Eighty-Six Cour 1 Anime Review
86 or Eighty-Six is an anime light novel adaptation that follows the journey of Vladilena Milize and the Spearhead Squadron. The story takes place in an ongoing war of the Republic of San Magnolia against the dead or former Giadian Empire.
There are eighty-five sectors inside the walls of the Republic of San Magnolia consisting of one race called the Albans. A secret sector called the eighty-sixth sector consists of children, ethnical minorities, or mixed-race Albans, that the nation force sent to protect the 85 sectors.
While the people inside the walls get to enjoy their daily life, the people outside the wall are forced to fight and die in battle to get a chance to receive their freedom.
World Building and Storytelling
Cour 1 wholly adapted the first light novel volume of the story. The genre heavily contains action, drama, and science fiction to showcase the war. Both nations fight in heavy aluminum mechs with the Republic of San Magnolia forcing non-Albans to go outside the wall and defend their nation from the onslaught of the Legion which are autonomous combat mechs.
The series contains heavy character-driven plots and dialogues that make you listen to every single thing that is happening. As a war story, 86 delves deep into the theaters of horror in war, as well as taking it further to the topics of racism, oppression, and the privilege of those in power.
What I truly adore about this series is how it starts off big. The story splits two sides of the coin. Firstly, they show the life of Alban officers during the war being cozy and safe inside the walls. Secondly, they show the side of the 86 fighting for their lives on the verge of death. This split-screen showcase of perspectives showcases the theme of prejudice and racism. This showcase continues to run throughout the episodes of the series. It shows how the Albans are fine with removing the rights of the 86 identifying them as less than human.
A Unique Alban
Vladilena Milize is an Alban that recently received the rank of Major. She is then assigned to the Spearhead Squadron which is considered to be the ace team of the Republic. Her beliefs differentiate her from other Albans. She fights for the humanity of the 86 rather than other Albans do.
Although it may seem wrong at first, where she advocates for the rights of the 86, and prepare a plan in fights to lessen the loss of her squadron and win the war by only sitting at a monitor and watching. In a nation, where their citizens do not even see the wrong things that they are doing, Vladilena Milize becomes one of the humane characters in the story trying to change the system that the nation runs.
Meet your Squadron
The Spearhead Squadron is a squadron led by Shinei Nouzen with the codename Undertaker. Most of its members are kids that have high levels of battle experience during the war. The unit is considered to be one of the elite squadrons of the Republic. While it may be the public image showcased about the squadron, the Republic has different dubious initiatives for it.
All in all, Eighty-Six is a great anime series to watch because it contains a well-orchestrated story. If you love multiple plot twists and a slow yet powerful world build, then this is a show for you. It captures or gives an experience of war, showcasing its reality of it through the use of animation. It can give you the feeling that every action puts their lives at stake.
Eighty-Six Cour 1 covers the first 11 episodes of the series. Animated by A-1 Pictures, and the light novel series by Asato Asato. The show is also available on Netflix.
Your life is reduced to a number, something that can be counted and expendable. A life where you are considered less than human. This story showcases multiple aspects of that and tackles even more as you progress in the story.
