Shin Kazama
main character
OVA
7.2
My TrackerPLANNING
Episode: 0 / 3
My Score:
Anime DetailsFINISHED
Estimated watch time
3h 21m
⚡ 1 days at 5 eps/day
Tags & Tropes
Tragedy100%Military96%Aviation88%Seinen84%Primarily Adult Cast80%Foreign79%Survival72%Male Protagonist68%Ojou-sama33%Orphan20%
overview details
Synopsis & Story
In a cruel twist of fate, talented young pilot Shin Kazama is tricked into serving as a mercenary for Area 88. A hell on Earth where men survive by gunning down anyone who stands in their way. To return home, Shin must sell his soul to the battlefield and pave the road back to Japan with the corpses of his fallen opponents. (Source: Discotek)
Trailer
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Availability, audio and subtitles vary by region and service.
Featured Cast & Voice Actors
Franchise Universe & Related Entries
Fans Who Watched This Also Loved
Aniphoria guide
Area 88: should you watch it?
At a glance
Area 88 has been well received, with an average AniList score of 72/100 — 54% of 2,361 ratings are 8/10 or higher.
Of the 3.5K AniList users who started it, 3.2% dropped it, so it is rarely abandoned; 3K have finished it.
At about 3 h 21 min in total, it is a short commitment — a weekend binge.
Best for viewers who enjoy Action, Adventure, Drama — especially tragedy, military, aviation, seinen.
Where it fits in the series
- Optional extras: Area 88 (TV), Area 88 Movie
Episodes
3 episodes are listed.
Main cast & creators
- Original creator
- Kaoru Shintani
- Director
- Hisayuki Toriumi
- Character design
- Toshiyasu Okada
- Music
- Ichirou Nitta
Opening & ending themes
Openings
- OP1“How Far to Paradise” · eps 1-2
- OP2“Kanashimi no Destiny” · eps 3
Endings
- ED1“Sabaku no Illusion” · eps 1-2
- ED2“So Long My Love” · eps 3
Theme data from AnimeThemes.moe.
Area 88 FAQ
- How many episodes does Area 88 have?
- Area 88 has 3 episodes of about 67 minutes each, roughly 3 h 21 min in total.
- How long does it take to watch Area 88?
- About 3 h 21 min back to back. At two episodes a day it takes 2 days; at one hour a day, about 4 days.
- Is Area 88 finished?
- Yes. Area 88 has finished airing — the final episode aired June 15, 1986.
- Is there a season 2 of Area 88?
- No sequel is listed for Area 88 as of October 2026. You can continue the story in the original manga.
- Is Area 88 based on a manga?
- Yes. Area 88 adapts the manga by Kaoru Shintani.
- Who animated Area 88?
- Area 88 was animated by Studio Pierrot and directed by Hisayuki Toriumi.
- Who sings the opening of Area 88?
- The opening, "How Far to Paradise", is performed by an uncredited artist.
- Where can I watch Area 88?
- Area 88 is listed on RetroCrush, Tubi TV. Availability varies by region — check the streaming links on this page.