Attack on Titan Seasons 1 and 2 Review

Title: Shingeki no Kyojin / Attack on Titan

Genre: Shounen, Dark Fantasy, Action, Post-apocalyptic

Written by: Hajime Isayama

Release Date: September 09, 2009 - present (manga)

Synopsis: For a hundred of years, the humanity is protected by the giant walls named Maria, Rose and Sina from the threat of titans. It is known that titans are hunting on people. Wall Maria is the outer wall followed by Wall Rose and Wall Sina. One day, Eren Jaeger with Mikasa Ackeman and Armin Arlert, was strolling around their hometown which is located at the outer wall and they never knew that the walls will be broken that very day. A Colossal Titan was seen from the outside and kicked the wall leaving a large hole. On that day, Eren's village was invaded by titans. 

After 5 years, Eren, Mikasa and Armin joined the cadets to find a way to kill the titans.  

(Representation of the map of the Walls)

Thoughts: When I first heard of this anime, I am not sure if I will like this or not but since it's so popular in the anime world, I tried to watch this series. I never thought that I will meet the kind of anime that I am looking for. The story is so tragic and breath taking because it involves life, more like realities in life. You can feel the tensity in every scene and the characters were well-made. The personality of the characters were so realistic so you can let yourself include in the anime. It's like you will know the feeling when you are on that scenario.

I can't really explain how I feel while I am watching this anime. But let me tell you this, you will get attached to the characters since they are too realistic. You will know how they feel, you will know that they tried their best and you will know that you can't helped it if it happened. Then, you will feel very betrayed and heartbroken in some scenes.

(Season 2: First encounter of the Beast Titan)

(Mike's encounter of the Beast Titan in manga)

I watched this anime 4 or 5 years ago and since I became too impatient to wait for the season 2, I read the manga. I am not into Shonen manga but I read this story. There is a lot of differences between the manga and anime. Not with the scenes but with the way they made the manga into animation. I felt more scared when reading the manga than watching the anime. How should I put it, my imagination with the Beast Titan in the manga is much scarier than with the anime. In my opinion, manga is better than anime cause your imagination will give you the best image that will make you fear the titans.

Animation: 10/10
Of course. This is my favorite anime. LOL but being bias aside, Yes, the animation is really good. That is one of my reasons why I love this anime. It requires a lot of effort to just make a scene where in they fly like a spider man using the 3D Maneuver Gear, but the staff made it cooler.

(Season 1: Mikasa protected Eren as he is trying to plug the boulder towards the hole of the wall)

The only thing that I got disappointed with this is when they used CG for the Colossal Titan and when they run with horses in Season 2. I appreciate more if they did it the 2D version like in Season 1.

 Soundtrack: 10/10

The whole soundtrack of this anime is in my playlist! They used an orchestra for the soundtrack and it really fits for the anime. It adds the tensity of the scene. Also there are cool songs for the entrance of the strongest soldiers and for the scenes in where they use their 3DMG. There are ballad songs for heartbreaking moments but there are also soundtrack for scenes where the characters see hope.

(Season 2: Mikasa attacked Bertolt and Reiner the moment when they exposed their secret)

Overall: 10/10

Let's put aside the idea that this anime runs their episode soooo slow, it took them 5 years before they aired season 2. If you are looking for some cool action anime, this is really for you. I tried to recommend this to some friends who is not into anime but all of them gave me a good feedback.

The Season 3 will air this year around July and if they will base the story of Season 3 from the following scenes in the manga, Season 3 will be the badass among the three seasons. I would like to share more of it but I can't spoil more. Hint: "The Levi squad."

Let me just give you this famous GIF in the SNK fandom.