About 86 -Eighty-Six-, the powerful military mecha anime franchise

86 -Eighty Six- stands as one of the most unflinching examinations of systemic discrimination in modern mecha anime, using the machinery of war to expose the devastating reality of dehumanisation and racism in society.

Created by Asato Asato and illustrated by Shirabii in 2017, this groundbreaking franchise challenges conventional military mecha storytelling by placing systemic oppression at the centre of its narrative, creating a work that resonates powerfully with contemporary struggles for equality and justice.

The 86 franchise features mechanised combat units called Juggernauts, quadrupedal mecha designed for high-mobility warfare against autonomous enemy forces. Unlike traditional piloted robots, these machines serve as both weapons of war and instruments of systematic oppression, with their operators treated as expendable non-humans by the society they defend.

86 -Eighty Six- is the original anime adaptation that brought the franchise to international prominence. The series has expanded through light novels, manga adaptations, spin-off series, and merchandise that continue to explore the devastating consequences of institutionalised discrimination.

86 -Eighty Six- emerged from Asato Asato’s desire to examine the ethics of drone warfare and systematic dehumanisation. Inspired by the 2007 film The Mist and real-world conflicts involving autonomous weapons, the author created a narrative that forces audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about how societies construct “otherness” and justify the expenditure of human lives.

This approach transformed 86 from mere entertainment into a powerful work of social commentary, earning critical acclaim and establishing new standards for how mecha anime can address contemporary political issues.

Universe of 86 -Eighty Six-

Primary timeline

The main 86 -Eighty Six- universe depicts a world where technological advancement exists alongside systemic racial oppression. The story primarily takes place in the year 2148, nine years into a devastating war between the Republic of San Magnolia and the Giadian Empire, though the conflict’s effects extend across multiple nations and continents.

The Republic of San Magnolia maintains the fiction of conducting a “war without casualties” by refusing to acknowledge the humanity of the Eighty-Six, racial minorities forced to pilot seemingly autonomous Juggernauts from internment camps in the non-existent Eighty-Sixth Sector. This systematic dehumanisation allows the silver-haired Alba majority to maintain their privileged existence whilst the Colorata minorities fight and die in their name.

The Federal Republic of Giad, formed from the ruins of the former Giadian Empire, represents a potential path toward redemption, offering equality and dignity to those who have been systematically oppressed. Other nations, including the United Kingdom of Roa Gracia and the Alliance of Wald, struggle with their own approaches to the expanding Legion threat.

Notable series and media in chronological order:

86 -Eighty Six- (2148-2149)
86 -Eighty Six-: Operation High School (alternate timeline)
86 -Eighty Six-: Fragmental Neoteny (side stories)

Themes and technological concepts

The franchise explores racial hierarchy through the systematic dehumanisation of the Eighty-Six, who are stripped of their names, citizenship, and humanity whilst being forced to fight for a society that refuses to acknowledge their existence. The Para-RAID communication system, which allows telepathic contact between handlers and pilots, serves as both a tool of command and a means of forcing privileged characters to confront the humanity of those they oppress.

The Legion, autonomous war machines originally created by the Giadian Empire, represent the inevitable consequences of treating humans as disposable. These machines, which eventually turned against their creators, demonstrate how systematic dehumanisation ultimately destroys the societies that practice it.

Juggernaut design philosophy emphasises functionality over aesthetics, with their spider-like quadrupedal forms optimised for mobility across varied terrain whilst maintaining the psychological distance necessary for their operators to be seen as expendable. Unlike traditional mecha, these machines are explicitly designed as instruments of oppression rather than symbols of heroism.

History of 86 -Eighty Six-

Creation and development

In 2014, Asato Asato began developing what would become her most significant work whilst contemplating the ethical implications of drone warfare and the psychological mechanisms that enable societies to dehumanise certain populations. After reaching the third round of the 21st Dengeki Novel Prize, she was encouraged to create something distinctive for the Dengeki Bunko imprint.

Drawing inspiration from Stephen King’s The Mist and contemporary military conflicts, Asato developed the concept of a society that maintains the fiction of conducting warfare without casualties by refusing to recognise the humanity of those actually fighting. The creative process took over five years, with Asato experimenting with multiple settings before arriving at the final configuration that would effectively communicate her themes.

The author’s background research included extensive study of historical and contemporary examples of systematic dehumanisation, from wartime propaganda to modern drone warfare ethics. This foundation enabled the creation of a fictional world that, whilst fantastical in its technology, remains grounded in recognisable patterns of human behaviour and social organisation.

Literary success and recognition

In 2016, 86 -Eighty Six- won the Grand Prize at the 23rd Dengeki Novel Prize, launching Asato Asato’s career and establishing the franchise’s foundation. The light novels, published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint, achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling over one million copies by 2021.

The series ranked second in Takarajimasha’s annual light novel guide Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! in 2018 and fifth in 2019, demonstrating sustained reader engagement with its challenging themes. Critics praised the work’s “movingly honest portrayal of war, drama, and the shockingly discriminatory views of a nation’s general public,” establishing it as a landmark work in contemporary Japanese science fiction.

The franchise’s literary success stemmed from its ability to address contemporary political issues through the familiar framework of mecha action, making complex themes accessible to a broad audience whilst maintaining artistic integrity and emotional honesty.

Multimedia expansion

Manga adaptations

The franchise expanded into manga form through adaptations by Motoki Yoshihara in Square Enix’s Young Gangan magazine from 2018 to 2021, though these were unfortunately cancelled due to the creator’s health issues. The adaptation covered the first major story arc and provided visual interpretation of key scenes from the light novels.

Multiple spin-off manga series explored different aspects of the franchise’s universe. 86: Operation High School by Suzume Somemiya presented an alternate universe school setting, whilst 86: Fragmental Neoteny offered side stories expanding on character backgrounds and world-building elements.

Anime production

The anime adaptation, announced in 2020 and produced by A-1 Pictures, premiered in 2021 under the direction of Toshimasa Ishii. The series utilised a split-cour format, with eleven episodes airing from April to June 2021 and twelve additional episodes from October 2021 to March 2022.

Asato Asato maintained unprecedented involvement in the anime adaptation, participating in script meetings, character design approval, and voice actor auditions. This collaboration ensured that the anime maintained the literary work’s thematic integrity whilst taking advantage of the medium’s unique storytelling capabilities.

The production team included script writer Toshiya Ōno (known for The Promised Neverland), character designer Tetsuya Kawakami, and composers Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto. The mechanical designs by I-IV created a distinctive visual language that reinforces the series’ themes through the contrast between the sleek Juggernauts and their harsh operational environment.

Critical reception and awards

The anime adaptation received widespread international acclaim for its sophisticated handling of complex themes and exceptional production values. The series earned nominations at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards for Anime of the Year, Best Drama, and Best Score, establishing its reputation as one of the standout productions of 2021.

Critics praised the series’ direction, animation quality, and music, with particular acclaim for how the adaptation translated the source material’s psychological depth into visual storytelling. The production’s technical excellence, combined with its thematic sophistication, demonstrated how anime could address serious social issues without sacrificing entertainment value.

International reviews consistently highlighted the series’ relevance to contemporary discussions about systemic racism and institutional discrimination, with many noting how the fictional framework enabled examination of real-world issues in ways that direct treatment might not achieve.

Mechanical design philosophy

Juggernaut development

The Juggernauts of 86 -Eighty Six- represent a radical departure from traditional mecha design philosophy. Rather than emphasising heroic aesthetics or overwhelming power, these machines prioritise functionality, mobility, and psychological distance between operators and the society they serve.

I-IV’s mechanical designs deliberately evoke arachnid forms, with quadrupedal locomotion systems that enable rapid traversal of varied terrain whilst maintaining the psychological association with vermin or pests. This design choice reinforces the systematic dehumanisation central to the series’ themes.

The various Juggernaut configurations—including General Purpose, Long Range Artillery, and Close Combat variants—demonstrate tactical specialisation rather than individual heroism. Each design serves specific battlefield roles whilst maintaining the basic aesthetic that emphasises mechanical utility over dramatic impact.

Technological integration

The Para-RAID system represents the franchise’s most significant technological innovation, enabling direct neural communication between handlers and pilots. This technology serves multiple narrative functions: facilitating command and control, creating psychological intimacy between characters, and forcing privileged individuals to confront the humanity of those they oppress.

Unlike traditional mecha communication systems that maintain psychological distance, the Para-RAID makes it impossible for handlers to avoid experiencing their subordinates as human beings. This forced intimacy becomes a crucial element in breaking down the psychological barriers that enable systematic oppression.

The technology’s limitations and psychological costs demonstrate how even advanced communication systems cannot completely bridge the gap between privilege and oppression, requiring genuine commitment to equality and justice rather than mere technological solutions.

Cultural impact and legacy

86 -Eighty Six- arrived at a time when global discussions about systemic racism and institutional discrimination were reaching new prominence. The franchise’s unflinching examination of how societies construct and maintain hierarchies of human worth resonated with audiences confronting similar issues in their own contexts.

The series’ approach to depicting war differs significantly from traditional mecha anime by focusing on the psychological and social mechanisms that enable conflict rather than glorifying combat itself. This perspective influenced subsequent military-themed anime and demonstrated how the genre could address contemporary political issues without sacrificing entertainment value.

Critics and academics have praised 86 for its sophisticated handling of complex themes, with some noting how the series uses the mecha genre’s conventions to expose rather than celebrate the machinery of oppression. The franchise’s success proved that audiences were prepared to engage with challenging content when it was presented with artistic integrity and emotional honesty.

International recognition

The franchise’s international success demonstrated the global relevance of its themes, with audiences worldwide recognising parallels between the fictional Republic of San Magnolia and real-world examples of institutional discrimination. This recognition helped establish 86 -Eighty Six- as an important work of contemporary social commentary.

Academic institutions have begun incorporating 86 -Eighty Six- into curricula examining media representation of racism and military ethics, recognising the series’ sophisticated approach to these complex topics. The franchise’s educational value extends beyond entertainment into serious academic discourse about power, privilege, and human dignity.

The series’ influence on subsequent anime productions has been notable, with several creators citing 86 as inspiration for works that address social justice themes through genre storytelling. This influence suggests that the franchise’s impact will continue to resonate in future productions.

Merchandising and model kits

The franchise’s commercial success extends to model kit production, with Bandai producing detailed 1/48 scale Juggernaut models under their High Grade line. These kits, supervised by original mechanical designer I-IV, capture the functional aesthetic of the mecha whilst providing detailed reproductions suitable for both display and customisation.

The model kits’ popularity demonstrates how the franchise’s distinctive mechanical designs have resonated with hobbyists, despite—or perhaps because of—their departure from traditional heroic mecha aesthetics. The kits include multiple variants, from Shin’s custom unit to standard issue configurations used by various Spearhead Squadron members.

Future developments

With thirteen published light novel volumes as of 2024, the 86 -Eighty Six- franchise contains sufficient source material for multiple additional anime seasons. Asato Asato has indicated that the series may be approaching its conclusion, though the themes it explores remain urgently relevant to contemporary discussions about equality and justice.

Rumours of additional anime productions continue to circulate, with fans speculating about potential announcements at anniversary events and industry showcases. The franchise’s commercial success and critical acclaim suggest that additional adaptations are likely, though no official confirmations have been made.

The continued publication of spin-off materials and supplementary content indicates ongoing interest in expanding the 86 -Eighty Six- universe, with potential for exploring the themes and concepts in new contexts and through different character perspectives.

Legacy and continuing influence

Educational impact

Universities and educational institutions have begun incorporating 86 -Eighty Six- into courses examining contemporary media representation of social issues. The series’ sophisticated approach to depicting systematic oppression through genre fiction has made it valuable for academic analysis of how popular culture can address serious political themes.

The franchise’s educational applications extend beyond media studies into sociology, political science, and ethics courses, where it serves as a case study in how fictional narratives can illuminate real-world power structures and social dynamics.

Industry influence

The success of 86 -Eighty Six- has demonstrated to anime producers that audiences are willing to engage with complex, challenging content when it is presented with artistic integrity and high production values. This has influenced subsequent series to tackle more serious themes whilst maintaining entertainment value.

The franchise’s approach to integrating social commentary with mecha action has established new benchmarks for how the genre can address contemporary issues without sacrificing spectacle or emotional impact. This influence is visible in newer military-themed anime that attempt similar balances between entertainment and social awareness.

Conclusion

The 86 -Eighty Six- franchise represents a watershed moment in mecha anime, proving that the genre can serve as a powerful vehicle for examining the most pressing social issues of our time. Through its uncompromising portrayal of systematic oppression and its refusal to offer easy solutions, the series has established new standards for what animated entertainment can achieve.

The franchise’s enduring legacy lies not merely in its technical excellence or narrative sophistication, but in its moral clarity about the fundamental equality of human beings. By using the familiar framework of mecha action to examine unfamiliar depths of human cruelty and redemption, 86 -Eighty Six- has created a work that will continue to resonate as long as societies struggle with issues of discrimination and justice.

As both spectacular entertainment and urgent social commentary, 86 -Eighty Six- stands as a testament to the power of animated media to confront the darkest aspects of human behaviour whilst maintaining hope for redemption and change. Its influence on creators and audiences alike ensures that the franchise’s call for equality and human dignity will continue to inspire long after its final episode airs.