Amaim Warrior at the Borderline

Amaim Warrior at the Borderline
Key visual
境界戦機 (Kyōkai Senki)
Genre	Mecha
Created by	Sunrise Beyond Bandai Spirits
Manga
Kyōkai Senki: Frost Flower
Written by	Sunrise Beyond
Published by	Hobby Japan
Magazine	Monthly Hobby Japan
Original run	July 21, 2021 – present
Anime television series
Directed by	Nobuyoshi Habara
Produced by	Hiroki Komatsu Yoshikazu Beniya
Written by	Noboru Kimura
Music by	Rasmus Faber
Studio	Sunrise Beyond
Licensed by	Funimation (outside Asia)
Original network	TV Tokyo, MBS TV, BS11
Original run	October 5, 2021 – present
Episodes	9

Amaim Warrior at the Borderline (Japanese: 境界戦機, Hepburn: Kyōkai Senki, "War Machines on the Borderline") is an original Japanese anime television series animated by Sunrise Beyond. It premiered in October 2021. A photonovel series titled Kyōkai Senki: Frost Flower has been serialized in Hobby Japan's Monthly Hobby Japan magazine since July 2021.

Plot

In the mid-20th century, due to economic crisis and a collapsing birthrate, Japan was on the verge of becoming a failed state. In response, foreign nations sent forces to intervene. However, foreign intervention quickly became a foreign occupation, and the competing foreign nations started the destructive Boundary War, fought with autonomous drone mecha called AMAIMs. By the year 2061, the Boundary War has ended but Japan has been divided into four occupied zones where native Japanese are treated like second-class citizens. In the wake of the resulting social upheaval and unrest, a young boy named Amō Shiiba stumbles across an abandoned AMAIM called Kenbu and a rogue autonomous AI named Gai. With Kenbu and Gai, Amō has the opportunity to change the course of history for both himself and the entire nation of Japan.

Characters

Main characters

Amō Shiiba (椎葉 アモウ, Shiiba Amō)

Voiced by: Gen Satō

Gashin Tezuka (鉄塚 ガシン, Tezuka Gashin)

Voiced by: Yūto Uemura

Shion Shishibe (紫々部 シオン, Shishibe Shion)

Voiced by: Kana Ichinose

I-LeS Gai (I-LeS ガイ)

Voiced by: Natsumi Fujiwara

I-LeS Kai (I-LeS ケイ)

Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa

I-LeS Nayuta (I-LeS ナユタ)

Voiced by: Taishi Murata

Yatagarasu

Risa Kōzaki (甲咲 リサ, Kōzaki Risa)

Voiced by: Masumi Asano

Gōken Kumai (熊井 ゴウケン, Kumai Gōken)

Voiced by: Masaki Terasoma

Eiji Umasaki (馬﨑 エイジ, Umasaki Eiji)

Voiced by: Kazuhiro Nakaya

Misuzu Maki (槙 ミスズ, Maki Misuzu)

Voiced by: Ayaka Nanase

Takeru Muramatsu (村松 タケル, Muramatsu Takeru)

Voiced by: Shin Matsushige

Kiryu Udou (宇堂 キリュウ, Udō Kiryū)

Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama

Confederation of Oceania

Jeffrey Wilson (ジェフリー・ウィルソン, Jefurī Wiruson)

Voiced by: Tetsu Inada

Kate Burn (ケイト・バーン, Keito Bān)

Voiced by: Shizuka Ishigami

Simon Tate (サイモン・テイト, Saimon Teito)

Voiced by: Volcano Ōta

Oliver Martin (オリバー・マーティン, Oribā Mātin)

Voiced by: Tarō Kiuchi

North America coalition

Brad Watt (ブラッド・ワット, Buraddo Watto)

Voiced by: Yūki Ono

Raymond Hardy (レイモンド・ハーディー, Reimondo Hādī)

Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki

Charley Orley (チャーリー・オーレイ, Chārī Ōrei)

Voiced by: Masayuki Kato

Roger Young (ロジャー・ヤング, Rojā Yangu)

Voiced by: Shunichi Maki

Sofia Louis (ソフィア・ルイス, Sofia Ruisu)

Voiced by: Saori Ōnishi

Joe Spears (ジョウ・スピアーズ, Jō Supiāzu)

Voiced by: Yutaka Nakano

Asia free trade entente

Ho Guan (ホウ・グアン, Hō Guan)

Voiced by: Masaaki Mizunaka

Sun Chong (スン・チョン, Sun Chon)

Voiced by: Kazumasa Nakamura

Liu Fu (リウ・フウ, Riu Fū)

Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa

Brenson Corp

German Gobert (ジェルマン・ゴベール, Jeruman Gobēru)

Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama

Others

Takuto Ōnishi (大西 タクト, Shishibe Shion)

Voiced by: Taito Ban

Tsubasa Mishima (三島 ツバサ, Mishima Tsubasa)

Voiced by: Daiki Kobayashi

Ken Tanazaka (田名坂 ケン, Tanazaka Ken)

Voiced by: Shōgo Sakata

Gen Sakuma (佐久間 ゲン, Sakuma Gen)

Voiced by: Katsuhisa Hōki

Yoriko Sakuma (佐久間 ヨリコ, Sakuma Yoriko)

Voiced by: Hitomi Shogawa

Tokuji Iwata (岩田 トクジ, Iwata Tokuji)

Voiced by: Hitoshi Bifu

Yūsei Suenaga (末永 ユウセイ, Suenaga Yūsei)

Voiced by: Kenichi Suzumura

Media

Photonovel

A photonovel series titled Kyōkai Senki: Frost Flower (境界戦機 フロストフラワー, Kyōkai Senki Furosuto Furawā) began serialization in Hobby Japan's Monthly Hobby Japan magazine since July 21, 2021.

Anime

Sunrise Beyond and Bandai Spirits revealed the project on March 16, 2021. The series is directed by Nobuyoshi Habara and written by Noboru Kimura. Character designs are provided by Kenichi Ohnuki, while Rasmus Faber is composing the music. It premiered on October 5, 2021 on TV Tokyo, MBS and BS11. Blank Paper performed the series' opening theme song "enemy". Funimation licensed the series outside of Asia.

Episode list

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Storyboarded by	Original air date
1	"Activate" Transliteration: "Kidō" (Japanese: 起動)	Nobuyoshi Habara Tatsunari Koyano	Noboru Kimura	Nobuyoshi Habara	October 5, 2021 (2021-10-05)
In the mid-20th century, due to economic collapse and a shrinking population, Japan became a failed state, necessitating foreign nations to intervene. However, this began a war between the competing foreign powers for control of Japan through the use of autonomous mecha units called AMAIMs in a conflict known as the Boundary War. By 2061, the war has long ended, but Japan remains divided into four occupied regions. Amō Shiiba is a young orphan who is slowly rebuilding an abandoned AMAIM he found. While scavenging for parts, he comes across an AI core containing an autonomous AI calling itself Gai who requests Amō save him before his battery runs out. Amō plugs Gai into his salvaged AMAIM, and Gai begins rebuilding it and learns it is a rare manned model called Kenbu. Meanwhile, Oceanian mercenaries falsely accuse Amō and his scavenger friends of terrorism, forcing him to pilot Kenbu to destroy the AMAIMs sent after him.
2	"Voyage" Transliteration: "Funade" (Japanese: 船出)	Takahiro Tamano	Noboru Kimura	Takeshi Mori	October 12, 2021 (2021-10-12)
In order to protect his friends, Amō proclaims himself a terrorist who exploited them to build Kenbu before fleeing. Oceania is forced to release his friends to save face while they hunt for Amō. Soon, they reach a small coastal village where Gai has to temporarily enter sleep mode to process the new data he has acquired. Amō heads out to search for food, and ends up helping an elderly farmer harvest his crops. However, the farmer and his wife discover Amō is a fugitive, but decide to shelter him anyways, as they realize he's not a terrorist. They also have no love for the Oceania, as their son was killed during the Boundary War. Realizing his presence will only endanger the couple, Amō leaves in the middle of the night and borrows their son's abandoned fishing boat. As Amō and Gai leave Oceania's territory, they are ambushed by the Asian military. While Amō and Gai put up an effective fight, they are quickly outnumbered and pinned down until they receive assistance from another manned AMAIM.
3	"Reason to Fight" Transliteration: "Tatakau Riyū" (Japanese: 戦う理由)	Masashi Abe	Noboru Kimura	Masashi Abe	October 19, 2021 (2021-10-19)
Amō and Gai are rescued by another AMAIM pilot, Gashin Tezuka who pilots the AMAIM Jogan and is assisted by another autonomous AI named Kei. Gashin reveals he is part of the Japanese liberation group Yatagarasu and takes Amō to their base camp, where he meets the local leader, Goken Kumai. Kumai reveals that Kenbu was originally commissioned by Yatagarasu and belongs to the group, but was lost after the Yatagarasu branch it was destined for was destroyed. Kumai offers to let Amō join Yatagarasu as Kenbu's pilot, or give up Kenbu and return to civilian life under a new identity. It's also revealed Gashin's father was Jogan's previous pilot before being killed. Amō remains uncertain about joining, as he is afraid of having to fight. After spending some time with other Yatagarasu members and sympathizing with their cause, Amō ultimately decides to join them while Kenbu is upgraded. Amō and Gashin then participate in a mock battle where they switch to using each other's AMAIMs, and the battle ends in a draw. However, shortly after the conclusion of the mock battle, the base camp is suddenly attacked by mysterious black AMAIM.
4	"Separate Ways" Transliteration: "Betsuri" (Japanese: 別離)	Masayuki Iimura	Noboru Kimura	Akihiro Enomoto	October 26, 2021 (2021-10-26)
Amō and Gashin return to the camp to find it being attacked by an unknown AMAIM that has been nicknamed the "Ghost". Working together, Amō and Gashin are able to critically damage the Ghost and force it to retreat. However, during the fighting, one of the Yatagarasu members Amō had grown close with, Risa, had been killed trying to distract the Ghost. Amō is traumatized upon learning of Risa's death while Yatagarasu evacuates the area. Shortly after, officers from the North American military to investigate the site, and manage to conclude that Kenbu and Jogan battled the Ghost. Intrigued by the Ghost's presence in the area, the North American officers decide to deploy more forces. Meanwhile, Gashin leaves Amō to grieve for Risa's death. Eventually, Amō decides not to join Yatagarasu, as he's afraid of seeing people he has befriended die. Gashin allows Amō to leave with Gai, under the condition he hide Kenbu for Yatagarasu to recover later. After hiding Kenbu behind a waterfall, Amō takes his leave.
5	"Determination" Transliteration: "Ketsui" (Japanese: 決意)	Tatsunari Koyano	Noboru Kimura	Takeshi Mori	November 2, 2021 (2021-11-02)
Amō decides to head to Risa's hometown in order to return her necklace to her relatives. Meanwhile, Gashin is informed that a new AMAIM pilot has joined Yatagarasu. Upon arriving there, he meets Mr. Nose and his daughter Hina, who take him to meet Risa's friends. Amō informs them about Risa's death, but her friends reveal that Risa's family have all moved away due to scandal of her joining Yatagarasu. However, they do know where Risa's family grave is, where he can return necklace and pay his respects. That night, Mr. Nose and Hina are kidnapped by the local Deputy Governor, who intends to sell them as part of his human trafficking ring. The local townspeople protest Mr. Nose's arrest, and the Deputy Governor responds by arresting many of the protestors and sentencing them to death. Unwilling to stand by and watch more innocent people die, Amō retrieves Kenbu and rescues the prisoners while Gai broadcasts evidence of the Deputy Governor's illegal dealings. In order to save face, the Asian military releases all of the prisoners, including Mr. Nose and Hina, and orders the Deputy Governor be removed from his post. Amō leaves Risa's necklace at her family grave and reunites with Gashin, now committed to joining Yatagarasu.
6	"Voyage" Transliteration: "Tabiji" (Japanese: 旅路)	Takahiro Tamano	Noboru Kimura	Atsushi Ōtsuki	November 9, 2021 (2021-11-09)
Yatagaru's third AMAIM pilot reveals she joined the movement due to the Asian military stealing her grandfather's land. As Amō and Gashin continue on their journey to reach Yatagaru's HQ, their AMAIMs begin to suffer mechanical breakdowns due to lack of maintenance. Yatagarasu arranges for a collaborator to provide them the parts they need in a nearby city. Amō and Gashin hide their AMAIMs and head for the city. Meanwhile, the Oceanian military decides to take advantage of the Asian military's human trafficking scandal to stage an attack on the Asian territory. Amō and Gashin do their best to help civilians evacuate, but soon find themselves caught between the fighting between the Asian and Oceanian forces. Suddenly, an unknown AMAIM arrives and destroys multiple AMAIMs on both sides, forcing the Oceanian and Asian militaries to cease fighting and retreat. Amō and Gashin meet with the new AMAIM, which reveals it is controlled by the third pilot and an AI named Angelo. The pilot then exits her AMAIM and begins crying.
7	"The Hunt" Transliteration: "Tōbatsu" (Japanese: 討伐)	Ryōki Kamitsubo	Noboru Kimura	Ryōki Kamitsubo	November 16, 2021 (2021-11-16)
The third pilot introduces herself as Shion Shishibe and despite her AI calling himself Angelo, his actual name is Nayuta. As the trio travel to Yatagarasu's HQ, Amō becomes curious about the source of their AMAIMs and AI companions, especially since no other nation has such advanced technology. Gashin explains that they are receiving support from Brenson Corp, an unregistered corporation. Meanwhile, the North American military tasks Captain Brad Watts with hunting down Ghost, with the intention to either capture it so its AI technology can be studied, or destroy it to prevent it from falling into foreign hands. Brad leads an elite AMAIM squad to subdue Ghost, and despite being able to seriously damage it, Brad and his team suffer losses and are unable to stop Ghost from escaping. Brad promises to get revenge on Ghost for his fallen comrades. Meanwhile, Amō, Gashin, and Shion reach Yatagarasu HQ where Amō is introduced to the head of the organization, Udou Kiryu, and Brenson Corp's sales representative, German Gobert.
8	"Path to Recovery" Transliteration: "Saisei no Tsuchioto" (Japanese: 再生の槌音)	Ryōki Kamitsubo	Misaki Morie	Takeshi Mori	November 23, 2021 (2021-11-23)
German provides several upgrades for Kenbu and Jogan, such as new arm with retractable claws and additional weapons. Yatagarasu also receives a plea for help from the Fudou family, who are refugees that have fled to a nearby abandoned village for shelter who are running low on supplies. Since one of Yatagarasu's missions is to provide humanitarian relief, Udou and Goken agree to help the Fudou family. Yatagarasu helps rebuild the village, as well as constructing a well and waterwheel and repairing an old kiln. They quickly run into an issue where their efforts to build a well are blocked by a layer of thick bedrock, though they are able to build a laser drill and pile bunker to break through it. With access to water and electricity allowing them to be self sufficient, the Fudou family thanks Yatagarasu for their help.
9	"Autonomous Area" Transliteration: "Jichiku" (Japanese: 自治区)	Masashi Abe	Noboru Kimura	Masashi Abe	November 30, 2021 (2021-11-30)
While on a supply run, Amō, Gashin, and Shion encounter Yuusei Suenaga, Gashin's foster brother and ex-Yatagarasu member. They both have a happy reunion and agree to meet each other again. Yuusei explains that he is the mayor of an autonomous city, where Japanese citizens can live and self govern without foreign interference. He explains that he wants to try a different path to achieve Japanese independence through negotiation and compromise rather than violence, which is why he left Yatagarasu. After touring the trio around the city, Yuusei privately offers Gashin residence in the city so that they can live together and Gashin can leave a life of violence behind. That night, German warns Gashin that Yuusei is a spy for the Asian military, which was how he was able to build the autonomous city. Gashin does his own investigation and finds that the Asian military is coercing Yuusei to give up information about Japanese rebels in return for much needed supplies for the city. Gashin then lays a trap and catches Yuusei red handed attempting to steal data from Yatagarasu. Gashin reveals that the data Yuusei stole was bait and Yatagarasu will be long gone by the time the Asian military mobilizes. Yuusei remains adamant with collaborating with the Asian military, and Gashin cannot bring himself to kill Yuusei and lets him go, wondering if he made the right choice.
10	"Expedition" Transliteration: "Ensei" (Japanese: 遠征)	Tatsunari Koyano	Noboru Kimura	Tatsunari Koyano	December 7, 2021 (2021-12-07)

Controversy

In a review article by the platform for English-speaking anime and manga fan community, Anime Feminist, it is pointed out that the anime contains content of nationalism and anti-immigration dogwhistles, and the introduction part of the anime's first episode can be summarized as “we let foreigners in and they outbred us, and now the True Japanese People are being subjugated by the foreign powers they heralded”.

Bilibili, a Chinese streaming service website, has taken down the series from its service because of the portrayal of the Asian foreign power as human traffickers in the fifth episode, "Determination".

External links

• Anime official website (in Japanese)
• Amaim Warrior at the Borderline (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia