English Dub Review: 86 EIGHTY-SIX: “Undertaker”

Overview: “Undertaker” has Vladilena (Suzie Yeung) transferred to be Handler One for the Spearhead Squadron and their commander, Shinei (Billy Kametz), as she comes to discover a haunting discovery about him and his unit. 

Our Take: 86 focuses in with a microscopic lens into a beautiful dreamlike idealistic utopia built upon the bodies of those who don’t exist in the 86. It is this jarring juxtaposition that makes it, ironically, all the more alluring. The best representations of these two clashing forces are in that of Vladilena, the youngest Republic major and Handler One of the so-called ‘dogs’ of war and Shinei, field commander of the unit Spearhead. 

With each of these characters, comes their own twisted world along with it. Vladilena, also known as Lena, finds herself in a seemingly perfect society with zero casualties to her but one that has become complacent and uncaring at the expense of others in exchange for its own isolated happiness. Shinei is surrounded by trusted comrades and friends but has to deal with the daily turmoil of potentially having to bury one everyday. There is always an underlying grime that is present on two sides of the same coin of war as a whole with the exploration of it being both painful and a joy, respectively. But always engaging to watch unfold. It is a hard look at the realizations of war in that for someone to survive, there must always be those that do not. Not to mention, it goes into how it affects all facets of all life, even those who are not on the frontlines, the prime example being the happily ignorant citizens of Lena’s country, San Magnolia.  

In the visual department, the anime does an exceptional job as well as using visuals with contrasting colors and atmospheric qualities too as each differs for each world with brown broken and barren battlefields littered with collapsed cities and horrific propaganda for Shinei’s side. While a sunlit shining white paradise is at the heart of Lena’s home country. 

 Lastly, without overexplaining, the show is able to brilliantly set up our two leads, not to mention the overall worldview and politics, very well with effective meaningful quick cuts. The series shows us who these characters are without having them or others tell us about them. Before being outright revealed and without any words at all, it is clear as day that there is strife in Lena’s family, or that Shinei is a loner but someone who seemingly cares nonetheless about his friends, or how the 86 are treated like animals by most of San Magnolia. It is this type of storytelling and subtly that relies on the foundation of visual media that shows how smart and judicious 86 is and how it believes so of it’s audience as well. This adds to how brilliantly paced this episode is as within a span of less than 30 minutes, it masterfully conveys all crucial facets of the world and its people along with the main characters. There are also some of the best mech designs I have seen with drones acting as a seamless blend of CG and 2D that is constantly striking and which other series should take note of. With the Shinei and Lena finally meeting at last in the end, it kicks off what is sure to be one series that is not to be missed.

86 EIGHTY-SIX introduces a captivating and uncompromising look at the different effects that war inevitably has, along with genius storytelling, and two engaging lead characters that also delve into the show’s exceptional world building.