(L) Kotetsujo no Kabaneri (Knocking on the Walls of the Armored Fortress)

[karice67]

Originally Posted by MisaoFan

Doesn't look like it's set in the future. If anything, it's basically sets in the late Edo period and predict what will happen when the Meiji Restoration doesn't exist yet and when the western technology got introduced earlier than what we got in real life feudal Japan. Check the following link from what I'm talking about (it's in Japanese though, someone would be able to translate it):
http://kabaneri.com/keyword/02.html

In case anyone's still interested in this, that keyword was about the setting, which is basically Japan ("Hinomoto" 日ノ本) in the 19th century but in a world with a very different history. The daimyo who emerged victorious from the Sengoku period chose to open up the country instead of sealing it, and over three hundred years built a peaceful and tranquil realm. Trade with outside countries meant that Hinomoto was able to bring in a lot of industrial technology. But word would also come about the Kabane appearing in Western Europe, and the daimyo began preparing their country to face the threat in the off chance that it would come to their shores. The network of fortresses--or stations, as they came to be known--connected by a steam train system was established as a result. After the Kabane landed in Kyushu, these stations were somehow about to survive by trading their goods with each other via the train network. This network of stations soon became the only safe haven remaining in Hinomoto, and no one was able to go against the shogunate that controlled it.

So, basically, the iron fortress/train network wasn't set up in twenty years. It was established before the Kabane reached Japan from the overseas countries in which they'd first appeared.

I guess that also means that the Europe in this world is overrun. I wonder how the Americas fared...

[mangatron]

I have to say, I actually walked into episode 01 without even knowing what this series is about, and wow, a zombiepocalypse? Count me in

Don't laugh though, I'm in it for the "survival against the odds" aspect, yeah, I did sort of enjoy episode 01, but I noticed something consistent with all these sort of zombiepocalypse stories: there's always going to be a moment where I, the viewer, would question the questionable things in this single episode, such as why is there no quicker self destruct switch for the drawbridge instead of it mechanically operating itself, or why is there no holding area outside of the city limits instead of bringing in the container to find trouble instead of keeping it away outright, and such and such.

But that's the fun part! Humans can't seem to get anything right in zombiepocalypse's, so let's see how they get out of their mess, is what I'd like to think

[Stark700]

Episode 2 will be delayed because of an earthquake.
https://twitter.com/anime_kabaneri/s...41909438308356

[Dysprosium]

Originally Posted by Stark700

Episode 2 will be delayed because of an earthquake.
https://twitter.com/anime_kabaneri/s...41909438308356

The Chinese subs are out, though, and since there's a video source, the "unofficial" subs could be out in next few hours or so.

[Chosen_Hero]

Originally Posted by karice67

I guess that also means that the Europe in this world is overrun. I wonder how the Americas fared...

Why even ask this? You should know by now that in anime only the japanese can survive anything and are the only ones that can fight any world ending threat, the Americans (or any other country) in their world never stood a chance.(still better/more preferable than being led by a talking wig)

[endarion88]

i still don't get one thing,...if they can be killed by shooting them in the head or beheading them..why bothering making something to pierce the armored heart?

[Brother Coa]

Outstanding visual quality, AoT feel, bada** MC, zombies.... count me in for now.

But I do have some questions:

1 - While some asked how where people above to build this station s and cities my question woudl be - is this our Earth in the future or some alternate world? ( I think later is more possible because it woudl be little strange for Japanese to regress back to their old medieval style clothing ).

2 - Same question asked by multiple people here - why not destroy the head? Heart may be made from armor now but body cannot function without a working brain, at least not human body.

3 - Correct me if I am wrong but those hearts are made from iron layer. Aren't modern rifles able to penetrate even steel plates if they use correct ammunition?

[DemonneoPT]

@Brother Coa

You guys should at least read some of the previous comments because some of those questions were already answered xD

1- It's an alternate timeline and it occurs in the past just like Karice67 said:

Originally Posted by karice67

In case anyone's still interested in this, that keyword was about the setting, which is basically Japan ("Hinomoto" 日ノ本) in the 19th century but in a world with a very different history. The daimyo who emerged victorious from the Sengoku period chose to open up the country instead of sealing it, and over three hundred years built a peaceful and tranquil realm. Trade with outside countries meant that Hinomoto was able to bring in a lot of industrial technology. But word would also come about the Kabane appearing in Western Europe, and the daimyo began preparing their country to face the threat in the off chance that it would come to their shores. The network of fortresses--or stations, as they came to be known--connected by a steam train system was established as a result. After the Kabane landed in Kyushu, these stations were somehow about to survive by trading their goods with each other via the train network. This network of stations soon became the only safe haven remaining in Hinomaru, and no one was able to go against the shogunate that controlled it.

So, basically, the iron fortress/train network wasn't set up in twenty years. It was established before the Kabane reached Japan from the overseas countries in which they'd first appeared.

I guess that also means that the Europe in this world is overrun. I wonder how the Americas fared...

2- As far i can tell, Bushi steam rifles were not able to do any damage to the Kabane's body. Only knocked them away. Plus, Kabane probably have some sort of regenerative ability that only stop if you destroy the heart. Maybe that is why Ikoma wanted a weapon that could destroy the heart. We have to wait for the next episodes and see if that is actually true or not. If it turns out to be false, than i guess Ikoma wanted an overkill weapon just because

3- Probably. But Bushi's rifles are weak compared to modern weaponry. There is also a chance that the iron layer Kabane possess may have special properties that could give extra resistance or something. It's just a theory tho...

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep2:

Well yeah, figures the two would be half-zombie and half-human. The protagonist's hair color changed in episode 1, which was a sign something changed about him. And you know mysterious loli couldn't be normal.

Oh Father, you run away only to reappear as a zombie only to be squashed...


But more importantly.........
Aah... Her... ou... outfit... changed...
（´・ω・`）.;:…
（´・ω...:.;::..
（´・;::: .:.;: ｻﾗｻﾗ..
:: .:.;::: .:.;:
aahh..

[germanturkey]

there's no confirmation that beheading them will stop them. in ep 1, you see the kabane fall to its knees, but the heart is still glowing and beating. we'll probably get more info on regenerative powers next ep when what's his face gets shot in the gut.

[Brother Coa]

@DemonneoPT

Thanks for your answers, it is really hard to get back 10+ pages backwards and search the answers among the sea of debate.

So in this world Europe is gone and probably Africa and Asia seeing how 'zombies' reached Japan already.

Too bad like the other shows this will probably concentrate only on Japan itself and never bothering to explain what happened to the rest of the world.

Btw, when will episode 2 air?
Next week?

[Dysprosium]

Originally Posted by Brother Coa

Btw, when will episode 2 air?
Next week?

One week delay.

Like I said, the Chinese subs are already out, so expect someone to sub it in the next few days or so (there's already a version available, but it's quite shitty).

[TinyRedLeaf]

It's been a very long time since I've had such conflicted emotions from watching a very young anime heroine on screen.

I love the retro character designs, and it was with pleasant surprise that I learnt that Haruhiko Mikimoto was also the character designer of the original Macross. So, no wonder Ikoma looks so much like an angry Max Sterling (aka Maximilian Jenius).

Spoiler for Episode 2:

So, as many have speculated, Mumei is indeed half-human, or more specifically, a kabaneri, as opposed to infected humans, who become kabane.

And with the same affliction now befalling Ikoma as well, this series again echoes the set-up in Attack on Titan, where the main protagonists are half-monsters. It seems that's the only way that the heroes can fight horrifically powerful monsters on an equal footing.

It's one hell of a ride this episode, with the highlight being Ikoma's near sacrifice to save the people who had already abandoned him as one of the infected.

And dayum, does Mumei look awesome. I prefer her in her fighting outfit, though. At least then I can gawp without feeling strangely guilty.

It also occurred to me that so much of the story concept could just as easily have been set in space, with generational seed ships and space stations standing in for armoured trains and fortified cities respectively.

The action works, the art is magnificent and the scripting, so far, appropriately tight. And they're all good enough that I can easily overlook the apparent logical lapses.

[Stark700]

Episode 2:

Yeah, it makes sense that Mumei isn't entirely normal herself considering her abnormal fighting abilities. I hope we see more background story about her soon too.

Good action this episode with the OST. Ikoma reminds me of Eren a lot this episode in a way but also with more intelligence. Wonder who else is a Kabaneri in this series as I suspect that there are more than just Mumei and Ikoma.

ED theme song by Aimer is nice, one of my favorites this season so far.

[PreSage]

Spoiler for ep 2:

Not too surprised that Ikoma is now half-kabane. I was also suspicious of that girl too, given how she can fight the kabane so easily and have such a nonchalant attitude about it. Though it makes sense, since they needed to be on a more or less equal footing to defeat their enemies; but this also reveals the fact that kabane are not merely bloodthirsty zombies but they have greater physical abilities, and possibly regenerative abilities as many already mentioned.

But it looks like Mumei and Ikoma, or kabaneri in general, can only use their zombie strength to fight in a limited amount of time. That's why Mumei was timing her fight during their escape. It is possible that over that limit they may succumb to the virus, hence her facial veins were glowing and she had to sleep to recover/control it.

[orion]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

It also occurred to me that so much of the story concept could just as easily have been set in space, with generational seed ships and space stations standing in for armoured trains and fortified cities respectively.

*cough*Knight of Sidonia*cough*

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by orion

*cough*Knight of Sidonia*cough*

Exactly.

Watching this original title is strangely refreshing, because it feels like a gigantic mashup of a number of recent titles — from Attack on Titan, to Highschool of the Dead, and Knights of Sidonia — and yet it manages to bring something new that makes the whole project very compelling. Here's hoping that it manages to keep up the momentum as the show goes on, as stretched resources will likely force a compromise in production qualities, as they often do.


===========

Incidentally, regarding the bridge-raising protocols that people have been harping on, I think we were given a somewhat wrong impression of what actually happens in normal operations. The Iron Fortress was actually due to arrive a day later. I suspect that was why the gate crew wasn't looking out for the rail-fort, and also why they didn't lower the bridge in advance. I think, under normal circumstances, a scheduled train is meant to slow down as it approaches the chasm, while the crew lowers the bridge at the same time.

That's certainly what happened with the arrival of the Kusang Fortress. The guards spotted it coming down the tunnel, and started their standard operating procedures. They didn't notice that the train wasn't slowing down until it was too late. Yes, this does suggest a critical weakness in their SOP, but it's probably the case that a rail-fort has never been completely lost to a kabane incursion before. Or, if a train has indeed been lost, there's never been a case where the kabane would actually pilot it. What happened was totally out of the bounds of reasonable expectation.

By the way, if you look closely, the kabane weren't actually piloting the rail-fort. Rather, it appears that one of them was chomping on the dead pilot, whose hand was caught in the controls, and that seems to be why train kept moving.

As for the warriors' steam guns, they don't apparently pack enough explosive power to propel a round through a kabane's heart cage. The most they appear to do is repel a kabane, kind of like what a steam or water cannon would do.

I think this point is important, because it probably explains why no one has attempted to destroy a kabane's head. The head is probably just as resilient as the rest of the corpse's body, so shooting it with a steam gun wouldn't do any damage. And regular swords are probably not keen enough to cut through kabane flesh either (although, based on the PVs and the OP/ED, it seems that Kurusu eventually acquire a katana that will likely allow him to decapitate kabane).

So, it seems to me that the exposed heart is the only weak point, and kabane that are shot through the heart emit distinctive sparks. To date, only Ikoma's piercing cannon (which is apparently effective only at point-blank range) and Mumei's twin pistols appear to be able to do that.

And of course, there's also the fact that Mumei is preternaturally strong. Because, in lieu of superior weaponry, the only other option is to use tremendous force to tear apart a kabane. Hence the usual strategy of ramming the monsters with the rail-forts.

[Kakurin]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

They didn't notice that the train wasn't slowing down until it was too late. Yes, this does suggest a critical weakness in their SOP, but it's probably the case that a rail-fort has never been completely lost to a kabane incursion before. Or, if a train has indeed been lost, there's never been a case where the kabane would actually pilot it. What happened was totally out of the bounds of reasonable expectation.

Actually it doesn't matter if a rail fort has been lost or not or whether the zombies could pilot it or not. All you need is have a couple of zombies hanging onto the train - which is entirely within the bounds of reasonable expectation - to have a need to keep it out of the town. If letting a train into the town without prior inspection outside of it is standard procedure it's an extremely dumb procedure that was going to be punished sooner or later.

[foxbox360]

I thought she was a loli, I guess the change of clothing show her true appearance.

[larethian]

Spoiler for episode 2:

Mumei is just too cool. Also, seems like there's a time limit for her operation. Being so concerned about it before starting the fight. But it's kind of sad that whatever Ikoma did or knew someone already did before him. Hope he brings something new to the table instead of just being a rookie newtype kabaneri. I guess possibly his model of the nail gun being mass-producible may be it.