Attack on Titan is a Japanese dark fantasy anime television series based on the manga of the same name by Hajime Isayama. Produced by Wit Studio and directed by Tetsurō Araki, a first season aired in 2013. The story revolves around humanity’s battle against the sudden appearance of bizarre, man-eating giants called Titans.
Concept and Story Design
Since the story of TV-series is based on the manga of the same name, it has been given a strong reference before the production. However, TV-series is coloured wheras the manga is black-and -white, hence it is crucial to determine the tone colour adapted to the theme.
The combination of black and red, the two most sinister colours, conveys a sense of power and strike, addressing the destruction, darkness and death brought by the war. What’s more, the composition of the elements in this illustartion drawing, the titan, the man, the roaring fire, the broken wall and tenements, clearly and directly show the concept of ‘attack on titan’.
The villages surrounded by the wall before the attack mainly use the yellow tone, which represents a sence of peace and warmth. However, it additionally give the impression of sunset due to the fading light, which is symbolic of the forces of darkness.
Environment recreation by Instagram damdam_arts Environmental design Still image from TV season 1
In anime series, the eyecatch between the commercial messages is designed to show the Current Publicly Available Information which gives an introduction to the known settings such as the props and the story background. This intriguing design helps the audience get to know the world step by step together with the main characters in the story.
Current Publicly Available Information in manga Current Publicly Available Information in anime Environment in anime
There are three main walls protecting the human kingdom, the Wall Maria, Wall Rose and Wall Sina. The Wall Maria is the outermost wall with a height of 50 meters and a distance from Wall Rose that is 100 km. Five years ago it was breached by the Colossal Titan whose height is over 50 m, then the gate was open for the titans to enter, and the story began here.
The oldest available records say the Titans appeared and devoured most of humanity from 107 years ago with unknown reasons.
Humanity retaliated with cannons and developed the wall-mounted artillery, but they were not useful enough in the face of the Titans.
In order to attack against the titans, the soilder needs to maneuver in 3D space, and it is necessary to conduct relevant trainings.
Furthermore, the suspense and attraction of the story is not only arising from battleing with the titans, but deeply involving in the complex relationship regarding to politics of citizenship as well as human nature.
Corpses are divided into four with different duties, and new commanders have different reasons to join one of them. The main characters joined the Survey Corps. The Survey Corp is the one who travels outside the walls to collect information, fights the titans and explores the truth of the world. They are the most highly tactical and most in danger compared with others. Despite having little success, they still symbolize the “hope of mankind” with their insignia being known as the “Wings of Freedom.”
Generally, the story has numerous details and clues. They are linked closely to create such a completely realistic and cruel world, leaving the audience thinking.
Character Design
The story is not only about one person. Although all the characters are in the same uniform, it shapes diverse personalities in a team, addressing the uniqueness and irreplaceability of everyone through the entire story successfully. some are calm, the other are impulsive; some are brave, the other are coward. Whatever their characteristics is, the story witnesses each one’s growth. However, it is common to see tragic and horrible endings happening on some lovely characters, subverting expectations again and again.
Mikasa Young Mikasa
Misaka is one of the deuteragonists. She appeared to be a cheerful, outgoing, and gentle child before witnessing her partents’ death. Growing up, Mikasa has become emotionally withdrawn and noticeably dangerous. She is stoic, level headed and considered the best soldier among the 104th Training Corpsa. Her appearance is designed to be a fairly tall, physically fit, and well-toned woman with muscles lined throughout the arms, legs, and abdomen. She is of partial Asian heritage, with pale skin, gray eyes, and shaggy black hair that was long until she cut it to chin-length when joining the military.
The titans all have a human-like appearance but the type varys including the height, the hair style and the intelligence. The corresponding design is matched with the setting, laying the foundation of the following plot.
Visual Development and Storyboard
The scene describes that the protagonist, Eren, witnesses his mother’s death, which is the saddest and the most important part in the story plot. Focusing on the development of the apperance of the characters in different angles of view with loads of closeups, the flashback of
warm memories with Erens family, as well as the brutality of the titans, it engages the audience to suffer from the same tragic experience with Eren.
Overall, this is an entirely captivating, enthralling and thrilling series. A large number of secrets and mysteries along the plot line with a very clear narrative vision catch the audiences’ eyes and help them follow the story. It is a masterpiece.
Attack on Titan is incredibly detailed. Even the side stories twist and turn, the plot seeming to change with every episode. There is just no watching them fast enough and with each episode running for about 20 minutes, it’s incredibly easy to binge. Overall, this is an entirely captivating, enthralling and thrilling series.
——Olivia Pettman Attack On Titan Anime Review
Reference:
https://attackontitan.fandom.com/wiki/Current_Publicly_Available_Information/Anime
https://characterdesignreferences.com/art-of-animation-8/art-of-attack-on-titan-part-1