- Prefix: Seven years, it has been more than seven years since Spring 2013 when Attack on Titan first started airing, and as someone who started watching the series when it first started, I remember vividly how season one took the world by storm, not just among anime communities, but so many people were brought in to this world of anime because of Attack on Titan, and now in Winter 2020, the beginning of the end of a journey that has taken almost a decade to end, is finally upon us. At the time of writing this, we are less than three weeks away from the final season of Attack on Titan, and because of this, I decided to do a complete rewatch of the entire series, instead of watching each season as they were airing, and I have to say, this rewatch really has added a new layer of appreciation for this series.

When the first season of Attack on Titan finished airing, many people were very critical towards the series, ultimately writing it off as just an above-average shounen, and I was a part of this group. Season one isn't bad, just at the time, many of us couldn't understand the vision that went into the larger story that was being prepared, and ultimately, season one is just the beginning to a story that grows into something that I don't think any of us could have truly anticipated. Bot now, all these years later, with me finally being caught up with the series, I can honestly say that Attack on Titan is easily one of the most ambitious, thought-provoking, and epic anime to ever be produced. Moments that come later on in the series fundamentally change how this series should be viewed, and I anticipate it is only going to grow larger in season 4. So before that happens, I recommend you get caught up on the series to join in watching the end as it airs, but if you need a bit more than that, here is what I think of the series so far.

- Story & World: Attack on Titan is one of the most popular animes of all time, so at this point, I'm pretty sure even reading this review, you have a basic idea of what the story is about. The story initially revolves around the life of people in a walled city that is constantly attacked by a seemingly endless stream of giant humanoid enemies called “Titans”, and from this initial seed, the story only grows. So from the very beginning, this is a story about the fight against oppression these people have to participate in to survive, and no matter where the story of the series goes from here, this initial struggle against oppression in search of freedom is never abandoned, as the scope of the story grows. Yes, there are many twists and turns the narrative takes as it grows in scope, some of which fundamentally change concepts you assume are concrete in this world, but this theme of fighting against oppression in search of freedom is never lost in the story, and by the end, this idea really becomes the narrative through-line for the series.

However, another aspect I would like to highlight is the world of this series, more specifically the aesthetic that it has. One of the most eye-catching aspects of Attack on Titan, from the very beginning, is the aesthetic of this world, which has a very Germanic feel to it laced throughout. From the architecture of the buildings, to the cloth people wear, to the overriding importance of the military in society, and even the names of many of the character, much of this world, aesthetic wise, has a very German feel to it, which already sets it apart from many of the other entries in the anime industry. And as this influence becomes more and more pronounced, as the series progresses, I found myself thinking of a quote by Voltaire “where some states possess an army, the Prussian Army possesses a state.”

You can especially see this concept during scenes like the first OP, where a German song plays over what can arguably be seen have a recruitment video for the military, showing our main character (who the last name is Jäger) protect society, as the flag of the military (not the state) majestically flies over in many of the scenes, if that isn't a military recruitment video, idk what is. But, this is not the only concept that influences the look of the series, as there is also a slight steampunk aesthetic mixed in to add an extra layer of complexity to this world, and this is most prominently shown in the technology of this society, the most iconic of which is the ODM gear, which all the soldiers used in the city to fight. In the end, both of these different aspects and more, come together to create a world that is very intriguing to learn more about, as the narrative unfolds throughout the series.

- Characters: When it comes to characters, Attack on Titan has been compared to Game of Thrones, and for good reason, that is because in Attack on Titan no character is safe. Throughout the series, characters will die without warning, sometimes when you least expect it, and this is true throughout the entire series. Because of this, It is hard for me to highlight any one character without giving you a sense of false hope that maybe they make it till the end, however, I can at least talk about the main groups that make up this story. First, there is the group that is the main focus of the series, the 104th Cadet Corps regiment. After a tragedy befalls this society in episode one, it shouldn't be a surprise that many of the youth want to fight back against this reality, and thus, this story mainly focuses a group of these cadets as they embark on this journey to recapture what is lost. Through many trials and tribulations, we get to see these children grew up and complete their training, face adversities, fight battles, and ultimately rise through the ranks of the military. Of course, not all of the characters we fall in love within this regiment will make it to this eventual goal, some will die along the way, but because the main focus of the show isn't necessarily one individual but an entire regiment, no character is safe no matter how much time you have spent growing attached to them.

Of course, we do meet other characters along the way that are in different regiments and even different branches of the military, that over time become important characters in their own right, but ultimately the focus of the series never really drifts far away from the original group. However, there is one other main group that is shrouded in mystery throughout almost the entire series, and that is the Titans. A large part of the conflict and ultimately the drive for the series is uncovering and understanding what Titans truly are. From the very beginning, these are creatures the vast majority of the population don't know anything about, in the first episode, all you are told is they appeared 100 years ago, and pushed humanity to the brink, forcing them to hide behind the walls. But is this really true? Or are the people at the top lying about the history? and if so, why would they lie about this? where do the Titans actually come from? All these questions and more are at the root of the mystery that the main story is trying to unravel. And ultimately I'm happy to say, by the end of season 3 you do get answers, they might not be the answers you were hoping for, and they might make you ask even more questions, but one of the best things about starting the series now, seven years later, is that you can get answers, and for that reason alone, now is the perfect time to start.

- Music: Arguably, the most iconic part of Attack on Titan is the music, ever since the release of the first season, much of the music from Attack on Titan has become some of the most recognizable music in the entire anime industry, and for good reason. Not just the OPs with it’s “Sie sind das Essen und Wir sind die Jaeger!” but also the EDs and even the OST from Attack on Titan is without a doubt some of the most memorable music you will ever hear in anime. From the thunderous German choir in Vogel im Käfig with its heavy war drums and bone-shaking brass sound, to the angelic vocals of Bauklötze with the sound of light violins echoing in the background, so much of the music in Attack on Titan hits you to your very core while listening to it. In fact, I challenge you even before watching the show to try to listen to the OST and try to tell me that this isn't some of the most epic music you have ever heard in an anime. You could make the argument that this is by design, since much of the music in Attack on Titan is in German, which is already a very unique, and thus memorable, creative decision to make this series stand out from rest. But this is not just unique for the sake of being different, the entire narrative like I mentioned in the story portion, at least aesthetic wise, is heavily influenced by how early Germany / Prussia is remembered today. So, because this inspiration is carried through to even much of the music, Attack on Titan can provide an immersive world that draws you in from the very beginning. - The Look: The animation in Attack on Titan it's quite honestly insane, while yes there are highs and lows just like in any show, the insane creative decisions that are implemented when the series truly wants to exhibit action, are still impressive to watch 7 years later. The most eye-catching feature in these scenes, to me, is how dynamic and chaotic many of the action scenes feel, allowing them to feel organic and spontaneous. Which is quite impressive to me, when you consider how choreographed and artificial these scenes have to be because of the nature of animation. It is because of this duality, that I honestly found myself during many of these scenes completely loss for words, with me trying to catch my breath as the characters jet through the sky only seconds away from death during every battle. Of course, you can attribute some of this to story, but how these battles are portrayed in the anime, I feel adds an extra layer of tension to every one of these scenes. There is also the art style chosen for the anime, which feels reminiscent of the art style for the manga, while still being realistic enough to invoke a sense of discomfort within the audience during many of the sense of graphic violence in the series. So while there are slight differences in the look of the anime between seasons 1 and season 2 (I assume because of the extended break between seasons) this fact doesn't detract at all from how impressive the series is to watch. The anime only continues to look better as new technologies and techniques become available to the production team, which is why I am so excited to see what comes next in season 4. - Conclusion: In the end, Attack on Titan is by no means the best anime ever made, that isn't really what I'm advocating here, but it is an anime that I can't help but get goosebumps every time emotions run high and the OST starts playing. I genuinely can't help but get so hype whenever the story starts kicking off in this series, and while this definitely is not the type of show I would recommend watching if you want to feel happy, I can't deny that the epic scope the series eventually has by the end of season 3, makes me lost for words every time I watch it. This series manages to (so far) do in 59 episodes what other shounens can't even do in hundreds of episodes, so for that alone, I am extremely impressed with this series.

If you were to ask me back in spring 2013 what I would give Attack on Titan, it would honestly be a 70/100, because back then I really didn't view it as anything particularly special, but now all these years later, after a really taking in everything the story has to offer up to this point, I would give the series so far an 85/100, and I expect after season 4 I might even raise the score even higher. Attack on Titan is a series that only gets better the longer it goes on, which is why with every fiber of my being I genuinely can't wait to see what season 4 has to offer. I don't think I do not think I have ever been this hype for a shounen before in my entire life, and what scares me even more, is that I really think somehow the show is still going to find a way to blow my expectations out of the water, but I guess we are all just going to have to wait and see how it all turns out, so until the next review, じゃあね 👋👋👋

p.s. I will either update this review, or write a completely separate review once Season Four finishes airing, but as of right now, this is where my opinions stand.

p.s.s. I recommend watching all the OVAs, watch the first two episodes of Lost Girl before season 2, skip episode 3, and watch No Regrets before episode 48, so before the second half of Season 3, and watch any other OVAs after Season 3.