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Kino Key Notes: Attack on Titan

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Image from Kodansha

 

Kino Key Notes:
Attack on Titan

Much like the rest of Japan, it was fairly simple for a child to imagine giant creatures lurking over surrounding mountain tops in the small town of Oyama. Hajime Isayama often imagined fascinating creatures while growing up in this town which is located in present-day Hita, Japan. Many fans of Attack on Titan or those with powers of deduction already know that young Isayama later grew up to be the creator of the epic manga and anime Shingeki no Kyojin, otherwise known as Attack on Titan. Already a fan of Attack on Titan? Check out the many books available by clicking here.

For the uninitiated, Attack on Titan begins in a massive city of concentric walls. This city was constructed to protect the human race from extinction against a mysterious breed of titans. For over 100 years, the walls had never been breached until one horrible day. The series continues with a great fight for survival as we root for three young and unlikely heroes.

Like most aspiring mangaka (comic book creators), young Isayama made many visits to known Japanese publishers after moving to the great metropolis of Tokyo in ~2006 with the one-shot precursor for Attack on Titan in hand. His later award-winning one-shot was presented to multiple notable publishers before finally being taken up by Weekly Shonen Magazine, helmed by Kodansha. The one-shot was later published in Attack on Titan Guidebook.

Hajime Isayama is known to shy away from TV interviews, but we’ve all still managed to learn many of the works which sparked his imagination and influenced Shingeki no Kyojin beyond the terrain of his hometown. Throughout all his appearances, Isayama has also mentioned influences like the major motion picture & novel Jurassic Park and even Muv-Luv, a romantic comedy series that transitions to a story about an alien invasion!

Originally released with Attack on Titan Season 1 DVD. The one-shot is also in the Attack on Titan Guidebook..

Originally released with Attack on Titan Season 1 DVD. The one-shot is also in the Attack on Titan Guidebook..

Back in November, Kinokuniya USA hosted the epically hilarious showdown between top manga publishers Kodansha and Yen Press over Twitter. Attack on Titan was the focus of the humorous skit above to show off the Attack on Titan Box Sets! Follow our Twitter page for other releases, deals, and announcements by clicking the post above.

The young artist’s influences paid off, as Attack on Titan has since branched off into translated manga, spin-offs, anime, novels, and live-action & animated films. Both the manga and anime have since received over 20 major awards from ceremonies such as “Kodansha Manga Awards” and “Crunchyroll Anime Awards,” further solidifying the series’ success.

Major awards tend to be followed by a barrage of promotional videos, top 10 lists, reviews, syndications, and blog articles like this one. In fact, Attack on Titan has already achieved tremendous recognition for placing in the Top 20 best-selling manga of all time. Shingeki No Kyojin is in good company with the likes of Demon Slayer, One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Bleach, and even one of the “godfathers” of all manga, Astro Boy. If you are enjoying this article, then be sure to check out our recent blog of Demon Slayer!

Hajime Isayama once mentioned how much the anime adaptation influenced his writing in later volumes of the Attack on Titan manga. “It makes me feel like they are much more alive… living somewhere outside of my head” Isayama claimed during an interview with FUNimation, one of the top production and entertainment companies known for licensing the world’s top manga.

He later went on to speak about how the sounds and effects of Omni-directional mobility gear in the anime were intriguing as he’d never thought about how the now-famous equipment might sound. Elements from the anime certainly affected the way he’d view his own creation for the remaining chapters in which he claimed already had a conclusion.

With the manga’s scheduled completion in 2021, and the anime’s forthcoming part two of the final season approaching, it would be natural for fans to look for supplemental content. After all, it is always a bittersweet moment when completing a series, movie, or video game. It feels akin to the ending of a friendship. No worries! As briefly mentioned, there is no shortage of “Shingeki” spin-offs from various sources of media. Join Rita Iglehaut for a different perspective of the city’s initial catastrophe by reading Ryō Kawakami and Range Murata’s novel series The Harsh Mistress of the City. Looking for something a bit more light-hearted and fun? Look no further than the quirky and chibi Attack on Titan: Junior High! The junior high-themed manga was even good enough to be reborn as a 12 episode season of anime! For a list of more Attack on Titan content, be sure to check out our comprehensive list of books below.

You’ve done it! You must be a true fan of Attack on Titan - Shingeki no Kyojin and Kinokuniya USA! We hope you enjoyed reading about Hajime Isayama and his fantastic series. Do you have suggestions for our next article? Feel free to shoot us an email to mention your concerns or suggestions. We would love to hear from you!

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