Common Name: Attack on Titan
Alternative Names: Shingeki no Koujin
Score: 9/10, 5/5
Length: 2 Seasons, 37 Episodes
Genre: Action, Drama, Grimdark, Super Powered
WARNINGS: Rare but extreme moments of hyperviolence and gore
Summary: Long ago, humanity ruled the world until the Titans appeared and took their place at the top of the food chain. Driven by nothing but a desire to destroy and devour all of humanity, it seemed like nothing could stop these towering, humanoid monstrosities. Now, what remains of humanity lives like trapped cattle within in a single city guarded by three towering walls of stone, but at least they are safe from the titans. There are, however, still some humans who yearn for freedom in a world free of the titans, and they'll do whatever is necessary to take their land back. The question, though, is whether or not the titans really the only thing mankind has to fear.
Review: While I find it difficult to believe that anyone reading this hasn't already seen Attack on Titan or at least read the manga, I have been surprised before. After all, there are still people out there who haven't seen the original Star Wars or Titanic...no pun intended. So, just in case, I'll go ahead and throw my two cents into what is already an overflowing well of pennies and thoughts now that the show's second season has come to a close. To start, I'll just flat out say it: go watch Attack on Titan, even if you're not someone who can't handle blood, gore, and violence. It's a solid introduction to the dystopian action genre for almost any viewer and has become a phenomenon in the world of anime for good reason. It doesn't matter what your viewing preferences are (subbed or dubbed), it's definitely worth the watch.
Even if the things considered humanity's greatest threat look stupid as hell most of the time.
If I had to take a guess why Attack on Titan is so popular, and not one of those flash in the pan hits that tried mimicking what AoT had going for it, it's because it is one of those shows that has a little bit of something for everyone. The show's story has action, drama, political intrigue, military tactics, and some semblance of a romance if you're one of those people that ships Eren and Mikasa (no shame, I do too). It's pretty much a home run when you take all those aspects and consider the fact that the show is predicated, at least initially, on feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness that then spontaneously grows into what could be considered a more realistic power fantasy. Then, add onto that a gorgeous art aesthetic and an amazing soundtrack composed by Hiroyuki Sawano (known recently for his work on Guilty Crown, Blue Exorcist, Kill la Kill, and RE:Creators) and I don't really see how the show could not be the hit it is today.
What I will never claim, however, is that Attack on Titan is perfect. It's damn good, no two ways about that, but it just doesn't meet the level of quality and thoughtfulness I attribute to a 10/10, a relatively perfect show. Part of the reason for that is because the source material doomed it to an inferior standard from the start due to horrible pacing and plot points that are highlighted as important for some time and then get forgotten or simply aren't addressed again for an absurdly long period of time. The primary example of this problem can be seen with the key Eren wears around his neck that opens the door to the basement of his house which, supposedly, holds some world-shaking secret. In the manga, the importance of this key was brought up in chapter 10, back in 2010. The answer to what was in the basement wasn't answered until 2016, and the anime has still not caught up to that point so far. So, it's somewhat understandable how most Attack on Titan fans find this particular problem insanely frustrating and groan at the mere mention of that key.
The second biggest flaw is one solely attributed to the anime, and that is the fact that the Titans just kinda stop being scary over the course of the first season. Rather than being creepy, fearsome, and representatives of that great and powerful threat that wiped out humanity, they just start to look doofy and out of place in what is otherwise a beautiful show. While the moronic expressions, marbled skin textures, and disproportionate body parts that define the titans are certainly part of that, I think the main reason they stop become threatening is that power fantasy I mentioned before. With monsters like Mikasa and Levi throttling large portions of the action sequences as they effortlessly cutting down scores of titans, it becomes easy to fall into the mindset that "titans aren't actually a threat" and that the people who periodically die to them "just weren't good enough." This problem disappears, however, during the show's second season which features a staggering lack of Mikasa, Levi, or Eren. Once they're out of the picture, the titans get something of a return to form and we get scene after scene of brutal and gory deaths just as unsettling as the show's first, big death.
They still look kinda dumb though, to be totally honest.
Apart from those pacing and tonal issues though, the anime is, otherwise, fairly solid. More than that, it proves itself, time and again, to be a fantastic adaptation of the original source material--sticking true to the heart of the story, but also improving the flow and adding to individual scenes until the anime reaches a level of quality a fan of the original manga would expect. I know it definitely met and frequently surpassed my own expectations. So, I'll reiterate. Attack on Titan is a really good show. It's fun, action-packed, and absolutely stunning to look at. Out of everything that has come out of the "shounen battle anime" genre, this definitely one of the better ones. I wouldn't say it reaches the level of skill and satisfaction that I usually expect from a truly great anime, one of those 10/10 masterpieces, but it does get pretty close in spite of its origins. I'd solidly recommend it as both an enjoyable show and as a piece that will come to define this form of media years down the line.