Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Kranst
“Will you remember us...?” 86 Eighty-Six explores the lives of those forced to fight a fruitless war from a recordless district of the same name. Moral corruption and rooted prejudice divide people. Those with power write the rules. And those discriminated against are being expunged from history. This story is told from contrasting perspectives. Lena, an officer inside the walls with humanity intact, seeks to bridge this division and save her squadron. And Shin, the leader of this unit, seeks to carry the fallen alongside himself until his end. Their names might not be recorded, but their memory serves to inspire the survivors yet living.
Read at the sourceMatthyxz
86 (Eighty-Six) is not an easy watch, but it is an unforgettable experience. The series depicts a cruel, discriminatory reality where human beings are stripped of their dignity, labeled as "drones," and sent to die on the front lines to sustain a false peace for those living comfortably behind the walls.
What makes this show stand out is how deeply personal the conflict feels. It doesn't treat death as a mere statistic or shock value; each loss carries real weight, and you feel the psychological toll on Shin and the Spearhead Squadron as they carry the memories of fallen comrades. The direction, visual storytelling, and Sawano's haunting soundtrack elevate the emotional atmosphere to another level.
It’s difficult to put into words just how overwhelming the emotions get, especially seeing…
Read at the sourcejohnninetwo
86 presents itself as a show that tackles interesting subject matter such as: racism, xenophobia, genocide, consciousness, propaganda, and trauma. In reality, it is a thematically confused piece with some of the poorest storytelling, writing, and plot that I've ever had the misfortune to subject myself to.
When it comes to digesting media, I always try my best to approach it in good faith, with an appreciation for the constraints and conventions of the medium, and a genuine attempt to understand what is trying to be conveyed. Even when I apply my best-faith effort to engaging with 86, I come away in a state of utter shock that this series was ever cleared to air; the writing and thematic execution of this series reads like an eighth-grader who just found out about the misuse of political…
Read at the sourceuchu_no_otaku
This is exactly the type of anime I'm really into. 86 had me hooked from the beginning, and once I started watching, it was hard to stop. The constant conflicts, intense situations, and the feeling that something could go wrong at any moment kept me wanting to watch more. Every time I finished an episode, I kept telling myself, “Just one more episode,” even when it was already really late at night. Then somehow, one more episode turned into several.
What I also liked is that the characters don't feel safe. People can die, and that made the story feel more intense because you never really know what will happen next. The conflicts aren't just there for action either. There are some emotional moments that hit harder because I was already invested in the characters.
This is one of those anim…
Read at the sourceHausuEnjoyer
Well! It's finally over. I am not sure when I'll have the strength to watch the second cour.
When I learned there was a series with a deuteragonist named Vladilena, as a fan of Lenin myself, I absolutely had to pick it up. And so I got a paperback copy of the first light novel volume. Aside from the cool robot color inserts, I have nothing nice to say about that book. And I take the recommendations of light novel readers far less seriously now after reading it. Still, when the undue praise for the 86 light novel series was repeated for its anime adaptation, I did have hope. After all, there are plenty of adaptations that I would say exceed their original source. Unfortunately, that hope was misplaced.
86 reads like a middle-schooler's first attempt at anti-fascist storytelling. There is…
Read at the sourcenozomi-hd
86 was a good anime for me, and despite its flaws, it was a beautiful and memorable experience.
The story and its themes are interesting, and the characters are likable, but most of them didn’t feel deep or memorable enough to stay with me.
The soundtrack is beautiful, especially the vocal tracks, but sometimes the music feels more like a beautiful song placed over a scene rather than something that truly belongs to the scene.
Some of the warm and beautiful artwork also feels slightly disconnected from the darker and heavier atmosphere of the story. At times, the anime seems more focused on making a moment beautiful than making it emotionally painful or impactful. Still, the direction, soundtrack, and some emotional scenes are genuinely impressive.
Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and I’m l…
Read at the sourceRyanSpring
I tried an experiment where I gave ChatGPT over 100 of my previous reviews from this site so it could learn my taste and then I gave it a list of 50+ anime from my collection that I'd not yet watched and asked it to pick which one I'd like the best. This was its recommendation and it was remarkably confident. Well, looking at my final score you can see how well that turned out...
I liked 86 at least to some extent in the early going. I never loved it, but it was fine. The longer it went on the worse it got and it did just about everything I hate in anime to the point where I started wondering if ChatGPT, knowing my pet peeves, intentionally picked this to troll me. It is INCREDIBLY tropey and predictable. Ludicrously skilled and overpowered male main character? Check. Main character with…
Read at the sourceKatsumataJ
86 is one of those shows that will leave you in utter shambles with questions you don't want answers to.
86 did something very special. It focused on its characters. Sure, the animation is great, the themes are powerful, and the world feels alive. But what makes this show special is that it makes you feel for these people. They aren't just soldiers fighting a war. They are human beings living in a cruel world, fighting a battle where they know they are not expected to survive.
This show did not just draw me in, it handcuffed me. It made me feel like I was living alongside these characters. Every member of the cast has something unique about them. The funny one, the one who hides their pain behind a smile, the stoic leader, the emotional one, the carefree one who keeps everyone grounded.…
Read at the sourceAan1m
An absolute masterclass and hidden gem in the world of anime as a medium - when I first watched this I was absolutely blown away by just how great this anime would be - this anime shows the the grittiness and hardships faced in a war and how certain sides could be oppressed and use for other peoples gains - the character relationships between shin and his crew and their new handler is so wholesome - the fact that they are so acclimated to having someone be a handler that would abandon them or use them to the point they would actively try and get the handler to resign but here comes a sweet caring charming girl that truly wants to help these people and not wanting to oppress or use them something about that just hits all the right feels - this is only the start aswell as part 2 truly is lev…
Read at the sourceSenpaiHasIdeas
Before I begin I have seen both parts and enjoyed it as a fan, but now after a rewatch I will present my opinion as a reviewer. With this information the validity of my review is entirely up to interpretation.
Subject;
86 - Part 1
Review -
Art/Animation:
The animation is dare I say gorgeous, the animators outdid themselves with this series, genuinely deserving of the highest praises. Angles are not wasted there are many times where the placement of the imaginary camera is remarkable. The use of space is also amazing because rather the envirement feel like a set piece it feels like a real tangible place. The cinematography is of no exception as well each scene serves their ultimate purpose and then the audience is given something that can only be called cinematic. Majority of the color i…
Read at the sourceFkinrare
With anime growing at the rate it has in the states the word "Peak" gets used more than the word "bro" nowadays. However this series really fits the term peak. The music, the story, the characters fitting callsigns, the character designs, everything really meshed together perfectly all while being its own designs of mecha anime. If viewers enjoyed series like Attack on Titan and Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans it is 100% worth the watch. Once I finished the series I even bought the entire season as I know i will find myself revisiting the fight of Shin The Reaper and Lena.
Read at the sourcesylorite
“If we make it to the end… don’t forget us.”
I don’t think there has ever been another anime that has made those words carry as much weight as 86.
At first glance, 86 presents itself as another war story. Mechs. Explosions. Political conflict. A struggle between two nations. But that couldn’t be further from what it’s actually trying to say. 86 isn’t about war. It’s about what war steals from people long before it takes their lives. The Eighty-Six aren’t simply treated as soldiers. They’re stripped of their names, their homes, their humanity and eventually even the right to be mourned. To the Republic, they aren’t people at all. They’re statistics. Disposable machines sent to die so that everyone else can continue believing they live in a bloodless paradise.
And yet, despite all of tha…
Read at the sourceElricFam07
EIGHTY-SIX Review
"We cannot change the cards we were dealt, just the way we play the hand."
This is the concept 86 tries to capture. The show explores the Republic of San Magnolia, a nation at war with an endless army of autonomous drones. While the Republic claims to be fighting a bloodless war using their own automated machines, the dark truth is that these units are actually piloted by the "86" a marginalized group of people stripped of their rights, treated as subhuman, and forced to fight on the front lines.
The story trys to show the irony of how the Alba who are far from away from the war live in polluted cities,eat adulterated food and are portrayed unhappy while the 86 squadron try to enjoy themselves in spite of the conditions.
Believe me i liked the setting but the story see…
Read at the sourceEris16
Eighty six is an anime you'll never think that affect you that much before start to watch. The story, cinematography, characters, world building, lines everything was perfect. I never cried to an anime until watching Eighty-Six but in this show everytime the main ost drops tears were starting to well up in my eyes. It impressed me so hard after finishing the anime i felt empty for a while. Also the philosophically part of the anime moved something within me on a difficult part of my life and made me push forward so this show will always stay special for me I recommend everyone to climb on this fictional peak and witness what you haven't experienced yet...
Read at the sourcetankerboo
Man, what a cool story. The soundtrack is awesome, and they always play it at the right moments, really tugs at your heartstrings. Sure, they used CD for the mechs and stuff, but that's no big deal compared to the rest of it all. Does a great job at making you like the characters, and their stories and what will become of them all. 86 is DEF in my top 3 anime of all time. Love it so much I started reading the LNs, just a great story, and they did a great job with the anime. It's def worth watching. I have some friends who are pretty picky with the anime they watch, but they still enjoyed it, and I'm pretty happy that they did because it's one of my favorites. I'm not rating it like how some people do with animation quality, sound design, etc, but based off how much I enjoyed it, and seriou…
Read at the sourcemazianime
honestly its been a while since i watched this show, was going to just leave this review at 'beautiful' but apparently u need 115 words for ts so
the art style is very visually pleasing and the animation does an incredible job complimenting it
the plot is also interesting, playing on heavy/dark topics like racism
characters and dialogue feel alive, reactions feel realistic
critical moments feel like you're in the show itself
can see new anime enjoyers and old anime enjoyers watching this and appreciating it fully
very deserving of a 10/10. happy they didnt adapt it further than what it is now as it kind of goes downhill. but if they do, hopefully they take creative liberty
Read at the sourceDutchleague
This is a powerhouse. A 9 is well deserved for shows that handle heavy subject matter without becoming "misery p*rn". It’s an incredibly mature take on war that feels earned. It doesn't treat the audience like children; it expects you to sit with the discomfort of its world, and that’s why it stands so high my list.
● Themes and Narrative Structure:
The narrative is built on the theme of systemic dehumanization. The way the story is told—showing the clean, oblivious life of the Republic versus the muddy, bloody reality of the 86 is brilliant. The narrative structure is a slow burn that builds into an emotional avalanche. The 9 I gave reflects the near-perfect storytelling that only misses a 10 because the "tech-talk" of the mechs can occasionally slow down the emotional momentum.
● Ch…
Read at the sourceFluorite_Eyes
Heard it was one of the best shows of the year and the comments under every episode were 'peak, I cried, rewatching'.. etc and all I thought after every episode was 'are we watching the same show?'. I watched both parts together and would say the first half was 'better' but I had to force myself to watch it.
I think it had potential and the music carried it but the depth was lacking as if it was a poor adaptation the studio had scheduled on the side and just needed to quickly adapt yet somehow it seems to be fairly highly rated like an Akane Ga Kill of the next generation, maybe if I was a kid again I would feel differently, but as a 24y.o it does come accross as a childish and poorly made show I wouldn't reccomend to anyone I know irl.
Read at the sourceBreanx
I might have included some parts that are from part 2, ideas still apply. Sub 50 iq goonerslop + decent visuals. How you view this show is a litmus test of how you're able to critically engage/understand ideas. Like there's just nothing of substance and it just tries so hard to say something, but it's just empty and a waste of time. 86 would've been "good" if released in the 2000s, as in retrospect shows like Code Geass wouldn't be looked upon as well as today if it was now. Even I have a super inflated opinion of Code Geass, as if I were to watch it now, I would likely give it a similar score to 86, probably slightly better.
Boring drag of a story of soldiers forced to fight (BUT THEY SOLDIERS THAT DO THEIR MISSIONS CUE EPIC MONTAGE OF THEM POST CIVILIAN LIFE BEING LIKE WE SOLDIER WE FIG…
Read at the sourceOlorin666
The first season deserves a five-star rating. It's one of the best military anime I've seen. It's a very adult story that raises the themes of genocide, fascism, nazism, child labor exploitation, and dozens of other topics. It's a unique and original story that doesn't let go until the very end. A serious and tough drama. But the second season destroyed everything. Absolutely unnecessary fan service, a ridiculously cringe loli character, a caricatured main villain. From a unique dystopia, a war drama, we went down to the usual typical mecha anime that fits into all possible stereotypes. Considering that the first season is 5 stars and the second season is 3, the average rating of this series is 3.5.
Read at the source
