Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

An exciting horror anime from the makers of Attack on Titan.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is an action-anime series with a compelling aesthetic and plenty of exciting adventure. The series is produced by Yōhei Shintaku (Ping Pong, Valvrave the Liberator) and Yuka Okayasu (Ride Your Wave, Lu over the wall). Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is released from anime distributor Funimation Entetainment. The series production involves a number of key players from Attack on Titan (one of the company’s biggest anime success stories).

Mumei (Sayaka Senbongi) and Ikoma (Tasuku Hatanaka) are Kabaneri hunters who are determined to fight for the future of all humanity. The chance of civilization surviving seem slim to none when an onslaught of Kabane attack humanity with force. The Kabane are zombie-like monsters and these creatures are determined to kill. Attempting to overcome the ruthless attacks of the Kabane, Mumei and Ikoma must band together and fight for their lives. Can these monsters be defeated or will humanity fail to survive?  

The central protagonists of the series are compelling. Mumei and Ikoma are both great lead characters who serve the saga well. Mumei is the lead female protagonist and Ikoma is the lead male protagonist. Each character has a distinct personality and quirks as fighters. Both of these characters serve as Kabaneri hunters and the series explores their dedication to fighting the Kabane zombies. The unexpected pairing of these characters make the series more compelling.

The animation is spectacular and stands out as something memorable. The series works from the original character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto. Under the art direction of Shunichiro Yoshihara (Attack on Titan, Dr. Stone), Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is a sleek and compelling series on a visual level. The art style is dark and gritty and one can easily see the aesthetic of Attack on Titan carry over with this series (which makes sense given the fact that both series featured many of the same artists collaborating behind the scenes).

Zombie time.

The action scenes are central to the success of the production. The action sequencing provides a sense of ambitious scale to Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. The fight scenes with the monstrous creatures are entertaining and are non-stop adrenaline rushes. Fans of Attack on Titan will notice some of the high-octane similarities and will find the results enormously appealing.

The cinematography by Kazuhiro Yamada (Attack on Titan, Death Note) is visually rewarding and has some interesting creativity on display. Cinematographer Yamada helps to craft compelling visuals: a fantastic use of lighting and detail in the imagery. The dark and brooding atmosphere of the series is largely due to the exceptional cinematography.

The score by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan, Kill la Kill) is impressive and certainly contributes to the sense of excitement generated from the series. Composer Sawano is a gifted composer with a smart sensibility. The score is action-oriented and manages to provide an excellent accompaniment to the adrenaline-packed fight scenes against the Kabane. An excellent original score for the production.

Written by Ichiro Okouchi (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Fusé: Memoirs of a Huntress), Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is an exciting thrill ride and in that regard the series is a clear success. The writing is not as character- focused as it is action-oriented but that is unsurprising for the genre in some respects. Though the script isn’t perfect, the writing is still solid and entertaining. Okouchi has a lot of fun with the concept.

Director Tetsuro Araki (Attack on Titan, Death Note) provides an epic landscape for the production of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. The series is well-directed and filmmaker Araki seems to know how to handle the production. The sense of scope and sale can largely be attributed to the director for the project. Given Araki’s success with Attack on Titan, it is no surprise that this is another exciting and entertaining production. Action anime fans should take note.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio. The picture-quality on the release looks excellent. Colors are vibrant and beautiful on the release. The animation has a unique aesthetic. A presentation that highlights the art well and capably handles the action sequences. The encode showcases the art without compression woes.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The lossless audio quality on the release sounds impressive. Dynamics certainly impress and the surround sound implementation on the English dub is surprisingly great. A noteworthy audio presentation by Funimation.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is light on extras and that won't be the main draw of the release for anyone. The release could have benefited some from more behind-the-scenes documentaries and interviews with the cast and crew. The release is certainly a little less impressive because of the limited selection of bonus features included. Fans certainly might enjoy the promo videos and other additions but the assortment could be better.

Promo Videos (HD, 4:15)

Textless Opening Song "Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress" (HD, 1:31)

Textless Closing Song "ninelie" (HD, 1:31)

Trailers (HD, 9:54)

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is an exciting and action-packed anime with horror genre roots. The series has plenty of energy. The production has an enormous sense of scale with regards to the animation. An outstanding effort from the team of animators. For one thing, the zombie- like creatures are horrifying and thrilling to see. The Blu-ray release from Funimation features a strong video and audio presentation. The release includes a selection of bonus features as well. An exciting genre series. Anime fans with an enjoyment for horror and the macabre should take note. Recommended.