Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress introduces an amazing mix of steampunk, fantasy, and a post-apocalyptic world with a dash of zombies. The undead in this universe however, are not so easy to kill as their only source of defeat is piercing through their glowing golden hearts—oh, did I mention that it was protected by a layer of iron too? The series has been favored by many and even won notable awards for it being amazing.
Table of Contents
But this show doesn’t only focus on the usual “I will save the world” trope, it also highlights how humanity could receive such a massive blow that could lead to their extinction. With only 12 episodes, this series is definitely going to take you on a ride you’ll never want to get off of.
Having only 12 episodes, its filler count will leave you in shock! All of the episodes happen to be all canon episodes. That’s right folks, it’s hours and hours of heart-pounding scenes. I mean, with a show like this who needs fillers?
FILLER EPISODES OF KABANERI OF THE IRON FORTRESS
QUICK EPISODE LIST
If you’re having doubts about what I just mentioned, why don’t you check out the episode list and see for yourself?
| # | Title | Type |
| 1 | Frightened Corpse | Canon |
| 2 | Never-Ending Night | Canon |
| 3 | Prayer Offer | Canon |
| 4 | Flowing Blood | Canon |
| 5 | Inescapable Darkness | Canon |
| 6 | Gathering Light | Canon |
| 7 | Begging The Heavens | Canon |
| 8 | The Silent Hunter | Canon |
| 9 | Fang of Ruin | Canon |
| 10 | The Attacking Weak | Canon |
| 11 | Burning Life | Canon |
| 12 | Iron Fortress | Canon |
| 13 | Unato Kessen | Canon |
Well, are you convinced yet? If not, then keep on reading my friend because we still have much to discuss.
NO REPORTED FILLERS
As the series aired around April to June in 2016, a prologue of the anime premiered on March 18, 2016—providing the audience a better grasp of the world of the Kabaneri. Two more compilation films were thrown into the mix that premiered on December 31, 2016, and January 7, 2016, which allowed the retelling of the series in a film format.
Not only that, but an anime-theatrical film was released six months after the series premiered on May 10, 2019, and it reunited the fans with the feeling of nostalgia after three years since airing. I’m not surprised that this garnered several awards back in 2016, and not to mention—no reported filler episodes at all!?
No brakes are being stepped here as the anime puts the pedal to the metal. Watching this series may not take all of your time, but it will definitely not let you forget the journey.
MAIN PLOT
Now, not everyone may have heard of this amazing anime so let’s try not to divulge all of the major spoilers. But I believe it’s best to skip on this part of the piece and just watch the entirety of the anime since the show is already completed.
Still here? Then let’s hop on to it and go over this somewhat spoiler-free plot review together.
Imagine the Edo period and its journey toward the industrial revolution. The world is set in this transition era of machines. A strange virus appeared with the revolution, infecting most of mankind and turning them into a Kabane (which literally translates to corpses).
Kabane are undead monsters that crave for human flesh and are more than just your average zombie. Most melee-weapons and steam-pressure guns are useless against them because there are only two ways to kill them. Piercing through their heart or a significant body part is severed from the body.
By now… you still have the decision whether to watch the show, you know? Then let’s keep going.
In Hinomoto, an island country, fortresses or stations were built by the remaining survivors in order to defend themselves from the flesh craving Kabane. Now, this is where the steampunk fantasy kicks in. The people of Hinomoto utilize steam-powered trains for transportation of their wares.
One day, however, a train got hijacked by a horde of Kabane and crashed into one of the stations which led them to overrun the city. This young engineer by the name of Ikoma, used this opportunity to test out his invention called an anti-kabane piercing gun. And surprise, surprise! His gun works… but then, something interesting happens.
From then on, the story follows Ikoma, Mumei, and other survivors as they board the steam powered train to seek new shelter as well as fighting numerous Kabane along the way.
IS IT WORTH WATCHING?
Well, doesn’t the fact that there are no reported filler episodes enough to convince you?
Kidding aside, this anime is definitely worth watching as it offers its audience amazing visuals that are on the same level with Attack on Titan. It also gives you that sense of hope for the characters praying that they would triumph over the hordes of Kabane.
The anime also excels in elevating how society would react to the fear of extinction. Which pushes humanity further than what is expected. At this point I am begging you to please watch the anime.
Honestly, I could list more points as to why this is worth watching. I mean the fact alone that this anime won the 2016 Newtype Anime Awards for best TV anime, best soundtrack, best character design, best screenplay, and even best studio could be enough to convince any curious otaku.
But aside from the achievements, the show has a number of strong moments that make you root for the protagonists, the dynamic battle scenes, the world that was built, and the story progression. All these make it worth watching.
Though the character development was sub-par, as it provided short back-stories, it somehow worked well with how the anime was going. For a one season anime with only 12 episodes, the series definitely holds a strong stance. I mean? Have you read the awards earlier? Hello?
CONCLUSION
What I liked about this anime when it was recommended to me is that I had no idea about it. The journey of watching without prior knowledge just got me hooked. In fact, the steampunk version of a zombie apocalypse was a genre I never knew I needed in life; the mixture of both themes was pure bliss.
The show allowed the idea of the Edo era being merged with the industrial revolution, which was executed beautifully. It also opened to the creation of weaponry and armor that was only tailored to their world. I liked watching everything unfold in the anime as it kept me entertained and engaged.
With only 12 episodes, it was enough to keep me in my seat. I definitely urge you to watch this anime. So what else are you waiting for? Watch it! I mean it!
CONTRIBUTED BY: Alexandra Jayne P. Cortes
