Best Anime Like 86 Eighty-Six

The anime world is a truly vast space, filled with hundreds of different series that incorporate every genre imaginable. A-1 Pictures is a well-known animation studio that began producing anime in 2006, and it is best known for animating the Sword Art Online light novel series. The studio has produced a variety of series since then, including 86 Eighty-Six, a series that debuted in April 2021.

The anime focuses on the Republic of San Magnolia and the Empire of Giad, who have been at war for nine years. The Empire had the upper hand for a long time because of their mechs, but things changed when San Magnolia developed their own robots called Juggernaughts. These Juggernaughts are piloted by members of the Colorata minority, who are considered to be subhuman. 86 Eighty-Six was a success, and there are quite a few other anime that fans of the series may also enjoy.

Updated on March 30, 2025, by Mark Sammut: At this point, 86 returning for a new cour is starting to feel unlikely, despite the original two-part season being well-received. Fortunately, fans can always check out some anime like 86 Eighty-Six.

21

KanColle

Both Anime Deal With Young Characters Who Are Expected To Die For The Cause

Primarily known for its mobile game in Japan, KanColle has received two anime seasons and a movie, all of which are a mixed bag. For the uninitiated, this series revolves around, well, military ship girls, who go on missions to defend Earth from an alien invasion. Despite the fantasy element, many of the operations and battles are inspired by history, specifically the Second World War. As such, there is a constant sense of impending tragedy, particularly in the second season.

Honestly, KanColle is not an especially great show. Season 1 blends cute girls doing boat things with fairly intense action, but the mix is not perfect and results in a fairly uneven cour. Season 2 is far more focused and depressing, with the story revolving around a group of girls who are sent on a suicide mission. This season is far more in line with 86 Eighty-Six‘s tone, although it never reaches the heights of that show.

20

Pumpkin Scissors

Both Anime Tell Character-Driven War Stories

Do not be put off by the bizarre title, Pumpkin Scissors is an underappreciated anime that is set after the end of a devastating war. The title references the army’s relief unit, who take on cases that vary considerably in scope and type.

Led by the idealistic Alice, the unit primarily focuses on personal missions to help the many, many people trying to start over after the war, although the anime gradually expands its scope. While not featuring mecha or emphasizing child soldiers like 86 Eighty-Six, Pumpkin Scissors shines a light on PTSD, through a soldier who saw hell and took part in creating it during the war.

19

Gungrave

Both Series Feature Deep Stories & Characters

Gungrave and 86 Eighty-Six are very different in terms of setting and genre, but they both tell surprisingly deep stories with well-written and fleshed-out characters. Gungrave delves into the supernatural, but at its core, it is a story about organized crime.

The series revolves around Brandon Heat, a small-time criminal who was betrayed and killed by his best friend. He is resurrected 13 years later by a doctor, and he is tasked with destroying his former friend’s crime syndicate. Gungrave has plenty of action, and it makes great use of flashbacks.

18

Coppelion

In Both Anime, Teenagers Are Used To Carry Out Dangerous Missions

Coppelion takes place in the year 2036, and Tokyo is now a ghost town because of a nuclear meltdown that occurred two decades earlier. When the government received a distress signal from the city, they sent a group of teenage girls to rescue some soldiers that entered Tokyo.

These girls were genetically engineered to resist radiation, and they have other special skills. 86 Eighty-Six definitely has more action than Coppelion, but fans of the series will be able to notice a few similarities. Just like in 86 Eighty-Six, the young characters in Coppelion are forced to go on very dangerous missions, and the characters interact well with one another. Coppelion also has a unique and gritty animation style.

17

No.6

Both Anime Have Young Characters Who Deal With Drak & Complex Issues

No.6 is a short yet interesting anime that is set in a dystopian world. Shion lives in an ideal city referred to as No.6, and he has an elite and privileged lifestyle. One night, he meets a boy named Nezumi and shelters him from the rain, but Nezumi leaves the next morning. A few years later, Nezumi saves Shion after he is falsely accused of murder.

Shion witnessed his coworker rapidly age and die because of a parasitic wasp that the government wished to keep secret. As the boys attempt to uncover the truth, they keep finding more and more death. No.6 may not have intense mech combat like 86 Eighty-Six, but both series feature young protagonists who have to deal with dark and complex institutions. Fans of 86 Eighty-Six will likely enjoy Shion and Nezumi’s development as well.

16

God Eater

Both Series Tell Unique Stories Centered Around Conflict

God Eater is a post-apocalyptic series set in 2071, and it follows a group of soldiers trying to keep humanity alive. These soldiers are called God Eaters, and their job is to kill monsters known as Aragami. These monsters managed to wipe out most of humanity because conventional weapons could not harm them.

The God Eaters wield powerful weapons called God Arcs – which are basically Aragami with man-made cores. God Arcs are usually either melee or ranged, but some can switch between canon and blade form. Both series tell unique stories centered around conflict, and the battles with the Aragami get really intense.

15

Gurren Lagann

Both Series Have Fun Mech Combat

Gurren Lagann premiered in 2007, and it still holds up because of its unique animation style. It is set in the future when Earth is ruled by the Spiral King, who has forced mankind to live underground. It follows several characters, including Simon, a digger who is looked down upon by his peers; Kamina, who wishes to live on the surface; and Yoko Litner, a surface-dwelling resistance fighter.

Gurren Lagann features a unique mech that continuously evolves after each fight. It eventually becomes bigger than an entire galaxy, and it goes on to fight the Antispiral – a being who can destroy entire universes. Unlike 86 Eighty-Six, the action in Gurren Lagann is more cartoonish, but it is still fun to watch.

14

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Both Feature Teenagers Fighting In Mechs & Thought-Provoking Stories

The Witch from Mercury is the latest installment of the long-running Gundam franchise, and it is the first to feature a female protagonist. In this timeline, a conflict split humanity into Earthians and Spacians, and there is massive economic inequality between both sides. Suletta Mercury attends Asticassia School of Technology. It is run by the Benerit Group – a megacorporation filled with political corruption.

Gundams are banned because they kill their pilots, but this does not stop Aerial from becoming a prized mobile suit. Like 86 Eighty-Six, the series features teenagers fighting in mechs, and its story is thought-provoking because it deals with life and the dangers of uncontrolled, emerging technology and capitalism.

13

Valkyria Chronicles

Both Anime Deal With Military Units & They Balance Comedy With Action & Drama

Valkyria Chronicles is a tactical military-themed role-playing game that Sega first released in 2008, and it has spawned a number of sequels. A 26-episode anime adaptation was released in 2009, and it focuses on Welkin, the son of a war hero who joins a militia group with other Gallian citizens. Their goal is to protect their country from an invading Empire.

Unlike 86 Eighty-Six, Valkyria Chronicles does not delve into Sci-fi, but they both focus on the lives of a single military unit during the all-out war. Like 86, viewers get to see characters live, laugh, and die on the front lines, and both series do a good job of balancing comedy, drama, and action.

12

Deca-Dence

Both Anime Have Similar Themes & Plot Twists

Attack on Titan may have a number of disturbing scenes, but it has helped to inspire a few series, including Deca-Dence. This Sci-fi action series is 12 episodes long, and it is set more than 400 years in the future, at a time when severe air pollution and monster attacks have wiped out about 90% of humanity.

The anime takes place in the Deca-dence, a moving fortress city that separates its citizens into two categories. The Tankers stay inside and maintain the fortress, while the Gears venture outside and deal with Gadoll attacks. Natsume is a Tanker who recently lost her father in a Gadoll attack, and she wishes to become a Gear to help protect the remnants of humanity. Both series share similar dark themes, and they have decent plot twists.

11

Gunparade March

Both Anime Feature Young People Who Are Forced Into War

86 Eighty-Six has its fair share of comedic moments, but at the end of the day, it is a militaristic anime that focuses on war. Gunparade March was released in the winter of 2003, and although it feels like a romantic comedy at times, its 12 episodes feature a decent amount of action.

The story is set in an alternate timeline where humanity is forced to work together shortly after the end of the Second World War. An alien race known as the Phantom Beasts invade Earth, and humanity spends the next 50 years fighting them off. Gunparade March follows a young group of high school students who get drafted into military service, and they are tasked with using giant humanoid mechs called HWTs to fight the alien threat.

10

WorldEnd

Both Series Share Militaristic & Sci-Fi Themes

WorldEnd takes place in a world where humanity was almost wiped out by “Beasts.” This extinction-level event occurred 500 years ago, and the remnants of the human race now live on floating islands, but some Beasts are still capable of reaching them. Willem, the main character, fought the Beasts when they first appeared.

After being frozen for 500 years, Willem wakes up and becomes the father figure of the Leprechauns, a group of young girls who can use the only weapons that can stop the Beasts. WorldEnd is ultimately about family, but its sci-fi and military aspects make it perfect for fans of 86 Eighty-Six.

9

Aldnoah.Zero

Both Series Share Similar Mech Combat, Characters & Themes, And They Were Made By The Same Studio

Aldenoah.Zero may not be the best mecha anime of all time, but it tells a decent story over the course of 24 episodes. Like 86 Eighty-Six, the series features mech combat, and their main characters are very similar. The same studio produced both series, which explains why they both focus on themes like war and discrimination.

In Aldenoah.Zero, a hypergate is discovered on the moon. This allowed some of humanity to colonize Mars, where the Vers Empire was established. The humans on Mars develop advanced tech called Aldenoah, and both planets eventually go to war. The war leads to the moon’s destruction and a ceasefire, but that peace is threatened when the Vers princess is believed to have been assassinated by the Terrans.

8

Code Geass

They Are Both Mecha Series That Involve War, Discrimination & Oppression

Code Geass is one of the best anime to come out of the 2000s, and like 86 Eighty-Six, it is a mecha series that deals with oppression, discrimination, and war. The series focuses on Lelouch vi Britannian, an exiled prince who is sent to Japan with his younger sister after their mother is killed.

When his father, the Emperor, attacks Japan, Lelouch vows to destroy him and Britannia. Lelouch meets a girl called C.C., who gives him the ability to use Geass, an ocular ability that allows him to control a person’s mind once. He then assumes the identity of Zero, a masked man who becomes the leader of Japan’s resistance movement.

7

Psycho-Pass

Both Anime Center Around Characters Who Are Forced To Become Weapons

Over the course of three seasons, Psycho-Pass tells the story of a young inspector named Akane Tsunemori, who lives in a 22nd-century version of Japan. The country is governed by the Sibyl System, a specialized computer network that can identify a citizen’s potential to commit crimes.

Akane may not be one the strongest anime characters of all time, but that does not stop her from trying to fix the Sibyl System, which she realizes is flawed. Both this series and 86 Eighty-Six deal with individuals being robbed of their rights, and those individuals end up becoming weapons for organizations that do not care whether they live or die.

6

Violet Evergarden

Both Anime Revolve Around Characters Who Have To Deal With The Ramifications Of War

Violet Evergarden does not have any mechs; in fact, its plot and concept have virtually nothing in common with 86 Eighty-Six. However, that does not mean that viewers cannot find similarities between the two shows. The series focuses on Violet, a memory doll who is trying to reintegrate back into society following a large-scale war.

As a memory doll, Violet serves as a ghostwriter for people who are unable to write themselves. Both series make good use of their somber soundtracks and animation, and they tell stories that hit on a real emotional level.

5

Akame Ga Kill!

Both Anime Have A Great Deal Of Sacrifice, Backstory, & Violence

There are several great anime that get let down by their final episodes. Akame Ga Kill! is arguably one of them, but that does not mean that it is not worth watching. Like 86 Eighty-Six, the series has a good amount of depth and backstory, but Akame Ga Kill! has the luxury of being far more violent.

The series follows Tatsumi, a teenager who heads to the capital to make money for his impoverished village, and he quickly sees how evil and corrupt the empire is. He joins an assassination and reconnaissance group called Night Raid, whose mission is to help the Revolutionary Army.

4

Darling In The FranXX

In Both Series, The Main Characters Are Forced To Pilot Mechs To Protect Those Who Discriminate Against Them

Darling in the Franxx was made by A-1, the same studio that produces 86 Eighty-Six, so their animation is pretty similar. Both series feature a group of children who use mechs to protect people who discriminate against them.

The series follows ten kids who have to fight giant monsters called Klaxosaurs, which they do by piloting giant robots known as Franxx. These robots require two pilots, one male and one female. Tension arises for the audience when the main character Hiro gets partnered with a girl who is known for losing combat partners.

3

Attack On Titan

Both Anime Feature Big Casts & Deal With Very Mature Themes

Attack on Titan is set in a world where the perceived remnants of humanity are living within three massive walls, which protect them from giant man-eating humanoid monsters called Titans. Eren Yeager starts off wanting to kill all the Titans, but as the story progresses, his mindset changes and the show becomes far more complicated.

At first glance, Attack on Titan and 86 Eighty-Six seem to have very little in common, but they both feature large casts and deal with violent, mature themes that center around war and discrimination. AoT has an incredible knack for pulling off twists and revelations that turn the story on its head, ensuring each season feels unique and separate from everything else.

2

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

Both Series Deal With Very Mature Themes

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is set during the Cosmic Era, and it centers around the conflict between the natural humans of Earth and the genetically engineered humans of space. Kira Yamato is an ordinary teenager in the first episode, but everything changes when ZAFT attacks a neutral colony to obtain several Gundams.

Athrun is Kira’s childhood friend, and they are forced to fight each other before becoming allies again. Not only is Kira a genetically altered Coordinator, but he is also capable of entering SEED Mode – which is a heightened state of awareness. Gundam SEED is considered one of the best entries in the franchise because of its animation and mature themes.