Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

There's not much (that I know of) in the zombie/steampunk world and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is a sold, interesting and generally likable entry into this market.

Its helped in this effort by some interesting world-building, the zombie (Kabane) outbreak seems to have happened at the height of the Japanese samurai age, with survivors grouped in great walled cities protected by samurai musket-men. At the start in particular there is a good focus on class, honor and society. These cities are connected by great iron railways on which armored trains run, taking supplies and people from one to the next, running the gauntlet of horrific zombie hordes from which, a single bite proves entirely fatal..

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress starts strong with a great two part episode showing the horrific attack of the Kabane (basically fast zombies with flowing hearts, eyes and a nasty bite) on a walled survivors city. Its a great two episodes with a high body count, some terrific action and a desperate escape by armored train. Alas the series steadily looses it's way, but the ride is nevertheless enjoyable while it lasts.

Whats good?

• While it lasts, the story is quite enjoyable, being a sort of bizzaro 'Battlestar Galactica on rails' as our heroes and survivors try to reach safety aboard the great steam train. Its tense, interesting and fresh.
• The supporting cast is largely interesting and well voiced. You care for them more then our main characters anyway.
• The Kabane make for a horrific, interesting foe, a worthy entry into the zombie market.
• Mumei is...well for the first half of the series quite an interesting, watchable character, seeing how the survivors view her and Ikoma is quite interesting.
• The animation is generally excellent as is the character design, the use of CGI (for the iron trains) is solid and the Japanese voicework is similarly good.
• Excellent opening track, one of the best, a thunderous operatic ode.

Whats bad?

• Ikoma makes for a...well a fairly unlikable lead. He's not as bad as some might make out, but he is a little irritating and his character arc is fumbled.
• The second half makes a regrettable choice to focus on more human enemies. These enemies are both obvious, cliche and uninteresting, the second half is watchable but a notable drop in tension, interest and horror.
• This coincides with a notable change in Mumei from bad-ass mysterious warrior to the 'oni-chan' damsel in distress, hugely regrettable.

Conclusion This is a solid series, particularly for those into zombies, steamtrains and samurai, three things that don't normally appear together. While, yes, it probably never would have been made if Attack on Titan didn't exist it really is different enough to warrant a watch. Try it, enjoy it and don't watch the follow up (bleh)

Surprisingly good, this anime grabs attention with ambivalent characters and an original work of scenario where nothing is never totally settled, brave and attractive personalities , the only concern is about the easiness how killing and mass destruction is used, like no concern for the masses, as long as one or two still safe. A question if a specialist might enlighten me, does some of the crew of drawning and animated department worked with Miyazaki ? Creatures and some face features strongly remind the master hand.

It's impossible not to compare this to AoT in your mind reflexively, but it is without question it's own anime.

Yes it's another Post-Apocalypse show with a dash of "Steampunk" style action thrown in, with a hero with a special ability, but that is were the similarities end.

Overall it's a bleak and beautiful world hanging on by its nails, and as it tries to claw its way back from the edge humanities self-destructive tendencies strike as is to often the case.

When watching Kabaneri, everyone catches flashbacks to Attack of the Titans, and I am no exception here. It's still the same plot that there are humans and then there are kabanehs (you recognize that, right? Humans and titans). There are kabane infected with a deadly virus and become monsters, and there are kabaneri who have the abilities of kabane but retain a human appearance. All the same walls around cities that we're used to seeing, except there's also a huge train around which events unfold. There's a young girl running around killing everyone around her. All in all, those who like anime will like it, but for once to watch, to be honest.

I see all these reviews stating this show is a COPY of attack on Titan. So does that mean every shounen of the past 10 years is a copy of dragon ball, one piece, naruto, or HxH? NO! This show shares similar points as attack on Titan as a Sienen show about survival, and it is incredibly fun and well animated. Do not listen to these reviews stating it's a copy - it is fun in it's own right. Watch it for yourself and see if you enjoy it, because others can vouch - it's a great time.