10 Reasons Attack On Titan Is Still One Of The Greatest Anime Of All Time

Warning: Contains spoilers for Attack on Titan.Attack on Titan, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama, has taken the world by storm since its manga release in 2009. As the animated series began in 2013 and ran till its conclusion in 2023, it has amassed millions of fans and has shifted the anime community in its entirety. A decade is quite a long time for one anime series to maintain its popularity, so it’s clear that Attack on Titan was doing something right to achieve such a mythic status. More than just beloved though, Attack on Titan frequently ranks among fans’ best anime of all time.

This shonen narrative begins as a thrilling and frightening battle to protect human society from man-eating giants, but with shocking revelations, intense battles, and a journey through historical and moral complexity, fans learn just how profound AOT really is. It provides the audience with illustrative, auditory, and written paragons, making it undeniably one of the most perfect anime series to date.

10 Amazing Soundtrack & Voice Acting

The Series Uses Audio to Make A Bigger Impact

The sound in an anime is a key memorable element, and Attack on Titan definitely utilizes it to an advantage. Its amazing soundtrack mainly composed by Hiroyuki Sawano and dedicated voice acting makes it more impactful and iconic for viewers. With passionate intro and outro songs, as well as music scores used during conversation, worldbuilding scenes, and especially battle, the musical component of this series adds greatly to its emotional impression.

The voice acting is also second to none regardless of if viewers are watching the sub or dub, as the characters’ sentiments and situational complexities they experience are perfectly portrayed in their intonation. The audience can easily relate or sympathize with the fictional personas, as their joy, confusion, and suffering are accurately delivered.

9 Strong Global Impact & Fanbase

AOT Has Cultivated a Growing and Loyal Following

Isayama’s series has been a huge contributor to bringing anime to a bigger international audience. Attack on Titan has also become a profound influence on anime culture as a whole, inspiring discussions and fan theories, memes, gaming, the cosplay community, and even theme parks. Fans of the manga and the anime have followed its journey since its release for nearly over a decade: their loyalty and growing interest building to its finale in 2023.

This devoted audience has grown up with the characters themselves and finally began to understand the depth the narrative carries in a new light. With rewatching, more is to be discovered, and the audience loves to dissect the plot and its messages over and over. Part of the series’ success is undeniably its global appeal. Attack on Titan tackles themes that will be universal no matter where a viewer is from as themes of war, prejudice, and destiny are ideas that transcend cultural barriers.

8 Amazing Animation & Battle Sequences

Fans Enjoy a Visual Feast With the Complex Storyline

As the series progressed and animation technology advanced, fans were blessed with improving animation and amazing battle sequences. Attack on Titan’s best fights are visual marvels that advance story and character. The physical movements are intense and well-choreographed. As humans use ODM gear to whiz between buildings or giant titans frighteningly run through the forest, these insane action moments add to the story’s deep narrative with visual interest.

Overall, Attack on Titan has breathtaking animation quality, especially in its action scenes and titan transformations. As fans see a story with rich themes and complicated emotional dynamics unfold, they get to enjoy beautiful scenery, character design, and dynamic movement simultaneously.

7 Unique Story Building & Concept

The Writer Creates Intrigue With a Never-Before-Seen World

No other manga or anime of this popularity is like Attack on Titan. Its concept and unique story-building create increasing intrigue as the seasons go on. Unique titan foes pose a major threat in its exposition, and although this problem persists throughout, fans see how the titan origins, motivations, and role they play has more depth than initially understood.

What the characters and audience knows as this world’s history and geography becomes more convoluted as the show goes on, positively adding to the moral complexities and shocking plot twists. The lore and known archives are detailed, creating an immersive setting filled with political intrigue and mystery that fans revel in.

6 Multifaceted Characters

Isayama’s Characters Are the Driving Force of the Series

One major factor that places this series in a league above the rest is its multifaceted characters that drive the plot forward. Main characters like Eren, Mikasa, and Armin obviously push the narrative as the main conflict and lessons are portrayed through their journey; although, the side characters are also greatly diversified and multifarious, making them integral to the narrative’s morals and fans’ emotional connection. Even characters like Zeke show just how deep Attack on Titan’s themes are.

Notably, female characters are not put into banal boxes of ‘damsel in distress’ or ‘love interest’. Their strength, intelligence, and presence are indispensable, and fans love to see this component in a leading shonen series. Watchers also see how labels like ‘protagonist’ and ‘antagonist’ are too simple when introduced to ‘opposing characters’. These layered dynamics make AOT an interesting watch that grows better with time.

5 Plot Twists

Surprising Turns and Developments Leave Fans on the Edge of Their Seats

It is undeniable that Attack on Titan has shocking plot twists that take the audience on a rollercoaster ride. Every watcher has experienced jaw-dropping moments, shocking them with incredible revelations and hidden truths. Isayama’s well-timed reveals combined with the impactful music score blend well to build suspense and foreboding for the upcoming twists. What’s more impressive is just how well paced out these twists are, with some coming at the beginning of the series and others not being revealed until the very end.

These plot points are not just added for pure shock value, but truly create meaningful developments and conflict to build from. As small hints are sprinkled in the series from the beginning, when all components come together, fans are left shocked yet satisfied with the insane turns of the AOT journey.

4 Forethought & Intent in Writing

Isayama Masterfully Uses His Craft to Move the Masses

Credit to Attack on Titan’s major success of course goes to the creator of its original work, Hajime Isayama. As fans dive deep into his world of man-eating titans terrorizing Shiganshina and its sister cities, they unknowingly stumble upon a rich story of political secrets and intercontinental conflict that exposes the flaws and nature of humanity.

Isayama’s writing has great intent with each character’s role, how they intersect, the lessons derived from them and their experiences, and how the overall plot ties together. His thoughtful writing keeps the conclusion in mind from the start, and attentively and intricately weaves a plot full of themes on survival, freedom, and betrayal.

3 Diverges from Tropes & Clichés

The Series Steps Away From Overused Plot Points

Many early shonen series followed formulaic plotlines and persona tropes for years. As time progressed, writers and studios began to move away from repetitive styles to create a more complex genre. Attack on Titan has become a keystone in this genre’s shift. One major diverging point is the cliche of the ‘power of friendship and forgiveness’. Main characters Eren, Armin, and Mikasa’s individual and joint journeys have an even more profound impact on the story and its viewers as they come to realize the depth, persistence, and consequences of deceit and hatred.

This series also ingeniously breaks the mold of ‘hero’, as unwavering virtue used to protect people is not seen in any of the ‘protagonists’. Morality and justice have an ambiguous meaning, and this deconstruction of overused tropes opens up a more nuanced and engrossing tale.

2 Realistic Look at Emotions & Clashing Perspectives

The Audience is Moved by Poignant Confrontation

This shonen series accurately and skillfully uses clashing emotions and perspectives through their characters in order to move the audience. Moral ambiguity and shifting sentiments are a key component to the series, and the layers and conflicting motivations depict how convoluted the series’ history, people, and objectives can be.

Resolutions are not easily found, and harbored resentment doesn’t fade with time, yet grows and becomes a driving force. Love does not mean that the actions taken to protect it are entirely altruistic. Selfish desires sometimes align and sometimes conflict with the betterment of the group and their society, yet these superimposed emotions wonderfully allow the audience to connect and reason with the characters’ own humanity and how complicated it can be.

1 Complex Themes & Historical Relevance

The Exploration of Moral Dilemmas Solidify Its Place in the Hall of Fame

Upon first watch or after revisiting the series many times, fans can agree that the complex themes and historical relevance Attack on Titan holds solidifies its place in the anime Hall of Fame. Isayama greatly pushes the message about the dangers of repeating history’s mistakes and how extreme consequences can be. Through each character’s position in the war as well as the overarching theme of how ‘good and evil’ are defined by a battle’s victors, fans can see how ‘reality and truth’ can be hidden by a thin veil, depending on location and surrounding community.

The author pushes people to practice empathy and critical thinking, showing how despite allegiances, propaganda, pain, and loss are universal. As it explores complex moral dilemmas, viewers are challenged to question ‘right and wrong’ as characters face tough choices and deal with grief in many forms. The show also greatly delves into the struggle for freedom and the exploration of what it means to be human, for ones’ self and in relation to others. Attack on Titan’s battle to protect humanity takes new meaning with each season, and fans are left changed by its hard hitting themes.