Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
甲鉄城のカバネリ (Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri)
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	4

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,^[1] 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.^[2][3] Amazon will stream the series on their Amazon Prime Instant Video service.^[4]

Plot

A mysterious virus appears during the industrial revolution, turning them into Kabane 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 Hayajiro, armored locomotives running on steam. One day a Hayajiro hijacked by the Kabane crashes into Aragane station and they attack 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, 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^[2]

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 piercing gun in order to defeat the Kabane. When Aragane Station was invaded by Kabanes, Ikoma was able to successfully test his piercing gun but in the process, he was bitten by a Kabane. He was able to prevent the virus from reaching his brain by blocking his Carotid arteries, turning him into a Kabaneri.

Mumei (無名)

Voiced by: Sayaka Senbongi^[2]

A mysterious girl who boards 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.

Ayame Yomokawa (四方川 菖蒲)

Voiced by: Maaya Uchida^[2]

The eldest daughter of the Yomokawa family, which governs Aragane Station. After her father is infected, she becomes the leader of the Aragane survivors.

Kurusu (来栖)

Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda^[2]

A young Bushi who serves the Yomokawa family as her personal bodyguard. Among Bushi his sword arm is considerable. He is usually sober and honest, and he maintains his honor as a Bushi.

Takumi (逞生)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaji^[2]

Ikoma's best friend and a fellow steam smith, who helped him develop his piercing gun.

Kajika (鰍)

Voiced by: Kanae Oki^[2]

Ikoma and Takumi's friend and fellow steam smith.

Yukina (侑那)

Voiced by: Mariya Ise^[2]

A crew member of the Kotetsujo. Despite being only an apprentice, she becomes the Kotetsujo's engineer out of necessity.

Sukari (巣刈)

Voiced by: Ryōta Ōsaka^[2]

A steam smith who lives at Aragane Station.

Kibito (吉備土)

Voiced by: Kensuke Satou^[2]

A Bushi who serves the Yomokawa family.

Biba (美馬)

Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano^[2]

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, undead creatures caused by a viral infection, and the Bushi defeats 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 Darkness" "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 drive 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. Then, Akoji dispatches a chief to get Takumi, Yukina and fellow steam smiths Kajika and Sukari to the Kotetsujo's last car with Mumei and Ikoma, and detach the car. However, the Kabane, accompanied by a sword-wielding Wazatori, ambushes the Kotetsujo and kills some of its passengers. Ayame, Kurusu and the Bushi fight 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.

Notes

1. Due to special news coverage of the Kumamoto earthquake that hit the Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan on April 14, 2016, episode 2 that was originally scheduled to air on April 15, 2016 was delayed on Fuji TV and Amazon Prime Video to April 22, 2016.^[5][6]

References

1. "Attack on Titan Team, Code Geass Writer Make Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
2. "Attack on Titan Team's Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri Anime Trailers Reveal Premise, April Premiere". Anime News Network. December 17, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
3. Chapman, Paul (December 18, 2015). "VIDEO: It's Trains vs. Zombies in "Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress" Trailer". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
4. "Amazon Prime to Stream Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Anime From Attack on Titan Team". Anime News Network. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
5. "Kabaneri, Assassination Classroom, Shōnen Maid, Sakamoto Delayed This Week Due to Quake News Coverage". Anime News Network. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
6. "Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Episode 2 Delayed 1 Week". Anime News Network. April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia