I know I know here I am again giving another anime review I KNOW okay. I promise one of these days I’ll review something real, But this one’s different I swear. (It’s not but it’s too good not to talk about).
In the past, I’ve done anime reviews, series that could help you get your feet wet, and even covered live-action reviews (Links to all of those below). Anime in the past 8 years give or take has skyrocketed in popularity in the Western world as more people have access to this incredible genre of animation. What was once a taboo topic growing up, is now blowing up as anime is becoming a stable in pop culture. Famous celebrities like Keanu Reaves, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael B. Jordan have talked about not just their love of anime, but how it has inspired their work.
When it comes to popular anime, many can look to the “Big 3,” some say maybe Dragon Ball Z or something from the early 80s/90s, while others could say something from the “New Gen.” Outside of One Piece, there hasn’t been any anime or manga that has exploded in popularity quite like Attack on Titan.
Debuting in Kodansha’s monthly publication Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, Attack on Titan made its first appearance on September 9, 2009. Though, it wasn’t until April 7, 2013 that it would make its anime debut. To this day, there are few anime that have hooked audiences as quickly as Attack on Titan did. Season 1 of Attack on Titan took over not just the weeb, anime fans, community but also pop culture altogether. The series’s popularity skyrocketed and it wasn’t before long that Attack on Titan started appearing everywhere. On merch, at conventions, and on Toonami during Adult Swim, it got so popular that you can even play as the characters from the show on Fortnite! Attack on Titan is a monstrous success all thanks to the creator and illustrator Hajime Isayama.
Hajime’s art style paired with his ability to showcase the lengths humans will go to protect the things they cherish is no wonder why Attack on Titan became one of the most successful mangas of all time, selling over 110 million copies. With over 34 volumes and 139 chapters, the manga ended after a 12-year run on April 9, 2021. While the anime didn’t debut until four years later, the series officially concluded this past weekend on November 5, 2023. After a decade of watching these characters try and survive their nightmarish reality, we were finally able to say goodbye. And what a goodbye it was.
Now, I understand that I’ve given a lot of information about Attack on Titan without giving a lot of information about what the series is even about. So here is a synopsis:
On the ironically named “Paradise Island,” humanity is on the edge of extinction due to the humanoid monsters known as Titans. They don’t feed on livestock, they don’t hunt anything other prey, their sole purpose is to consume humans. In an effort to survive, humanity has built giant walls in order to keep the Titans out. The story follows the main protagonist, Eren Jaeger, with his best friends Armin Arlelt and Mikasa Ackerman as they try to do the unthinkable, eliminate all of the Titans plaguing their world. The trio spend their lives training in the military to fight these monsters and reclaim their lost homes. As the story progresses, Eren, his friends, and the other young recruits who join the Scouts Regimen learn just how gruesome war and the consequences of war can be.
Attack On Titan is a masterclass of suspenseful storytelling that keeps viewers captivated and terrified as Hajime keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering who is safe from the savagery of this world. It is not only praised for having some of the most iconic plot twists in anime history but also for one of the greatest falls from grace by a main protagonist in Eren Jeagar. The story perfectly depicts not just the cruelty of mankind, but also makes the audience ponder the question:
“What are we willing to do in order to achieve true freedom?”
With high stakes in every season, intense emotional beats are perfectly balanced with rationality that will leave you wondering by the end of the series just who exactly was right or wrong. From the phenomenal works from both WIT Studio for seasons 1-3, only to be followed up by the juggernaut that is Studio Mappa for the Final Season (part 1, part 2, part 3, and the Final Final Chapters. It’s confusing and annoying I know). The animation is paired beautifully by the soundtracks composed by Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto. Songs that will make you want to ride into battle in one minute, only to want to stare into the rain pondering the purpose of life like a true anime main character the next.
Characters, both main and side, are multifaceted and are constantly evolving with each new twist while maintaining a sense of relatability. Their pain and traumas are complex and unique to them, which gives them something to fight for while also relating to one another, making the conflicts more painful to bear. Hajime doesn’t pull any of his punches in the story, making it clear from the start that no character is safe, which shows how strong of an author he is as he is capable of getting the audience invested in all of these characters knowing that any moment can be their last.
Each season feels more intense than the last, with everything building up to the final season. The final season was irritatingly stretched out for two years as Studio Mappa took over the reins for animating. Which is one of my few gripes of the series. This series started in April 2013, and with four seasons and a total of 89 episodes, this series made fans wait a literal decade for its finale. Granted the finale was one of the best final episodes I’ve seen on television, that just made the wait even more irritating looking back. What is even more frustrating about the wait is the fact that the world today feels it is running parallel with the whole point of this series. As if Hajime saw the direction the world was going, he finished a story that feels more relevant now than ever before. I’m not the person to go into politics and world events, but given some of the recent events going on, Attack on Titan almost feels eerily like a warning. Yet I refuse to be someone who spoils this series to any newcomers to the series or genre.
Attack on Titan is one of the best stories to come out in recent television history. From emotionally deep and complex characters, remarkable animation, gut-churning aspects of horror, all tied together with a grounded yet hauntingly deep philosophical outlook on the horrors of man, Attack on Titan is truly a work of art that everyone should experience. I think one quote best encapsulates the series.
“This world is cruel, and it’s also very beautiful.” – Mikasa Ackerman.
Final Score: 9.6/10
Blog Count: 25/52 I can feel more blogs Rumbling.
For more anime reviews and content, Click the links below:
Elli-torial: One Piece Film Red: Pulling At Heart Strings And Straw Hats
Weebtober: The Return of Legends and The Beginning on New Ones
Elli-torial: Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Plugging Back Into Night City
