86 Part 2

The disappearance of the Spearhead Squadron beyond the horizon does little to hide the intensity of the Republic of San Magnolia's endless propaganda. Vladilena Milizé continues to operate as "Handler One," the commander of yet another dehumanized 86th faction's squadron in the continuous war against the Legion.

On the Western Front, Shinei Nouzen and his squad are quarantined in a military base controlled by the Federal Republic of Giad, formerly known as the Giadian Empire. The newly-established government grants the saved Eighty-Six full citizenship and freedom. Housed by the president Ernst Zimmerman himself, the group meets his adoptive daughter and the last Empress, Augusta Frederica Adel-Adler.

However, within the calm of this tender society, Shinei and his team feel that their purpose is on the battlefield. Before long, they are once again in the midst of the Legion's onslaught as a part of the Federacy's Nordlicht Squadron, accompanied by Augusta Frederica. But, as history repeats itself, they realize that no matter the side, death and pain on the front lines are the only comfort they know.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Milizé, Vladilena Main

Hasegawa, Ikumi Japanese

Nouzen, Shinei Main

Chiba, Shouya Japanese

Emma, Anju Supporting

Hayami, Saori Japanese

Kukumila, Kurena Supporting

Suzushiro, Sayumi Japanese

Rikka, Theoto Supporting

Fujiwara, Natsumi Japanese

Adel-Adler, Augusta Frederica Supporting

Kuno, Misaki Japanese

Shuga, Raiden Supporting

Yamashita, Seiichirou Japanese

Taniya, Kaie Supporting

Shiraishi, Haruka Japanese

Zimmerman, Ernst Supporting

Uchida, Yuuya Japanese

Keats, Haruto Supporting

Yamashita, Daiki Japanese

Nakayama, Nobuhiro Producer

Fujii, Shouta Producer

Ishii, Toshimasa Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Aketagawa, Jin Sound Director

Reviews

Mar 19, 2022

Marinate1016

Recommended

For the past 4 years, I have patiently waited and envisioned what the adaptation of volume 2 of 86 would look like. I am so happy that I can confidently say A-1 surpassed my wildest expectations for this adaptation and gave my favourite Light Novel the love it deserves.

In contrast with the action packed first cour of 86, the second cour primarily focuses on interpersonal relationships and the 86’s struggle between a peaceful life in the Giad Federacy or returning to the battlefield. Volume 2 and the second cour explore themes such as the psychological trauma of being a child soldier and the quest to ... find purpose in life. It’s an interesting departure from the action of the first 12 episodes. This is mainly due to the fact that 86’s first volume was originally intended to be a standalone story prior to its success.

Despite the lack of action scenes, A-1’s quality was on full display in the second cour. The cinematography, direction, art, OST, transitions and storyboarding were all superb. A lot of people were rightfully upset with the delay for the last two episodes, but it certainly paid off for A-1. The masterpieces that were episodes 11 and 12 were well worth the wait. The finale of volume 2(episode 11) was by far one of my most anticipated episodes ever and it was perfect. You can truly see the love that A-1’s staff have for the story in every single episode and that is the highest praise I can put on any LN adaptation. Too often do we get adaptations which are clearly just extended ads for the LN and only made to get books bought. 86 bucked that trend and I can only hope and pray we see season 2 soon. I want to clarify that we are nowhere near the peak of 86, if A-1 continue at this pace and dedicating time and resources, seasons 2 and 3 will be absolutely mind blowing.

86 second cour gets the easiest 10 I’ve ever given.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Mar 19, 2022

LordSozin

Mixed Feelings

86 tells the story of discrimination, human rights, and the moral values that are built on the societal structures that were put in place. 86 as a series is the byproduct of a liberally indoctrinated ideal society. In liberalism, one of the fundamental values it believes in is the rights of human beings and the unquestionable equal treatment of all people. But of course, that is impossible to achieve because discrimination will always be present. 86 demonstrates these aspects clearly through the first cour and a bit more in the second cour.

This is why 86 is very typical. We have seen these types of ... stories from other entertainment mediums: be it books, live-action TV series, films, and most importantly, history. The series as a whole offers nothing more insightful that goes beyond the usual tragic tales of the oppressed. As I progressed through this series, I began to form an overall arching question: What’s the point? The series incorporates the element of contrast between the Federal Republic of Giad and the Republic on the treatment of human rights. Yet, the hypocrisy is still there. On the one hand, the newly formed country of Giad proudly claims that they’re different from the Republic. They claim that they treat everyone, even the foreigners which are the Spearhead Squadron, the same. But the soldiers alongside the members of the squadron and some of its citizens despise them by blaming and ill shaming. This is all true in the real world, but what are the changes that are needed to be made to alter this type of behavior in a rigidly constructed society? I feel that for a series that has delved into this aspect needs to continue exploring it. Because as of currently, 86 as a entertainment is utilizing these elements in its narrative to victimize and only victimize. 86 is manipulating the viewers by giving in to the never-ending victimization, to squeeze out the emotions of the viewers because the series has no affirmative values to offer other than the surface-level presentation.

The victim-playing aspect becomes even more apparent during the turning point of the second half of 86 Part 2. During the turning point, 86 chose to shift the focus away from it. By shifting the focus away from continuing exploring for possible solutions to the problems at hand, the series is telling us that it doesn’t have affirmative answers. To which, in my eyes, this is no different than any other liberal media that have presented the same stories that contained the same themes as 86. This is where my problem lies with 86 as a series. I understand what the series is trying to portray, but I can’t help to feel that I’ve seen these types of shows before. I can’t help but feel that the same old themes and message that the series is trying to convey are not offering any distinctive answers; or in any profound way in its presentation. And over time, I can only predict that it’ll lose its meaning. In a world where these types of stories are saturated into our everyday lives, I can only see 86 as something that’s nonunique and nonrevolutionary when it had the potential to do so. I’m not saying 86 is downright terrible or utterly bad, but what I’m saying is that the series as a whole feels redundant given the field that 86 is playing in. To me, it’s upholding the same old status quo regarding the executions of its narrative and themes while not offering anything new for me to ponder over.

In consideration of its characters, 86 is at times feels more worth the investment when the series has little moments that are dedicated to the characters--specifically, the Spearhead Squadrons. When the series spends an episode or two on the character study of someone like Anju Emma, Shinei, or Raiden Shuga, it gives more insight into the minds of these characters. We get to learn more about their personas beyond being soldiers and apathetic war machines. I find that when the series utilizes their past to develop the people they are today is more interesting to watch because there’s a huge potential for explorations and again, character study. One of my major problems with the first installment of 86 was that I found Lena to be distracting and uninteresting. But by taking Lena away and focusing the narrative around someone like Emma—who’s not privileged and ignorant like Lena—it creates more compelling reasons for me to care and give a damn. However, I lament that part 2 doesn’t present enough of it. And that the increase in character dynamics between the rest of the cast and Lena will further decrease my liking of the series as a whole.

Overall, 86 is still a solid series that has a decent amount of attractive elements in its narrative and characterizations. But at the same time, it has nothing that innovates this media as others would claim it does. I find it very typical of how series like 86 in presenting themselves. I guess what I’m saying here is that 86 could’ve been a series that offers a more unique way for us to think about its presentation of its message and themes. If only 86 could be that unique.

Score: 5/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Mar 19, 2022

SingleH

Not Recommended

Like any show, 86 has a lot of haters, but this is the first time I think I’ve ever disliked a show this much for a reason unique to myself. I may be a better writer than some, and others may be better writers than me, but usually, everything bad anyone has to say about any show is criticism echoed by someone else. However, no one I’ve seen seems to share my biggest single issue with 86. The first time I came into contact with this show was probably the first time you did too. I was just minding my own business, when suddenly the ... internet was flooded with pictures of the first volume’s cover art. And wow! That cover art sure is pretty. Lena’s gorgeous outfit, the artist’s excellently balanced color contrast. Of course, it does a good job of conveying the intrigue in the story and the setting, but on an artistic level, everything about it was just so visually striking, and it’s no surprise that book sold like hotcakes. When I went to investigate, the light novel only had a few thousand members on MAL, but the preliminary aggregate score was already a 9.00. Even after that initial buzz died down, I would always see that beautiful image in passing and wonder to myself, “When will this get an anime?” The second time I came into contact with 86 was when I watched the Eromanga Sensei OVAs. Eromanga Sensei was an abhorrent piece of trash, and not just because it was an incest show. Its characters, when they weren’t being completely two dimensional, were just being horrible people, or confusing, or self-contradictory. It was always one of those. It had fan service, and I don’t mind fan service, but here it was creepy, and the voyeuristic angles it took made me feel legitimately uncomfortable, like watching a hidden-camera show in a little girl’s room. The OVA series wasn’t hideously animated like the TV anime, but its writing didn’t improve in the slightest. In the second episode of these OVAs, the main character gets sick, so two of his friends come over to help out. Unfortunately for them, his little sister (who is in love with him) doesn’t want to let other women into the house to get close to her brother, so she refuses to let them in. They are for some reason okay with this, and they hand her the get-well present they brought for her brother to give him on their behalf. That present, to my surprise, was volume five of 86.

Right now, there’s a show airing called Ousama Ranking, but its content doesn’t matter. What matters is how it looks. When people first saw its storybook art style, they immediately distanced themselves from the show because, in their words, “it looks like a kids show.” I visited many of these peoples’ profile pages and wasn’t shocked by what I found. Many considered Re:Zero and Demon Slayer to be among their favorite anime. Others considered My Hero Academia, Clannad, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, etc. I don’t want to say anything judgmental or make any dangerously sweeping statements, because I know reviews can be taken down for less and people love mass-reporting my work, but those anime I just listed are, in fact, kids shows. “What are you talking about? My Hero Academia has fan service and violence, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU has ‘mature themes’, and Re:Zero and Demon Slayer have gore! How can you possibly call these kids shows?” As an American living in the Bible Belt, I wasn’t surprised when I learned Demon Slayer: Infinity Train was rated R17 by the MPAA, nor was I surprised to learn Eirin had rated it PG12 in Japan. They understand that while, yes, these anime contain certain words and certain images which may be seen as inappropriate, they also present these words and images with the gravity of kids shows. The fan service in anime like My Hero Academia is sexual, but it’s not pornographic. It’s comedic, and it’s there not to violate the purity and innocence of children, but simply to keep the attention of horny kids going through puberty. The so-called “mature themes” in anime like My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU aren’t mature in the slightest, consisting entirely of melodramatic high schoolers fumbling over their feelings, and shows like Re:Zero and Demon Slayer spend time on similarly juvenile bullshit and include cringeworthy meme comedy. As far as the gore goes, sure, I guess Subaru has some fairly visceral death scenes, but the fight scenes in Re:Zero are all cartoonish anime nonsense, and everything in Demon Slayer is outwardly silly no matter how conventionally graphic it may seem. Goons get shredded in underwater blenders, and others get their heads popped like balloons with goofy CG volleyballs.

There’s a lot wrong with 86, and I’ll tackle all that in a second, but the main problem—which makes it almost completely unwatchable for me—is how much of a kids show it is. “WHAT?! 86 is mature! It addresses themes of war, classism, and racism! It has intense scenes of violence and death! How can you POSSIBLY call it a kids show?!?!” I knew 86 wasn’t going to be worth the hype as soon as I saw it featured in that Eromanga Sensei OVA not because I’m a cynical bitch who hates everything, but because I knew there was no way Dengeki Bunko would shill the light novel like that unless its fanbase had the exact same demographics as the viewers watching Eromanga Sensei. Yes, 86 is technically about war, and when you look at it from afar, you see war. Eromanga Sensei is technically about a damaged hikkikomori grappling with deep anxiety issues and the tragic loss of her parents, and when you look at it from afar, you see a damaged hikkikomori grappling with deep anxiety issues and the tragic loss of her parents. However, when you actually watch these shows, what do you really get? You get waifus and contrivance. This is not a show concerned with war, classism, or racism. It’s a show concerned with waifus and contrivance, but it dresses itself up with paper-thin themes of war, classism, and racism in an attempt to make itself appear more sophisticated despite its obviously sophomoric grasp of such themes and to make its audience feel more intelligent for watching it. At least in my case, it failed to do so, because its tone shifts clash in such a jarring way. My brain can’t reconcile the hard-ass war story with the waifu-bait trash. They’re like oil and water, and the resulting anime is whatever greasy slime would result from such a mixture. You’re of course missing the point if you think I’m suggesting there can be absolutely no comedy, romance, or lightheartedness in a military drama whatsoever. That would be ridiculous. It’s simply a matter of presentation, and this anime presents itself with frilly bra straps, goofy oujo-sama loli princesses, and chibi-faced moe blobs in military uniforms eating cake, exclaiming, “Oishii!” When I say “kids show,” I obviously don’t mean you can throw on 86 for your five year old son after he’s done watching Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer and shit, but given the increasingly violent and sexual nature of video games and Hollywood film, I would be VERY surprised if your average twelve or thirteen year old child didn’t find this show to be totally benign.

Even if 86 didn’t actively squander its tone, its actual content is just plain bad. I knew this series would continue to have the subtly of elementary TV time as soon as Lena walked into the military HQ in episode one, because what follows is the most ostentatious, in-your-face sequence of hamfisted social commentary I’ve ever seen, and so far the show has yet to improve. Some of the plot devices are downright asinine, like characters being able to hear the cries of literal ghosts on the battlefield thanks to their magical bloodlines, and the characters themselves are just terrible. Shin is a fucking brick whose stock edgy trauma does little to deepen his character, the entire supporting cast is lucky if they get even a single piece of characterization you haven’t seen a billion times in other highschool anime, and Lena spends most of the show a crying emotional mess with the strategy skills of a barely potty-trained toddler. Most women in uniform are dressed in otaku fetishwear with short skirts, boob windows, stockings, and garter belts, while all the men in uniform are wearing your average discount 1930s Hugo Boss uniforms. The 2D animation generally doesn’t look as bad as you’d expect from A1 Pictures, but it’s still nothing special, and the drawings can still look about as shoddy and rushed as that of your average anime, so if you actually go out of your own way to scrutinize it thoroughly, you can find yourself some truly awful looking, off-model in-betweens. However, the backgrounds are exactly as bad as you’d expect, the character designs are forgettable boilerplate trash when compared to the gorgeous LN cover art, and the CG—of which there is a fucking ton—is utterly abysmal. Every action scene in this show is a nightmarish fever dream of hideous CG mech monstrosities, disgusting digital particle effects, overbearing sound direction, and headache inducing visual direction, so Hiroyuki Sawano’s music is nowhere near enough to distract me from the repulsive shit being smeared on screen before me. And all of this is being delivered, by the way, with multiple MONTHS of delays and recap episodes in between what I can only imagine is a hellish production crunch. No matter how juvenile its presentation may be, 86 does have a few worthwhile bits of personality, like how the soldiers used as fodder on the front lines refer to their Aryan overlords as “white pigs,” which is pretty funny, but these small, isolated sparks of life are no replacement for a well-written narrative.

I genuinely do not blame high schoolers or college kids for finding this kind of thing provocative, and while the horrendous action sequences might push some viewers away, I imagine the vast majority of the anime community will have nothing but good things to say about 86, and to them I have no harsh words. Please, enjoy it if you will. However, I also have to recognize that when you have a little perspective and are able to take a step back, it’s difficult not to see 86 as a completely generic melodrama with anime romcom trappings, teenage characters grappling with teenage identity issues, purely decorative themes, and your typical self-insert brooding gigachad protagonist surrounded by a selection of waifus for the promotional material.

Thank you for reading.

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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