The anime world is a truly vast space, filled with hundreds of different series that incorporate every genre imaginable. A-1 Pictures is a well-known animation studio that began producing anime in 2006, and it is best known for animating theSword Art Onlinelight novel series. The studio has produced a variety of series since then, including86 Eighty-Six,a series that debuted in April 2021.
The anime focuses on the Republic of San Magnolia and the Empire of Giad, who have been at war for nine years. The Empire had the upper hand for a long time because of their mechs, but things changed when San Magnolia developed their own robots called Juggernaughts. These Juggernaughts are piloted by members of the Colorata minority, who are considered to be subhuman.86 Eighty-Sixwas a success, and there are quite a few other anime that fans of the series may also enjoy.
Updated on June 23, 2025, by Mark Sammut:At this point, 86 returning for a new cour is starting to feel unlikely, despite the original two-part season being well-received. Fortunately, fans can always check out someanime like 86 Eighty-Six.
Primarily known for its mobile game in Japan,KanCollehas received two anime seasons and a movie, all of which are a mixed bag. For the uninitiated, this series revolves around, well,military ship girls, who go on missions to defend Earth from an alien invasion. Despite the fantasy element, many of the operations and battles are inspired by history, specifically the Second World War. As such, there is a constant sense of impending tragedy, particularly in the second season.
Honestly,KanColleis not an especially great show. Season 1 blends cute girls doing boat things with fairly intense action, but the mix is not perfect and results in a fairly uneven cour. Season 2 is far more focused and depressing, with the story revolving around a group of girls who are sent on a suicide mission. This season is far more in line with86 Eighty-Six’s tone, although it never reaches the heights of that show.
Do not be put off by the bizarre title,Pumpkin Scissorsis an underappreciated anime that is set after the end of a devastating war. The title references the army’s relief unit, who take on cases that vary considerably in scope and type.
Led by the idealistic Alice, the unit primarily focuses on personal missions to help the many, many people trying to start over after the war, although the anime gradually expands its scope. While not featuring mecha or emphasizing child soldierslike86 Eighty-Six,Pumpkin Scissorsshines a light on PTSD, through a soldier who saw hell and took part in creating it during the war.
Gungraveand86 Eighty-Sixare very different in terms of setting and genre, but they both tell surprisingly deep stories with well-written and fleshed-out characters.Gungravedelves into the supernatural, but at its core, it isa story about organized crime.
The series revolves around Brandon Heat, a small-time criminal who was betrayed and killed by his best friend. He is resurrected 13 years later by a doctor, and he is tasked with destroying his former friend’s crime syndicate.Gungravehas plenty of action, and it makes great use of flashbacks.
Coppeliontakes place in the year 2036, and Tokyo is now a ghost town because of a nuclear meltdown that occurred two decades earlier. When the government received a distress signal from the city, they sent a group of teenage girls to rescue some soldiers that entered Tokyo.
These girls were genetically engineered to resist radiation, and they have other special skills.86 Eighty-Sixdefinitely has more action thanCoppelion,but fans of the series will be able to notice a few similarities. Justlike in86 Eighty-Six,the young characters inCoppelionare forced to go on very dangerous missions, and the characters interact well with one another.Coppelionalso has a unique and gritty animation style.
No.6is a short yet interesting anime that is set ina dystopian world. Shion lives in an ideal city referred to as No.6, and he has an elite and privileged lifestyle. One night, he meets a boy named Nezumi and shelters him from the rain, but Nezumi leaves the next morning. A few years later, Nezumi saves Shion after he is falsely accused of murder.
Shion witnessed his coworker rapidly age and die because of a parasitic wasp that the government wished to keep secret. As the boys attempt to uncover the truth, they keep finding more and more death.No.6may not have intense mech combat like86 Eighty-Six, but both series feature young protagonists who have to deal with dark and complex institutions. Fans of86 Eighty-Sixwill likely enjoy Shion and Nezumi’s development as well.
God Eateris a post-apocalyptic series set in 2071, and it follows a group of soldiers trying to keep humanity alive. These soldiers are called God Eaters, and their job is to kill monsters known as Aragami. These monsters managed to wipe out most of humanity because conventional weapons could not harm them.
The God Eaters wieldpowerful weaponscalled God Arcs - which are basically Aragami with man-made cores. God Arcs are usually either melee or ranged, but some can switch between canon and blade form. Both series tell unique stories centered around conflict, and the battles with the Aragami get really intense.
Gurren Lagannpremiered in 2007, and it still holds up because of its unique animation style. It is set in the future when Earth is ruled by the Spiral King, who has forced mankind to live underground.It follows several characters, including Simon, a digger who is looked down upon by his peers; Kamina, who wishes to live on the surface; and Yoko Litner, a surface-dwelling resistance fighter.
Gurren Lagannfeatures a unique mech that continuously evolves after each fight. It eventually becomes bigger than an entire galaxy, and it goes on to fight the Antispiral - a being who can destroy entire universes. Unlike86 Eighty-Six,the action in Gurren Lagann is more cartoonish, but it is still fun to watch.
The Witch from Mercuryis the latest installment of the long-runningGundamfranchise, and it is the first to feature a female protagonist. In this timeline, a conflict split humanity into Earthians and Spacians, and there is massive economic inequality between both sides. Suletta Mercury attends Asticassia School of Technology. It is run by the Benerit Group - a megacorporation filled with political corruption.
Gundams are banned because they kill their pilots, but this does not stop Aerial from becoming a prized mobile suit. Like86 Eighty-Six,the series features teenagers fighting in mechs, and its story is thought-provoking because it deals with life and the dangers of uncontrolled, emerging technology and capitalism.
Valkyria Chroniclesis a tactical military-themed role-playing game that Sega first released in 2008, and it has spawned a number of sequels. A 26-episode anime adaptation was released in 2009, and it focuses on Welkin, the son of a war hero who joins a militia group with other Gallian citizens. Their goal is to protect their country from an invading Empire.
Unlike86 Eighty-Six, Valkyria Chroniclesdoes not delve into Sci-fi, but they both focus on the lives of a single military unit during the all-out war. Like86, viewers get to see characters live, laugh, and die on the front lines, and both series do a good job of balancing comedy, drama, and action.
Attack on Titanmay have a number of disturbing scenes, but it has helped to inspire a few series, includingDeca-Dence.This Sci-fi action series is 12 episodes long, and it is set more than 400 years in the future, at a time when severe air pollution and monster attacks have wiped out about 90% of humanity.
The anime takes place in the Deca-dence, a moving fortress city that separates its citizens into two categories. The Tankers stay inside and maintain the fortress, while the Gears venture outside and deal with Gadoll attacks. Natsume is a Tanker who recently lost her father in a Gadoll attack, and she wishes to become a Gear to help protect the remnants of humanity. Both series share similar dark themes, and they have decent plot twists.
