Kantai is a term that often refers to the popular Japanese media franchise known as Kantai Collection, or KanColle. This franchise features anthropomorphized naval warships, represented as young women, who engage in battles against enemy forces. The series includes video games, anime, manga, and various merchandise, appealing to fans of military history and anime culture. The original game was released in 2013 and quickly gained a large following. Players collect and manage their fleet of ship-girls, each based on real historical vessels from different navies. The franchise has expanded to include spin-off games, novels, and animated adaptations, further enriching its universe.