"Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress" spans all genres. Airing for just one season in April 2016, it remains incredibly popular! It's a show you'll want to watch again and again, and we're confident it's a top pick for anime nerds. Here, we'll take a closer look at the Kabane, the series' most powerful enemy. They're scary to look at, so be sure to learn more about them before enjoying the show!
What are Kabane?
Zombies
This is the Kabane we'll be focusing on today. Isn't it so scary you'll want to cover your eyes? You'll see a lot of images like this, so be prepared (lol). Kabane are, in a sense, zombies. However, they're not slow-moving zombies; they have great physical abilities. They run at incredible speeds and attack while jumping around. What's more, they attack in groups, so the moment you scream, you'll be bitten. One of them is quite powerful, but when hundreds or thousands of them attack you,
Characteristics
Please don't look at me! (lol) Kabane have a unique characteristic: when bitten by a Kabane, they bleed excessively and die (feign death). However, after a certain amount of time, they revive (regenerate) as a Kabane and continue to live as a Kabane from then on. Even if they don't die, they will become Kabane after a three-day incubation period. Characteristic features include their entire body turning brown, veins becoming visible, and their heart glowing. Their eyes also turn red, and they are unable to speak. They only live to bite humans.
How to Defeat Kabane
Not possible with normal methods
Conventional methods like slicing off the neck with a sword or piercing the heart with a gun won't work on Kabane. Kabane hearts are covered in a hard, metallic membrane called the "cardiac capsule." This makes them invincible to defeat with ordinary weapons. Even if you can attack, their hardness makes it impossible to penetrate (crush) their heart. Unless you crush the cardiac capsule with a special weapon, you can't defeat them. That alone is troublesome, but they attack in groups, so it's endless.
Close Combat
Close combat is the only way to kill a Kabane. Anything else is just a matter of stalling. Being cut or hit angers the Kabane, making them even more aggressive. Mumei and the others fight calmly, demonstrating incredible mental strength. While the Kabane clearly outnumber them, they've studied them and discovered their weaknesses. Since there's only one way to kill them, it's a very difficult battle, but the combat is incredibly cool, so be sure to watch!
Types of Kabane
Normal
Basic Kabane react to the scent of human blood and attack while groaning. They attack in groups, as shown in the image, so ordinary humans are no match for them. Our protagonist, Ikoma, is trying to challenge them, so he's treated like a weirdo (lol). Even the normal ones are impressive, but there are actually different types of Kabane!
Wazatori
This is a Kabane that has learned how to fight through repeated battles. Some Kabane are intelligent. They don't just attack recklessly, but skillfully use their swords to attack. These Kabane are human-like and can use techniques, making them quite troublesome. However, it's rare for Kabane to grow to this level, so there are usually only 2 or 3 of them in the group. Even so, they still struggled.
Black Smoke
The most troublesome Kabane is this "Black Smoke." It's a collection of countless Kabane, taking on the shape of a giant Kabane. It can be defeated by crushing one Kabane at its heart. While this is quite difficult to achieve naturally, in the story it was artificially created. It's a pretty gruesome story, but the protagonist would turn his subordinates into Kabane (artificially transformed into Kabane with an injection) and then forcefully turn them into black smoke, as shown in this image. Apparently, this was part of his research, but it led to fights between his allies, resulting in significant casualties.
Kabaneri
Kabaneri are important kabane in this work. Although they appear human, they have a pericardium and glow. Their physical abilities also increase like a kabane's, living as something between human and kabane. At times, they are overcome by the urge to bite a human, just like a kabane, and at such times, they become completely kabane. It is said that they will eventually transform into kabane. In the main story, the protagonist Ikoma, Mumei, Amatori Biba, and Horobi are all kabaneri.
Countermeasures Against the Kabane
Koutetsujo
Aren't you curious about how humans survive? The title of this story is about the armored steam locomotive, the "Koutetsujo." While many other locomotives appear, the Koutetsujo's sturdiness is unmatched. The setting is the eastern island nation of Hinomoto, presumably referring to Japan. Steam locomotives are well developed in Hinomoto, and the humans live aboard the Koutetsujo. Even when a group of Kabane attacks, they can move forward at incredible speed while pulling the Koutetsujo. Incidentally, it's only been about 20 years since the Kabane landed in Hinomoto, so it's likely that steam locomotive technology was already in existence.
How to Draw Kabane
Rules
Here are the official rules for drawing (appearance) Kabane! People from this era generally wear kimonos. Because they run around, their hems and throats are covered in mud, and their fabric is torn. Blood stains here and there, along with deep shading, are characteristic. They have a red pattern (mainly on the left side) centered around their heart, which spreads across their entire body when angry. They have fangs in their mouths, and the instructions were to draw them very realistically. This is a distinctive feature, and differences in gender and age are used to create the characters. The story becomes much more interesting depending on how terrifying they are.
Kabane are the most powerful enemy in history
Did you enjoy this? We've introduced you to [Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress] Understanding Kabane in 5 Minutes! The Kabane were originally human. Of course, they also had families, lovers, and friends. Some witnessed their mothers being attacked by Kabane right in front of their eyes, while others were unfortunately attacked while desperately trying to escape. It's a cruel and mysterious world, but the resilience of the people who continue to live despite it is moving. There are also many heartwarming stories, so be sure to check it out. You can experience the awesomeness of the Kabane for yourself!
