DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ActionShingeki no Kyojin
ANIME ActionShingeki no Kyojin Season 3
MOVIE ActionShingeki no Kyojin Season 2: Kakusei no Houkou
MANGA ActionShingeki no Kyojin
SPECIAL ActionShingeki no Kyotou
MOVIE ActionShingeki no Kyojin: Chronicle

REVIEWS

• 

  Peng

  40/100
  Bombastically charging forward?

  There are two ways you can watch _Attack on Titan / Shingeki no Kyojin_. First, you can watch it as if it were a serious piece of media. Results here may vary. Alternatively, you can watch it as if it were a B-movie popcorn flick. Something to pass the time. Something mind-numbing and doltish, but self-aware enough to take all of its faults in stride and dive in headfirst and full-throttle. (Yes, I realise I inadvertently described Eren in a single sentence here). Something so ostentatiously unabashed, propelled solely by overzealous overacting and indiscriminate plot twist after indiscriminate plot twist, that you can only admire [Studio Wit](https://anilist.co/studio/858/WitStudio)’s ‘We don’t give a shit, keep giving us $$’ attitude, pump your fist, and yell ‘FUCK YEAH!’ as naked people chow on smaller, non-naked people. Again, results here may vary. Here’s the thing. As much as I wanted to commit to this second form of spectatorship, I found it near impossible to do so. Not that there was any shortage of overzealous overacting or indiscriminate plot twists. After all, these are what _Attack on Titan_ is built on. But that’s exactly it. I find there’s only so much self-indulgent absurdity one can tolerate before such a formula gets dry. An entire first season was built on these foundations. Now, audiences are expected to salivate as the same formula is dished out before them. Not only this, one key ingredient seems to be missing: self-awareness. Much like the first season, except for the occasional moment, there’s little to no indication that _Attack on Titan 2_ isn’t taking itself seriously. Which is fine. Only, if a show strives to present itself as a sincere piece of media, I find it difficult to avoid assessing it as such. #Damn, you’re ugly *** From a visual standpoint, _Attack on Titan 2_ is mostly fine. Much like the first season, the art is probably not for everyone, but it’s non-offensive enough. Of course, that’s the idea: the drab colour scheme, combined with the fact that the titans’ designs (and hell, that of some of the characters too) are nestled firmly in the uncanny valley, creates that uneasy aesthetic that is so well-suited for and defines the _Attack on Titan_ series. However, the titans’ designs perfectly exemplify the earlier posited conundrum: they occasionally teeter into the realm of the stupidly comical. Again, this too contributes to that uneasy feeling: an unsettling amalgamation of innocent, mindless, childlike goofiness and devastating killer instinct. As such, I’m more willing to forgive and even praise the show on this front. Of course, the art is [by no means flawless](https://twitter.com/DaLadybugMan/status/871068745858469888). The show also had a tendency to default to[ shoddy, CG horses](https://blog.sakugabooru.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/horseslide.mp4), and occasionally [titans too](https://blog.sakugabooru.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/go-back-to-your-bad-videogame.jpg). Likewise, there were more freeze frames than I cared for. _Freeze frames galore!_ The highlights of the series are without a doubt, the intoxicating action sequences, especially those showcasing the 3DMG. Goddam, those gas effects! I cannot overstate how much skill and workpower likely went into their creation. The FX/animation departments at Wit seriously outdid themselves, and the outstanding sakuga was always something to look forward to. On a side note, I can’t say I was the biggest fan of the change in scenery. The open fields and medieval-style buildings got boring quick, as there was not a lot to them as far as detail or colour was concerned. I guess there’s only so much background art variety you can have when the show is literally set in a walled enclosure. The OST is sublime. [Hiroyuki Sawano](https://anilist.co/staff/103509/HiroyukiSawano) continues to nicely establish himself as a leading musical face of the industry. Songs mainly consisted of a surprisingly effective blend of electronic music and orchestral choirs, plus the occasional insert song. These complemented the action scenes and emotional peaks well. I’d be lying if I said the OP didn’t grow on me (although I’m not entirely sure about that bit with the charging animals and dinosaurs and shit). The [ED is deliciously disturbing](https://files.catbox.moe/4kkaen.webm). It’s difficult to assess the voice-acting, given that at any given moment, it is more likely to find a character yelling than not. Again, everything is hilariously overacted, from the voice-work to the character’s over-exaggerated facial expressions. Similarly, some of the shit that happens in the action sequences is so outlandish that it’s comical. Again, this wouldn’t be problem, except it’s tension and immersion breaking. More importantly, there’s rarely any indication that this campiness is intentional. There’s little suggestion of self-parody. As such, you’re laughing at it, not with it. #This is like all the things you can fit inside a memory *** This season has a slower, more character-oriented focus. Unfortunately, this points to the most glaring problem with the Attack on Titan franchise in general: it’s messy writing. From the opening episode of the first season, _Attack on Titan_ was brutally honest in how it was going to sell itself substantively: on cheap thrills. Initially, this hinged on the shock value (read: a ~~dingo~~ titan ate my baby) that arose from the admittedly brilliant (and unique) premise, but plot twists soon joined the picture. There is nothing wrong with this. It can certainly make some good entertainment. And going into season 2, you mostly get what you expect. Plot twists by themselves are innocuous enough, and I do commend the likely unprecedented manner in which the ‘big reveal’ of the season was handled. That said, they begin to lose their appeal when it becomes apparent that literally anyone and their uncle could be an enemy. Moreso, it becomes blindingly obvious this season just how (over)reliant _Attack on Titan_ is on these plot twists. Not just narratively: 'shit, the plot is at a standstill?' RKO outta nowhere. But also as a means of retaining the audience’s attention. It’s as if the show has gradually constructed a facade of mystery and intrigue, forcing the audience to pay attention lest they miss yet another, crucial, earthshaking plot development. This is because virtually all other facets of the show’s writing are lackluster. Take the inconsistent pacing. _Attack on Titan 2_ really does not know how to handle itself when there’s a lull in the action. I mean, we spend an entire episode sitting in a fucking tree. Very little progress is made this season. Sure, plenty of new discoveries are made, key plot points are raised, and a central villain is introduced. But resolutions are far and few between. More questions are given than answers. It’s as if as few manga chapters were spread across twelve episodes of anime as humanly possible. Multiple plot tangents concurrently exist at any given time and are tantalisingly drawn out. For example, the subplot concerning Connie’s home village. It becomes apparent what happened here in episode 3. And yet, the writers milk this plot point to the absolute threshold. It is not until episode 10 that the show reveals what the audience has already known for seven whole episodes. Come. The. Fuck. On. Not only is this frustrating, it’s plain insulting. This irregular pacing can largely be attributed to the way character development was handled. Again, this season was more character-focused, where much of the secondary cast received some screentime. Of course, out of the central trio, only Armin receives any semblance of substantive growth. Despite the inroads made at the end of last season, Eren has reverted to his usual, headstrong self. Meanwhile, Mikasa remains as obsessively attached to Eren as ever. Rather, we learn a bit more about ~~Connie~~ (yeah not really), Sasha, Hannes, Ymir, and Krista. It’s not exactly the most compelling stuff, but it’s something, and I appreciate what was being attempted. It is genuinely touching to see these personal triumphs and advancements, given that these characters haven't had a lot going for them. That said, I’m not entirely sure what was going on with Ymir’s arc at the end here. She had just come to the realisation, thanks to Historia, that she should “stop living for others”. And yet, she decides to run off with Berthold and Reiner, as for them to return empty-handed would be disastrous. In other words, she’s subjecting herself to certain punishment for the sake of others? This is mind-boggling. Seemingly, it can only be in service to something plot-related (likely in the form of a twist) later on in the series. Regardless, my biggest qualm with this new focus on characters is how overly-reliant the show is on flashbacks. In moderation, or when they form an intrinsic element of the narrative structure like in [_Hero_](https://letterboxd.com/film/hero-2002/) or [_Memento_](https://letterboxd.com/film/memento/), flashbacks are fine. But here, it is obvious that the writers (or [Hajime Isayama](https://anilist.co/staff/106705/HajimeIsayama)) were either too lazy or incapable of developing characters in a way that would smoothly integrate into and complement the principal, present-day plotline. Instead, they had to work retroactively, making up for lost ground by ostensibly giving the characters backstories ad hoc, so they could then have a platform to be ‘developed’ off of. As such, we don’t so much receive ‘growth’, which implies progression from the character’s moment of introduction, as we learn about the characters. Of course, the abundance of flashbacks chews up valuable screen-time that could otherwise be spent on more pressing concerns, like the main plot and subplots. Needless to say, the subtext concerning humanity, preserving humanity, and questioning what even constitutes as human, is never really deftly handled enough to be too compelling. It's there, but only the surface is scratched, while the shoddy writing overshadows and detracts from these themes. #心臓を捧げよ?? *** _Attack on Titan 2_, much like its predecessor, can certainly be good fun. It’s action sequences are impressively animated and generally exhilarating to watch. It’s soundtrack is phenomenal. And whether intentional or not, it can always get me to chuckle. It’s unfortunate then, that it squanders nearly everything that isn’t action related. From pacing to character development, the writing does what it can to ruin the flow and intensity of the series. Of course, I chose to take the show seriously, and I undoubtedly would have enjoyed it more if I had approached it with a less sober eye. Then again, with very little indication that _Attack on Titan 2_ wasn’t taking itself seriously, I think it would be unwarranted if I were to do so.
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• 

  DSO

  25/100
  Attack On Titan Season 2

  I haven't seen this season in god knows how long, but yet somehow it has continued to bother me. Its flaws, in my opinion, are apparent, and it bothers me how the community has lauded this series. It perpetuates the most annoying part about the first act of this series was the constant need for flashbacks.

  Problem 1, the length: We are dealing with an incredibly short season(12 episodes) this means that every moment of screen time has to count. The plot is primed to move forward, and yet entire episodes are dedicated to flashbacks that are full of useless info like potatoe girl or the snow flashback. It also is used for lazy exposition practically telegraphing plot elements and spoon-feeding info to the audience. Shows like Breaking Bad do their flashbacks right. Short little bits that create intrigue or shows like Berserk which orient us. Additionally, the length cut out of all of the politics. We lose that entire plot thread because the story is wasting its time.

  Problem 2, flow: The biggest concern with the flashbacks is the effect on the pace. We end season 1 with a mystery, but we fall to a screeching halt with awkward, occasionally pointless flashbacks. This makes the show crawl like a snail and makes the tone switch all the more apparent. This awkward tone shift was the rushed introduction of the Armoured Titan. There is little to no precedent for this and feels so out of place. It is also terribly telegraphed in the flashbacks, so it lacks any punch. Its as if they went oh shit, we have wasted our first six episodes time to speed up the plot and throw a lot of bullshit in(Eren's special powers).

  Indeed, the latter half of the season is a complete cluster fuck. In contrast, with the slow exciting fights of the first season, the second season rushes everything. Fights lack tension and weight, and the story jumps from plot beat to plot beat. Eren's powers are thrown out of a hat. This creates a very bizarre style change. In the first season, the plot slowly built up, and small bits were fed to the audience. This kept us intrigued and interested. The odd change in style cheapens the last episode and leaves me confused and sad rather than excited and invested. The lack of buildup creates a lack of tension.

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• 

  CryingLad

  80/100
  More character driven season packed with action.

  [This review will contain HEAVY Spoilers for the show!]()

  
  
  This season is packed with many plot advancements and explanations to some questions, plus we get some more Titan on Titan action which make the watching experience that much more fun!

  [(SPOILER AHEAD) STORY:]()
  Season 2 focuses much more on the Character Development. We get to see all of the characters we grew to love in the first Season being destroyed mentally and sometimes physically. We were also introduced to the new enemies.

  Eren tries his best to secure the survival of Humanity but despite his best efforts there are those who wish to see Humanity perish, Bertolt and Reiner. Those two are also capable of turning into Titans, and those are the ones who we see at the start of the first season destroying the gates.

  We also see Ymir turning into a Titan to help out her friends in the tower. Through out we get hints towards her origin and her goals. But not much else.

  This leads me unto the reason I did not like this Season as much as the rest, it talks about A LOT while doing so little. I liked the character development very much, the combat too. But, in my own opinion, felt a bit slow. But each to their own I suppose :P

  

  
  

  [CHARACTERS:]()
  In Season 2 we primarly see the same characters we seen in the first Season. As mentioned before this Season was about Character Development. We do get hints about new enemies and challenges but thats about it, hints.

  Most of the goals and ideals of the characters are the same as in Season 1. Except from:
  The Big Three: Reiner, Bertolt, and Ymir.

  Lets start about the easiest. Ymir.
  Her goal is to protect Krista at all costs. Not much to say there, if anything happens to Krista...hell unleashes.

  Now unto the more complex characters. Reiner and Bertolt.
  Those two want to see Humanity perish. Why? I don't recall, going back and rewatching the scene they explained all of that does not give us a good answer, mostly hints. From a young age they've known about these powers and used them for not so great things, like breaking the gate in Season 1.

  We also get to see Connie's village and a big Titan that looks a lot like his mother...hmmm, add the Hints of Ymir's Origin and we get some nice future arc there.

  

  
  

  [ART/ANIMATION:]()
  From what I can see, the art style and animation have changed over the span of two seasons.
  Last season had thicker outlines with smooth yet rugged animations, this season on the other has improved.

  The art style still does feel like Attack on Titan and does stay true to the Manga but compared to Season its much more enjoyable. The outlines for most part have been thinned down. The animation has taken a huge boost, most of the action scenes we found in Season 1 were good but could've been better. This was the response the studio gave. Amazing fluid animations (as seen in the gifs) with amazing character designs. Whats not to like?

  

  
  

  [MUSIC:]()
  Attack on Titan never dissapoints with an OP. Sasageyo has to be one of the best OPs for this show to this day. The Pure hype one can feel building up while listening to it is incredible, it is also very catchy and memorable with some stunning visuals.

  The ED...well, there is not much to say. It was really meh. Doesn't sound good in my honest opinion. The last two EDs we were presented were much more suitable for this series. Especially "great escape".

  The OST, it is amazing. I love each and every OST that this series had produced, each and every song fits so well with the theme of the show and scene it is found in.

  

  
  

  [OVERALL OPINION:]()
  Season 2 build up on the previous established ideas more and more. Although most of the things I remember and saw when looking back through the show was Hints towards bigger events.

  The combat and animation has greatly improved in my opinion.

  Overall this Season was great but could've been better if we weren't teased so much about 60% of things said.

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