86 EIGHTY-SIX
2021
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- action & adventure
- sci-fi & fantasy
- war & politics
The story
Called “Juggernaut,” these are the unmanned combat drones developed by the Republic of San Magnolia in answer to the attacks by the autonomous unmanned drones of the neighboring Empire of Giad, the “Legion”. But they’re only unmanned in name. In reality, they are piloted by the Eighty-sixers—those considered to be less than human and treated as mere tools. Determined to achieve his own mysterious ends, Shin, the captain of Spearhead Squadron, which is comprised of Eighty-sixers, continues to fight a hopeless war on a battlefield where only death awaits him.
What it’s like
Muted, sun-washed battlefields rendered in crisp digital animation, with grey-green fields, scorched earth, and cold blue skies that make every explosion stand out. Long tracking shots over the trenches give way to tight, kinetic cuts during dogfights, and the score swells with orchestral strings and driving rock as the drones tear across the frame. Quieter scenes in dim barracks and under starlight carry a heavy, mournful stillness. The vibe is bleak, austere, and grieving, a slow-burn sense of dread that suits a late night alone or a commitment to a long binge. Pacing alternates between relentless combat and reflective pauses. Intensity is high: frequent mecha battles, bloody casualties, graphic deaths with lingering emotional weight, and cruelty rooted in racial discrimination. It is not gentle. It fits viewers who want serious war drama, character-driven tragedy, and sci-fi with real emotional stakes.
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