86: Eighty-Six

2021 • TMDB 8.1 • 1 season • Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, War & Politics

Overview

The Republic of San Magnolia insists its war is fought by unmanned drones. It is a lie the whole country agrees to tell. The “Juggernauts” on the front lines are piloted by the Eighty-Six, young people stripped of their citizenship and treated as expendable parts. Far behind the lines, idealistic officer Vladilena “Lena” Milizé takes command of the Spearhead Squadron and starts hearing their voices — not as statistics, but as people with names, jokes, fears and dreams. At the squadron’s head is Shinei “Undertaker” Nouzen, a pilot who carries the memories of every comrade he has lost and fights on toward a death he believes is waiting for him. 86: Eighty-Six is a war story told from both sides of the same headset: the officer learning what her orders really cost, and the soldiers refusing to be erased even as the world counts them as nothing. Beautifully animated and devastatingly human, it turns a mecha battlefield into a meditation on prejudice, dignity and the stubborn insistence on being remembered.

Creator and Main Cast

86: Eighty-Six is based on Asato Asato’s light novel series, airing on TOKYO MX, BS11 and Gunma TV from 2021 to 2022. The voice cast includes Ikumi Hasegawa as Vladilena “Lena” Milizé (23 episodes), Shoya Chiba as Shinei Nouzen (23 episodes), Natsumi Fujiwara as Theoto Rikka (23 episodes), Seiichiro Yamashita as Raiden Shuga (23 episodes), Saori Hayami as Anju Emma (23 episodes), and Sayumi Suzushiro as Kurena Kukumila (23 episodes).

Seasons Snapshot

86: Eighty-Six ran for 1 season and 23 episodes. The season premiered on April 11, 2021, and ended with episode 23, “Handler One,” on March 20, 2022.

Why Watch 86: Eighty-Six?

86: Eighty-Six is one of the most acclaimed anime of its decade for a reason. Beneath the thrilling mecha combat lies a sharp, angry story about dehumanization — and a tender one about the bonds forged between people the world has thrown away. Lena and Shin’s relationship, conducted almost entirely over radio static, is quietly extraordinary, and the show’s sound design and score make every battle feel personal. If you want anime that trusts its audience with serious themes and rewards that trust with genuine emotion, start here.

Trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube: 86 EIGHTY-SIX | OFFICIAL TRAILER

Where to Watch

In the US, 86: Eighty-Six streams on Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll Amazon Channel. Availability was checked against JustWatch US listings on October 29, 2026, and may change over time.