Review of Attack on Titan
Mainstream anime at its most primal. For all its edgy-posturing toward familiar genre tropes, Attack on Titan S1 is a riveting dark fantasy, one unabashed in wearing its influences on its sleeves while simultaneously creating something new and fresh for the early 2010s. Nostalgia aside, this re-watch of the season reminded me of the power of the “spectacle” of anime; beautifully animated choreography, stellar music, and emotionally resonant, albeit generic at times, character writing. Picking the feathers off creations such as Berserk, Attack on Titan sets out to be bold with its rugged depictions of death and the psychological facets at play when experiencing violence.Eren Yaeger, the show’s tempered and oftentimes airheaded protagonist, yearns for knowledge of the outside world, one plagued with man-eating giants known as Titans. Despite the danger of lurking beyond the walls that protect humxnity, Eren’s life of childhood peace and stability leads to a curiosity of that which is barred from him and his family; freedom from the walls that govern, and ultimately, protect him. Suddenly, his fascination with the outside world collides with tragedy; the Titans break through the wall of his land and devour his mother and most citizens. Eren, along with childhood friends Mikasa and Armin, are displaced from their homes, battered and mentally stirred by the sudden onslaught of Titans, inspiring them to join the Military Cadets, with Eren declaring (in typical anime fashion) that he will kill every last Titan.
It’s not hard to see the edge behind this show. Yes, I’ve used “edge” or “edgy” plenty of times now, but that’s truly what this show is. While there’s a plethora of cheese and downright formulaic, often ironically hilarious bullshit found within anime with certain levels of angst and teenage/young adult rage, Attack on Titan surprisingly uses said emotions to its advantage. The rage that Eren exudes is heartfully executed, as is the cast’s desperation to survive in a world that was once deemed peaceful, only for them to awaken matured and iron-blooded from the deaths of those they love, and the destruction of previously-known sociological structures.
On that note, my re-watch pleasantly rewarded me with a consistent interest in the world of the show. One of the true strengths of Attack on Titan lies in the mystery of it all; what are the titans? What is the angle of the religious faction worshiping the walls of the world? Why is the government so desperate to keep potentially pertinent information at bay from their own soldiers & citizens? Layers are continuously yet, ever slowly, being pulled back, forcing the viewer to decide who and what to trust. What was at first black & white during the first four or five episodes quickly becomes gray as the show progresses. And seeing how Eren and his friends are thrown one roadblock and discovery after another, I couldn’t help but forgive some of the stereotypical expressions of characters…some of them.
As for the action, it’s still some of the most enthralling and entertaining of anime in the 2010s; it still holds up! I’ll never get tired of all of the swinging and acrobatics characters do with the show’s ODM gear. The look and mechanics of the action is pretty much iconic for a reason. However, I found the pacing of scenes to be disappointing and honestly tired out. Battles stretch out needlessly, sometimes for eight entire episodes. The direction at hand is competent and sometimes even impressive, though I do wonder how the show would play out with a more tight-knit script and arcs squeezed down to at least four episodes.
At its heart, Attack on Titan S1 is, in my opinion, effective. My excitement during the action of it all and the intensity of its notions on survival at any cost captivated me, almost as much as it did watching it unfold live in 2013. Also, there’s a minimal amount of weird, off-putting tropes, such as the sexualization of women, found within the narrative. Instead, the show is focused on delivering a clear and effectively slow-burning story, and for a more popular anime, I believe it mostly succeeds. Pacing issues aside, Attack on Titan is worth watching for its combination of familiar action beats with wildly fun animated choreography, all wrapped together by a story centered on the lengths of survival and the things we may not know about society itself.