Attack of the Titans, the manga and anime phenomenon

Published on : 30/04/2024
by : J.R.B.

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Personnages de L'Attaque des Titans — ©CarlitoSan, WallpaperUp

A veritable phenomenon from the outset, Attack of the Titans, or Shingeki no Kyojin in Japanese, is one of the most universally acclaimed mangas of the last decade. Hajime Isayama 's dark, mysterious universe, complex characters and intriguing plot have won over millions of fans worldwide. Since 2009, the manga and its anime adaptation have continued to captivate an ever-growing audience.

The manga by Hajime Isayama

In 2009, young mangaka Hajime Isayama created Attack of the Titans. The manga was pre-published in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, published by Kōdansha. The series quickly becomes a huge success in Japan and then internationally. A total of 34 volumes were published between 2009 and 2021, with over 100 million copies in circulation. The manga has won prestigious awards including the Kōdansha Manga Award, the Japan Media Arts Festival and the Harvey Awards in the United States.

A successful anime produced by Wit Studio and then MAPPA

From 2013, Attack of the Titans was adapted into an animated series that met with resounding success. Currently counting 4 seasons and 87 episodes in total, the anime was first produced by Wit Studio from 2013 to 2019 before MAPPA took over for the final season. Despite changes in direction, the overall quality remains high, buoyed by the epic music composed by Hiroyuki Sawano. Broadcast worldwide, the anime broke audience records, becoming a veritable global phenomenon.

The fascinating and mysterious world of Attack of the Titans

Attack of the Titans plunges us into a world where mankind is entrenched behind three concentric walls toprotect itself from gigantic, anthropophagous creatures: the Titans. The elite Exploration Battalion leads a desperate battle to reclaim lost territory and unravel the mysteries surrounding the origin of the Titans. As the episodes unfold, numerous revelations shake up the certainties of characters and readers alike, keeping the suspense alive.

The series' iconic characters

The series features a gallery of memorable characters, starting with the trio of heroes: Eren Jäger, a young boy determined to exterminate all the Titans, Mikasa Ackerman, a prodigious fighter devoted to Eren, and Armin Arlelt, a brilliant strategist. Alongside them are such iconic figures as Livaï Ackerman, humanity's strongest soldier with a troubled past, and a host of secondary characters, each with a distinctive personality and a key role in the plot.

Les murs dans le monde de L'Attaque des Titans — Walls in the world of Attack of the Titans
©Caioander, Wikimedia Commons

A true cultural phenomenon

Beyond its success in Japan, Attack of the Titans has become a worldwide phenomenon, particularly in Europe and North America. The richness of its universe has given rise to a host of derivative products: video games, films, exhibitions, theme parks... L'Attaque des Titans reflects the anxieties of young people faced with a hostile world, and lends itself to multiple levels of reading and interpretation, which explains its success with a very wide audience. If you'd like to follow in the footsteps of Attack of the Titans on your next trip to Japan, take a look at our self-guided tours, which will enable you to discover the places that inspired Hajime Isayama and immerse yourself in the very special atmosphere of his work.