Alternate Titles: Shingeki no Kyojin
Manga Adaptation by Production IG

Premise: Attack on Titan is set in a world where the remnants of human civilization lives in cities surrounded by gigantic walls to protect them from the Titans, a race of giants who feed on humans for seemingly no cause or reason. Eren Jaeger and his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman are two inhabitants whom’s lives are dramatically changed when the colossal walls, which have stood unbroken for 100 years are suddenly brought down by a titan larger than any seen before. Eren swears to destroy the monsters who have forced humanity to live in cage of their own creation.

Gee’s Verdict: Oppressive, intense, and gorgeous

As a fan of the manga, the debut episode is everything I was hoping it’d be. Production IG perfectly nails the theme and tone of the story, and the titans are even more ominous and dangerous in motion. Like most first episodes, the quality of the animation is great, aided by its distinct aesthetic and the wildly fun 3D Gear; the gas-powered jetpack cables used by the inhabitants of the city. If the anime is anything like the manga, we’re in for a visual treat.

Things seriously suck in the world of Attack on Titan. There’s no getting around that, and various scenes do a great job of showing that. Still, watching Eren cry and scream from 3 different angles might be a bit much. Assuming the anime is following the manga faithfully, we’ll be witnessing one more dramatic prologue from Eren and Mikasa’s uh…turbulent childhood before the stage is set for the main story. Attack on Titan introduces itself with a bang and has set itself up as a moody and exciting survival story that’s sure to bring the good times provided Production IG can keep the quality consistent.

Zigg’s Verdict: Towers over others

I haven’t been this optimistic about a show’s first episode in quite some time. Attack On Titan nailed everything I want out of a production like this, from the gorgeous and refreshingly different art style, the great monsters, the badass action and a strong, emotional connection between our leads. There’s a real understated charm to the prickly relationship between Eren and Mikasa, and the shifty, uneasy way they interact actually makes them seem like children as opposed to the mini-adults children in anime so often are. Eren’s emotional abandonment of his mother was a powerful scene which really hit home and his desire to be free of the ‘cage’ of the walls is a well worn but highly effective motivation. I love the moody atmosphere too, which is somewhere between medieval peasantry and crazy 70’s kaiju movie, and the core idea is a compelling one that looks to have plenty of potential to go in cool directions. Absolutely the highlight of the new season.

Lifesong’s Verdict: Something Is Wrong

I have serious doubts about any survival anime based off an ongoing manga. This first episode reinforced those doubts with it’s nonsensical setup. Honestly this anime probably did everything right for what it is, but that didn’t make it something I want to watch. The anime looked pretty and the over the top slaughter is probably exactly what the fans want; it just all felt kind of hilarious to me. I don’t understand why the humans can’t take those monsters down for one. I am not sure how those monsters keep from going extinct for another.

Titan’s premise is probably fine for some viewers but it bothers me greatly. Big giant people come to attack and no one sees them? I can understand that giant who breaks the gates in being hard to stop, but the rest? Watching a bunch of naked slow moving bloodthirsty giants cow humanity just makes me scratch my head. This whole thing seems like something that belongs to a vore fetish I want nothing to do with. Maybe if they were giant naked women I would like it more… probably not.

Marlin’s Verdict: Giant of the season.

I was given a fair amount of hype about Titan by Gee, but even with high expectations going into this opener I was completely blown away. They really do a fantastic job of establishing the claustrophobic effect of being trapped in a city with nigh unstoppable killing machines just outside the door. The scene between Eren and his mom had just the right amount of gravitas, and really captured the idea of making sure your loved ones are safe, even when you’re hopelessly terrified yourself.

If I did find one thing out of place it was the Recon Corps. telling the old lady that her son had died by giving her his severed arm. Seriously? You couldn’t have just told her he was dead? A minor complaint, but it just seems like that scene was designed to increase the paranoia and dread of the titans than stay realistic.

Iro’s Verdict: Not Yet a Titan

Attack on Titan is off to a decent start, properly establishing the setting and atmosphere and quickly giving all the main characters their reasons to fight and whatnot, but that’s also what gives me pause about the whole thing. It is by no means bad, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it good either. It’s a very basic start, which only really means that I have to see more before I actually make a real judgement. I do like the OP sequence, though.

Jel’s Verdict: Low Ceiling

I must admit this was a good first episode, establishing the simple but effective premise as well as our hero’s motivations. As everyone has already noted it also looks stunning with super fluid animation and sharp, clean art direction. My issue is the setup is just so basic I don’t see this going anywhere interesting plot wise, and I’m not personally very interested in the action and violence. It comes down to this: Do you want to see a pissed off kid and his friends fighting gloriously animated giant naked people? If the answer is yes then Attack on Titan will surely deliver, and I can understand the appeal to a certain extent. I just don’t see it giving you much more than that.