Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is a popular anime series that might already be the “Favourite anime” of a lot of fans around the world and, in my opinion, will go down in history as the best anime of all time. The series follows Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction.
All the humans that remain are within 3 extremely tall walls (Wall Maria, Wall Rose, and Wall Sina), which were built to keep humanity safe from the titans. Titans are mindless man-eating giants that will relentlessly pursue humans until they are killed. T
he people within the walls have lived with fear for so long that they don’t even remember the life that was before the arrival of the Titans. The first fan-favorite thing about this anime is how it stays true to its source material which is the Attack on Titan manga by Hajime Isayama.
The manga is as perfect as the show and provides a great script for an even greater anime, so you don’t need to make any changes to the already perfect story. With the perfect story and the constant action scenes in almost every episode, this anime has the viewer pinned to the screen since its first episode.
Attack On Titan Storyline
Attack on Titan starts with an episode named “To You, in 2000 Years,” which, as of right now, does not mean anything to us. In the show, we are told that the year is 845, but this creates intentional confusion as this can mean we are watching an alternative past or some terrifying future.
The Titans are roaming the planet, and humanity is confined in a huge walled city. The show tells us that the titans came about 100 years ago and quickly consumed the human race almost to extinction. The walls were working just fine for the humans in them until even bigger and smarter titans showed up, the colossal and the armored Titan.
The colossal Titan is a 60-meter-long beast that looks like the muscular structure of a human and can generate steam from its body that can evaporate anything that comes near it. The colossal and armored Titan breached the protective wall in mere seconds, which left a hole for other titans to enter and cause catastrophe.
In just the first episode, we see that Eren and Mikasa lost everything and enlisted in the military with their friend Armin to fight the titans. As the show goes on, we see how their lives have changed because of this new threat. The military training ground was filled with kids who had lost their families and homes.
The three friends have their own reasons for joining the scouts (The squad of the military who fights and research titans). Eren swore revenge on the titans for killing his mother, Mikasa follows him to protect him as she promised Eren’s mother, and Armin, even though he is insecure, still chooses the scouts with his friends because of his wish to see the sea.
In military training, they are trained with omnidirectional mobility gear, allowing the soldiers to swing and maneuver in mid-air to kill the Titans. They learn that the only way to kill a titan is to cut its nape. Otherwise, they just regenerate. As the story progresses, Eren finds out that he is also a titan comes in as a huge advantage for humanity as now they have a Titan Shifter (humans that can become a titan).
With the help of Eren, they fight back, as having a titan on their side gives them a huge advantage. As the story progress, he faces some problems, like learning to control his Titan and some of his inner demons. His relationship with his friends also improves as the story goes on.
Eren and his friends face many obstacles, including political intrigue, betrayal, and the discovery of a secret government plan to control the Titans. They also discover more titan shifters that were hiding in plain sight as their friends.
When the story is near its conclusion, they face their hardest challenge yet as they find out the harsh truth about the Titans and the world they live in. The fate of humanity now depends upon their decisions and their actions.
Why It’s The Best Anime of All Time
Attack on Titan’s strength lies in its world-building, storytelling, and its characters. The show features a well-crafted plot that keeps us engaged from start to finish. Even the side quests have mind-blowing twists and turns, which in turn have massive effects on the main storyline. The author has also created a deep and intricate universe with its own history, culture, and politics, which is astounding.
The writing and character development are at the peak of excellence, and each character has their own distinct personality, goals, and history. One of the series’ best elements is the interaction between the main characters. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin’s relationship’s emotional depth increases the story’s overall effect and helps audiences relate to it.
Secondly, the show addresses subjects that are thought-provoking and important to modern cultures, like prejudice, repression, dehumanization, and imperialism. The titans represent the fear of the unknown and the need for self-reflection.
The show also shows us the phycological effects of war on the young generation and the trauma and grief war brings with it, which gives this show a real-world perspective with the complexity that the story already has. The series is more than just a thoughtless action adventure because of the characters’ moral dilemmas and the fallout from their choices.
The concept of freedom is one of the most important themes of “Attack on Titan.” They are restricted to a limited region and constantly in danger from the Titans, so the inhabitants of the walls are not completely free.
The story also examines the costs associated with fighting for freedom and the sacrifices that must be made in order to enjoy it. The government and military elites who wish to hold onto their positions of authority oppose Eren and his pals in their quest to travel outside the walls and see what lies beyond. The series, however, has its issues.
One of the criticisms thrown towards “Attack on Titan” is its use of graphic violence and gore on occasion. While it is obvious that the series intends to convey the severity of war and the nature of the Titans, some sequences may be too violent for some viewers. Furthermore, some of the character’s actions and decisions can be annoying or nonsensical, affecting the audience’s investment in their story arcs.
Also Read: Most Loved Attack on Titan Characters-Ranked
Beyond all this, Attack on Titan is a masterpiece of visual art. The quality of animation may feel a little lacking at first, but as the show progresses, you will see it has just the perfect animations you want from this show.
You cannot stop yourself from watching this series, it sucks you into the world with the characters, and you even start to make an emotional connection with those characters, and as your favorite characters die one by one, you just start to feel more attached to the show. “Attack on Titan” has made a big impression on pop culture, and with its final season, that will be released soon.
It has every fan of the show on the edge of their seats. The series has also sparked a number of adaptations, including live-action movies, manga spin-offs, and video games. Several animes have been able to attain popularity and acceptance from the public because of Attack on Titan’s success. Its concepts and storytelling are evident in works like “The Promised Neverland” and “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.”
Verdict
In conclusion, Attack on Titan is a thrilling and intense anime series that explores the idea of freedom and humanity’s capacity for evil and lives up to its expectations and will continue to do so till its final season, which we can only hope will be the “Final Season” this time.
Its impact has spread worldwide despite its use of graphic violence. Whether you like anime or not, “Attack on Titan” is a series that is incisive about society, morals, and human nature and is worth watching.
As this is my favorite anime, I will try not to be biased and give Attack on Titan a Rating of 4.7 out of 5, and with the release of its final season just around the corner, I believe Attack on Titan will again live up to its expectations and end with a banger of a final season.
Our Rating: ⭐ (4.7/5).
Stream Attack on Titan on Crunchyroll, and for Indian fans, Attack on Titan is now available on Hotstar.
Also Read: 5 Best Anime Like Attack on Titan To Watch Online
