Review of Attack on Titan

I've been hearing a lot about this anime and how popular it was, but I never really wanted to watch it because I am really reluctant when it comes to shounen anime. Pretty much the only shounen anime I've ever enjoyed was Hunter x Hunter (2011) and Death Note (I'm also starting to get a little bit into Assassination Classroom), but considering the huge fanbase that this anime built, I decided to take a crack at it, and in my conclusive overall review, Shingeki no Kyojin is one of the coolest and most creative anime I've ever watched. Story: 10/10 I've seen so many anime withtop-notch plots, from Death Note to Hunter x Hunter. One thing AOT never holds back on is action. I can imagine how difficult it is for writers to create a solid plot that's overwhelmed with action sequences, but AOT maintained itself beautifully. The writers did an excellent job showcasing how threatening the Titans are. They may be giants that seem like they could never keep up with the heroes' speed and agility, but their surprising intelligence is what helps them completely overwhelm humans, making them worthy villains. I actually thought that this anime was just going to be a "bing-bang-boom" action show with barely any real significance at all, but the show's drama, characters, and background stories are what hit me harder than any action sequence ever did, even though I'm quite a sucker for some solid action. As I started watching AOT, I got quickly interested in it with it's driving plot and amusing characters, but out of any other episode in the show so far, episode 5 hit me the hardest and was what drove me to watch the rest of 1st season as quickly as I could. The episode was a pure shocker. It's basically one of those episodes that makes you wonder what will happen next, and it's really up to you to find out.

Character: 10/10

The characters really drove this anime. Like Hunter x Hunter, not a single character is bland. In my mind, a bland character is basically one that gives you no feelings or overall emotion. In AOT, we get characters that make you happy (humorously), angry, or bewildered. Another trait that AOT has similar to HxH is the main character. Unlike most anime where the MC is always the smartest and the strongest, in AOT you get Eren, who's is passionate but hot-tempered, emotional, and not always 100% right. That trait really adds more realism to anime and keeps it away from the cartoony side. Even secondary characters get major roles, which is really what any TV show or film really needs to succeed. I really enjoyed the roles of each character, especially the ones who were mostly there for some comic relief (Sasha Blouse, Hange Zoe). One character I've enjoyed watching the most was Levi, mainly because of his pure intelligence, high skill in combat, calm personality, and his father figure-type relationship with Eren.

Art: 10/10

As far as I know when it comes to anime, AOT has very unique art direction. The characters are heavily outlined and colored very dynamically, which is very amusing to the eye. The animation is really at its best during action sequences as it is crossed with traditional hand-drawn animation and CGI, which is something you don't see very often in anime. The animation is fluid and smooth and the camera movement is very dynamic. I really enjoyed watching characters fly around with their 3D maneuver gear. The ceaseless fluidity of the animation really drove every action sequence and is something that will catch your eye in an instant.

Sound 10/10

I don't really pay attention to sound effects in anime, unless it's obviously bad, so I'll just rate the music. What you would expect from any action anime is some epic music. Some action anime rely on heavy rock or metal for action sequences, which are mostly decent to listen to (Fairy Tail). AOT relies on a variety of music categories, such as vocal rock, hybrid orchestral, and traditional orchestral. The hybrid and traditional orchestral music for AOT caught my attention the most. I really enjoyed listening to the OST and ED music and I've taken a special liking into Guren no Yumiya (theme song), E.M.A., and the Levi vs. Female Titan theme.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Attack on Titan has taken a special place in my heart. With its knockout action sequences, intense drama, amusing characters, epic background music, and unique animation, it quickly made a spot in my top 10 anime list, and it's just the first season.