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“I want to see and understand the world outside. I don’t want to die inside these walls without knowing what’s out there!” -Eren [This Review will cover the full series of Attack on Titan. Some spoilers from past seasons present] Masterpiece? Attack on Titan is a cultural phenomenon the world has rarely experienced. Sure, there were Kodomo-Shounen in the late 1990s to reach the west and have great success such as Pokémon, Digimon and Yugioh- but they were all buoyed significantly by accompanying merchandise such as video games and trading cards. Attack on Titan rose to prominence at the most optimal time imaginable. Isayama’s manga firstreceived its anime adaptation in the spring of 2013- right at the start of a major cultural shift in the west. Gone were the days of going to your local blockbuster or FYE to purchase the latest box set of your favourite anime. Crunchyroll had just recently become a legal simulcast app to watch your favourite shows in real time, Netflix had begun to emerge in nearly every single western household, and the once niche atmosphere surrounding anime began to erode. Of course, simply being popular and accessible does not a Masterpiece make. Does attack on Titan have the corroborating quality to firmly be considered the masterpiece it is so often heralded to be?
I get asked a lot, in fact I was asked the other day “Why does everyone talk about Attack on Titan?” It’s something I’ve put a lot of thought into, but I think there’s a simple answer. I watched the first episode of Season 1 back on April 7th of 2013- the first day it aired. I watched the 25th episode of S1 on September 28th of 2013- the day the last episode aired, and I now watched the final episode of Attack on Titan: Final Season Pt 2 on April 3rd 2022 – the day the final TV episode aired; Though it looks like this isn't the end just yet. That means I- like many others, have been following this absolute roller coaster of a journey for nearly exactly 9 years now. It’s supremely unique even in the way that WIT– and then later MAPPA decided to deliver the series. Prior to Attack on Titan, long-running shounen would just air weekly. It didn’t matter if they had to extend the material, add filler, run recaps or do whatever necessary to fill the weekly time slot. Shows like Bleach, Naruto and One Piece that defined the previous generation of shounen just ran indefinitely until the broadcasters got bored (the latter is still ongoing to this day). Attack on Titan’s methodology of expunging filler, anything immaterial to the actual progression of the story, masterfully animating 1 or 2 cours then disappearing for a few years redefined the way most studios now choose to broadcast their anime. Gone are those days of endless filler in shounen, and here are the days of Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Boku no Hero Academia which all have benefitted from Attack on Titan’s model – prioritising high-quality animation and source material faithfulness over sustained TV revenue.
All of this setup is to rebuff any claims that Attack on Titan is overrated or over talked about, or at the very least attempt to rationalise and justify it. I’ve now completed over 4,400 anime at the time of writing and for the last 12 weeks one of the only things occupying my mind has been Attack on Titan. There is so much to talk about when it comes to this series, it’s incredible. There have been shows that have surprised me during my time watching anime. Who would have thought Madoka Magica would be a masterpiece after its first 2 episodes or Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann after its first 6? Attack on Titan managed to pull off one of the most masterful transitions I’ve ever experienced. The first 37 episodes has a hyper focus on world building, on establishing the setting of the universe, character introduction and exposition. We are led to believe we are following the traditional shounen trope of Humanity has declined to the brink of extinction -> Humanity has to fight back against entity “X” in order to ensure survival. In this case the X meant Titans and our typical loud obnoxious shounen lead, Eren Yeager, the key to “Humanity” would save the day. Seen it before, right? However, as the first 37 episodes are broadcast, it only continues to raise more questions and mystery. “Why can Eren transform into a titan?” “What is that key his father left him?” “What’s in the basement?” “What’s on the other side of the sea?”
In real time watching Attack on Titan Season 1 and Season 2 it always felt I was watching a great show but never what could be described as a Masterpiece. Those thoughts started to change sometime between Season 3 and Season Pt 2. It is around this time that the series begins to transition. The first half of Attack on Titan is defined at its core by 2 dominant characteristics; Hope and Ignorance. Up to this point, we the audience, as well as the main characters we are seeing the world through, are simply unaware of the truth. With that ignorance comes hope. A hope that they will be successful in eliminating all titans and finally discovering what else is in the world and the likeliness that other humans are still alive existing somewhere outside the walls. We see this personified through many of the characters, their goals, desires and facial expressions. Despite living in this hellish world where they are constantly being massacred and eaten by gigantic titans, there’s an overriding sense of hope and belief. The characters seem generally… happy. They eat potatoes, laugh, tell jokes, and share bonds together. Armin tells Eren that he read in a book about something called the “sea” and them discussing it and promising to go together is one of the most genuine moments I’ve ever experienced in anime. Then we and the characters learn the shocking truth of the world, and the second half of the series tone shifts from one of hopefulness to one of despair. What’s amazing about Attack on Titan is exactly how it executes this tone shift. The catalyst for the whole series really shifting from one of hope to despair is… simply learning the truth. With this the show really depicts just how inextricably linked hope and despair really are, and what a fine line separates them. What makes it even more interesting is it really adds credence to the idea that Ignorance = bliss. When the characters don’t know the truth, they constantly have these values; this constant seeking of the truth to guide and motivate them. We see that through the likes of Erwin. Erwin always believed that there were humans outside of Paradis, and charged forward, never looking back to ascertain that knowledge and truth. So, is it the greatest irony, maybe King Fritz and the Royal Family were the only means of guaranteeing happiness to the people of Paradis as short lived as that may have been? What is genuine happiness? Is your happiness truly less genuine simply if you don’t know the full truth?
It's after this point we see the series begin to get hyper-political. To some this may be an inherent negative especially in today’s society where social media, social status, friendships, relationships, and family are almost political-centric. The show begins to depict themes such as nationalism, fascism, racism, persecution and genocide. I’ve seen some try to deny that Attack on Titan is political at all but since the series is literally depicting coup d’états, war, arrests and imprisonments, concentration camps, etc. denying it exists at all is simply fallacious. If the show is making any allusions to real world war and politics it’s definitely not something so simple as “Fascism = Bad,” but to show how complex humanity is, how all people and countries see themselves as “just” and how the lines between who’s right and wrong is rarely so easy to identify. As I try to be transparent, I always think its important when reviewing to try to disclose any biases you may have. For example, if I was reviewing My Hero Academia and I hate superheroes, that’s probably relevant information to disclose. I was and am a Yeagerist which will probably surprise 0 readers with my Floch profile picture. That being said there’s a certain humanisation and understanding we the audience can grow to develop for all sides and by extension most of the characters. The series navigates an excessively difficult line in really presenting that there is no good or evil in this show. A lot of those within the fanbase and the loudest ones on twitter believe for example those supporting the Yeagerists do so because they are all gleefully sadistic fascists and genocide supporters. However, none of the moral questions in Attack on Titan are that simple as right or wrong and good vs evil. Marley was the subject of centuries of persecution, slaughter and genocide at the hands of the Eldian Empire. Marley, like most nations is corrupted and distributes nationalised propaganda to its citizens in order to elicit fear of the Eldians. They make them wear armbands and keep them locked in essentially what we’d call “open-air prisons.” The question becomes is Marley’s fear justified, which as Eren Yeager proves to us- it definitely is.
Likewise, how much can we truly blame Eren, Floch and the Yeagerists? Erwin early on in the series says “There is no future where humanity can inhabit these lands without Eren.” An important statement later parroted by Floch who states “If Eren dies, Paradis will sink into a sea of blood.” Whether justified or not, Marley has repeatedly shown they will not rest until Eldia is completely eradicated. They sent 4 transformative titans to finish off a civilisation that didn’t even know they existed and continue to pursue its destruction. What choice did Eren, Floch and the Yeagerists truly have to ensure their own survival? It’s not so simple to just say Floch is a murderous dictator who only wants to assume power. How can anyone look at his actions in Episode 11 of the final season, the absolute desperation on his face and draw any conclusion other than he would do anything it takes at all to save his people. To save his friends, family, future children and neighbours. Is Eren, Floch and the Yeagerists any more evil than Marley simply because they have to massacre more people to ensure their own survival? It’s a dangerously fallacious philosophy. To a neutral observer sure killing 3 million people is objectively [way] less than killing 3 billion. But Eren, Floch and the Yeagerists aren’t neutral observers. They’re characters desperate to protect the people they know and love. I implore anyone reading this to ask yourselves how many lives are those closest to you worth? If you had to choose between yourself, every single member of your family, every friend you’ve ever had, every person you’ve ever known or the rest of the world what would you choose? To argue that the show simply becomes about fascism or usurping power completely misses the point of these characters, their motivations, their fears, and what they love.
Attack on Titan has one of the most diverse, well written full casts in anime history. Almost every character in the show has a defined role to fulfil with their own unique fears, desires, personalities, goals and aspirations. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced more fluidity in liking and disliking characters than I did throughout Attack on Titan. The first few seasons my favourites were Levi and Mikasa, and as of today its Floch and Eren. However, whether we ultimately like them or not, almost all the characters in Attack on Titan are well written and well developed. Floch was the coward from Season 3 that survived Erwin’s infamous charge. He wanted to live. He could have easily fled and tried to save his own life, but he accepted fate and miraculously survived. That experience completely shaped his ideals and purpose as a character. For Gabi another controversial character she wants to prove that there are “Good” Eldians to Marley and the world. That they aren’t all devils. She was completely a product of her environment; fed endless propaganda and wanted to save Eldia from itself. She kills and hates the ones who killed her comrades. How can we not sympathise with her to a certain extent? For Zeke he wants to find an alternative solution to saving both Eldia and the world through his “euthanasia” plan. How different would Eren be as a character if he didn’t watch his mom get eaten by a Titan right in front of him at the age of 10? Eren proudly declares to eradicate all titans. Why? The answer is simply because the titans are a threat to “Humanity’s” existence. Eren shows he’s willing to eradicate any existential threats to protect what he loves and cares about. So, when the truth is discovered, and there’s still existential threats to Paradis, the logical conclusion for Eren is to eliminate them. Annie agrees to become the Female Titan because she has a father she loves and wants to protect. Reiner and Bertholdt are initially 2 of the 4 titans sent to Paradis to destroy it. However, after acclimating to Paradis and befriending many of the Survey Corps you can see how much this begins to weigh on them. Bertholdt is constantly depressed and Reiner begins to develop MPD as a coping mechanism. When Eren finally confronts Reiner again he tells him “I’m the same as You. I didn’t have any other choice.” All the characters in their own way are products of their upbringing, environment and the experiences they’ve gone through. There’s deep and complex motivations and rationales for most of the characters, and even for those with simpler ones it’s understandable and relatable. Some want to save the world, some want to save their country, some just want to save their father.
Attack on Titan also has all the technical components needed to support its status as a Masterpiece. The score worked on by Sawano Hiroyuki is consistent throughout. It’s not his greatest work to date and although I’m hardly a fan of Linked Horizon, it’s impossible to state the music- both the themes and background tracks don’t constantly both fit and accentuate the tone, events and themes of the series. Ymir’s theme “Call of Silence” as well Reiner and Bertholdt’s theme “YOUSEEBIGGIRL/T:T” are excellent examples of the OST’s brilliance. For what it’s worth “Red Swan” is also an absolutely beautiful opening track that only becomes more beautiful as you see how it foreshadows the changes in our protagonist Eren. The animation is absolutely world class. Attack on Titan may be one of the most technically gifted animated series of all time, if not the greatest. It may not have the flashy CGI visuals ufotable is famous for, but the framing is unbelievable to watch. This is seen quite often early on whenever Mikasa and Levi are chopping up titans with their ODM gear. The animation only progresses as the series advances. Of course, a lot of the best and most notable scenes are animated by Arifumi Imai, often accredited as one of the “best animators alive.” Even a switch in studios about 60 episodes into the franchise couldn’t derail the technical production put into Attack on Titan. MAPPA continued this series where WIT left off facing the immeasurable pressure of filling WIT’s shoes. This was always an impossible task, and to be fair there is a tangible dip in animation quality the final 2 seasons that MAPPA took over. That is not to say the animation at any point in time became bad or poor, but there was definitely a far greater emphasis on panel-to-panel animation, less freedoms and liberties taken, and unfortunately far less of those insane ODM gear scenes we had become accustomed to under WIT. Credit to MAPPA though for how they handled the finale and climax as there was some absolute stunning animation the final few episodes; no scene more notable than when Floch is desperately trying to fend off the “alliance” in one final desperate push to save Eldia.
Attack on Titan is a Masterpiece. My assertion here is not that the show is flawless. The first 37 episodes in real time were really good, but far below the standard of “excellence.” The studio change from Wit to MAPPA for the final 2 cours showed a noticeable decline in technical animation quality. Some of the characters have hyper-exaggerated plot armour. Armin surviving his encounter with the colossal titan and Reiner surviving Levi putting an ODM blade halfway through his neck in human form are just 2 of the most notable examples that absolutely stretch the limits of suspension of belief. However, at its core we find a truly unique show that has already begun influencing both future anime productions as well as fans themselves. We have a show that is arguably the best animated show in television history, an excellent score and OST by Sawano Hiroyuki and one of the best written, most well-developed full casts in anime history. Thankfully, it looks like there won’t be any more speculation about whether the remaining chapters will be animated in Movie format, with a third cour, or if even at all. I am eagerly awaiting the show’s final arc to be animated in 2023 and seeing how this series as a whole finally concludes. If your definition of what constitutes a masterpiece is flawlessness, then my guess is you’ll always be searching. But one thing I’m more certain of is 10, 20 years down the road people will still be discussing Attack on Titan.
Authors Note: If you made it this far thank you so much for actually reading the review. Please feel free to write a comment on my page and let me know what you think. Special thanks to Isayama and his team, Wit Studio, MAPPA, Sawano Hiroyuki, Arifumi Imai, Yuuichirou Hayashi, Tetsurou Araki and everyone else for their hard work and dedication over these last 9 years. I greatly look forward to seeing how this series finally concludes next year.
