You might fancy yourself the ultimate devotee of the popular anime Attack on Titan, but a biology professor at the University of the Philippines has taken fandom to new heights. This dedicated academic composed an entire scholarly article investigating the biological plausibility of the Titans, the giant humanoid monsters that are the show’s antagonists.
Titled “Outside the Ramparts: Studying the Physiology of the Colossal Beings in Attack on Titan,” his paper scrutinizes whether organisms of such monumental size and bizarre attributes could feasibly exist. Demonstrating his enthusiasm for the series, the professor formally delivered his Titan research at an academic seminar among his colleagues.
So before declaring yourself Attack on Titan’s #1 fan, consider the professor who turned his scholarly expertise to examining the show’s outlandish creatures.
Seek out his lecture yourself if you doubt a university biologist would devote such efforts to an anime!
As unbelievable as it may seem, I assure you that the Attack on Titan biology seminar is genuine and open to any global participants interested in attending.
If you want to observe the professor’s Titans research firsthand, you can log in via Zoom on the scheduled date of December 5th, 2023.
Someone actually made a Biology of Titans topic as a serious academic paper
Literally the perfect season right now to write (in my case finish aftee a year long procrastination) Attack on Titan papers
University of the Philippines, as usual you impress me pic.twitter.com/LyonhFNfQA
— Vincent | Bonfire of Gains | ət'aekTillWe're Ashes (@vincent5126) November 22, 2023
Academic Paper Explores Titans’ Biology in Attack on Titan
And that’s not the only anime-related academic event held at this university. Another lecturer plans to present on the fanciful fauna found throughout Studio Ghibli films on November 28th.
From Totoros to soot sprites, expect an analysis of the imaginative ecological elements woven through Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved works.
Rather than dismiss these topics as frivolous, the school embraces passionate scholars merging animation and academia.
Login links facilitate virtual attendance from enthusiasts worldwide. So why not bookmark both seminar dates if you want to expand your anime appreciation through an educational lens? At the very least, it makes for conversation more intriguing than the usual university lecture!
Clearly, the University of the Philippines takes a creative approach when engaging students in the study of biology, applying popular fiction as an entry point into academic material.
Their seminars on the fanciful science of anime showcase this inventive technique.
And their timing could not be better, coinciding with freshly released Attack on Titan content to capitalize on fan interest. Specifically, the latest installment of the final season, Part 3 Part 2, just premiered on November 4th, 2023.
About Attack on Titan
Delving deeper into Attack on Titan lore, the inception of the terrifying Titans began over 1800 years before the main story. Originally, a young woman named Ymir lived an unassuming life in a humble village.
However, this changed abruptly when the warrior clan known as the Eldians invaded and enslaved her people, either killing them or taking them captive.
Ymir became one of the enslaved, serving the Eldian monarch King Fritz. But in the year 1003 BI (Before the Installation of the series timeline), she accidentally allowed her master’s pigs to escape.
As punishment, King Fritz ordered his warriors to hunt her down viciously, leaving her gravely injured. Seeking any refuge, she took cover inside a massive tree trunk.
There, Ymir plunged into a mystical pool and bonded with a bizarre spinal-like entity, transforming her into the first Titan.
The Tragic Origin of Ymir
Though this saved Ymir’s life, she remained enslaved for 13 more years. Forces to join King Fritz’s conquering campaigns, her newfound Titan abilities let her devastate entire civilizations, including the seafaring Marleyans. She also birthed three daughters by the King – Rose, Maria, and Sheena.
The story of the Titans and their powers only grows more complex from Ymir’s own tragic demise.
Thirteen years after first transforming, she was killed while shielding King Fritz from an assassination attempt by Marleyan rebels.
Seeking to retain the Titan ability, Fritz commanded his daughters to consume Ymir’s remains.
Through subsequent generations, this act of cannibalism led to the emergence of nine specialized Titan types, which were then ritually inherited in the same gruesome manner.
The Titan Ymir originally transformed into became known as the Founding Titan, possession of which was passed down through Fritz’s royal bloodline alone.
The other eight Titan variants manifested different capabilities and were bestowed upon Eldian nobles, used as weapons to dominate other nations.
The Birth of the Titans
These included the Attack Titan, Armored Titan, Colossal Titan, Female Titan, Jaw Titan, Cart Titan, Beast Titan, and War Hammer Titan. Whether due to Ymir’s own premature death, Titan inheriters had a 13-year lifespan upon acquiring their powers.
For over a millennium, the Eldian empire expanded globally relying largely on the Nine Titans and their Pure Titan offspring – less intelligent Titan foot soldiers.
Some societies, like Marley, were outright enslaved. Others became subordinate allies, such as the East Asian-inspired nation of Hizuru.
This status quo persisted until the year 845, when the main Attack on Titan story finally begins in earnest, over 1800 years after Ymir’s first fateful transformation.
