All In all, I like the anime adaptation more than the manga. It made me care a bit more for Farlan and Isabel, We are all talking about the incredible voice acting. JESUS! I don't like screaming scenes at all, but this one was so well done... hell... Also Levi actually cried in the anime, which I think is the logical reaction, since it's his first time seeing a titan, then having his friends brutally murdered just hours after finally seeing the sun - Just a month or so after finally going outside. I do not think this is out of character at all. I actually think the manga made his reaction colder than it should be for a person who has no experience with this type of shit. The music by the end, and the symbolism of the two birds flying in the sky was perfect. Also Levi looking at the sun again and his eyes being just empty. It's like he doesn't give a shit anymore. Another thing is that the anime made him a bit more emotional overall. He was as angry as Eren most of the time. The action was completely insane! I liked the parallel they made between Isabel and Farlan and his squad in the season - They both died because he was too late, he couldn't say goodbye to any of them - he just went there and found them dead. The "Believe in us" thing Petra said to Eren was repeated in what farlan told Levi, and finally the same anger was there when he attacked the Female titan, he was just smarter about it. Good parallel, I think. That makes it okay for me that he didn't see them die like he did in the manga. Frankly I find it sadder that way.
Great Ova!
That being said I preferred some things in the manga, starting with Erwin. His speech was a lot more convincing in the manga. He wasn't acting like a heartless bastard. And it actually happened while it was dark - when he asked Levi to come with him the sun rays appeared behind him. I know it is a bit cheesy, but I'd love to see this animated... and the manga Erwin was not afraid of Levi Killing him, he let him put a sword to his throat. The whole plan was explained a lot better and so on. Just Erwin!
Another thing is Levi closing Isabel's eyes. I thought it was a nice detail.
Since the manga had more time some interactions and scenes were removed. The most important for me (besides Erwin's speeches) is that they didn't die in their first day, but they made it to the building they were going to and saw this is something they might actually do for a living. Isabel even seemed to like the army a lot, they met Hangi and talked to her and so on. I think it was a big part of the reason Levi stays there after that. Not to mention all the schemes going on were explained in more detail. Keith had more screen time, which was good cause other than the unstable guy who yells a lot he was no one. Now to see he was part of the survey corpse - that explains why he is a crazy. But I get it - there was no time. I thought the Ova would be more than two episodes since the first one covered just a small part of the manga. *sigh* I actually hoped there will be 5 eps and they will animate the manga and even put some filler in it (AOT filler is actually good most of the time) But it's good they didn't drag it on too much.
Both had their ups and downs. I vote for the anime though. It had me more involved somehow. And in it I actually felt bad for Levi. More than that - this scene was pretty fucking depressing, and there was a bigger difference in his personality before and after they died. I wish the Ova was longer to include some of the interactions, since the manga also had great moments. |
