Number of Episodes: 25 + 9 shorts + 3 OVAs + 13
What Wikipedia says: "Attack on Titan is a 2013 anime series based on the manga by Hajime Isayama serialized in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine. It is set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous walls due to the Titans, gigantic humanoid creatures who devour humans seemingly without reason. The story centers around Eren Jaeger, his adopted sister Mikasa, and their friend Armin, whose lives are changed forever after a large Titan breaches the wall of their home town. Vowing revenge and to reclaim the world from the Titans, Eren and his friends join the Scout Regiment, an elite group of soldiers who fight Titans at the front lines."
KoanMan says (spoiler free): Strap yourself in and hit the GO button! This is a great ride, not unlike being in the surf... in a hurricane! The action hits you like a giant wave, then a brief lull before the next wave hits you. The action is fast and furious for the first half of the series, with a change of style at about mid-way which almost seemed like a change of director, including changes to the opening and closing credits. Thankfully this quiet period ends quickly and gets back to the good stuff to finish off the series in spectacular style. The opening credits of the first 12 episodes is a visual feast, with some disturbing images in a frenetic montage which sets the scene well.
There are a lot of characters that appear in this series, only to disappear again to feed the tremendous body count. This one is NOT for the kiddies, but would probably be of great interest to anatomy students. The central character, Eren, is a driven individual, well supported by his childhood friend, the intelligent Armin, and adoptive sister, the more than capable Mikasa. Their interactions with each other, and with an interesting take on a post-apocalyptic scenario, make this a thoroughly enjoyable series. Plot is light on in the early episodes but you don't really have time to notice, and the character development is equally superficial, though plot and character growth does build nicely toward the end.
How About the Music? tTPO here as KoanMan was so excited by the phenomenal level of action he forgot about this. But he shouldn't have. The opening (power metal) themes by Linked Horizon are light years away from the usual J-fluff and capture the epic nature of the series perfectly. Just sit back and enjoy.
OP1: "Feuerroter Pfeil und Bogen" ("Crimson Bow and Arrow")
OP2: "Die Flügel der Freiheit" ("The Wings of Freedom")
Overall Grade: KoanMan enjoyed is thoroughly and is eagerly awaiting Series 2. This gets an A.
Addendum (by tTPO): This series is brilliant with perhaps its only drawback being then end of the anime is by no means the end of the story (OK, and maybe a few hanging smaller plot threads), though it does make for an appropriate stopping point. There are some unexpectedly brave moves along the way and at no stage do we get complacent about the threat to humanity. The backstory also gets satisfyingly deeper (and some surprising attempts at science) with the progression of the series. Grade A. With bells on.
Season 2 Addendum from KoanMan: After careful consideration, I really have nothing much to add re S2 for AoT. It is still good…. very good….
Season 2 Addendum from tTPO: Amen.
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