86 is a Japanese science fictionlight novel series written by Asato Asato and illustrated by Shirabi. It began publication by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The series is licensed in North America by Yen Press. A manga adaptation illustrated by Motoki Yoshihara has been serialized in Square Enix's seinen manga magazine Young Gangan since 2018, with a second manga adaptation titled Gakuen 86 by Suzume Somemiya being serialized in Media Factory's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive since June 27, 2020. An animetelevision series adaptation by A-1 Pictures is scheduled to premiere in 2020.
Plot
The Republic of San Magnolia has been at war with the Empire of Giad for nine years.. Though it initially suffered devastating losses to the Empire's autonomous mechanized Legions, The Republic has since developed its own autonomous units, called Juggernauts, which are directed remotely by a Handler. While on the surface the public believes the war is being fought between machines, the truth is much horrible. In reality, the Juggernauts are being piloted by humans and all of them are 86s, the designation given to the Colorata minority of San Magnolia who originally had equal rights as the dominant Alba race but were persecuted and scapegoated by the racist-led Alba government to the point the Colorata were considered not human, not allowed to have names and forced to live in internment camps in the 86th Ward while being forced to fight in the Republic's war with the Empire to get betterment. Major Vladilena "Lena" Mirizé is an Alba noble and military officer in the Republic's Military who is assigned as a Handler of the Spearhead squadron of the eastern front, an elite unit composed entirely of 86s veterans to have earned names. Led by their squad leader, Shinei "The Undertaker" Nōzen, Spearhead squadron are infamous due to many Handlers who have commanded the squad have gone insane and some even committed suicide. As Lena gets to know Shinei and the rest of the Spearhead squadron, she becomes sympathetic to his people's flight and tries to help them in anyway, at same time Lena and Shinei learns a dark secret about the Republic and the war with the Empire is not what it seems.
Characters
;Shinei Nōzen ;Vladilena Mirizé
Media
Light novels
The light novel is written by Asato Asato and illustrated by Shirabi, with mechanical design by I-IV. ASCII Media Works have published seven volumes since February 2017 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The light novel is licensed in North America by Yen Press, and has been published five volumes. The English translation was written by Roman Lempert.
Manga
A manga adaptation by Motoki Yoshihara has been serialized in Square Enix's seinen manga magazine Young Gangan since 2018. It has been collected in two tankōbon volumes. The manga adaptation is also licensed in North America by Yen Press. A second manga adaptation titled Gakuen 86 by Suzume Somemiya began serialization in Media Factory's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive on June 27, 2020.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced in a livestream commemorating the first anniversary of Kadokawa's "Kimirano" light novel website on March 15, 2020. It is produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Toshimasa Ishii, with Toshiya Ono writing the scripts, and Tetsuya Kawakami designing the characters. The series is scheduled to air in 2020.
Reception
The light novel won the Grand Prize at the 24thDengeki Novel Prize award in 2016. The light novel also ranked second in 2018 in Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide bookKono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, in the bunkobon category. It ranked fifth in 2019.
