86: An anime about tragedy, trauma, and a war “without” casualties

*This review contains spoilers

Directed by Toshimasa Ishii and based on the light novel series of the same name by Asato Asato, 86 was an anime I had my eyes on ever since the very first teaser dropped. Regardless, if you had told me then that this series was to become my newest obsession, I would not have believed you.

The series starts off in the Republic of San Magnolia, a prosperous state ruled by the moral principles of freedom, equality, brotherhood, justice, and nobility. The war against the Legion, the fearsome autonomous war machines of the fallen Giadian Empire, is not only going well, but peace finally appears to be on the horizon. The Republic's autonomous drones far outstrip their enemies technologically. Human casualties have all but ceased. A more perfect, more progressive nation cannot exist, or so we are told.

In reality, however, the autonomous drones that the nation uses are actually flimsy metal coffins that often have children piloting them. The democracy that prides itself on liberty and equality, going so far as to have its capital named "Liberté et Égalité", French for "liberty and equality", has not only stripped its minorities of all human rights but has also forced them into fighting a war they never wished to take part in. The so-called "war without casualties" that the Republic boasts of exists only because, to them, the ones who fight and die are not actually humans but "pigs in human form".

Aside from the layered world-building and breathtaking choreography of its action scenes, regardless of the crisp animation and the near-divine soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto, what undoubtedly makes 86 special is its touching depiction of struggle and the masterful use of symbolism and visual storytelling to convey emotions that could scarcely be expressed with more eloquence. 

We have Lena, a major in the Republican army, who grapples with the guilt of being part of the oppressing master race and the feeling of powerlessness that comes part and parcel with not being able to make things right. We have the members of the Spearhead Squadron, each of whom strives to make the most of their existence despite having no family to welcome them home, no country to call their own, and no attachments to cherish except those with themselves, each other, and their destined graveyard, the battlefield.

And of course, we have Shin, the "Reaper of the Eastern Front".

He starts off as cold, calculative, and maybe even a bit cruel. However, as the story progresses, we begin to take notice of the finer details of his character. The chokehold of childhood trauma over his soul, the heavy burden of carrying his dead comrades, and the loneliness that comes with living on even as everyone else around him perishes give Shin's character more depth. All of these subtly accumulate until they reach an ear-splitting crescendo, delivering a powerful, emotionally-charged season finale that hardly hesitates to make the viewer's heartstrings into its plaything.

86 is a rare gem of an anime and one that will certainly satisfy the watcher while simultaneously leaving them craving for more. And, if you happen to be like me, you might as well prepare to splurge a whole lot of cash on obtaining the light novel series that started it all.

Nayeem can be found reading depressing novels at your nearest café. Tell him to go study at [email protected]