86

The word masterpiece gets thrown around so much these days, it’s nearly lost its meaning. The literal meaning being the defining work of an individual’s career. I’m here to tell you now, Eighty-Six:86 is a masterpiece in the truest sense of the word and is one of the best stories in the modern history of the medium. 86 depicts the brutal nature of war, racism and oppression in such a way that you can’t help but to be absorbed into the story, characters and fall in love with the series.

From the time it was announced that my favourite LN series would be getting an anime ... adaptation, I was filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing my fave scenes and characters adapted. Unfortunately, I could not help feeling a sense of dread as well given the studio that would be adapting it. A-1 have had a pretty inconsistent track record over the past decade or so. They’ve given us some amazing works like Anohana and Bokumachi, but also some…. less than stellar works like SAO season 2 or War of Underworld PT.2. A-1, and the anime industry as a whole’s main issue is that LN adaptations are usually just cash grabs and glorified promo material to get people to go out and buy the books. Usually large swathes of stories are left out or butchered. As a result, I was worried that A-1 may rush through the story and omit key aspects of 86. Thankfully, I could not have been more wrong. Not only did A-1 remain faithful to the source material, they even enhanced it in many instances. With arguably their best LN adaptation ever, A-1 gave us the anime of the season.

86 is a very character driven story. Volume 1, which the first cour of the anime covers, is quite slow at time just because of all the detail that goes into the world-building. Asato sensei does a great job of humanising characters and creating a connection between you and them. There may be times during the anime where you feel it drags on or it’s going a bit slow, but I can guarantee you there’s a pay-off coming around the corner. Every second you spend in this world and with these characters matters. The cruel nature of war and child soldiers is on full display, and unfortunately death is always only a moment away. At the core of 86 is the theme of racism. The light novel and anime by extension, do an amazing job of showing how easy it is to fall into the cycle of hatred. On one hand, you have the Alba living peaceful lives within their cities, on the other you have the 86 being forced into a war they didn’t start and left to die. The psychological trauma that both the kids and their commanding officer, Lena go through is conveyed masterfully and really drives home the toll these things can take on humans. If it sounds like this is a dense story, it’s because it is. There is a LOT to unpack in 86, which is why I am so happy A-1 took their time and only adapted one volume for the first cour. This is something that’s nearly unprecedented in today’s era of profit over fidelity.

From a cinematic perspective, A-1 eloquently employ the use of split perspectives in 86. The story is told through the eyes of Lena and Shin and is usually split halfway each episode. It’s a great way to flesh out the world and the characters and I’m glad they went this route. I also loved the use of camera angles, particularly as it relates to facial expressions in the show. During tense moments and conversations, I found that the cuts and angles used added to the moment and helped drive home the significance of the scene.

I mentioned it briefly earlier, but I can’t help but reiterate how much I LOVED the pacing of the show. Usually with these types of adaptations we would get 1-3 volumes for 12 episodes. For a series like 86 which is quite frankly extremely dense, this would have been a disaster. Doing the first volume, at a rate of one chapter per episode and with the quality we got artistically with amazing character designs, the best CGI I’ve ever seen, etc etc., perfection.

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve been pushing the 86 agenda on Twitter and facebook for years. Part of that agenda was an OST by Sawano Hiroyuki. I could not imagine the world of 86 being animated without an OST from the GOAT himself. Sawano has done the OST for several aniplex mech series so it’s not really a shock that he hopped on 86, but bringing his kouhai Yamamoto Kohta onboard was a pleasant surprise. As you’d expect, the two of them SNAPPED on every track featured in the anime. Both EDs are amazing and several inserts like “The Answer” are on repeat on my phone daily. Could not ask for more.

In closing, 86 has been my favourite Light Novel series for years, and at this point it’s probably safe to say the anime is now my favourite anime series. A-1 put together an all star team of talent to work on this show, took their time and gave us something really special. Even if you don’t normally like mech or science-fiction anime, 86 is well worth a viewing due to the amazing handling of real life themes. In today’s hyper-political and tense times, a story on the dangers of racism and hate couldn’t be more relevant.

Eighty-six gets 10 Para-Raids out of 10.

The number 86 doesn't sound very special at first glance, until you realize the dark story behind it. Plagued by an ongoing war for 9 years, you can imagine how both Republic of San Magnolia and Empire of Giad's lives have been shattered. War itself lays the foundation of this show and with it, characters comes to understand what it means to live, survive, and fight. Yet, the story of 86 runs far deeper than just a frontline war. Behind the closed doors of their society has unimaginable secrets.

Advertised as a military science fiction, I first want to mention that above all else, the anime ... manages to maintain a stellar force of animated quality. A-1 Pictures can sometimes be a missed bag but make no mistake, this show doesn't step over its toes and overestimate itself. It manages to capture the essence of a military sci-fi by the high quality animation. From the machines, battle sequences, to the character design themselves, every bit of production makes a strong impression. Producer Nobuhiro Nakayama has previously worked on other sci-fi projects such as Heavy Object, A Certain Magical Index, and Accel World, among others. Let's of course not forget about the director, Toshimasa Ishii. He managed to put together a storyboard to compensate with the artistic talents of the staff and make this show into a reality.

However, I do want to distress not to think too hard into this show. While 86 may be somewhat more complicated than the average sci-fi anime you see these days, it's also fairly watchable for new viewers. You don't need a rocket science degree to understand the technological advancements of their world. However, it make take a bit of time to understand what our characters are capable of and why they exist. Off the bat, we have Major Vladilena 'Lena' Milize, who serves as a Handler in the Republic forces. Coming off as one of the most human characters in the show, she treats others like humans than tools. It seperates herself from her superiors and above all, she fights for equality rather than winning the war. Lena's character is portrayed as human by her actions. She often speaks out and challenges morality issues with her superiors. Within her squadron, she tries to forge a bond together even during their toughest times. As such, Lena represents much more than just the average Handler. She's a beacon of hope for the 86 Squadron.

Speaking of which, what exactly is the 86? In general definition, they are pilots representing the Republic of San Magnolia. However, these members are not treated equally as other sectors as result of many complicated events. The show follows a group of elite 86ers (as part of the Spearhard Squad) with Shinei Nouzen as their leader. Taken for granted, Shinei carries a burden of responsibilty for his squad members. This is seen through his actions, when he disregard his own life to fight in what he believes in. Throughout the show, Shinei faces death straight on without fear even when taking inconceivable risks. His actions are not gone without notice as characters have come to respect him as a capable leader such as Kurena. I'm not here to convince you whether Shinei is a likable character or not. His actions can sometimes be questionable but the sheer bravery he shows on the battlefield is undeniably respectable.

With that in mind, 86 deals with war drama elements by showing and telling, a combination that is achieved with its historical background storytelling. From the very start, we learn about the state of their world and how characters are shaped by what they are. Most prominently, Lena and Shinei explifies their leadership role, and they must make important decisions even if they have to do it themselves. It's also important to realize that Shinei's squadron has character bonds within the group. When we see its members outside the battlefield, most of them behave like normal people despite knowing what future may lie ahead of them. It's because of their bond, there seems to also be a glimmer of hope for the 86ers.

It's a 1-cour show, at least for the first half and not only that, this falls short on one episode compared to the standard 12-episode formula. By no doubt, there's content omitted in this adaptation such as the death of a certain important character on-screen. And also, if you came expecting this show to tell some romance, then look elsewhere. Sure, there are some hints dropped from Lena's point of view and her growing affection towards Shinei. However, this doesn't bloom into a relationship. After all, Shinei is the last type of guy who wants a girlfriend in this series. He's a fighter, not a lover. Looking back though and among the Spearhead squadron, their relationship is perhaps one of the most important in the series.

I've already mentioned about the high quality production of 86. But who can forget the music? Hiroyuki Sawano is well known for his previous involvement in sci-i projects such as Aldnoah Zero and Guilty Crown. Here is no different as we see the sheer amount of talent poured into the soundtrack. Every episode is able to synchronize the soundtrack to make scenes impactful. It accomplishes this to make viewers feel what the characters feel, especially during the more emotional scenes. That's important too, because war itself can have emotional impactful on anyone. It feels like the author and producers wanted us to experience what war is like hence the soundtrack enhances that experience.

Science fiction military anime isn't an uncommon trend in today's industry. Darling in the Frankxx, Aldnoah Zero, and the infamous Code Geass are just a few examples. What 86 manages to do is capture the feeling and reality of war, in a way that makes us realize what lives really is like for the characters. From day one, you can see grim reality of how war can change a world and people. Let's just hope the second half of 86 will be as memorable as the first, because this anime is just getting started.

Life, land, legacy: all reduced to a number.

Discrimination, privilege, pride and unlikely bonds form the basis of Eighty-Six. The story revolves around the French-coded nation of San Magnolia, a state which, cornered in its war effort, turns on its own minority citizens in a dehumanizing way similar to WWII era Germany. In the first three episodes especially, no punches are pulled to show the extent of the dehumanization of those minorities now branded as “86”, and the depravity of those stationed above letting it happen. It’s a deeply unsettling premise showcasing how easy it is for humans to justify cruelty once backed in a ... corner, and avert their eyes from it. Slapping a label or number on the oppressed makes it all the more simple to distance oneself from atrocities committed onto fellow human beings.

Writing a story about discrimination is easy: sympathy is easily gained when you depict one side as the oppressor, mercilessly beating down on the poor oppressed. It’s a formula that worked for most of Code Geass. However, Eighty-Six takes it a step further, delving into the dynamics of oppression and privilege, in a nuanced manner rarely seen in these types of anime.

Eighty-Six mainly follows the story of Vladilena Milizé, an idealistic officer within a rotten system that forces the “86” into internment camps and out on the battlefield to fight for their sake. She constantly apologizes to the “86” that she commands from behind the safety of her country’s walls, talks nicely to them, and overall seems like an angel among the Alba (San Magnolia’s majority race) oppressors. My first pleasant surprise was Eighty-Six’s treatment of this kind of character. The narrative acknowledges that no amount of niceties on her part make up for the fact that she is partaking in the system that actively oppresses people. It doesn’t validate her or put her on a pedestal for merely being nice. Lena’s attitude, similar to the “white savior” phenomenon, is called out – the story aims to deliver the message that acting nice and setting oneself apart from the oppressors, like “one of the good ones”, isn’t enough: if one is in a position of privilege, they must rather take action using said privilege. Anything less would be fulfilling one’s own ego, and not much else.

This more nuanced treatment is also seen in other Alba characters like commander Karlstahl or Annette Penrose, representing the privileged people who acknowledge the injustices in a system but simply deem themselves too powerless to do something against it, or fear the repercussions on their own privilege should they try speaking up or taking action. Sadly enough, Karlstahls and Annettes in fact form the majority of the public in such cases of blatant societal injustice within the real world.

On their end, a fair amount of characterization is devoted to the “86”, with a particular focus on Shin. They live in a completely different world compared to the Alba cast (one much less artificial), and the story doesn’t fail to make that clear with its visuals or directing. Eighty-Six takes care not to represent the oppressed minority as “victims” ; the focus is rather on the pride that keeps them going, their individual bonds, and their conflicts not wholly related to the situation of oppression at hand (Shin’s goal comes to mind). Similarly to how the narrative doesn’t treat every Alba as racist devils, the Eighty-Six aren’t angels – though rare, implications of conflicts and evil within the Eighty-Six are present, though difficultly spotted. I recommend paying close attention to Anju’s character in that regard. That being said, if the average named Alba character is grey, the average “86” character is presented a lot more positively, save for one or two instances. Part of me wishes that conflicts and evils within the “86” weren’t only left in implication (and just one direct scene), as humans are complex creatures – but I also perfectly understand that showing too many negatives in regards to the oppressed would be counterintuitive.

What opposes these human characters is the mechanized Legion. Tying into the Bible in ways I can’t explain without delving into spoilers, these foes are terrifying, and I must applaud A-1 Pictures’ competent CGI for bringing these mechanized monsters to life seamlessly. They exist to set up the overarching conflict of the story, but also tie into the more personal arcs of some characters. The directing is often spot-on when it comes to Legion scenes.

I’ve been very pleased with the sound design of the show, although sometimes an ED playing in the back may not fit with the scene at hand, and the J-Rock OP song hardly matches the visuals (nor, in my opinion, the quality of the story). Storyboards and directing are consistently good, with some kinks here and there. I have no reservations regarding the animation or voice acting.

There are a couple of scenes that I will criticize (both of which are anime changes or anime original moments): the very first minute of the anime, and a later lecture hall scene, do more harm than good to the messages the story tries to convey by being rather caricaturized. I should also say that at times, also owing to the source being a novel, where information is delivered through prose rather than dialogue, the dialogue in the anime feels inorganic and expositional. These aren’t deal breakers, but I felt them worth pointing out.

All in all, though, my experience with Eighty-Six was a very positive one – and emotional, too, at certain points. Characters like Lena, Annette, and Shin, aside from the themes I mentioned above, all possessed endearing traits that made me invested in them. In such a seemingly depressing premise, Eighty-Six doesn’t fail to provide moments of levity at the right instances, and I even found myself stupidly attached to a robot dog thanks to such moments. I will also praise A-1 for setting a great example in regards to novel adaptations; adapting only one volume within 11 episodes allowed not only some much needed breathing room for the story, but also space for extended or additional scenes. In an industry where publishers would rather squeeze 3 or 4 volumes into one cour, at the cost of major cuts, this sets a very good example. I am grateful for the extra foreshadowing and characterization these extensions provided.

Oh, 86. What can I tell about it? An anime that, judging by its first two episodes, was sure to be a solid 4 out of 10, and that now makes part of my top 20 anime and a good candidate for anime of the year (at least until the release of WEP finale). How did an anime that started with such a negative impression become my undisputed best of the season?
First of all, I want to talk about two names: Jin Akategawa and Ishii Toshimasa. Jin Akategawa, as you may know, is one of the greatest sound directors of the industry; on the other ... hand, Toshimasa is a rookie director that was making its debut with 86. So when I was almost deafened by the first minute of the anime, I was sure to blame Toshimasa. Moreover, after 3 transitions between scenes that were made with food falling in the floor and making the sound of a f*cking atomic bomb while falling, my only thought was ‘there we go again, another project from studio A-1 Pictures that is left in the hands of an incompetent director. What isn’t my surprise then, when, by the end of the season, I’m considering Toshimasa for one of the best directors of the year (together with another rookie, Shin Wakabayashi)? That symbolisms hurt…god if they hurt.
And yeah, on the bad side of things, I might say that 86 sound effects, despite being good, are quite too loud, and they even ruin some OSTs from Hiroyuki Sawano. And that’s the next thing I have to talk about: the OST compositor by excellence, the one that dismisses any presentation. As I said, 86 has some problems with its OST; the sound effects are too loud and the inserts often aren’t fitted in the ideal moments, starting and ending in the wrong parts. But Sawano doesn’t need to be at his best to be unquestionably excellent, and 86 is the living proof of that sentence. Not to mention that the ending song, written by Sawano itself, is straight up beautiful.
Now concerning the narrative… I might confess that 86 isn’t compelling at all in it’s first episodes. It sounded like the story of the princess of justice that lived among a country of maniqueistic pigs and was the only one with a good enough soul to care for the poor edgy teenagers called 86 that were fated to die. The only good point at the beginning was the interactions between the 86; even though the context was cruel, all of them (or at least, all of them that were not Shin) were acting like normal adolescents, having fun, teasing one another and jovially hating the alba processors that were in charge of them. This atmosphere was immensely aided by the good character animation involving them, making each one quite unique, even if there were too many characters to give focus to each of them.
Nevertheless, this convoluted start showed itself to be really necessary soon after, in order to break all expectations. I won’t go in further details on 86 plot, in order to not spoil anything, but the anime manages to overcome and positively utilize its bad introduction to make a great discussion about discrimination and acceptance of difference (which for me, a white privileged guy that lives in the notably unequal society of Brazil, hits astonishingly close and sincerely puts me in a bad position), and a hell of a great worldbuilding, which, far from being unpredictable, manages to be still hugely impacting and rock-solid. My 9 out of ten for the anime might sound too much, and I’m still not sure that I will be able to keep it, but judging by the way the context is escalating, I trust that the second season, that is announced for this year, will validate my score.
Now about the characters: some may say they are the weakest point of the anime, and, though it’s difficult to state otherwise, I will try to do so. For me, Lena is one of the best characters of the year due to its evolution, which is special by the fact that there are almost no introspective dialogues to show her emotions; just the visual narrative and the context she’s in are enough factors to build her progression. About the others, the only one that really shows any development is Shin; I don’t really like his character arc, but I really appreciate to see such and edgy stereotype being deconstructed in order to make the character relatable and likeable.
Finally, I want to highlight the great work of CGI on the fighting scenes. Since many people dislike the use of CGI- and have they’re solid reasons to do so-, it’s good to see such a solid work being done.
In conclusion, 86 in one of the animes with greater potential I’ve recently watched. I suggest that, instead of the 3 episodes rule, you give it some more time, maybe 5 episodes, to really engage in it’s world, and from there on it will be a great experience, with plenty of good messages and impacting scenes potentialized by a hands down great direction and astounding OST. Maybe not a 9 out of 10, or at least not until Season 2 airs, but still a worthwhile experience that stands above the other seasonal animes.

At first glance, 86 appears to be your standard war drama that tackles the concept of a government using propaganda in an effort to suppress the voices of a marginalized group. While it does succeed in handling that topic very well, what elevates this series as a whole is the fact that this may be A-1 Pictures best work yet. Not only is it an outstanding adaptation, but it is perhaps the best adaptation of a source material that I’ve ever seen. With an already great light novel series to base itself on, A-1 Pictures could’ve just adapted it normally and it still would’ve been ... a solid anime. I say “normally” here because this isn’t your standard production quality, but rather a production quality that just screams both confidence and passion.

A-1 Pictures truly gave it their all when it came to almost every aspect of this adaptation. In terms of staying true to the source material, they went beyond that and dedicated this entire season to just one volume. While that appears risky at first as that usually entails either poor pacing or filler, it actually ended up benefiting both the characters and the story for the better. With the addition of anime original scenes that allowed us to spend more time with certain characters and provide foreshadowing for future events, it makes the anime feel more cohesive as a whole. I mean seriously, the fact that they adapted a single paragraph into an entire episode in a way that doesn’t feel like filler deserves to be praised. This is definitely an anime that warrants a second watch as the overall viewing experience significantly improves when you notice all the foreshadowing that was left in the smallest of details. It definitely feels like they had more than enough time on their hands when animating this, which is most likely due to some superb directing and planning by the staff.

Besides being a perfect adaptation though, what does this anime actually do that is so praiseworthy? Well as you most likely can already tell, this anime primarily focuses on two characters that exist in two very different locations. It’s pretty much almost impossible to tell who the true protagonist and deuteragonist is. (Which isn’t a bad thing by the way, it actually makes this series much more enjoyable to watch). To avoid leaving either one of the two feeling left out and to also avoid pacing issues, what this anime does is essentially split every episode into two halves. With one half focusing on our protagonist, Vladilena Milizé, and the other half focusing on our other protagonist, Shinei Nouzen. Though while these two share very different circumstances and overall objectives with each other, their separate perspectives come together to add another layer to the experience. Without experiencing Lena’s side of the story, Shin’s side of the story feels incomplete and vice versa. It should honestly be the standard for how stories that deal with multiple perspectives should be moving forward.

It’s clear that they took their time with each and every scene, from the way that they are animated to even the way they are framed. I don’t think I ever noticed a dip in animation quality, and for an anime that deals with such depressing themes it certainly has some vibrant colors at times. (Which isn’t a bad thing either, as they clearly know how to handle lighting and how to set the tone right). Some scenes go from 0 to 100 real quick, but it never feels jarring as a major theme in this show is exploring the dichotomy between hope and despair in the face of an oppressive government. I know CGI has become a major talking point within anime discussions as of late, and it can very easily turn into something that is visually unappealing. (This isn’t a jab at CGI artists though, as it can be quite difficult to perfectly blend 2D and 3D). With that being said, I think 86 has the best usage of CGI that I’ve seen in a long time when it comes to anime. I think a common mistake that is made in a lot of anime is when they try to make a 3D model appear 2D in another scene. While 2D is usually more visually appealing, it always feels jarring seeing a model flip between 3D and 2D. 86 knows this and sticks to having their 3D models remain in 3D. The CGI adds a certain rhythm to the battle sequences and without the usage of it, this anime would lose some of the unique identity that it has.

Speaking of identity, this anime wouldn’t be what it is without the masterful OST being done by Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto. It’s honestly right up there alongside the Attack on Titan OST, which is no surprise at all since both Sawano and Yamamoto worked together on that as well. The score just elevates every scene even further and it definitely helps deliver that thrilling excitement or emotional punch that is needed. If you aren’t interested in this anime, then at least give the OST a shot as it is just that good. From “Avid” to “Hands Up to the Sky”, to even “Voices of the Chord” from the recap episode, I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen an anime with this many ending songs within just the first cour. They could’ve just stuck with one and I would’ve been happy, but along with everything else in this show they obviously had to go the extra mile. Each one gives off a different impression and I’m really a fan of how they decide which ending song to play at the end of each episode. They could’ve just alternated between each of them, but instead they always chose the one that best fits the mood of the final scene. Another thing I want to point out is that each ending song gives a sense of finality to each episode as it timed perfectly. It never feels poorly timed and it doesn’t even give off a “to be continued” vibe. This anime isn’t episodic, but I think each episode stands strong enough on its own as they all have a different message to tell.

But perhaps my favorite aspect of this anime is the social commentary it provides, particularly on racism. I remember seeing a lot of anime viewers say that racism is an overdone topic at this point and that they are tried of it being shoved down their throats. I wholeheartedly disagree, and I think the reason many feel that way is because they are privileged themselves. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an anime, or any show in general for that matter, deal with this concept in such an engaging way. (It also reflects a lot of what happens in our society today, despite what others may think). It’s not often where you see an anime like this try to explore such complex topics, and I feel as if many of the topics it does delve into will remain prevalent in our society for as long as we exist. These topics include, but are not limited to: the ignorance of the masses, the oppression of marginalized groups, the stripping of cultural identities, racial discrimination, and how ideals such as equality may never truly be achieved. Hell, even one of the other topics they explore can be seen as a metaphor for white privilege. Though my favorite quote from this series would probably have to be this:

“No country would ever consider it an act of evil to deny a pig human rights. Therefore, if you were to define someone speaking a different tongue, someone of a different color, someone of a different heritage as a pig in human form, any oppression, persecution, or atrocity you might inflict upon them would never be regarded as cruel or inhumane.” - Vladilena Milizé

For those of you reading, I highly suggest you give this series a shot as it means a whole lot to me. As far as criticisms go? I don’t really have that many, especially since this series is only just getting started. I feel as if nitpicking the details of the plot or critiquing the character development wouldn’t really be fair as the groundwork for all that has just been laid. I also wanted to say thank you to the staff at A-1 Pictures for doing such a phenomenal job, and I can’t wait to see how the second cour goes from here.

The first season of 86 is a scathing critique of ethnic nationalism and its connotations, those being that it lends itself to the mistreatment and othering of groups of people that do not fall under the main (or dominant) ethnicity of the state. It shows the incredible ease at which people not only accept racism against another group, but also are willing to neglect doing the right thing (even when such a thing is readily obvious for huge segments of society) for the sake of wider conformity. This multilayered approach to how racism, discrimination and war is portrayed - complimented by excellent writing, phenomenal direction ... and fantastic sound design - makes 86 especially compelling. Perhaps more than anything, 86 keeps war drama tropes on the characters it focuses on to a minimum, with characters that possess a more black-and-white perspective on the world portrayed negatively and nuance being something the narrative promotes above all else...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

86 is many things, its nuanced discussions on racism notwithstanding. It's a story that discusses what exactly makes up a nation, whether it's its populace or the values it adheres to, and discusses how the very soul of what a state may stand for may be stripped bare even with the aesthetics of that remaining. The Republic of San Magnolia is the example provided by the narrative in the first season, with everything from its foundation to its flag celebrating its diverse heritage, yet throughout the fridge horror experience that is episode 1, it becomes readily apparent that this is a façade kept alive by a government that was willing to collectively punish a group of its citizens for belonging to the wrong ethnic background, with this disgustingly racialized notion of what it means to belong to the Republic having been normalized and accepted throughout the state - with the persecuted non-Alba citizens, the 86, being regularly dehumanized in all of the Republic's institutions. This extends so far as to have said 86 have their citizenships stripped from them and serving forced conscription in the military with the promise of gaining citizenship back for themselves and their families should they serve their full terms. Like many an oppressive dictatorship, this is a lie propagated with the intent on sending the 86 near the end of their service - all while intentionally undermining their military capacity and underfunding them - on a death march that bears more than a passing resemblance to infamous instances of genocide, ranging from the Trail of Tears to the Armenian Genocide to the Nakba. And yet, 86's nuanced enough to neither portray Alba citizens of the Republic as full monsters nor innocent bystanders, instead showing the painful complicity through which ordinary people might be in the persecution of their fellow man. More than anything, 86 possesses the nuance to show just how easily can the tables turn on the opposite direction - what with 86 themselves often treating the Alba or half-Alba within their ranks (who were often themselves political dissidents of the new order in the Republic) with the same contempt that was showered on them. This understanding of racism as being conditioned rather than simply something people do because they're evil helps paint the series in a more mature light, whereas the author has a clear understanding of the subject matter that she is tackling.

There's more to 86 than merely what it has to say about racism. Perhaps just as important is on the sentimentality the series portrays about life in the midst of chaos, and how being conditioned that you might drop dead on any day so radically alters one's life to the point of being unable to imagine much in the way of well, living, beyond what is temporary. Many conversations are had - usually between both main characters Shin and Lena, but also among other members of the cast - on what exactly purpose even means in such a radical situation, and what comes after the fighting ends, if it even ends. That last point is key, because the cast are so used to fighting tooth and nail to survive that they can't visibly imagine a world where the end to their journeys don't come with their brutal deaths on the battlefield. Shin himself is an exemplary example of this, being someone whose purpose in life had become his role as a death reaper carrying his comrades' reminders to whatever final destination he finds as well as his own grudge against his brother, trapped in a Legion who he seeks to both liberate from his suffering as well as take revenge on for his own scars. Perhaps a more symbolic analysis of the Legion in this context - and one complimented by later events in the light novels - is that they are walking, symbolic reminders of trauma and how they can haunt the suffering of those alive now, that the past isn't simply something you can tow away to be forgotten once you're no longer part of it. Much of Shin's purpose in such a context - one that's also complimented by Raiden, Theo, Anju and naturally Lena - is how exactly to take meaning out of people who simply are no longer around, what with someone existing here and now. It's difficult to describe where this goes without spoiling events in future seasons and volumes, but needless to say that many of 86's finest moments are when it rubs home that it's perfectly fine to pursue happiness for its own sake, without perceiving the past as a burden but rather something that can compliment and empower a person, even through all the pain someone had previously undergone.

Both the underlying themes exploring racism and sentimentality tie insanely well into what it has to say about memory and what that means to its cast of characters but also its setting at large. Historic revisionism is at the core of why the Republic does what it does, and yet characters struggle with how their own perception of history clashes heavily with that of the state, where instead of the 86 being monsters whose country of origin brought forth the Legion to ransack and torment the world, they're...otherwise ordinary humans who are not responsible for what the Glad government that existed at the time had done. The 86 remember having fellow Alba serve alongside them who similarly are not the xenophobic ghouls that they consider them as, serving heroically in battle alongside their fellow 86 kin against the Legion and in spite of their atrocious government. And more than anything, memories of people who had died, irrespective of who they were in life, are frequently shown via photos contrasting them with the people they are now (or were when they died), in one amazing instance with video footage summarizing the entire journey these characters took together until the end. Shin's own self-perception is also explored, what with him perceiving himself as a dead man walking yet having that thrown into question, and the same applies to Lena's own memories of being saved by an 86 when younger. Memory - both memory politics and insofar as deeply subjective perception of events present and past goes - is at the core of everything in 86's story, and it's this hauntingly fascinating yet human understanding of how perception is flexible to change that makes 86 such an amazing story.

The cast of characters are wildly varied in both the screentime they receive and their characterization, but the characters that the narrative focuses on the most are incredibly multilayered and complex. The Spearhead Squadron as a whole are a fun cast whose chemistry is just always a joy whenever they're on screen, Shin being the character who receives the most focus over the course of the series. Raiden, Anju, Kurena and Theo all also receive a lot of characterization, with Lena also receiving a lot of characterization (her internalized racism and self-righteous attitude being viciously criticized by the narrative, with her growing increasingly attached to the Spearhead Squadron heralding in her being outright antagonistic towards the Republic by the end of S1). Annette and Jerome are both cases of characters who act as contradictors both to information Lena believes about the Republic as well as her own memories involving people she holds dear, all while putting her convictions to the test considering their opposition to her ideals. Even minor characters like Daiya, Lev or Kaie get decent amounts of characterization despite their comparatively minor roles in the story, and characters who are merely mentioned in passing or hardly feature at all still have their deaths affect the overall story with lasting impact being felt.

The character designs and artwork are a noteworthy but understandable step down from Shirabii's gorgeous illustrations in the light novel volumes. Much of the detail had been sacrificed in favor of simpler character designs, but this actually stood to benefit the series rather than detract from it; the animation is fantastic from start to finish, with facial animation and expressiveness being absolutely amazing and always reflective of the tone of a scene or more importantly, how a character feels in a given moment. They're dynamic and fluid, and it helps set the stage for just about anything the series is trying to do; these are complimented by gorgeous backgrounds, excellent use of CGI for the mechs, phenomenal voiceacting (with relative newcomer Ikumi Hasegawa being worthy of particular praise for her excellent role as Lena, a worthy followup to her also amazing role as Minami in Bottom Tier Tomozaki-kun) and a great soundtrack courtesy of Hiroyuki Sawano, even if not a soundtrack I'd consider among his best (that would go to Gundam Unicorn). The direction - both visual and sound - is fantastic from start to finish, and there's very little to say on this front that wouldn't be self-described by the series itself - episode 1 is a fantastic example of how to perfectly set up a story while keeping exposition to a minimum by contrasting both the 86 and the Alba in the Republic's day to day lives as well as their reaction to something as mundane as dropping food on the floor, with excellent transitions and shots layered throughout.

The only reason there somehow isn't more to discuss involving 86 is because, well, volume 1 (which season 1 covers) acts as a sort of prologue to the entire story, with more to discuss in subsequent arcs. I cannot await how future arcs will be explored in future seasons hard enough. 86 is a marvelous story that tackles just about everything exceptionally well, and perhaps more than anything is a reminder after the relative drought the mecha genre suffered during the 2010s that the genre has not run out of fantastic new stories to tell. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Thank you for reading, any and all feedback would be appreciated.

Please note while care has been taken to minimize story related spoilers there may still be spoilers within character analysis. You have been warned.

Based on a popular light novel of the same name 86 is a military sci-fi, mecha and drama based anime that gives us the unique opportunity to see what will happen if one day the central government of one’s homeland was to experience a shared sense of madness that planted in their minds a belief that while one that was totally irrational and downright inhumane was one that they all willingly not only subscribed too but also spread it to every ... person within their population the belief that apart from the genetically enhanced Alba that make up the majority of the population every other minority race within the republic was from henceforth an alien that was to be stripped of their entitled rights and shipped to the containment camps where they will reside until death. But alas when the forces of the Empire of Giad began their march the same government that had willingly exiled half of their population to certain death in their quest to maintain genetic purity was forced to modify these orders and conscript the minorities now labelled as 86 that were able-bodied and have them serve on the frontlines as their guardians against the legions of the empire. In a curious twist of fate, the people that they had exiled in their quest to maintain genetic purity had become the only things standing between the republic’s people and a bloody death an irony that Shinn and his squadron take grim pride in as day after day they by surviving against both the legion and the republic’s attempts to kill them they are not only living a good life free from the scorn of the Alba but do so in the company of their brothers and sisters that will last until death claims them.

The overall story of the series follows the lives of Vladilena Lena Milze a major within the Republic of San Magnolian’s military and her counterpart within the darkly famed Spearhead unit field commander Shinei Nouzen who commands that unit as they both fight to not only stop the plans of the legion but also to for the first time in their life try to overcome the sense of discrimination and racism that the Alba in their quest to maintain genetic purity had created by not only labelling them as monsters but exiling them from their homes and try and find a sense of common ground where genuine trust and friendship can once again flourish between them and the bonds and trust between them long-strained can be reforged once more. But as Shinn and Lena were to discover on the battlefield the truth about the legion and their prophesized time limit was far darker than even they had suspected the bonds that both sides are trying to reforge may well be the very last thing that they will have if the Alba and the 86 are unable to put their differences aside and realize the true threat that the legion represents. For when death comes it will not care what colours your skin are only that as a human you deserve only annihilation.

Shinei

Shinei Nouzen better known as Shinn to his comrades and friends and as the reaper to his Alba overseers within high command is one of the main characters of the series and serves as the representative of the common soldier’s perspective of the war by allowing us to see what it was like fighting tooth and nail against the forces of the legions on the frontlines. The combat commander and the acknowledged leader of the 86th spearhead squadron of the Republic of San Magnolian’s military Shinn from his initial appearances was shown to be a quiet, calm, and taciturn person by nature who while having no problems in socialising and befriending others was shown to be one that preferred to spend his time in solitude. While this can be seen to be a result of his quiet nature this instead was a means to allow Shinn to rationally determine the best way forward for he and his team that will allow them to accomplish their objectives while minimising the number of casualties that they can potentially incur while doing it. However, while doing his best to ensure that his friends and comrades have the highest chances of surviving their missions the unique nature of battlefields meant that the chances of there being a fatality were exceptionally high and it is in these sorrowful circumstances that Shinn would have to assume a role than not many would envy which is that of an undertaker whose role was to ensure that those that are too heavily wounded to survive are given a merciful end and their lives and deeds are recorded and engraved within his mind until the day when their time as soldiers comes to an end and only then would Shinn be able to relinquish the box of makeshift dog tags that represented the deeds and lives of every one of his comrades that had been lost since they joined the squadron. Though nominally shown to be loyal to the republic and obeying their orders Shinn and the members of his squadron after years of abuse and belittling at the hands of their superiors were seen to have little respect for them and indeed was all too willing to demean them based on what they believe they are like in their worlds and ensuring that their relationship with command while professional on the surface was in reality a turbulent one that had until the coming of Lena been one that drove their assigned handlers crazy. However, with the coming of their new Handler Lena this curious relationship that Shinn and his team had with their overseers soon changed to something that neither side expected to encounter in their lifetime which was a relationship where trust between the two sides actually existed.

As the series progresses and Shinn’s personality is expanded upon it can be seen that beneath his steely exterior Shinn was someone that had been profoundly changed by the experiences that he had experienced as a result of being forced upon the role of a soldier. As a result of always being treated by their overseers as beings other than human Shinn and his squadron had until meeting Lena been saddled with perhaps the worst members of the military as their Handlers people who not only advocated the most costly of strategy when confronted by complex objectives but at the same time ignored their recommendations for alternatives as well which when combined with the minimum amounts of resupply of ammo, fire support and critical components for their juggernauts ensured that Shinn’s attitude toward their overseers was not only cynical but also one where he not only expected them to backstab him and his team but also abandon them to the legion if given the opportunity aspects that served to ensure that to Shinn any new Handler that’s assigned to the unit needed to prove themselves first before they can be trusted to assist them. While the long years of being a soldier had allowed him to become an effective field commander that was not only able to make effective usage of Spearhead’s strengths but also pair them with effective usage of strategy and effective reading of the flow of battle that had served to humble many a legion attack it can be seen that the mental cost that came from not being able to protect everyone had served to create a heavy emotional burden that weighed heavily on his mind. This burden while a heavy one but itself was also complicated by the fact that in his desire to not diminish the overall morale of the unit and place more burdens on his friends meant that Shinn while perfectly capable of delegating tasks to his friends preferred to take upon the lion’s share of the work and responsibilities that if not for his strong will would have broken many a man. However, with the coming of Lena and the renewed bonds that came from learning to trust his closest allies this burden while never completely gone was instead lightened as his friends and the one Handler that he trusted stepped in to support him.

As a character Shinn I felt was an excellent character that was both well designed and developed with his skills as an effective field commander and soldier being complemented nicely with the developing bonds and relationship that he had managed to forge with not only his friends within the squadron but also with his new Handler. While the relationship between Shinn and Lena started off as being a perfectly professional relationship that despite the latter’s best efforts were unable to make a lasting impression on Shinn and his team due to the animosity that existed between them and the Alba as time passed, and Lena persevered in her attempts Shinn while still distrustful of her began to realize that despite all odds that their new Handler was indeed something different. For unlike their previous ones’ Lena not only treated them as humans with genuine respect but also took great pains to not only bond with them as individuals by asking them for their names a development that was as alien to Shinn as it was to his friends within the unit. Perhaps the most significant aspect of their developing relationship was the endless hours of talk that Shinn engaged with Lena over the most trivial of matters that ranged from his past memories to fireworks and a desire to attend his old home district again aspects that served to for the first time in his life show to him that while the majority of the Alba were scumbags there were still good people within their ranks who despite not being able to change society still did all they could to support them on the field a fact that Shinn was thankful for.

While the relationship between Lena and Shinn served well to showcase the positive aspects that can come from meeting someone that was willing to see the wider truth of society and change themselves to compensate I felt that the other half of Shinn’s core arc which explored the turbulent bond that Shinn had with his brother was the opposite in the spectrum in that it showed the worst effects that the combination of exile, loss and grief can have in creating a sense of madness within what pre 86 had been a caring and loving brother who cared for Shinn deeply. Though in the end the struggle between the two was resolved it can be said that he was just as much a victim of the law as the rest of the 86 were and while Shinn had served to protect himself and his friends the results were bittersweet at best.

Vladilena Milize

Vladilena Milize more popularly known as Lena to both fans of the series and to Shinn and his squadron is one of the main characters of the series representing the command level’s perspective of the series that showcases the viewpoint of the war from the perspective of the now dominant Alba race within the republic. A major within the republic’s military and one of the youngest to attain that rank Lena while never actually serving on the frontlines as her charges as per the lie that the republic tells its people never less serves as Handler One the militaries assigned handler to Spearhead squadron and provides them with not only intel but also command and control via the orders that are given by high command that dictate their contribution to the war against the legion. From her initial appearances Lena while a member of the Alba race was shown to different to her fellows in that she not only treated the members of non-Alba races with respect, humility and honour but also did not outright discriminate against them based on their race, unlike her fellows. As one of the youngest commissioned officers within the military Lena was shown to be someone that was calm, composed, serious and professional in the conduct of her duties. While her serious, diligent, and determined attitude served her well in allowing her to climb the ranks this was complemented by her kind and understanding nature that allowed her to not only gain ranks but in the process allow her to forge strong bonds with the few like-minded personal within the ranks as shown in her bond with her friend Anette. However, what can be said to truly define Lena as a person was her belief in the founding moral principles of the republic that was represented within their flag that stated that all citizens of the republic should be subject to freedom, equality, justice and a sense of brotherhood that they can share with their fellow citizens regardless of their skin colour a belief that while central to the republic had largely been disregarded by the citizens of the current republic who prefers to live within their own dream world rather than face reality a fact that was seen to give Lena much lament as they were beliefs that she cherished deeply that acted as her foundation.

As the series progresses and Lena’s character is expanded upon it can be seen that like the great majority of the Alba Lena while knowing the surface details regarding the members of the squadrons of the 86 did not quite know the whole truth about the crimes that were committed against them by her people. While Lena’s confidence, kindness and friendly nature allowed her to bond easily with people within her world her attempt to replicate the same results with the members of the squadron by trying to empathize with them and motivate them via her idealistic read on the high ideals of the republic unfortunately backfired on her despite her sincerity since she not only knew little of the larger picture but also because her directness was seen as condescending as well. Despite this setback, however, Lena was seen to be undaunted in her efforts to bond with her charges and while her persistent nature served to annoy many this was offset by the increasing curiosity that they displayed towards an Alba that was trying hard to bond with what to them should have been the outcasts of her world with this ultimately being the deciding factor that shattered the unit’s reluctance and allowed her to befriend them for real. However, to Lena, while this one move may seem to be a simple step to her it also served as an effective foundation in which she can use to walk her path and correct the sins that the Republic had committed. As part of this desire Lena while still nominally serving as the unit’s overseer was seen to fight hard to not only try to enhance the overall effectiveness of the squadron by providing not only accurate intel and supplies but also trying to get them to submit battle data that can be analysed and used to improve their ability to defeat the legion. However, Lena’s attempt to help was not simply restricted on military matters as on a personal level she also persevered in her attempt to bond and befriend the members of the squadron with her usage of putting a personal name to a face that was created after they reveal them to her and her breach of military law to send them fireworks being the best examples of Lena’s desire to not only build a rapport with them but also allow them to enjoy the relaxation time that their duties prevented them from having and in doing so allow Lena to start her journey of walking her own path that was built along the foundations of equality, respect and friendship.

As a character Lena I felt was an excellent character that was both well designed and developed with a level of complexity that really surprised me. While her initial appearances of a young woman that was friendly, polite, humble, efficient, and professional broadly conformed to the image I had of her by looking at the series overview her persistence in trying to not only improve the units’ chances of survival and her determination to bond with the members of the squadron really served to surprise me. Complementing these aspects was Lena’s ability to both self-evaluate and adapt on the fly in her desire to change the republic and its bond with its people an aspect that made great use of the revelation of the 86 program to kickstart Lena’s transition from a simple cog of the republic to someone willing to do all she can to help those that the republic had so cruelly abandoned whether or not the rules let her or not with her unauthorised usage of the long-range mortar batteries in ep9 to support the squadrons assault on the legion being the best first step possible.

AMV

In terms of the former, I felt that overall, the animation that was seen within the series was not just top-notch in terms of graphical quality but was also used well to complement the series overall story by showing just how much the war against the legion has cost them as well as how deadly the new lives of the 86 had become after they were exiled from their lives within the republic to become its sacrificial pawns. Environmentally while the number of locations that the two casts of characters that represented the command and common soldiers’ perspective was not especially large I felt that the locations that were seen served to showcase the fact that while both sides ultimately live in the same world and serve the same country the worlds in which they exist within while similar are not the same.

In the world that Lena and her friends reside in that too me resembled a futuristic version of 18th century Europe the carefree nature of the genetically created Albas and the leisurely lifestyle that they lived as well as the beautiful architecture of their streets and buildings I felt was contrasted greatly by the sense of both their fanatic belief in their government and their desire to sacrifice everything that was deemed necessary by the former if they desired to survive a sacrifice that many of the Alba was all too willing to make as seen in their widespread discrimination towards the members of the 86 that eventually forced them from both their jobs within society and for many of them later on their lives as well. While the world that they gained by sacrificing their co-workers, friends and neighbours was indeed a beautiful one it came at the cost of losing much of their humanity, empathy, and territory as well and ensuring that while safe the food that they eat and the time they can spend exchanging ideas with likeminded people is gone forever a fact that represented well that the world that they created was safe, yes but empty of the things that made a world whole. In contrast to the sterile and hollow world that Lena resided in the world in which Shinn and the squadron resided in while certainly far more dangerous than the former due to the presence of the legion was one that featured not only much more diversity but also more freedom of action as well as while exiled from their former lives and fighting tooth and nail with the grim reaper at every party with the legion during their downtime Shinn and his friends while still subject to the deliberate supply shortages mandated by high command were able to freely spend time with their comrades and bond with them over their shared sense of hatred towards both the legion and the Alba who had banished them so readily from their world. Perhaps more than ever for Shinn and his friends being able to freely mingle with each other and forge bonds that transcend not only social class, but race as well allowed Shinn and his squadron to not only survive countless parties but also get stronger as they learn how to deal with the legion and in doing so get the final revenge on their overseers.

In terms of mecha design and combat animations and scenarios overall, I was impressed by what I saw within the series. Outside of 86 the realm of mecha anime while certainly not as large as it was in the past was still dominated by the juggernaut that is the Gundam franchise and while the designs of the mecha’s shown within the series was a tad basic I felt that in this case, their simplicity served to give them all their own unique role within both the line of battle and in the story. Within the series, the standard issued equipment for the republic’s military was the allegedly unmanned M1A4 weapon system that in reality was anything but unmanned. The M1A4 while the most advanced of the republic’s weapons was, in reality, sub-par in every regard owing to its poorly designed body, weak armour and low firepower when compared to the legion. However unlike the legion when placed in the hands of skilled pilots that are commanded by veteran commanders gifted with the ability to formulate effective tactics on the fly even the jug can be used to devastating effect on the battlefield as shown in ep2 when Spearhead’s ambush resulted in the devastation of a significant legion force with only minimal damage to themselves with the highlight of this battle being Shinn’s solo rampage that broke the back of their assault in spectacular fashion.

As the primary hostile force, the legion I felt proved to be a potent opponent for Shinn and Spearhead. While the standard mix of classes was represented well in the form of the Ameise scout types, the Grauwolf dragoons, the Lowe tank types and the Eintagsfliege electronic warfare types the legion also made great use of elites in the form of the Scorpion gunner type and the shepherd’s that acted as the legions command and control units that served to enhance their overall effectiveness when deployed. However, what proved to be the most unique of the legions line-up however were not the units that made use of firepower as their main offence but the unique black sheep’s that made use of Psychological tactics to unnerve their foes as their primary a tactic that I felt added an excellent new dimension to the nature of the combat that Spearhead faces on the field that was demonstrated the best in ep5 when spearhead squadron was forced to deal with a black sheep that had assimilated the memories of one of their most cherished friends. In addition to the tension that came from facing this, I felt that this battle also showcased the hard decisions that the members of the squadron had to make in the field to save the living in the form of the almost synchronised pulls of Theoto, Daiya, Anju and Kurena as they dealt with it which almost resembled an execution that was done to put to rest a dear friend that the legion had stolen from them.

Music-wise the series made use of one opening and two ending themes which was 3-bun 29 byo that was performed by Hitorie and Avid and Hand’s up to the Sky that was performed by the famed vocal project SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]. While each of these songs was excellent ones I felt that the songs when used with their respective accompanying visuals served to give off a different sense of feelings and emotions with the former showing well that while Lena and Shinn serve and live in very different worlds without the aid of one another the members of the squadrons deployed on the frontlines would not survive the first three minutes and twenty nine seconds and that while every death on the field is a tragedy by working with handlers that care about your well being and provide you with whatever is needed they will be able to survive another day with the friends that you managed to protect. In contrast, the series ending theme Avid while lessening on the action compensated by infusing it with some excellent displays of emotions and feelings that reflected well not just on the feelings that came about from witnessing the loss of friends on the field but also the effects of meeting and bonding with people that did not follow the status quo and instead of being compelled to follow society was instead willing to change it by treating their subordinates as human and not as expendable pawns. While the two songs were both equally excellent I felt that the series was also backed by an excellent OST that really showcased the talent of noted composer Hiroyuki Sawano which served to add an additional layer of tension to the scenes presented within the anime’s overall story.

Voice acting wise overall I felt that the series main voice cast all did an excellent job at portraying their assigned characters however I feel that Shoya Chiba, Ikumi Hasegawa, Seiichiro Yamashita, Natsumi Fujiwara, Saori Hayami and Sayumi Suzushiro all did an excellent job at portraying their assigned characters of Shinn, Lena, Raiden, Theoto, Anju and Kurena, respectively. Of this ensemble group of talented seiyuu’s, I have to say that Ikumi Hasegawa and Sayumi Suzushiro really surprised me with their portrayals of Lena and Kurena as in my view both characters were complex ones with Lena being especially as she had to portray a wide range of emotions and feelings as she had to wrestle both with her own development as a person as she came to terms with the scale of the crimes that her own people had perpetrated on the 86 as well as her own desire to reverse this by treating her charges as normal people rather than objects. For Sayumi while her character Kurena did not speak that much I felt her pent-up rage when unleashed really served to showcase the kind of pain, grief, and grave injustices that the members of the 86 had been subject to as a result of the republic’s exile of them with Sayumi’s inlaying of heartfelt feelings and emotions into her lines serving to add a little more punch to its effects.

Overall conclusion

In overall I felt that 86 was an excellent anime that had among its main strong points a unique premise, powerful and heartfelt story, highly detailed and well-designed battles, excellent variety of mecha, excellent voice acting and its bold usage of a serious subject topic that while rarely seen in modern-day anime is one that is especially relevant within both the world of 86 and in the current strife-filled world that we inhabit.

The series overall story and premise is without a doubt one of the main highlights of the series due to its excellent weaving of several different elements that while strong by themselves served to enhance and complement each other when used together and serve to improve an already well thought out story. While the series’ world-building and usage of mass discrimination and exile had served to create a solid foundation from which the Republic was able to stand upon served well to create the two worlds that Lena and Shinn reside in on a physical level this usage of the two worlds was bolstered by the usage of the legions unique method of gaining strength via their absorption of memories and the 86’s desire to make use of all available means to fight against their sworn enemies in the form of the legion but also prove to the ones that exiled them that even after they were booted out of their homes and had everything taken from them they are not only surviving but able to enjoy a better life outside the walls as well. This sense of a group of underdogs that continued to survive mission after mission despite high commands desire to whittle them down I felt was used well in conjunction with Lena’s desire to change the republic by changing her attitude towards her charges really served to make great use of the twin sides of hope and despair that is ever so common on a battlefield.

On the psychological side of things within the series apart from the laughingly bad legion knockoff in the form of the M1A4 another technology that served to showcase the two sides of hope and despair on the field was without a doubt the Para raid which when used correctly was able to allow handlers to share senses with their charges and allow the former to give timely intel to them and aid them on the field when needed. However, this sharing of senses between the two sides was as much of a double-edged sword as the M1A4 was as prolonged linking of senses can have the unfortunate effect of having a handler who is unaccustomed to the perils and strong negative feelings that can result from seeing your friends atomized suffer heavy mental damage that if managed incorrectly can easily result in fried brains if they did not have a strong enough will to weather it. However, while the potential of losing oneself to the negativity may seem overwhelming the reverse can also be true in that positive feelings supported with a helping of determination can also serve to forge new and lasting friendships with people that had considered you as enemies and when used correctly can also lay the foundations for changing the world.

Overall, as a final score, I would say that 86 easily deserves a final score of 9/10 for its solid weaving of an excellent story, characters, combat, voice acting, animation and a well-designed and thought-out fractured society that when used with the emotional aspects of the bond that is forged between Lena and Shinn made this show one of the highlights of this season.

One of the best adaptations that I've seen!

Finally arrived the time to comment on the anime and the experience that the adaptation of 86 gave me. When I finished reading volume 1 of the novel I was wondering if the "story" could go beyond that, in this case an anime adaptation ..

When they announced the anime I was very euphoric and extremely happy with the announcement, but after some doubts in my mind and if it would be something as incredible as Light Novel.

As everyone knows, adaptations on the same level or even better than the original material is a very rare case of whether ... currently in the industry, I may be mistaken to say that 86 is the best adaptation of recent times. A lot of adaptations usually have between 11-13 episodes and some end up adapting an absurd amount of volumes in just a few episodes. As an example: Re:Zero that suffered some cuts in relation to the novel, but it is still a very good adaptation.

Nowadays people have come to be quite critical of Manga/Novel adaptations. Imagine you seeing your favorite work being adapted in a way that does not follow the same tracks as the original material this is sad to see. But everyone dumb knows that the changes always made will be in relation to a Novel/ Manga, the changes that can sometimes be ruined or pleasant.

But in the case of 86 it is something that deserves all the praise and I am not saying this just because I am a long-time fan of the work, I say this because we are blessed with a studio that took all possible care for the adaptation from 86 would become what we are seeing this season.

The scenarios presented in this first part were a little different from what I imagined when I read the novel, but I think they hit the nail on virtually everything. In the novel, the base of the Eighty-Six was something that looked like a place totally similar to a concentration camp, but here in the anime it was something totally different.

The CGI was one of my big concerns and not to mention that A-1 pictures had never done anything like that and it turned out they got the CGI and the action parts right. It's amazing how a soundtrack makes such a difference in an anime. I think the only composer who could work on the part of the soundtrack this guy was Sawano.

I confess that I was a little worried when they announced that A-1 Pictures would adapt 86 and I think everyone was left with the receipt that a novel would not be so well adapted, when it changed the first promotional image of the anime it was worrying and thankfully that they adjusted it like things like character designs.

When I read that the author of [86] supervised all the storyboards for each episode, I was even more relieved and that may have been one of the great factors of the anime being incredible.

I wonder if another studio had taken 86 to adapt and I wonder if it would be something at that same level, well .. although I had some doubts when it was announced that A1- Pictures would adapt, but I didn't think it would be something at that absurd level. I saw a lot of people complaining about the original partrs that were implemented in the anime and that they didn't have in the novel. Sometimes implementing new things in works can be good or bad, but as volume 1 of the novel leaves something to be desired, the anime corrected and not to mention that it was really good.

It's really amazing how the anime made me have a greater appreciation for the secondary characters and that's one of the things I don't like very much about the novel, we have Daya's death which in the novel is only mentioned in a few volumes farther ahead. It was fantastic to see that even the very important characters had a bit of prominence and that's something that added a lot to the plot.

86 is everything that a mech anime should be and more. Its roster and quality is absolutely stacked, with Hiroyuki sawano with the music, A1 pictures for the animation, a light novel that is a best seller, a director who worked on Anohana, and a producer who worked on Keijo. Everything it tries it does so well, and in just 4episodes I am convinced that this will be a masterpiece. Its been a while since a military and politically based mecha tale has come out, and this one had brought a fresh new outlook on the genre. So, what can you expect?

The first thing ... that comes to mind that makes this so good, would be its underlying story and themes. Despite being a mecha anime, the focus is really not on the fights, just presenting good animation and short battles and skirmishes. If anything they are just a vehicle for character development and the world, despite being a vital part of the show. We follow the stories of two kinds of people, the lives of the Pretentious and upper-class Alba, and the broken and beaten 86, a people whose sole purpose is to fight. In a tale of society, discrimination, what makes a person, and how we view others, 86 takes strides ahead, and comes in with some of the best writing a show has to offer.

Mech shows and military tales depend heavily on its society, causing the show to require good worldbuilding, but this show blows it out of the park. The society and the world that they live in is fascinating, victim not to exposition dumps, or instant knowledge of the whole thing, just slow development and exploration. A constant theme hangs in 86, is the world they live in, and how the two different kinds of people live. Constantly contrasting the lives of the two people, and how they live, and what the war has done to society. Slowly and subliminally bringing in themes of Discrimination and racism, the show is not only a mech show, but one about war, people, and humanity.

The Characters in this show are by no means amazing, but the impact they have on the theme, and building these moments, are phenomenal. The two main characters, are of course contrasted heavily, the overly reactive and innocent Alba, and the calm collected and weathered 86. The 86, who pilot these Robots, are treated not even as humans, just pigs who could not evolve, and the main character is that one Alba who views them as people, attempting to humanise them. However things aren’t that simple.

The journey that the female lead takes, while simple in premise defiantly is realistic, and deep. Its not simple to erase the hatred of generations just by playing nice. Constant reminders, facts and things are brought up, and shakes her core and ideals, as she sees how discriminatory she is, despite advocating for them losing, and never winning . And while she defiantly does overreact in some moments, it does plenty to show her side of things. The development is not only on her side but the 86, as their squad are all on the same path of hatred, just at different points. Hearing their conversations, dialogue, thoughts, and deep and meaningful words, brings another level as the show dives straight into these themes, having the luxury of delving deep inside these, instead of forced to go into mech fights. And while its not the only selling point of the show, it does an amazing job with.

All of these characters have been promised development, and watching the development is a highlight, as the show captures and does it so well. I revealed only a small development that happened, and honestly, the changes that the world and society force on the characters, makes such realistic and believable characters who work extremely well. And the way each episode/ part ends, more development seems obvious, constantly setting these scenarios up both effortlessly and without large exposition dumps or drops in quality.

The final thing I want to mention is the amazing Direction, Art, and soundtrack which have become the new standard at A1 pictures. Sawano, who has some fascination with Giant Mechs and Titans, does yet another amazing job with his soundtrack. And bringing a wonderful blend of 2d and 3d animation that blends perfectly and puts Aldnoah.Zero’s animation to shame, A1 easily gives the two categories no choice but to go in 10/10. And similar things can be said with the direction. The direction is honestly amazing, and I encourage you to look closely. While the animation is Sakuya filled, and perfect in every frame, the subtle hints, and contrast simply in frames is crazy.

The 86 place always had bright colors, but is full of old and broken things, while the Alba have dull colors but near perfection, always one only mistake in the frame, or out place object. The characters are portrayed differently in each society, the Alba quiet and regal, while the 86 are always free and wild,with a darkness underneath. Messages of the world and the place are hidden in the back of frames, and rarely the center of attention, just small hints about the world. It really stretches the limits of storytelling using animation, and does amazingly with it. I have not read the light novel, however it seems to capture descriptions and backgrounds that the light novel would have described, and more.

Of course this has only had 3 episodes and you may think I am overvaluing certain things, but that could be farther than the truth. The story knows where it's going, constantly builds off itself, and does wonders with what it is. If you are looking for a mech or military show with lots of action this is not for you. It's hard to put on words, but it's a show that focuses on its characters and society as the main point, many reflective and quiet scenes. The show is rich with information and interesting concepts, and the world is developed nicely. The story works perfectly and the fights, while short are a blessing to see. Watch it. You wont regret it.

86 is actually a slang meaning banned/shunned or removed goods where in the 86 who were shunned by the "republic" a racist country/government that judges superiority by the race (not limited to hair colors) forces the 86 to fight for the republic in the 86th district and for them to defend their fellow 86.

And now the scoring

Story 9
In just 2 episodes its clearly shown that racism has a pretty big role here and the ignorance of each individuals. And i also like how both shin and lena POV are shown

Art 10
Mesmerized, beautiful animations as always A1

... Sound 10
Love that op especially hiroyuki sawano w:mizuki ed

Character 9
Enjoyment 10
Overall 9

Inform you guys that i have read the light novel
This is unrelated but if you guys are also a fellow LN reader well... GARTER BELTS! This close to thin elastic fabric that hides stretched horizon what a wonderful creation

Well there goes my first ever review

Ever feel like that there is more to a show then meets the eye? Something that you can clearly see happening, and you're just eagerly waiting to find out what is going to happen next? That's basically 86 in a nutshell. Because it's turning out to be one of the best shows of the season, with how it keeps us at the edge of our seats with each and every episode, with it's story, and it's characters. Let me explain.

Story
Do you ever feel like that the ones above don't care for you? Or some do, but those some, are very little, and a lot, just ... see this as a mindless game, and a few lost lives don't really matter to them? It's what 86 is. Some have become operators, handlers if you will, commanding the team behind the scenes from a desk, while actual humans are in the battlefield, risking their lives, each and every day, and while the lead operator can go home, to their nice warm beds, their lovely food, some of these soldiers, may not even make it back. It's real gripping stuff, and I've only touched the surface of what the show is presenting, as I mentioned previously. Some of these handlers don't really seem to care about life, or that they just don't know that they're putting real lives at risk((episode 2 really shows the context of that and more so.)) Which can majorly effect someone's mental state.

86 seems to be going from strength to strength wen it comes to it's story. I honestly cannot wait to see what happens next, and how many times it's going to try and tug at my heart strings even more.

Characters
There is a lot to say about the characters. Our main lead in particular is someone you can actually root for, as she knows that she is dealing with actual human life, and not some AI. She seems like she's making an effort to get to know her unit, and the people behind it, and not just tapping in to do her job and go home. Someone very likeable like her, will drive the show forward.

As for her unit themselves, they;'re a colourful bunch of mixed personalities that also really drive the show forward. A great bunch of people, that I can only wish all of them somehow make it out of this predicament that they find themselves in.

Art and Sound.
86 does super well in both of these areas. Making certain scenes look really bright and nice, but also make certain other scenes look either dark, or sometimes just real depressing. Really not only setting the tone, but also really adding to atmosphere of the whole show. Much like the sound choices within the show. It's top notch stuff, and they really can be credited for a job well done here.

86 for sure is a show that you should be watching this season, so go and check it out now!

To be honest, I was biased to "mecha" series. After this anime started, I saw the cover and I really loved it even if it is not that flashy. I am not a person that judges the anime by just its cover but I really wanted to watch this serie. I don't know, maybe something attracted me. I have watched all the episodes that came out and I can say that:

"This serie is more than robots, mechanical items".

The subject covered in the background, musics... they all so good and definitely worth watching. I really loved it!

I heard that it adapted from light novel. I ... didn't read it, only watched the anime so I don't know much about characters, their personalities. Therefore, I can't talk about the character's I liked and disliked sides. But I want to talk about Shinei Nouzen (Undertaker). He is a little bit quiet, cold person and he does what he wants. He has same voice actor with Ayanokouji from Classroom of the Elite (Shouya Chiba) and this voice fits him so well!!

This is the first "mecha" serie I have ever watched and I am really happy to overcame my prejudice. Waiting for the next episode with a great excitement.

Best anime of the season so far for me 4 episodes in

Going in as an anime only it has not disappointed, 4 episodes in and I have been able to unravel the general plot/story about the show

Not going into spoilers ill rate the show

Story = 9 (Show not tell, recommended re watching episodes to pick up on things if you feel lost the first time round, its managed to get me hooked enough to buy the first 2 volumes of the LN)

Art = 10 (Great animation in the first 4 episodes same goes with the CGI hopefully it doesn't slack off later on, Also the ... food transitions are very unique. A1 Studios has done a great job)

Sound = 9 (The OP and Ending are great, along with the voice acting)

Character = 9 (Both Lena and Shin are interesting characters along with the rest of the eighty sixers. I want to see how the relationship between Lena and Shin develops also what her country will think of her being to kind to them. Lena is a strong willed character who is disliked by fellow soldiers for supporting the 86, she doesn't care that the government treats them like animals and is wanting to help them find there way in this war.)

Enjoyment = 10 (I've personally enjoyed every moment of this series, how it goes from Lena's perspective then to the 86ers is good and just shows us how both sides view each other and the war)


I recommended giving this series a chance, it will leave you wanting to know more every episode.
From the first 4 episodes I give it a 9, will update as the season goes on

"We've Destroyed Machines Beyond Counting. Perhaps Someone Sees That As A Sin."

I don't think that humankind is worthy of trust when we can't let go of war, draw borders between neighboring countries, seek to become richer than others, find joy in defeating others at sports, and choose someone of the opposite gender based on their appearance.

I felt that just looking at the world in general, there are so many types of people, and some hide who they truly are. And I feel that every person has some kind of warped identity inside them that they decide if they want to show or not.

I've always ... felt that it didn't feel right for me when a protagonist goes through a storyline where they're killing a lot of enemies, and at the very end of the story he ends up kissing the heroine and that's where the end.

"It Always Ends Like This."

"I Seek To Learn And Adopt All Facets Of Humanity! Some Desire Love! Others Family! Only Then Did I Realize The Truth...The Core Of Humanity... Is Conflict. They Fight. Steal. Kill. This Is Humanity In Its Purest Form!"

86, If you are reading this review then that at least means you have heard of this series. A lot of people certainly haven't heard of the series but you are one of the lucky people who do have. Let me first give you some general information though about the series so we all start with the same information and have a brief understanding of it. 86 is originally a Light Novel series written by Asato Asato starting around 2017. The light novel itself is already really far and has won multiple awards but we are gonna talk about the anime in this review (Because ... I haven't read the Light Novels). The anime itself is being animated by A-1 pictures under the direction of Toshimassa Ishii. The anime is part of the spring 2021 anime and has its first episode aired on April 11. 86 itself is classified under the categories: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military and Sci-fi. Since then it has aired an episode once a week and has a total of 11 episodes with one special episode after that. The series is far from over though and it is already confirmed that the next season will be aired in October 2021. In the meantime, I will write this review for you though and let you find out what the series is about and if it is worth watching.
(This review doesn't contain any spoilers but I will be talking about some events so if you want to start to blank about the whole series and world then I would suggest stopping here)

Before we will talk about what makes this series so special and what I think makes it so great we first have to know what it is about: The world of 86 can be mostly divided into two territories: The Republic of San Magnolia and the Legion. The legion is an advanced war mech created by the Giadan Empire which is unarmed and made to fight. These Legion mechs are made to fight against the Republic. In an effort to counter these Legion mech's, the republic made their own mech's. These mechs are also better known as "Juggernauts" and are also made to be operated unarmed just like the Legion. This is only what is said to the public though since in reality they are operated by people of the 86th district. The republic has divided itself into 86 districts of which only 85 are defended by the juggernauts and all sorts of defence mechanisms. People from the 86th district are seen as less than human and are born to fight in the juggernauts and offer their life in order to protect the other 85 districts. Most people of these districts don't know the truth and only highly ranked people in the military which are also known as "handlers" and everyone above them know this truth. These handlers are people who help support the 86 in their battles and give advice, orders and help to those who fight on the battlefield. One of these handlers is Vladilena Milizé. She is one of the highest-ranked in the military and one of the youngest handlers there is. What makes her different though from the rest is that she cares about the 86 and wants to do everything to make sure they survive and are seen as humans instead of the pigs as they are seen now. She will be assigned to one of the strongest squadrons there is also known as: "The spearhead squadron". This squadron is special not because it is one of the strongest but because of their leader is known as "The Undertaker" or by his real name "Shin". It is said that every handler that has operated for this squadron has suddenly stopped or started to act weird. Because of this, Lena was assigned as their handler because the last one has committed suicide. One of the best handlers and one of the most feared 86-ers now fight together to end this war but how they will do this and what will happen on their quest to do this is something you have to find out yourself.

Now we all know what the series is about. Let me allow myself to talk about what I think makes this series so beautiful:
The world:
The world itself in 86 looks small. You only have the Republic of San Magnolia and the 86th district with the 86-ers and Legion Mechs. Even though this is the only thing the series shows us it still is really interesting and complex. First of all the world itself is set into the future. This makes it so many things that we see in the series are really advanced compared to the technology we have these days. What the series is mostly focused on though is their advanced war machines. From things like Spider looking mechs to mortars that have projectiles that can shoot down with a huge impact. All the technology shown in the series is really complex and makes us really believe that this series is set into the future and far more advanced than our own. The writer really thought about how the world would look like in the future and made sure that all the technology shown would really be advancements from our current technology. The mech's themselves are already really complex and have functions/mechanics that are far better than anything we got these days and not only this but their way of fighting and tactics are also improved compared to what we got these days. It looks like the writing itself is a scientist herself and has a great understanding of how a future society would look like and how it would operate. Not only the war technology is far more advanced but also their day-to-day technology is an improvement. Things like: Hologram food and para-raids which allow you to talk just like a phone but even allow you to get a look from someone else's eyes and take over their vision. These are all things that could really be invented in the future and would actually work so most of the sci-fi show in the series could really work and the writer did give a lot of thought into how everything works. Aside from everything we do know about the technology, there is a lot we don't know and which give us a lot of questions. Questions like: How does the Legion work?, Why isn't the republic able to produce their own unmanned mech's and maybe not about technology but why do the Legion and the Republic fight against each other? All of these questions make it so the watcher wants to watch even more to find the answer to these questions and know how the world really works. The world doesn't only consist of technology of course but I feel like that is the thing the writer has thought the most about and has made sure that is as advanced as possible. We only get to see the world from two perspectives: Lena, A handler who lives inside of the walls of protection and Shin, an 86-er which give us even more questions about the series. But because of their difference of living, we actually get to see the whole world because Lena explains to us everything that happens inside of the walls and helps us understand what the people inside of the walls think about the 86 and how their world is different from those who live outside of the walls. Shin shows us what it is like to live as a person who is seen as less than human and has to fight almost every day in order to survive and protect the people who hate them the most. Their difference of living was only chosen by where they were born and even though they have a lot of similarities they are still really different because of the effects of war. This makes the world even more complex but I like complex things and try to understand them so I actually like what the writer has done and I feel like the world itself is one of the best things in the series and I especially love the technologies in the series which are interesting in itself and actually deserve their own review to talk about how they really world and what makes them so effective. So yeah, The world is really complex but beautiful in its own way and has a lot more to offer than what you think it does.

The music:
The music itself is the thing that can give already good scenes that final thing to make them hit that much harder and is actually a way of talking or telling us how we should interpret a scene without telling us anything. 86 really does implement music in this way and they do it wonderfully. Not only is the music really beautiful to listen to and actually music I listen a lot to while making reviews for the series and studying. It also is implemented at the right moments and the correct music is chosen for the right scenes. With the right music at the right time, you are able to make scenes that much more emotional or more exciting without changing anything to the looks of the scene. This is something they know and something they do really well. The fact that their music is composed by: Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto also helps the series a lot and both of this man makes really good and hard-hitting music. If I had to name the best music in the series then I had to say it is the ending themes. Most of the times the ending themes just leave you sitting in your chair and listening to the music. They are also one of the most emotional themes in the series and most of the moments at the ending of an episode leave you just looking at the scene and when you hear the ending theme playing you know something is gonna happen. Unlike most series, 86 doesn't have an ending theme for the whole season and actually has multiple and they use the one which is more fitting for that moment. This makes it so they have the freedom to make really sad endings but also really happy endings which will fit a lot more to the episodes and don't ruin the moment by having happy music right after a sad episode. In a lot of series, this isn't done and can really ruin the moment of that episode but 86 doesn't do this and makes it so their moments are that much more emotional and even leave that emotion behind even though the scene has already ended a while ago. They also have a lot of different music in the series ranging from really upbeat music which can make actions scenes more exciting to sad music which can make emotional moments hit that much harder and actually give you tears in your eyes. If I had to say one flaw to the music I had to say it is the opening of the series. The opening itself is great and actually gives us some teasers to the series but I feel like the music itself doesn't complement the series and sounds like it comes from a different series. It can also just be my own taste but I have to say that the music does fit with the theme of the series with being a futuristic type of music but it still feels out of place for me. Even though the opening itself isn't that good you still have about 20 minutes in an episode with music you can listen to for hours without getting tired and even make you remember some of that moments because it is that iconic to the series. Everything that is said in the songs though is Japanese so you won't be able to understand it unless you speak Japanese yourself or have you searched for the translations. I have not searched myself for the translation of every song but I do have for the ending themes and I have to say that the lyrics of the songs really fit the moments it is used in and I highly recommend you to check out the lyrics of these songs because they allow you to understand the scenes just a tad more. So, The music that is used in the series is used at the right moments and they use different ending themes for different episodes which makes it so the moment doesn't get ruined by the wrong music being used after a scene and if you know the lyrics of the songs you are able to understand the emotions of a scene just a bit more and it makes you appreciate the series just that much more. One flaw though to the music is the opening for me but you can always skip it even though I don't recommend that for this series and I would recommend it a bit more to just mute the opening but still watch.

The characters:
You get to see the world from the view of 2 completely different characters. These characters are both interesting on their own because they change the world on their own. Lena herself is a really well-written character because she really makes it look like she will fight for her ideals but still has her flaws because even though she does fight for the 86. She still treats the 86-ers like they are not really human and are still something else and doesn't immediately realize or see this herself. Once someone tells her this though she will try to do everything to change her approach and her behaviour to win over the respect of the 86 and change their opinions about her. Lena can also get easily emotional and is not afraid to show her true feelings and doesn't lie to anyone about it. This is what I feel like makes her strong because even though she cries and can fall she will get back up and try to go even further than before. She will try to do everything to make her ideas come true even though she will be breaking some laws because of that, She will keep ongoing. This is why I think Lena is one of the best-written characters because she is really a strong person even though it doesn't look like that because she cries a lot. She also isn't too perfect and has a lot of flaws she doesn't see herself and actually only learns this the hard way from the people around her. Shin one on the other hand is the complete opposite in terms of character. You never see any emotions coming from him and it looks like someone who doesn't really care for the people around him. But this is far from the truth. He is probably one of the people who care the most about everyone and especially his friends because you see him multiple times saving his friends and actually puts his friends and their survival of them in front of his own. He is not afraid to sacrifice his own life if it can help others and he will do this multiple times but he actually makes this kind of behaviour work because of his own strength. The leader of a squadron doesn't get randomly chosen and there is never a true leader but Shin makes it clear that he is the leader of the spearhead squadron and everyone respects him for that. Everyone in the squadron respects him because he is not afraid to fight on the front lines and makes it so they don't have to fight and put their own lives in danger but also helps them when times get through and is one of the best listeners and people to talk to if you just need a listening ear. The series doesn't contain only Shin and Lena though and even though the rest are sided characters compared to Shin and Lena. They still get quite some screen time and make it look like the whole world is revolved around Shin and Lena by giving them their own screen time and development. Both on Lena's side and on Shin's side you see the side characters influencing and changing the main characters and get their own screen time and story when the plot isn't focused around Shin and Lena which actually does happen quite some times in the series. Because of that, you get to see the world from different perspectives and get to see what everyone thinks about the war and how people adapt to this even though they are not directly connected to it. You may have heard this sentence before but war changes everybody even though you are not fighting in it and there are no true survivors from a war. 86 really shows this and everyone in the series is in some way connected to the war and has their life changed because of it even though they are not fighting in it themselves. The series has really complex but different main characters which allow you to see the world from two different perspectives while also giving time to side characters and giving them their screen time and development. This allows you to how the war changes a society and how people can change even though they don't fight in the war themselves which is a really hard but beautiful thing to do as a writer.

The quality:
A-1 Pictures is a really well-known studio and I am happy they are the ones to animate this series. Every moment in this series has the potential to be a wallpaper or a poster in some form because they really put a lot of effort into detail even when you don't notice it. Fight scenes look that more realistic because not only the mech's look like something that can be built on earth and would look quite a lot like that but their movements and shots also look realistic. Not only the mech's and fight scenes look stunning but also their character design is top-notch. Their design and their clothes also represent the characters and just looking at their designs can tell you a lot about what type of person they are and what they do/represent. Just looking at someone's clothes can tell you if they are an 86-er or not. If I had to say what looks the best in this series then I had to say that it is the environment and the nature in the series. The landscaping in the series is just really beautiful and you could actually paint some of these landscapes and you have yourself a really beautiful landscape. The attention to details is also really noticeable and they show the details which you sometimes really need to see or give some details that really make some scenes that more special. These are mostly just compliments toward the animation studios but I also have to give credits to the writer and drawer of the original character designs and moments. Most characters look really realistic and have a consistent proportion to everything and each other which can be really hard sometimes but the drawer really gives some attention to this and this makes it so that characters are consistent in terms of looks in the series to each other. Each character design is also unique to 86 and each character looks different enough from each other to make sure you can separate them from each other and if you just look at the number of characters in the series you will know that is something which is really difficult to do. The animation studio is really able to make scenes that much more involving in some way and they especially shine in this with fight scenes. The fight scenes look really engaging and show a lot happening in them while but still allow you to follow everything and just be not too busy. You are clearly able to see the difference between the Legion and the juggernauts not only because of their design but even their quality even in production is something you can notice. The legion robots look like they are of much higher quality than the juggernauts by just looking at their looks. Quality is not only through the design of everything though but where quality is also seen is in the way episodes are set up and determining as an animator where an episode should stop and where the next episode should stop. Some episodes may give you the feeling that it is the end because of their ending but are just conclusive endings for an episode and I feel like you should not end every episode with a cliffhanger because this can get old after some time but they leave enough information in an episode to be able to answer the questions from previous episodes while also raising new ones for the next episode. I have also talked about it in the music section but the studios also do a great job at choosing the right scenes for their music and with the looks from the scenes you get really beautiful scenes that are able to leave an impact on the watcher. The best looking thing is the series has to be the fight scenes for me because they implement a lot while also being not too busy and make it easy for you to follow it while also not being boring. Most of the times almost every scene in the series is a scene I would use as my wallpaper and that is just only talking about the looks but there is also a lot of quality found in the character's scenes and the way the scenes are set up and all of the emotion that you see in it.

The plot:
If you didn't come to the series for any of the other things I have talked about already then you have probably come for the plot of the series because oh boy, It may be complex at times but it really is a masterpiece in writing. The goals of the characters and the series are already clearly shown from the beginning of the series and you see the whole plot unfold while all of these characters have their own moments and it really helps that the whole plot isn't focused around one character because that gives you the ability to show things which otherwise wouldn't make sense. The plot is really consistent throughout the whole series and you can clearly see how it is about the whole war between the republic and the Legion. Everyone is involved in this plot and each character changes this world in some way or the outcome of the war even though they don't have that much screen time and every little detail in the series has some kind of meaning. You really have to watch episodes sometimes multiple times to understand the hidden meaning sometimes of some scenes or some character decisions which can sometimes be a bad thing if you want to understand the series but don't want to watch episodes multiple times. The series makes up for this though by having a special as the last episode which explains the whole series quickly and gives you the most important moments which you can theorize about. There is also a balance between things you don't know and things you know. You know just enough to be able to understand everything but not too much so you can know already what will happen in the next episode and the episodes answer questions from the previous episode while also giving new questions which makes it so you want to see every episode to understand the plot. Something that is also unique to this series is their theme about war crimes and even discrimination. This is a really complicated theme which you have to respect because some people can have really strong opinions about but I feel like the writer respects this and understands it. They really respect the theme and actually don't try to make it better than it really is and stays true to its the theme. This is something why I really respect the writer because it can be a touchy theme but it still is something which has to be talked about and she really does the topic respect which I can appreciate. Even though the personalities of the main characters are already said in stone from the beginning of the series they still have a lot of development and even though they can change and have their own arcs. They remain true to themselves and remain to evolve and change in a way that feels natural and understandable. Every action and moment has an impact on everyone who is involved in it and this makes for some development or reveals you wouldn't have expected in any way but once you know them actually make sense. There are some plot twists in the series and ways the plot can change but it still remains to be about the same thing and everything that is shown makes sense in some way and are actually hinted at a long time before they actually happen and because of that they don't feel random and if you pay close attention the series you can actually predict some of these things. Where the plot really shines is showing their scenes from two different perspectives. In some scenes you see things happening from the side of the 86-ers but you can actually see some of the same scenes happen but then from the side of Lena which makes the world more dynamic and allow us to understand some of the impacts of different moments on different characters. They make sure both sides have enough screen time so both worlds have enough development in their own way but still are connected even though they are psychically next to each other. The plot can be complex sometimes but really engaging and if you really like to theorize then this series is really something for you.

My conclusion:
We have now talked about: The world, The music, The characters, The quality and about the plot. Which makes it now time to talk about my final opinion on the series and give a conclusion to this whole review. For the most part, the series is really complex in not only its world but also in its characters in its plot. This makes it so a lot of people can get confused easily sometimes but I feel like that recap at the ending of the series really helps it to understand everything. The world and its technology are really different from our own, its characters are really relatable and actually have motives and ideals which aren't from some of our worlds. The scenes in the series are also really beautiful because of how they are set up and make sense in terms of plot they also have a big impact on the watcher because of the music and the quality of them. Also because of this music, you can easily recognize some of these moments because of only the music and allow the series to be recognizable in its own way. While the show is talking about a really sensitive concept they really give the concept respect and really gives it the attention it deserves because you never hear about it talked about in the real world. Each and every moment is also worthy of being a wallpaper because of the animation that is given by A-1 pictures and every song is a song that should be in your playlist because of the amazing composers. Even though the series is the sci-fi most of the things shown in the series are actually things that could be made in real life and could really be a reality be all could be living in a hundred years from now. The technology is really advanced but also makes sense in its own way for its time and they also make sense for their society and you can really see the whole world, technology and even characters all being focused around the war which is the main plot of the series. Where the series shines the most in each topic is for music: Their way to make the scenes have an impact on you and with the help of the plot and the characters leave you staring at the screen even though the scene has ended for quite some time. The fact that they also use different ending themes also help with keeping the emotions of a scene and don't ruin the mood for any moments.
Each episode also answers enough questions and asks you enough questions to make sure you will come back next week. You can't also not talk about all of the good stuff while not mentioning the bad things of the series. Even though the series is really complex which can be a really good thing, It can also be something that will scare new watchers because it will hard to follow and understand everything. The character while being really good for the main characters and side characters is also in some way a bit too much sometimes and I feel like sometimes they don't give enough attention to the main characters but this a little flaw that can be looked over if your favourite characters aren't the main character and makes it so even though they are siding characters they also have their little moments and developments. The only other flaw of the series for me is the opening and while it does fit the series I just don't like it and just wish it was a bit different but that just comes down to preference. If you still wonder if you should watch the series after reading all of this then allow me to ask you this last question. Do you like anime that is able to make sure you are involved in the story in some way even though you don't take part in it? Because I feel like this is the main thing the anime can do for me. It allows me to participate in the series in some way and leave me asking more and more questions even though the world doesn't have any real impact on me aside from the impact on my emotions. It gives you a new way of thinking of some kind and allows you to see the world from different perspectives. If you still want a rating from me for this series then it's gonna be really easy. This series deserves a 10/10 from me and I would recommend this anime to anyone who likes anime.

I have to thank you though for reading my review and be sure to give me your opinions on the series and why liked/disliked it. Aside from that I wish you a happy further day and if you want me to make any reviews for other series or anime be sure to message me and I can't it enough but thank you for reading it and I hope to see you again some other time.

Mecha + Good & Complex Story + Sawano Hiroyuki => Definitely goes brrrrrrrrrr

There's no one that drop so bad
All is being organized so well, the music absolutely Master piece
Animation as expected from A-1 studio's, always good

but i think this is not good for all people
Dark story, contrast situation are pictured explicitly in this series
This is not kinda Happy Ending series that you can watch for stress relief
but in the otherside, this series give us a reflection about politics, racist and social problem that occur from a long way history untill now
...
personally, i can give 10/10 for this enjoyment, but i'm kinda a little dissapointed for the Opening
IDK, maybe it's not suit to my taste, or it's just weird why not Sawano Hiroyuki handle the OP too, like other previous A-1 & Sawano Hiroyuki Project

Overall 9 / 10

"Is there anybody stupid enough to hang themselves because they know they'll die tomorrow?"

The show initially seems to be just a mecha anime about racism, which it is, but it's much more than the edgy, gritty cover it's wrapped up in. At its core, 86 is about life in a concentration camp. The show is not shy about setting the narrative within a country paralleling WWII Nazi Germany. 86 uses this parallel to skip over unnecessary edgy depictions of dehumanization and get right to the point. How do you fight back against an oppressive state?

On one hand, we witness the fight from within by Vladilena ... Milizé, or Lena for short. The show does an excellent job at depicting the brutal reality of how impossible it can be to dismantle a system designed to dehumanize the 86. There are no cartoonish villains oppressing the people, or a Hitler-like head of state. Instead, the show accurately depicts the government working as intended by following the will of the people it governs. Powerless against a state, Lena's idealistic goals clash with the brutal reality surrounding her. Constantly Lena is reminded by her friend Henrietta Penrose, to give up trying to humanize the 86, and that it will only serve to hurt her. We see this come to fruition in an extremely powerful episode 9 where Lena is faced with what awaits her by growing close to those sentenced to concentration camps.

On the other hand, we see how those within the camps fight back against an oppressive state through the perspective of the 86 that Lena is in charge of. How do you fight back against a state that sentenced you to death? You live, and that's precisely what each member of the Spearhead Squadron does. Despite the constant horrifying reality of war that they face, the show spends a significant portion of time depicting the life that the prisoners live. There, we see a range of emotions, from sorrow and grief, to joy and laughter. Despite all the atrocities and human rights violations thrust upon the 86, Spearhead never falters in rebelling against the Republic by living their lives according to themselves. The unwavering spirit of the cast and their persistence to move forward in spite of death looming in their face is inspiring and is what makes the show worth watching.

All in all, even though the show appears to be a mech action anime it's better off being viewed as a drama. One about fighting oppression, both as a system and also in spirit. The only fault that I can give the show is that it takes a while to show its hand. It's not until episode 7 when it really shows itself to be drama. If you can get that far then I guarantee that you will not be let down.

86 is most compelling when characters deal with their internal conflicts. Characters will die and the impact they have is very substantial to the character development of the rest. A buildup. A setup. 86 does not offer anything new in its concept or even world, but its presentation and pace of worldbuilding is an incredibly fun mix of realism and action, which almost catches your breath every time a climactic incident happens in an episode.
While some characters fall under tropes, the dynamics between them make for very endearing and distinct impressions. I would say this one is not about the action scenes, but more about ... the angst and terrible conflict of war fought and experienced in practically different worlds. 86 was definitely a surprise for me, engaging and sticks to what it does best competently and confidently.

I expected excessive trashy waifu pull in the side, but I got something that I am really looking forward to instead. It's just solid entertainment overall.

God, where do I start with this? As my first mecha anime, I didn't start this anime with any expectations, nor can I really remember why I started it in the first place. But I couldn't be more glad that I did.

In my best attempt to not write subjectively, 86 excels in its character development, reaching out to the audience and tackling real world issues, that being racism and war. The story 86 is trying to tell is far deeper than I would've thought from a mecha anime and I would never have thought 11 episodes were capable of creating this atmosphere.

Right from ... the beginning, I was drawn in. Having started it quite late, I was able to binge a couple episodes and was looking forward to 86 every week. I hated how short each episode felt.

The characters are the highlight of this show, and sadly, 86 isn't afraid to create an attachment to a character, only to kill them off. I both love and hate that about 86. Despite the war and racism, those who are forced to fight for the sake of Alba are able to maintain a sense of normalcy. They're still kids. They still laugh, get bored, form friendships and relationships, they still feel everything from before and what is currently happening now. And this anime depicts that flawlessly. Little scenes where Lena is hearing them talk to each other, Lena getting to know them, the doubt and aggressiveness prior to their relationship and everything in between. It makes it hurt more, I swear.

And this is consistent throughout. Not once has 86 faltered in maintaining this character development. It is easy to forget what they're going through sometimes, because of how normal this is for them. And that's what make the sad moments hit even more. The contrast between how they are acting and what is going on, Lena being the only panicked and scared one, all perfect.

Lena is also great as a MC. Female leads are very hit and miss, and they usually miss. With actual personality, Lena is easily one of my favourites in this show. She stumbles often, and I mean that emotionally, but she's learning, and I love that. Learning from kids who aren't really kids, and it's amusing because SHE'S the handler.

The soundtrack, especially the ED is breath-taking. Whenever the song plays in the middle of an episode I literally feel my heart stop. The character design and animation is an easy 9, no complaints there. There was a fair amount of action, but that never took away from the story. The pacing was just right, every episode added something to the story, whether it be depth, character development individually or of relationships, plot, action, exploration of the two main themes, there was always something.

Hitting a 9 at what feels like the beginning of a story is impressive to me. What merely feels like an introduction to a bigger picture shouldn't be rated this highly, but that's just how impressed I was with 86. One of my favourites this spring 2021, I couldn't recommend this more. It's probably in my top 3, and that's saying a lot considering what's aired.

I hope there's more to come, otherwise this season will be on repeat until the end of time.

I had some thoughts on whether I should watch 86 or not, but I decided to watch it, and I'm glad I did. 86 was a suspenseful ride, and it brings up the concept of war which has been a recurring thing since season four-part one of Attack on Titan. However, it's its series, and the ideas behind it can be somewhat similar as well.

The story of 86 can be portrayed as prejudice or racism, in terms that one type of people are the ones living a good life, while those who are different in appearance are risking their lives fighting, known as the Eighty-six. ... In terms of that, it features those people who are teens fighting in automated scorpion-like battle bots, while the protagonist leads them to victory.

The characters are well designed; while some were memorable among the teens fighting, most of them can be a bit forgettable, not to mention that they only appear for a short time. They're gone as the episodes go on, barely giving them a chance to be memorable. For the ones still there, such as Shin, they have well-written backstories portrayed, such as dark pasts and the pain of losing their comrades as the series goes on, it makes them diverse and roots for them to find their comrades happiness. Lena's main protagonist, I like how she's the good one who cares among her people who look down on the Eighty-six. While her naivety can be a problem in war, she cares and respects the Eighty-six as equals, leading up to a foreshadow that they will eventually meet up in the future. Oh, and Lena can be considered a candidate for the best girl of 2021.

The animation is polished, while the CGI is good, it blends in with the background during the parts when the Eighty-six fights, and it feels natural, while the opposing forces that are CGI can be terrifying when looking upon them. Out of battle, the animation is pretty decent. The soundtrack is very catchy, definitely fits in the tone of 86, intense yet prepared for what outcome will be made. The sound effects were outstanding, fit in with the machines, making them feel real, and could come to life as actual robots.

Another aspect that I'd like is the development of the setting itself. It starts with the city Lena works in and focuses on the initial area of the Eighty-six and the battlefield. But as the series goes on, it starts off its worldbuilding towards the end, but it'll continue to show various areas that had an impact throughout the war that's occurring. Finally, the way they end each episode was incredible, from the cliffhangers to how dark the series can be at times. That fascinated me, seeing how it influences the characters that made it through and how they will continue going forward.

86 uses the concept of war, character arcs, and the relationship between two sides to create a great story. It makes us wish that everyone can be treated socially equally. The little bits of romance were very wholesome and tragic at the same time but felt too soon to be a part of the romance genre. The animation and soundtrack matched the tone of the series as well, and it was enjoyable to watch. I highly recommend 86 for those that want to watch another good mecha anime of this decade. However, this series is not over yet, the second part will leave off how it ended, and I look forward to seeing what will happen next.