Sep 10, 2021
[This review contains spoilers that have been flagged for your convenience]
Admittedly, this review is out of context. I have begun watching it almost ten years after it initially aired. With that said, Attack on Titan is, at times, quite the thrill, but overall slathered in cliche. The fight scenes are exciting and epic, the plot is engaging, but the characters are dime a dozen in the realm of shounen.
Story: The story is good. The mystery and world building of the show is really good. [SPOILER] I found myself on the edge of my seat when Eren Jeager transformed into a Titan during his first
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battle after joining the military [END OF SPOILER]. The Titans themselves are quite intriguing, as you are left wondering what they are and what their motives are. However, the story is by no means great. It is really only an echelon above mediocre in my opinion. For starters, there are pointless elements that waste screen time. Why include a religion in your world if it is shallow? Maybe it will be fleshed out in later seasons, but as it stands, I see no point in including the religious aspects. I have other gripes, such as some of the battles dragging out a little too longer than needed. And, at the end of the day, Attack on Titan is a pretty standard shounen story of a teenage boy joining a military. If you have seen Full Metal Alchemist, you have seen the story of Attack on Titan done better.
6/10
Art: The art is okay. The still frames really bog down the immersion in the story and the world design is bland. The architecture found within the walls is boring and uninspired. There is simply nothing special about it. It is the most generic European architecture imaginable. I found every scene that took place outside of the walls to be a breath of fresh air, but even then, the world design is boring! The character designs are also pretty bland as well. They look like every other shounen character. There is nothing special about the art in Attack on Titan. Nothing except for the titans themselves. The titans were excellently designed and easily the most engaging aspect of the show visually. Some of their faces are downright hilarious. Every scene with the abnormal titans is a trip.
5/10
Sound: The music in Attack on Titan is okay. It is not bad by any means but it is nothing special. Many of the sound effects are quite mediocre as well. There is really nothing to write about in the sound department. The OPs and ending songs are pretty good but are nothing special either.
5/10
Character: The characters in this show are honestly my biggest gripe. They are way too one dimensional for me to connect with any of them. You have Eren, who is your typical whiney shounen protagonist. There is Armin who is even more so whiney and just painful to watch. I really wish he was not included. Mikasa is badass sure but she is one dimensional as well. These characters are just unbelievable and that is a big problem for me. I need engaging characters in a fantasy story so that I have something to connect with. When that is lacking, my enjoyment suffers. The supporting characters are boring as well. I don't care about any of them. If they all were slaughtered in the final episode, I wouldn't bat an eye.
3/10
Enjoyment: Even though I have plenty of criticisms, I did enjoy the show. The fights, as I mentioned, while sometimes drawn out, are undeniably fun. I think the action of this anime is the big pull here. If you need a mature plot and characters to enjoy a show, look elsewhere, but if action is what you are looking for, then this Attack on Titan is for you. Usually, I will quit a show if the action is the best aspect, but there is something else here. The mystery of the titans and [SPOILERS] Eren and Annie's powers [END OF SPOILERS] are really the saving grace of this show. While it is as shallow as kiddie pool, the show is fun. And that is really all that matters. I do hope to see some maturation as the show progresses because I could not see myself sticking around much longer if nothing changes but I have high hopes. The first season showcases a lot of potential.
Overall: 6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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