As Attack On Titan nears its finale…here’s why it worked so well

Since debuting on screens back in back in 2013, Attack On Titan has become one of the biggest anime series ever. Now, with the second part of its fourth series due to come out within the coming months, its relevance is bigger than ever, and once again it has people talking. So, why is Attack On Titan so universally loved? Here we shall take a look at what made Attack On Titan tick.

Gripping storyline

For anything to become successful, it needs to has a strong core. This is where Attack On Titan gets it right and its story is beautifully crafted. For those out of the loop, it follows a city of humans that have successfully lived inside a walled city for many years. Here, this city is protected from titans, who are giant creatures beyond the wall. These creatures are sadistic and love to eat humans. One day, they breach the wall and this is where we meet the main character Eren, who trains to be a soldier to combat the titans.

Whilst Attack On Titan isn’t the first-ever anime to wow audiences, its storyline is genuinely intriguing from start to finish and shows why the creativity of Japanese film is taken so seriously. Talking of Japan, the original manga release sold over 100 million copies, making it the greatest selling manga of all time. Author Hajime Isayama truly knows how to write a story.

Over the years, the plot has developed and taken twists and turns. Even within the different human races, there are themes of politics, jealousy, and survival which complement the main story perfectly. As a result, it’s no surprise whatsoever to see Attack On Titan achieved crossover into mainstream territory. Did you know it also has an awesome soundtrack to accompany the show?

Precise eye to detail

Whilst a great storyline is incredibly important, it’s not the only reason for Attack On Titan’s success. Another reason for this is its precise eye for detail which makes you realize the sheer amount of effort put into it. Perhaps the biggest example of this is with the artwork. In the past, some animation has lacked and ages badly as a result. However, this certainly isn’t the case with Attack On Titan and the animation is crisp throughout.

It also nicely combines CGI effects at times which is a nice touch and brings the anime genre into the modern-day. Because of this, it’s almost like watching a high-budget movie rather than cartoon animation – which shows how much effort goes into the show.

Secondly, there are also a number of details that don’t involve animation. One of these is the fight scenes that are well choreographed and are also surprisingly realistic. This is seen here and it breaks down the moves and how they’re actually used in real life by martial artists. There aren’t many anime shows around with that level of intricate details which only makes Attack On Titan stand out even more so.

Realistic characters

Many anime shows can be accused of having overpowered protagonists. This isn’t the case in Attack On Titan where the human race literally gets slaughtered by powerful giants in nearly every episode. Instead, the characters are realistic and have very relatable emotions too, such as fear, aspirations, and revenge.

These characters aren’t perfect either. For instance, the stoic Erwin Smith was very much a likable character but he was at times too stoic. This was seen when he was given bad news and accepted the death of his men. Although this is a realistic reaction, it’s one that is sometimes not seen in anime, where characters can be almost cartoon-like with their over-the-top emotions and lack of realism.

Further, the main character Eren is also very human. On the one hand, he can be seen as a hero who is trying to help humankind. On the other, he is also motivated by vengeance and seems on edge at times. This is understandable as he probably suffers from PTSD and is constantly stressed. Yet again, this is another example of a dynamic character who isn’t unnaturally perfect or without human flaws.

Attack On Titan is soon to end, so what do we have to look forward to in the finale?

It’s no secret that the upcoming second part of series 4 will be the conclusion of the show. With this said, there will not be a fifth series and writer Hajime Isayama is set to move on to other projects. Back to Attack On Titan, a lot has been revealed over the years and the show could conclude with the defeat of Marley and Eren finally destroying the titans. Whilst this would be an easy enough ending to write, you could also see a few twists and turns along the way.

Because of this, prepare to see a fan favorite or two get bumped off and for the final season to end with a mixture of grief and happiness. After all, it wouldn’t be Attack On Titan without an element of darkness so fans have that to look forward to.

Last Updated on November 9, 2022 by Yu Alexius