Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress | |
甲鉄城のカバネリ (Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri) |
|
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Genre | Post-apocalyptic, Steampunk |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Tetsurō Araki |
Produced by | Kōji Yamamoto George Wada Yuka Okayasu Yōhei Shintaku |
Written by | Ichirō Ōkouchi |
Music by | Hiroyuki Sawano |
Studio | Wit Studio |
Network | Fuji TV (Noitamina) |
Original run | April 8, 2016 – present |
Episodes | 12[1] |
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (甲鉄城のカバネリ Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri?) is an anime series by Wit Studio. The series is directed by Tetsurō Araki and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi,[2] with music by Hiroyuki Sawano and original character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto. The series premiered on Fuji TV's Noitamina block on April 8, 2016. A prologue for the anime premiered for a week in theaters across Japan starting March 18, 2016.[3][4] Amazon is streaming the series on their Amazon Prime Instant Video service.[5]
Plot
A mysterious virus appears during the industrial revolution, the infection transforming humans into Kabane (カバネ?) and rapidly spreads. Kabane are aggressive, undead creatures that cannot be defeated unless the glowing heart, which is protected by a layer of iron, is pierced. Unfortunately, most melee weapons and the steam-pressure guns used by the Bushi are not very effective against them. On the island country Hinomoto, people have built fortress-like stations to shelter themselves from these creatures. People access the stations and transport wares between them with the help of armored steam locomotives called Hayajiro. One day a Hayajiro hijacked by the Kabane crashes into Aragane station and they overrun the city. A young engineer called Ikoma uses the opportunity to test with success his anti-Kabane weapon, the piercing gun (ツラヌキ筒 tsuranuki zutsu?), but is infected in the process, although he manages to resist the virus and become a Kabaneri (カバネリ?), a human-Kabane hybrid. Assisted by Mumei, another Kabaneri who appears to help them, Ikoma and the other survivors of the station board the Hayajiro Kotetsujo (甲鉄城 Kōtetsujō?, Iron Fortress) and depart to seek shelter elsewhere, fighting the hordes of Kabane along the way.
Characters
- Ikoma (生駒?)
- Voiced by: Tasuku Hatanaka[3]
- A young boy who makes a living as a steamsmith at Aragane Station. He and his good friend Takumi developed a bolt gun-like weapon called a piercing gun in order to defeat the Kabane. When Aragane Station is invaded by Kabane, Ikoma is able to successfully test his piercing gun but is bitten by a Kabane in the process. He is able to prevent the virus from reaching his brain by blocking his carotid arteries, transforming him into a Kabaneri.
- Mumei (無名?)
- Voiced by: Sayaka Senbongi[3]
- A mysterious girl who boards the Hayajiro Kotetsujo and appears at Aragane Station. She is revealed to be a Kabaneri as well as a very strong and agile fighter, capable of killing dozens of Kabane with ease. Constant fighting can leave her sleepy and like Ikoma, requires blood to stop herself from attacking other people. Her birth name is Hozumi.
- Ayame Yomokawa (四方川 菖蒲?)
- Voiced by: Maaya Uchida[3]
- The eldest daughter of the Yomokawa family, which governs Aragane Station. After her father is infected, she becomes the leader of the Aragane survivors. Despite her noble status, she's reasonable and understanding, even offering her blood to the Kabaneri.
- Kurusu (来栖?)
- Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda[3]
- A young Bushi who serves the Yomokawa family as Ayame's personal bodyguard. Among Bushi his skill with a sword is considerable. He is usually somber and honest, and he maintains his honor as a Bushi. Despite resenting Ikoma, he eventually recognizes the Kabaneri's usefulness. He is later given a reinforced katana that can pierce a Kabane's heart with ease.
- Takumi (逞生?)
- Voiced by: Yūki Kaji[3]
- Ikoma's best friend and fellow steam smith, who helped him develop his piercing gun.
- Kajika (鰍?)
- Voiced by: Kanae Oki[3]
- Ikoma and Takumi's friend and fellow steam smith. She takes care of the children that lost their families to the Kabane.
- Yukina (侑那?)
- Voiced by: Mariya Ise[3]
- A crew member of the Kotetsujo. A stoic and taciturn girl who, despite being only an apprentice, becomes the Kotetsujo's engineer out of necessity.
- Sukari (巣刈?)
- Voiced by: Ryōta Ōsaka[3]
- A steam smith who lives at Aragane Station. Despite his aloof personality, he's a good mechanic and a decent fighter.
- Kibito (吉備土?)
- Voiced by: Kensuke Satou[3]
- A Bushi who serves the Yomokawa family. Unlike other Bushis, he's reasonable and even friendly to the Kabaneri. He and his fellow Bushi are later given reinforced bullets that can penetrate the Kabane more easily.
- Suzuki (鈴木?)
- Voiced by: Maxwell Powers
- The train's chief mechanic who has hair like a 17th century wig and speaks with english phrases. Also served as narrator for each episodes' preview.
- Biba (美馬?)
- Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano[3]
- The Captain of the Kabane Hunters and the eldest son of the Shogun.
Anime
The opening theme is "KABANERI OF THE IRON FORTRESS" by EGOIST while the ending theme is "ninelie" by Aimer × chelly.
Episode list
No. | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|
1 | "Frightened Corpse" "Obieru Shikabane" (脅える屍) |
April 8, 2016 |
On the island country of Hinomoto, the Hayajiro Kotetsujo, an armored train, is attacked by several Kabane, humans transformed into undead creatures by a viral infection, and the Bushi defeat them. However, a Bushi is bitten and he commits suicide to avoid being killed as a Kabane. At the train’s destination, Aragane station, Ikoma, a steamsmith, is working on a powerful piercing gun to kill the Kabane. The Kotetsujo arrives at Arawakin station and Ikoma steals some Kabane body parts. Kensho, the leader of the Yomokawa family, excuses Shimon and Mumei, two passengers from the mandatory Kabane inspection who are headed for Kongokaku. Ikoma is detained for insubordination, and is secretly visited by Mumei as she is intrigued by his personality and interest in the Kabane. Later, another Hayajiro called Fusojo arrives at the station. The defensive drawbridge is lowered, but the train is taken over by the Kabane who crash it into the defending wall, allowing them to attack the station. Ikoma flees to his home, lures a Kabane into the house and kills it with his bolt gun, but is bitten in the process and begins to transform into a Kabane. Using several painful and potentially fatal techniques, Ikoma stops his blood flow from carrying the virus to his brain. He successfully does so, reverting to his human form and passing out. Meanwhile Mumei kills a Kabane using a blade which forms the base of her shoe. | ||
2 | "Never-Ending Night" "Akenu Yoru" (明けぬ夜) |
April 22, 2016[lower-alpha 1] |
Ikoma, discovering that he has stopped the Kabane virus from infecting him, tells his fellow steamsmith Takumi of his success with his bolt gun and anti-virus technique. Meanwhile survivors of the Kabane attack fight a defensive battle within Aragane station while seeking an opportunity to escape in the Kotetsujo. Mumei arrives dressed in battle gear and offers to clear the way so Yukina, the sole remaining engineer and an apprentice, can commander the Kotetsujo. She leaps into the midst of the Kabane and leads them away, killing several in the process. The remaining citizens then rush to board the train. Meanwhile Ikoma and Takumi attempt to board the train with his gun. Mumei detects something different about Ikoma and vouches for him so he can board the Kotetsujo. Ayame Yomogawa, Kensho's daughter, produces the special key to start the train’s engine. The Yomogawa tell Mumei to defend the train's rear, but she refuses and falls asleep. While fending off a Kabane, Ikoma's infected heart is exposed and he eventually falls off the Kotetsujo. However, the train is stopped by a malfunction of the drawbridge, and the passengers witness Ikoma killing the Kabane. Lecturing the passengers for their distrust, Ikoma manually releases the drawbridge allowing the train to leave. Despite the Bushi's objections, Takumi and Mumei get Ikoma back on the Kotetsujo. Before Kurusu, one of the Bushi, can kill him, Mumei intervenes and reveals that she and Ikoma are Kabaneri - beings with an existence between humans and Kabane. | ||
3 | "Prayer Offer" "Sasageru Inori" (捧げる祈り) |
April 29, 2016 |
After Mumei reveals her identity as a Kabaneri, Ayame stops Kurusu from killing the Kabaneri and reminds everyone that they were rescued by Ikoma and Mumei. The Kotetsujo is headed for Kongokaku, the shogun’s greatest stronghold and Mumei insists on staying onboard. However, the passengers are filled with alarm and distrust because of a lack of food and water, doubt whether they will be admitted into Kongokaku, and presence of the Kabaneri accompanying them. Mumei reveals that she has a mission and needs help from him because she gets exhausted after fighting. She begins training Ikoma personally in preparation for future Kabane attacks. The train has to stop for water and repairs, and the passengers take the opportunity to pray for those who died at Aragane station. Ikoma tells Mumei that he has vowed to avenge his sister's death at the hands of the Kabane and a green stone tied to his palm which seems to have some effect on the Kabane. Mumei reveals that Kabaneri can only survive by drinking human blood, and later kills a pregnant woman who becomes a Kabane. Meanwhile, Ayame attacks Ikoma, but Ikoma tells her about his vow, appeasing the passengers' fears of the Kabaneri. However, Ikoma becomes delirious from his own need of blood and attacks Ayame. | ||
4 | "Flowing Blood" "Nagaru Chishio" (流る血潮) |
May 6, 2016 |
Kurusu rescues Ayame, just as the Kabane appear in the woods surrounding the Kotetsujo, and everyone gets back onboard. Still fearful of the Kabaneri, the Six Chiefs, led by Akoji, has Ayame hand over the Kotetsujo's master key. To Ayame's dismay, Akoji reroutes the Kotetsujo for the mountains to provide a shorter route to Kongokaku, in spite of the increased danger posed by the Kabane on the exposed mountain path. Then, Akoji dispatches a chief to get Takumi and fellow steam smiths Kajika and Sukari to the Kotetsujo's last car with Mumei and Ikoma, and detach the car. However, the Kabane, including by a sword-wielding Wazatori (a Kabane that has learned combat techniques and is thus much more dangerous), ambushes the Kotetsujo and kills some of its passengers. Ayame, Kurusu and the Bushi hold off the Kabane while the surviving passengers escape to the train's front. Using his sword-wielding skills, Kurusu fights the remaining Kabane inside the train at close quarters. Simultaneously, Mumei, Ikoma and their allies escape from their car and fight the Kabane, but Mumei falls asleep from exhaustion. Kurusu fights the Wazatori, but is injured in the process. With Ikoma in need of fresh blood, Ayame slashes her arm and replenishes him with her blood. After Ikoma kills the Wazatori, Ayame leads a cry of "rokkon shōjō" (六根清浄?) to celebrate their victory. Deciding to have the Kabaneri stay on the Kotetsujo, Ayame offers her blood to help sustain the Kabaneri and the others, including Kurusu, voluntarily join her. | ||
5 | "Inescapable Darkness" "Nigerarenu Yami" (逃げられぬ闇) |
May 12, 2016 |
Ikoma helps the Bushi develop weapons to kill the Kabane and Ayame declares the Kabaneri are the bodyguards of the Kotetsujo. The train arrives at Yashiro Station which was attacked by Kabane who still remain within. The Aragane passengers rescue some human survivors, who talk of a black smoke before the attack. Mumei meets Enoku, a fighter still loyal to her brother the Young Master. He warns her that the Shogunate is acting suspiciously by stockpiling weapons and advises her to complete her mission. Debris blocks the tracks and the Kotetsujo committee decide to use a crane to remove it. Ikoma suggest a cautious route to the crane but Mumei unexpectedly insists on a head-on clash with the Kabane. While Ikoma leads a group of engineers to start the crane, Mumei attacks the nest of Kabane single handed, estimating that she has 90 seconds of energy left. She defeats them, but before the working party can start the crane, even more Kabane appear. The crew retreat and Ikoma starts to lift the debris with the crane while Mumei uses her remaining energy to fight the horde of Kabane. A weakening Mumei is then attacked by a Wazatori and Ikoma goes to her aid before he completes removing the debris. At that moment, a giant shadowy figure heads towards the train. | ||
6 | "Gathering Light" "Tsudou Hikari" (集う光) |
May 19, 2016 |
The Black Smoke is revealed to be a colony of Kabane fused into one giant beast. Unable to leave, the Kotetsujo retreats to the station workshop and they seal the door. Ikoma finds Mumei trapped under rubble and tries to release her. The committee discuss their options of whether to leave or stay. Unable to free Mumei, Ikoma leads the Kabane away from her and kills as many as he can before succumbing. Kurusu and some others rescue Mumei via an underground tunnel. She runs to find Ikoma who is badly wounded, and they all return to the train together. While the Black Smoke beast is distracted, feeding on the bodies of the dead Kabane, Ikoma removes the wreckage from the tracks. Mumei suggests a plan to kill the beast using everyone working together. The Kotetsujo leaves the workshop with the beast in pursuit. At the last possible moment, they shoot the beast with the train's cannon, and Mumei kills the woman controlling it, who, much to her surprise, was a Kabaneri like her who turned rogue. With the beast defeated, the Kotetsujo leaves Yashiro Station. | ||
7 | "Begging The Heavens" "Ten ni Negau" (天に願う) |
May 26, 2016 |
The Kotetsujo arrives at Shitori Station, which is still occupied by humans, but are only allowed to stay for a couple of days. Ayame exchanges something of value to purchase bamboo for the Tanabata ceremony so people can hang their wishes on it. They are then offered food and other provisions in exchange for the jet bullets technology invented by Ikoma. Mumei reveals to Ikoma that her name was Hozumi before she became a Kabaneri, and he promises that he will make her human again. The next day they all share their wishes, hoping for a better life. The following day the Hayajiro Liberator arrives with the Hunter squad. It is an elite team that hunts Kabane, led by Biba, the shogun's son, who Mumei calls her brother. However, Ikoma is suspicious of Biba's past and whether he is really a hero, or something else. | ||
8 | "Mokusu Karibito" (黙す狩人) | TBA |
Notes
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References
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External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
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- Pages with reference errors
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- Wit Studio