Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress promotional image

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (甲鉄城のカバネリ, Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri) is a Japanese anime television series by Wit Studio. The series is directed by Tetsurō Araki and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with music by Hiroyuki Sawano and character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto. It aired from April to June 2016 on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block.

Plot

The story is set in a steampunk world where a mysterious virus transforms humans into aggressive undead creatures known as Kabane. These creatures can only be killed by piercing their hearts, which are protected by an iron cage. The series follows Ikoma, a young engineer who creates a weapon to defeat the Kabane. After being infected, he becomes a hybrid creature known as a Kabaneri, retaining his human mind while gaining the strength of a Kabane.

Characters

• Ikoma - The protagonist, an engineer who becomes a Kabaneri.
• Mumei - A skilled fighter and another Kabaneri who assists Ikoma.
• Ayame Yomogawa - The daughter of the leader of the Aragane Station, who helps lead the survivors.
• Kurusu - A samurai who serves Ayame and protects the survivors.
• Takumi - Ikoma's best friend and fellow engineer.
• Yukina - A train engineer who operates the Kōtetsujō.
• Sukari - A mechanic who works with Ikoma and Takumi.
• Kibito - A soldier who serves under Ayame.

Setting

The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to the Kabane. Survivors live in fortified stations and travel between them using armored trains known as Hayajiro. The main setting is the Kōtetsujō, one such train that becomes a mobile fortress for the characters.

Production

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress was produced by Wit Studio, known for their work on Attack on Titan. The series features a blend of traditional animation and CGI to create its unique steampunk aesthetic. The music, composed by Hiroyuki Sawano, plays a significant role in setting the tone of the series.

Reception

The series received generally positive reviews for its animation quality, action sequences, and music. However, it was also criticized for its pacing and similarities to other works like Attack on Titan.

Media

Anime

The anime consists of 12 episodes and aired from April 8 to June 30, 2016. A compilation film and a sequel film titled Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato were also released.

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Shirō Yoshida was serialized in Monthly Comic Garden from May 2016 to November 2018.

Video Games

A mobile game titled Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress -Revolt- was released in 2018.

See Also

• Attack on Titan
• Steampunk
• Zombie