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What are 86 in Anime?

Published in Anime Lore 1 min read

In the anime series 86 -Eighty Six-, the "86" (pronounced Eighty-Six) refers to the unmanned combat drones called "Juggernauts" used by the Republic of San Magnolia. However, these drones are actually piloted by humans – the marginalized and oppressed citizens of the "86th Sector" who are not recognized as people by the Republic.

Here's a breakdown:

  • Background: The Republic of San Magnolia claims to have successfully repelled the autonomous unmanned drones of the Empire of Giad, known as the "Legion," by developing their own unmanned drones.
  • The Truth: This is a propaganda lie. The "Juggernauts" are piloted by the Eighty-Six, people of color who were stripped of their citizenship and forced to fight the Legion.
  • Unmanned in Name Only: The Republic portrays the Juggernauts as unmanned to maintain the illusion of security and technological superiority, while simultaneously dehumanizing and exploiting the Eighty-Six.
  • Significance: The number "86" itself becomes a symbol of discrimination and dehumanization, representing the people who are considered expendable and forgotten by their own nation.

Essentially, "86" in the anime represents the human pilots of the so-called unmanned drones, the Juggernauts, and the systematic oppression they endure.