Attack on Titan is a fairly recent anime that has gained a lot of popularity amongst Otaku and others alike. It’s adapted from a manga series written by Hajime Isayama. The anime is produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. The series is currently only available in Japanese. I recently watched Attack on Titan courtesy of Netflix and I was not disappointed. Out of all the years that I’ve watched anime, I have to say Attack on Titan is one of the best. There’s a good amount of story, drama, action, and it never lets up! But before I get too carried away with telling you just how much I love this series after binge watching all 25 episodes over the course of 48 hours, there is more to Attack on Titan than my love for it.
As we begin the series, Attack on Titan brings you into a world where humans are scarce. Why are they scarce? Titans. Titans are giant humans of sorts that tower at numerous different sizes. Through the series, we quite often see titans at the heights of 10-14 meters tall. No one is quite sure where these titans came from or what their motivation is, but they’re there and they love the taste of humans. To protect themselves, the remaining humans managed to build towering walls that act both as protection and a cage. The titans can’t seem to get in, but then the humans can’t go out, unless they want to be massacred.
“On that day, mankind received a grim reminder. We lived in fear of the titans, and were disgraced to live in these cages we called walls.” – Eren
The protagonist of the series is Eren Yeager. As the series starts out, he’s a young boy with dreams of joining the Scout Regiment, a branch of their military. Eren believes strongly with all his will and being that they can eradicate the world of the titans and be free of the walls he feels trapped within. His adopted sister of sorts is Mikasa Ackerman. Although she doesn’t agree with the way that Eren goes about things carelessly and fullheartedly, she supports him with every essence of her being and stands beside him to make sure he doesn’t die in the process. They’re very close to one another and it’d difficult to tell whether their bond is more than friendship. There is also Armin Arlert that is a friend to them both. Armin is the cunning and intelligent character that often serves as providing guidance to Eren, Mikasa, and many others in the series.
The military is split into three branches: Military Police, Scout or Survey Corp, and the Garrison. The Military Police protect the king and maintain order within the walls, primarily within Wall Sina, the innermost wall. The Scout or Survey Corp go out beyond the walls to learn more about the titans and destroy as many titans as they can. The Garrison or Stationary Guard protect the walls.
As you begin the series, in the first episode, everything happens at a rapid pace. Things go from a peace that lasted for a century to a titan wreaking havoc, kicking a hole in the outermost wall, and letting many, many titans in. Though many people are evacuated, there were a far many more that were eaten by the titans. Eren and Mikasa are traumatized while watching their mother being eaten alive after failed attempts at freeing her from a collapsed building. Eren’s passion in fighting against the titans and getting revenge is only further ignited.
Speed ahead five years exactly where you have Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and their fellow cadets preparing to pick a military branch. Before they can, another attack eerily similar to the previous one, wreaks havoc on yet another wall. This time Eren, Mikasa, and others must fight until people can be evacuated. In the process of this, many die, including Eren. Or does he?
“If you lose, you die. If you win, you live. If you don’t fight, you can’t win!” – Eren
As Mikasa finds out of his death and is fighting, she struggles to fight and even gives up with two titans closing in until a mysterious titan saves her, demolishing the titans. This mysterious titan shows no interest in eating humans, only in destroying titans. Towards the end of the battle, it is realized that the titan is Eren. Somehow Eren can change into a titan. But how? Why?
You’ll have to watch the series to find out!!!
Attack on Titan is such a thrilling and amazing anime series. I give the series an A+. I highly recommend it to all that want to watch. Everything about this anime lives up to the hype. Attack on Titan has earned a spot as one of my favorite anime series of all time. It’s just that good. As long as you have no problems with subtitles, you should thoroughly enjoy the series.
Funimation will bring Attack on Titan to North America for purchase some time this year.
“This world is merciless, and it’s also very beautiful.” – Mikasa