Shinzo wo Sasageyo!

Remember when I said anime is not just for kids? Well, this anime embodies that idea. I have a love-hate relationship with this anime. Love because of the story and hate because of the numerous deaths. Watch at your discretion!

Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)

Now we will dive in.

Attack on Titan is a Japanese dark fantasy anime television series adapted from the manga of the same name by Hajime Isayama. This anime has taken the world by storm and has become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows of recent years.

Attack on Titan is set in a world where the future of humanity seems bleak. Giant humanoid creatures known as Titans have appeared and have begun devouring humans without mercy. What makes these giants truly terrifying is that their taste for human flesh is not born out of hunger but what appears to be out of pleasure!

The Titans are seemingly indestructible and have driven humanity to the brink of extinction. The last remnants of humanity live behind a series of massive walls built to protect them from the Titans. It works, and peace reigns.

Enter our hero, Eren Yeager, a young boy who has grown up behind the walls. He wishes to venture outside the walls. To be free. So he wants to join the Survey Corps, an elite military unit that fights Titans outside the walls.

One day life as he knew it changed completely.

A colossal titan appeared towering over the giant wall. The supposedly impregnable outer wall was brought down! Titans roaming outside change in. People are trampled, smashed, and eaten. Utter chaos and carnage….

“On that day, mankind received a grim reminder of the terror of being at their mercy, of the humiliation of being trapped inside a cage. We lived in fear of Titans and were disgraced to live in these cages we called walls.”
(Attack on Titan S01E01)

Eren has to witness yet another horrific event. His mother getting brutally killed and eaten by a titan. He can do nothing but scream in agony!

Eren is determined to take revenge and joins the Survey Corps. Along with his friends Mikasa and Armin, Eren trains to become a warrior. They embark on a journey to uncover the mystery behind the titans and discover a way to defeat them once and for all.

Phew! It was hard to type up this much. How is your day by the way? Hope you are fine. (Please don’t beat me).

I was reminded of all the deaths that I had to witness in this show while typing. Yup. People die left and right in this show. And there is a certain finality to their deaths. Typically when people die in supernatural anime, there is a chance of them being resurrected or that it turns out to be a brilliant plot twist or so. But in this anime, there is no such thing.

The people in this anime are just like those in the real world. Weak in the face of superhuman strength. They are trampled upon and are entirely at the mercy of the strong titans. And if they die, they die. And many die horrific deaths!

But despite such a grim premise, this is one of the most widely acclaimed anime series out there! It is packed with terrific action scenes and beautifully crafted fight scenes. And also epic speeches!!

The show is about much more than just action. It delves into themes of humanity, sacrifice, and the will to survive. The characters are well-written and relatable, and their struggles and triumphs will keep you on the edge of your seat.

When I mean well-written, I mean incredibly well-written. Every one of the main cast is a complex ball of emotions, ideals, and beliefs. And if you look at each of them from their perspective, the lines between hero and villain start to blur.

They are all just people trying to live their lives based on their own ideals and goals. They simply go forward with what they believe to be true and fair.

People fighting back despite the insurmountable odds will surely motivate you. With each hurdle they cross, even tougher ones appear. The hard-fought hope turns into despair in mere moments. The warriors again have to fight to overcome it. There are unexpected twists as well.

With each season, the story expands and gets more complex. It begins with slaying titans and saving humanity. Straightforward. Simple. Action-packed. It is essential to understand the events and characters from the beginning to appreciate the later seasons fully. Once you cross season three, it is an all-out war!! (Any more revelation would be a spoiler).

Season four was released in three parts. The first part of the season aired from December 7, 2020, to March 29, 2021. The second part aired from January 10 to April 4, 2022. The third and final part will air in two halves; the first half will premiere on March 4, 2023.

Just keep in mind to look out for the episode release on March 2023.

The background score of this anime is also top-notch. The score is directed by Masafumi Mima and composed by Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto. It makes you feel epic, depressed, and motivated at the same time. Ashes on The Fire from season four is one of my favorite soundtrack of all time!

Overall, Attack on Titan is an anime that will leave a lasting impression on you. It's a show that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for the characters. It's a show that will make you think about the world and the people in it. It's a show that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

When you watch this show, be ready for anything. This is not going to be a fun ride. But if you watch, you will be grateful that you took the ride. This is one of the animes that is counted among the classics.

Here is an instagram reel to convince you further.

Check out the anime on Hulu.

(Shinzo wo Sasageyo! means ‘Dedicate your hearts’ btw)

So that's it for this week.
Have a good week ahead.
Itadakimasu!