame for a part of it with her backing down from her usual support of Ikoma which helps to create what the plot develops into. If Ikoma was paid attention to a little bit more and Ayame supported him the battle would have likely gone very different.

Ikoma himself needs to be a bit more conscious of promises he made and Hozumi who is acting as obviously in love as a girl can be with him barely seeing that for most of the story.

In all it is a roller coaster of various emotions that goes towards a nice ending.


Overall

In the end the show is a real great watch. It is enjoyable and the develops are great even if some are frustrating. It would be amazing to see it be produced further going forwards to see them take back their home and eventually win the ultimate fight. I do feel it was closed off nice enough to leave however, as opposed to some shows that cliff hang heavily.

What Biba's arc failed to do...

Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Unato Kessen left off right after the Biba incident, where the Koutetsjou has now landed in Unato, where there is a strange castle emitting a blue light.

By all instances, Unato Kessen feels much like the Biba arc right down to the plot beats, the only difference is the villain and the mysteries involving the strange castle and both Ikoma and Mumei feel like they are communicating with the "kabane". The major villain is something of a comparison to Ikoma as a character especially his backstory, where Ikoma failed to save his sister and latter turned into a ... kabaneri where he chose the third option of being a kabaneri, where Kageyuki turned into a kabaneri, society shunned him and thus turned into a kabane/kaberneri and wants revenge of them killing his daughter. Kageyuki's daughter also falls into comparison to Mumei, mainly on both of them having similar instances of being hosts for Black Smoke but to Ikoma and Kageyuki is the only thing keeping them "human".

There is a secondary villain, in this case the Federal Forces leader and he's mostly causes unneeded trouble for Ikoma since the leader discriminates against kabaneri (which is dumb to begin with since their HELPING YOU, he deserved his fate the dumbass). Nonetheless the dynamic of Kageyuki and his daughter with Ikoma and Mumei was great as it showed what would had happened if Ikoma was deemed a kabane while Mumei to Miyuki (Kageyuki's daughter), what would had happened if Mumei "gave up" as it were.

There are some flaws towards this movie, the first being how somewhat flimsy the entire discourse with Ikoma and Mumei that started the entire mess with them and how quickly it resolved itself, BUT to this defense, showing the discourse shaked things up a bit for the plot and really how it resolved itself SHOWED they weren't thinking right and they righted wrongs in a sense with their actions. Next is, yeah the Federal Forces Leader who just acted in his own prideful self and he paid the price, he's probably the closest thing to Biba but at least Biba has some charisma, the leader on the other hand was a red herring for the ACTUAL major villain. Lastly is yeah...it has similar plot beats to the Biba arc, but once again, to this flaw, it was better handled in comparison to the Biba arc because Biba's arc...had Biba that threw off the balance with Ikoma and Mumei and made the plot jumped the shark.

The animation once again done by WIT Studios is back in prime form with the great amount of detail on the character designs and the awesome battles with quite easily the MVP with the battles being Mumei in this movie as she went through the most battles within this movie. There is a few rare times it goes comedic mainly with Mumei and gives it almost chibi-stylings but that's comedic and thus makes sense. Really the quality is what you'd expect when Koutetujou no Kabaneri having a movie.

Voice cast was great as always what with most of the core cast back, but since MOST of the movie was centralized towards Mumei, Sayaka Senbongi did amazingly well and expected in her role as Mumei and Tasuku Hatonaka as Ikoma did great as well and though many of the other characters had reduced screentime, Maaya Uchida as Ayame to Mariya Ise as Yukina to Toshiki Masuda as Kurusu. Really it's the original main cast and they settle din nicely back into their roles like they never left!

Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Unato Kessen is essentially the better Biba arc, with ties to Ikoma and Mumei in terms of backstory that makes itself MUCH more investable, sure Unato Kessen has some flaws as it takes plot beats from the Biba arc as well as the personal discourse coming from Ikoma and Mumei was flimsy as well as how it resolved itself but with how great Unato Kessen tied up the villain backstory to actually compare to Ikoma and Mumei made this movie worth while...as well as more teasing with Ikoma x Mumei and in a ways since there is many loose plot points be it story or characters that still has no end in sight especially coming from an original anime series. This is the proper step and more like an apology letter to what the Biba arc was, the trains-still-a-going so LA would be more interested in more adventures of steampunk feudal Japanese zombie-killers on a train that is Koutetsujou no Kabaneri.

Everyone's favorite Steampunk meets Feudal Japan meets Zombies is back, and the spectacle is juicier than ever.

If you were around in 2017 when Koutesujou initially dropped, the concept of man-eating monsters in a steampunk feudal Japan, and the half-monsters who are forced to fight them reminded us all of another well regarded Wit series: Attack on Titan. So we all piled onto the ride of some of slickest action cuts ever put onto screen.

Then it started unravelling. The plot holes started appearing and the mixed messages started to grow until the series was a giant patchwork monstrosity by the climax. It left us all with ... a desire to forget what we had just witnessed as quickly as possible. Now, two years later, Wit is back to remind us of what we had loved so much in the first place. And they definitely succeed this time around.

The action cuts this time aren't just some of the sleekest I've seen all year: they're also some of the most readable. Mumei's fast, acrobatic fighting style is grounded surprisingly well by the sense of weight and momenthum added by animators, especially evident when she's swinging around the heavy Steam Cartridge Gun. It's the sort of action I can only see being pulled off by the battle-hardened animators at Wit who've made it through the original Koutetsujou and Attack on Titan. Overall, Mumei is the star of the show throughout all three parts, and her fighting is genuinely a joy to watch, whether it's mowing through dozens of kabane at a time or having a 1 on 1 with the final boss himself.

The show no longer slouches as hard on the drama portions either. The show's focus is now laser-pointed on the relationship between Mumei and Ikoma, a dynamic that works surprisingly well now that Mumei isn't torn between a confusing conflict of interest like in the TV series. There's also a bit of backstory for the main villain, which surprisingly makes sense this time around, unlike Biba from the TV series. Mumei is also positively adorable throughout the film. If you liked her character at all before, you'll absolutely love her this time around.

Overall, halfway through 2019, Koutetsujou is the best action production I've seen all year. If you like lolis, zombies, badass action scenes that ooze budget, or even Lolis fighting Zombies in badass action scenes that ooze budget, Kabaneri isn't worth skipping this time around.

And really, what else screams "we have more budget than we can use" than putting an entire fully animated dance sequence right after the credits roll?

Making this review as spoiler free as possible, I have to be fair that although the story has good development, there were some bits and holes missing from the events of the series. This wouldn't impact much on the story so I'll just straight up say that the survivors of Kongoukaku which got aboard the Koutetsujou at the end of the series were nowhere to be seen in the movie. I was honestly hoping that they would appear and be like allies and kick ass together, but like I said, doesn't impact the story. Just a loophole i felt which was unexplained.
Next up, I ... like the character development that has happened, although sometimes may be a bit too much of a shift from the prev series. Alongside the graphics which has (in my opinion) dropped compared to the series. However, the soundtracks and music still lives up to its reputation.
As a huge fan of the series, i was really looking forward to this movie, and although there were some drawbacks on it, I'd still consider it an overall much enjoyable movie (tho I may not rewatch it again).

I havnt seen the other two movies but I have watched the main show and this movie was great to me.

While the main show I'd give a solid 6 or 7 (nothing bad about it, but nothing spectacular) this movie gets an 8 or 9. Even if you never watched the main show or the other movie, by itself it has a strong flow and great visuals. The action is top notch in terms of visuals and the plot is great to where even if you have no idea abotu the previous titles you can pick up quickly on what the gist of the story ... is and why they are there. I was especially happy to see how the characters are more flush out into their roles. Mumei especially.

Alot of people compare it to Attack on Titan (i even did myself in my review of the main show) but it's honestly not a fair comparison. By itself it's very enjoyable and worth watching. Maybe if you didnt like the main show you could watch this and get some new respect for it by the time your done.

So I am pretty much very dumb. I watched this thinking is was a new anime on Netflix but, as I watched the first episode I realized it was a movie but continued anyway. Once again I may be dumb but, I am going to watch the season 1 and hope that this anime receives a season 2. Any of those who haven’t watched the movie, coming from someone who enjoys anime you will like this movie. The movie feels a bit rushed but, if you watched the season 1 you’ll enjoy it. My first review so thanks for reading I guess. :]

(Quick Review)

The movie is really good as we see what Ikoma, Mumei and everyone are doing after a half-year.

In the movie, we see how Ikoma and everyone else is going to Unato Castle to stop the invasion of the Kabane. Ikoma tries to help but can't be trusted as he almost bites Mumei so he is taken into custody. Before that, we see how Mumei wants to give a gift to Ikoma but he to focused on stopping the Kabene so she tries to do it herself but she was stopped by powerful Kabene but Ikoma comes in helping her out and his friend ... and others come in going to the heart of the Kabane and they luckily finishes them off.

So I enjoyed this movie as it had really action and scenes and the ending scene was beautiful for those who haven't watched the movie is really nice to see.

Story 8/10
Art 8/10
Sound 7/10
Character 7/10
Enjoyment 8/10
Overall 8/10

watched this on Netflix for some reason it was split up into 3 episodes 30 minutes each. anyway found it entertaining but felt left out as there was a lot that was not explained to you because it's assumed that you watched its prior installments.

for instance, I have no idea what the hell the antagonist daughter is they just called her some weird word I have no idea how to spell and gave use a very quick flashback to someone in the prior installment of the series who was the same thing.

anyway if you want to watch this watch the prior installments first.

P.S I loved ... the end credit scene where you had the main cast doing a little fan dance

Just another day in the life of Mumei. Ikoma still looks like he has hepatitis. Kurusu's still pining after Ayame like a good malewife who can also wield his stick. Kajika's as motherly as ever, maybe even more!—who made the movie all the more wholesome at the end with her motherly wiles. Of course, we have those cute kids, can't forget them! Kabaneri also wouldn't be complete without Yukina flexing her muscles to operate the hayajiro, hawt as always and made my night. Sukari always ready to enslave himself to Yukina, working on his smarts as usual. Ugly kabane here and there, and Mumei and ... Ikoma saving the day (WITH AWESOME BATTLE SEQUENCES AND GOOD CGI THAT MAKES FOR A WHOLE LOT OF BADASSERY BY THE WAY). AND, surprise-surprise, Mumei has developed a crush on Ikoma and is blushing every chance she gets at everything he does! Just—everything's so cute and warm and wholesome!

This may not be what initially a Kabaneri fan would expect, maybe it wouldn't work for everyone, but the movie taking a lighthearted tone is just perfect! I genuinely loved this, and I cannot stop using exclamation marks. The themes of the movie perfectly makes sense, because after Koungokaku (Kabaneri series), the show's intense focus shifting to the movie's tones is exactly what the gang needed. They had resolved that part of their stories in the series; Wit Studio wanted to portray that it's now a time of development and they <i>had</i> shown it here in Unato, because everyone's transitions to their rightful places in Koungokaku was rushed—but a transition still, given that. Ikoma's reinforced himself on his path, taking on a more specific goal in mind. Mumei had already shaken off her brother's shackles. Ayame, with Kurusu supporting her, would now want to go back to her hometown and let it prosper again. I'm sure Yukina and Sukari learned some things as well, because they have also changed.

If the series aimed to be story-driven, along with providing us character arcs to give the show more substance (which, admittedly, they fell short on), the movie provided the very thing it lacked to fill in the space the last events of the show developed: by just giving us pure heart (which Wit Studio wanted to give in the first place but could not) and character, with just the right amount of storyline pump to get everything running. This time around, Wit Studio managed to be consistent because instead of tying up complex plotlines, they showed us a slice of the gang's life—and in the process strengthened everyone's characterization. Given this, the movie didn't lack action at all. The runtime's well-spent, hearty, and while I would love more from Kabaneri, I'd like to say I would also be satisfied if this is how everything would end—because, again, the movie's perfect as it is.

Wit Studio does it again producing a beautiful piece of anime. The story however is a bit lacking and fails on keeping the viewer effectively engaged. Because of its short run time it attempts to compress a lot of information and make the viewer guess at what has happened. This could have been avoided with some more time spent on the introduction of the film. However the characters continue on to try and reclaim a zone that was taken by the Kabane not being a station for whatever reason that eludes me.

An emphasis is placed on how the infection works with it heavily being based ... around the heart and emotions of the individual. This is pretty cheesy and simple in its nature. Opting for something like how it changes the biological makeup of the individual would have sufficed. More information on the characters and the events before the show are brought to light which is quite nice. Expanding on what we already know to be what had happened and building upon what was possible.

The main antagonist can be understood for the reasoning behind his actions but isn't really based on much thought. With the fights being incredibly anticlimactic and the pacing being off there isn't anything special about this piece of entertainment. I would however recommend it as it brings further lore to the Kabaneri universe and does so in an incredibly aesthetically pleasing way.

The most overrated topic that the world seems to enjoy in games, movies and shows? Zombies. And I never liked them. But somehow, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress created a world that genuinely made me care. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato is the sequel to that series and I'll assume you've seen it for the purposes of this review.

Story: Half a year after the events when Biba attempted to use Mumei to unleash her on the world in the form of a gigantic monster known as the Nue, the crew of the Iron Fortress joins an alliance ... to take back an area around Unato Castle. With a plan in place, this new alliance is headed up by Kuroji, who wants to use his brand new cannon to destroy the Kabane from afar. During a skirmish before Kuroji's crew arrives, Ikoma and Sukari realize that the Kabane seem to be acting in a certain pattern, which is unusual for them. They theorize that they are being led by someone else and this causes a problematic rift within the new alliance. With a seemingly large threat within this castle, the crew of the Iron Fortress must now figure out how to make sure the mission succeeds, while losing as few alliance forces as possible.

Something to note is that this movie is actually really short by today's standards. It's listed as having a run time for eighty minutes, so the story isn't as deep as many other anime movies, specifically ones that follow the events of a previous series. The story on the surface isn't terribly deep: Fight the Kabane, don't die, move on. But what elevates this story are some of the side elements that they include. One plot point they make sure to touch on is how the Kabane activity is affecting the two Kabaneri in the group, Ikoma and Mumei. The former, in particular, has to deal with a lot in this movie and I really do appreciate them zeroing in on his character, continuing his strong character development from the main series.

One thing that audiences may be somewhat put aback by is the fact that this movie actually focuses on our character's relationships. These were not very well developed in the main series, but they do add those little interactions in for this movie. Ikoma and Mumei have some interactions that are super sweet, despite the fact that Mumei's only twelve years old. Ayame and Kuruse also have some interactions that are very entertaining. While these do seem a little random, I do hope they continue pushing this different feel for another season, as it was announced that this movie was the "middle" of the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress run. Nothing official yet, but we'll see. (8/10)

Characters: As I just mentioned, our characters do go through some meaningful development. Ikoma's still awesome because of his determination and mostly intelligent thinking. His connection to Mumei is obvious, even if he shows he can be a bit of a blockhead when Mumei tries to proactively act. Mumei is still the same zombie-stomping juggernaut that we know her as, but with her developing with Ikoma further, she clearly is thinking about him during times of respite. She seems to connect with much of the Iron Fortress quite well, especially with Kajika, who seems to be rooting for the couple throughout most of the movie. Sukari seems to have taken the place of Takumi as Ikoma's best bud, and I always love these kind of characters.

There aren't many blind spots in this movie, but one thing that I didn't really connect to was the villain, Kageyuki. It's explained pretty early on that he got infected, but he seems to still have his conscience intact. Considering the hurdles that Ikoma and Mumei went through in order to keep sane, it's a little surprising that Kageyuki was mostly okay after being bitten. His backstory isn't terrible well told, and although I appreciate what they tried to do, there just isn't quite enough there.

As for the new characters I've mostly already laid out that they were a little hit or miss. Given the nature of the movie, you don't really need a shining opposing cast, but watching them depend on the Iron Fortress just goes to show that the future of this movie's characters is a bright one. (8/10)

Art: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato has a lot of fast moving scenes that mostly seem to keep solid quality throughout. You do get some weirdness at the odd moment here or there, but it's mostly easily ignored. They introduced some different styles of Kabane here, and I always like when new opposing monsters have different forms, as it shows some level of creativity. One last thing I liked was that they showed the new alliance's x-factor to look rather bland. I found it amusing that this rather boring looking weapon was the centre of their plan when, in fact, the Iron Fortress' ways were much more effective. (7/10)

Sound: The music here was absolutely top notch. Hiroyuki Sawano has a long history of providing very exciting OSTs to anime, such as the likes of Guilty Crown, Attack on Titan, Aldnoah Zero, etc. There was likely an overreliance on using 1coma (sung by Mika Kobayashi), but the music was fantastic. KABANERIOFTHEIRONFORTRESS and ninelie return as the theme songs (by EGOIST and Aimer respectively), as with a new added ending theme for the ending, Sakase ya Sakase by EGOIST, all of which are awesome. Voice talent is equally up to the task here, with Robbie Daymond (Ikoma) and Janice Kawaye (Mumei) leading the way. Colleen Villard (Kajika) and Kathleen McInerney (Ayame) are two really old VOs that are also included in this movie and are solid too. Up and down the roster, this is a very successful dub, credit to a strong ADR director (who I believe here is Bob and Megan Buchholz). (10/10)

Overall Enjoyment: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato is a successful sequel to a decent series. Since this is an original anime, there's no real idea out there where this story will go from here, but I'm eager to find out, especially because there's a ton of things that our characters wanted to do, and haven't yet. If you were a fan of the main series, this movie should be an easy watch for you. It builds upon strong character arcs even further while still bringing us some strong action scenes. (8/10)