All About 86 Eighty-Six

The Spearhead Squadron... and all their heads still intact.

“Fucking glory to the Spearhead Squadron!” is definitely one of the most memorable lines in the series that struck down any doubts cast upon this show. Action-packed and thrilling, 86 Eighty-Six is a character-driven story that depicts morality, racism, and war subjects all in one bowl. It explores how the characters learn to live and fight despite being treated as livestock by the very country they grew up in, all because of their differences in—well, you guessed that right—color. If you’re into mecha and the elements of World War II, then this show is definitely a catch worthy of your attention.

The story begins when Lena (of Alba race) refuses to treat the 86 as pigs armed to die at their country’s cause in a world whose main enemy is an army of AI unmanned drones. Among the maltreated people of the Colorata—people born with darker haircolors than Albas—and the rest of the supposed “nonexistent” men and women of the 86th district, Captain Shinei “Shin” crosses paths with Major Vladilena “Lena” as she remotely pilots them as their Handler via para-RAID device. Both were able to see past each other’s differences and find themselves in aligned goals, and hopes for a better future despite the challenges they experienced in the ongoing war.

86 Eighty-Six gained more attention when it won the prestigious Dengeki Novel Prize 2016 Rookie Awards, and is also one of the most anticipated Fall Anime of 2021 (according to Anime Corner's poll on Top 10 Most Anticipated Anime of Fall 2021). Among A-1 Pictures’ top-rated series, 86 Eighty-Six is a series driven by idealism and freedom, grappled with the effects of racial discrimination, division of classes, and war. It has proved itself worthy of viewers (and readers) all over the globe because of its themes that are still relevant to this day. 

The author and creator of Eighty-Six, Asato-Asato, took inspiration from World War II events and western movie, The Mist (2007). She is also a massive fan of mechs (which she expressed in Afterword, 86 Eighty-Six, Vol. 1).

Below are in-detail information about 86 Eighty-Six’s AI war machine driven world. 

The Republic of San Magnolia and It’s “Nonexistent” Eighty-Sixth Sector

Modernized Structures of The Republic of San Magnolia

Often referred to in the light novel as “The Republic”, The Republic of San Magnolia is loud and proud of their moral principles: “Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood, Justice, Nobility” but of course, they hadn’t exhibited this at all when they declared that the Colorata race was a threat to their nation. They stripped them of their civil rights and forced the people to move to internment camps outside of its eighty-five sectors. The trigger eventually happened when the Giadian Empire, with an army of AI-programmed drones called Legions, declared war against them. Hence, the creation of The Special Wartime Peace Preservation Act, Presidential Order #6609. This forced the Colorata people to auto-pilot a war machine called the Juggernaut, whose AI system was way behind other countries, its likeness modeled to a spider with grappling arms that can be used to defend against the Legions’ massive forces. A Handler secured within the eighty-five districts helped pilot the drones and was only assigned to pure Albas. 

In the past, The Republic was known to believe their race was above everyone else’s, which soon led to an outbreak of war. In the current timeline, they had made it known to the world that they’re a changed nation—a land that welcomes diverse cultures and races and that battles between the artificial intelligent-driven machines called Legions were, in fact, bloodless. 

But these so-called changes were only a front to maintain what they’re trying to impose: that Albas (those with white, silver hair, and of noble lineage) are superior to that of the Colorata (people of color). The Alba hadn’t really let go of their twisted ideology that they’re far more superior than other races. Furthermore, their sense of supremacy had treated other races in the continent as mere livestock, which is unarguably dehumanizing to any human race. Hence, the derogatory nickname of pigs was coined for the people of what they had spread as “nonexistent”: the hidden eighty-sixth district of  The Republic.

The Bloodstained Queen

Major Vladilena "Lena" Milizé

Vladilena Milizé, known as “Lena” by her peers, is the exceptional Handler in command of the Spearhead Squadron. This elite force guards the Eastern frontlines outside the eighty-five sectors of The Republic of San Magnolia. She commands them inside the control room in the capital city via a long-distance communication device called Para-RAID. 

Lena was at the top of her class, skipping several grades, and had been immediately granted the ranking of Major at the age of sixteen. Due to an encounter outside the eighty-five sectors of The Republic during her childhood, Lena has vowed to help assist the Eighty-Six the best way she can. Lena delves from the ideology of The Republic as a supreme race despite acquiring a reputation as the naive Alba that didn’t know the difference between humans and pigs (the Alba’s derogatory term for the people of Eighty-Six). She was sincere with her duties in aiding Captain Shin and the rest of the elite force of the Easter frontlines during their battles with the Legion. Because of her leadership, morals, and effective tactics, Lena has earned the respect of the majority of the Eighty-Six. She, later on, earned the nickname “Bloody Reina” for thinking that the plenty of the blood of the Eighty-Six she sent to their deaths has stained her forever. However, it was the actual opposite as every squadron she handled had the lowest fatality rate in the entire Republic. 

Reaper of the Eastern Front

Captain Shinei "Shin" Nouzen, codename Undertaker

Known among his peers as the “Reaper,” Captain Shinei Nouzen (personal name: Undertaker) was the leader of Spearhead Squadron, an elite force assigned in the Eastern front. Here, the best pilots are chosen and put into one team to fight the heavily Legion-infested areas of the nation. 

Observant and an avid reader of books, Shin has garnered most of his knowledge through personal experience and reading as his past time. Even without formal training, Shin is well-versed in military tactics and led his squadron to defend their area without the help of a Handler via para-RAID. 

Shin earned his moniker, Reaper, when the people of the eighty-sixth district expected him to carry on their memory with him for the rest of his life. This is made happen when Shin takes a piece of their fallen comrade’s juggernauts (auto-piloted drones) and keeps it in a safe box as a remembrance for their service. On the darker side, Shin was also the person who ends the person’s life, shooting at his members brain to damage it, and deemed useless by the Legion. Yes. You read that right. The Legion takes the brains of the deceased Eighty-Six and programs it in order for their machines to survive. But it just gets worse from here as Shin innately inherited a telepathic ability to hear the voices of the Legion, or rather, the voices of his dead comrades. On a positive note, this has allowed him to estimate their size and strategize how to defend the areas. 

At the story’s beginning, the Eighty-Six, including Shin, was filled with hatred and disdain for their oppressors, the Albas. But because of Lena’s determination and genuine intentions, she became their exemption as the Eighty-Six was able to emotionally form a bond, and open up themselves to her. Succeeding this, it was the beginning where Shin decides to dream again; he starts to hope for a future he refused to see when he and his squadron fought in the frontlines. 

A Must Watch (And Definitely Read)

Countdown Board of Spearhead Squadron until their supossed retirement 

The 86 Eighty-Six light novel has eleven volumes out in Japanese, and has nine and counting released English-translated versions. The latest one came out earlier on February 22, 2022. The anime adaptation aired last April 21, 2021 and has been ongoing since then. For its second cour, 86 Eighty-Six is back for the most-awaited 22nd episode that left everyone on the edge of their seats. It had been delayed for several months now as the production team wanted to take their time in making the last two episodes to maintain the show’s quality. Regardless, the anime finished spectacularly, and had fans wanting for more. Its reviews also garnered high scores that had 86 Eighty-Six on the 43rd rank (as of April 12, 2022) of Top Animes reviewed by fans all over the globe. Mecha fans or not, I’m sure everyone’s already looking forward for announcements on its third season.

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