Anime has been considered a niche genre by the masses; for those who never outgrew their childhood love of cartoons. It gets sweeped under the rug and negative stereotypes constantly perpetuated, leaving many in the dark to the true gems this genre has to offer. Japanese storytelling saw its boost post World War 2, where the devastation of the war took its toll on the national psyche, many Japanese storytellers saw film and drawing as artistic expressions of their pain.
Attack on Titan’s final season represents just that- war, pain, and how eventually, we are all from the same side of the coin.
For those who are unaware about Attack on Titan, it started off as a simple story of humanity being hidden behind giant walls erected to protect them from man-eating titans; a spin on the classic Zombie trope, titans can be considered as giant zombies out for blood. As the story unfolds, we are privy to the fact that humanity does indeed exist outside the walls, and there are more to titans than it seems. What started off as a simple “them vs us” story, ended up becoming an intricate tale of racism, morality, and what it truly means to partake in war
The past 3 seasons were purely shown to be from the perspective of Eldians, a race of humans who have the ability to shift into titans. Season 4 begins with the soldiers of Marley, a race once completely annihilated by the Eldians and their Titan powers; but have now the upper hand by segregating Eldians, guilting them for the actions of their ancestors, and making them puppets to fight against their own people living behind the walls on Paradis Island. The behavior of Marleyians against Eldians mirrors exactly that of Germans and Jews in World War 2, with Eldians having to wear arm bands and renounce their heritage- or risk being wiped out.
Season 4 begins highlighting the Eldians of Marley, living in segregated camps and being treated as the “devil race”, for actions they can’t control. As they kill their own and are indoctrinated with propaganda- calling those who live on the Island as “pure evil”, Attack on Titan asks if black and white in war truly does exist.
The show highlights survivors guilt, PTSD and untold trauma of those who have had to fight countless wars, seeing their comrades being eaten alive, or worse, killed by their own blood. The show holds no punches in hiding the gore, the pain and the anguish of soldiers that is surely to pass down from generation to generation. It mirrors the reality of war with impeccable animation from MAPPA Studio, and brushes on important moral issues that constantly make us question if we are Pro Marley or Pro Paradis.
Of course, the highlight of the show remains with it’s titans and the fight scenes. The CGI used keeps the motion fluid while the battles are engaging, keeping you at the edge of your seat. Again, the show doesn’t hide the devastation of the Titan’s and how they harm society (eventually perpetuating those around the world to renounce the Eldian Race), rather it highlights the worst of society, and mirrors it with the souls and deepness of each character portrayed.
Attack on Titan Season 4 is best enjoyed if watched in continuity with its previous seasons, to truly immerse yourself in the world. From amazing characters you will root for, to jaw dropping animation- Attack on Titan is a show to the world on how poignant and detailed a series can be, no matter what the medium. As the season is ongoing, we implore you to enjoy it with it’s fandom, as each episode unfolds a story that reflects upon our own misgivings in history; a precautionary tale.
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