Is Area 88 finished?

In this post, we take a closer look at the current status of the series “Area 88”, also known by the following titles:

• エリア88
• Area 88 OVA

Status

#

Based on our analysis, the series is NOT FINISHED. ❌

Here’s how we reached that conclusion:

• All related entries are marked as finished on MyAnimeList
• The series is listed as ended on Trakt
• The original source material has not been fully adapted, according to MangaUpdates

Taken together, these points indicate that Area 88 is still ongoing in some form.

Watch order

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Area 88 ↗ ↖

January 1, 1979

Finished Manga

エリア88

Summary

Shin Kazama was an airline pilot who was close to marrying Ryoko Tsugumo, the daughter of the CEO of Yamato Airlines. Unfortunately, fate had other plans when his former best friend Satoru Kanzaki tricked him into signing a contract to be a mercenary pilot for the Kingdom of Asran. Now stationed at the Middle Eastern country's base Area 88, Shin has three ways to return to Japan: serve the air force for three years, earn US$1.5 million, or desert the base, facing imminent death.

(Source: ANN)

Background

Area 88 was partially published in English in comic book format, for a total of 42 issues, from May 26, 1987 to May 1989. Issues 1-36 were published by Eclipse Comics, and the remaining six by VIZ Media, then the title was cancelled. It moved to another VIZ Media magazine, Animerica, and continued there for another 17 issues, running from October 1993 to February 1995. Only one tankoubon volume was released August 1991.

Area 88 ↗ ↖

February 5, 1985

Finished Airing OVA

エリア88
Area 88 OVA

Summary

After being tricked into signing a document by someone he considered a friend, Shin Kazama is forced to become a fighter pilot in the foreign legion of mercenaries, who are fighting in a civil war for the nation of Aslan. Hellbent on earning enough money to break his contract and return to Japan, Shin has managed to become one of the most lethal pilots at the base known as Area 88. But having spent so much time in a place where one's life is always in jeopardy, will Shin remain the same man if and when he can return to the civilian world?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

Area 88 was published by Central Park Media as three VHS tapes and laserdiscs in 1992. In 2000, the first two episodes were released on DVD. In 2006, ADV Films acquired the license and released a DVD version of the OVA edited into two long episodes. Discotek Media published a remaster of Area 88 on DVD on October 30, 2018.

Area 88 Movie ↗ ↖

July 20, 1985

Finished Airing Movie

エリア88 劇場版
Area 88 Gekijouban

Summary

Kazama Shin, tricked and forced into fighting for the remote country of Arslan, can only escape the hell of war by earning money for shooting down enemy planes or die trying. As the war rages on, Shin has to deal with the consequences of killing and friends dying around him as he tries to keep his mind on freeing himself from this nightmare.

(Source: ANN)

Area 88 (TV) ↗ ↖

January 9, 2004

Finished Airing TV

エリア８８
Area 88 (2004)

Summary

Deep in the sandy plains of the Middle Eastern kingdom of Asran, Japanese photojournalist Makoto Shinjou travels to the remote airbase Area 88 to document the activities of the mercenaries who destroy the country's enemies for a living. Among their ranks is Shin Kazama, a Japanese ace pilot who was tricked by his former best friend into signing a contract with the Asran's fighter squad. Because of this, he lost his career as an airline pilot and the chance to marry his fiancee Ryoko Tsugumo. Now, Shin has three choices in order to leave Area 88 and return to Japan: serve the mercenary group for three years, earn US$1.5 million, or desert the base, risking imminent death.

(Source: ANN)