Anybody who has read any of my other reviews knows that I do not like to break things apart too much. There are plenty of others that will dissect these for you, but I do like to slightly touch on the categories this site offers when writing a review. Across the board this is a solid 9 for me. It has a great story, though it is somewhat predictable at times, there are plenty of small surprises along the way. Great art, music, voice acting, blah blah blah. It has everything that I look for in a great series. The characters are all special and unique, and you never know which one will die. Yes, many characters die in this story. It is not a happy skipping along the yellow brick road sort of adventure. No, this is a dark and brutal journey that leaves you wondering what will happen next. The only complaint I can muster is the ending, but the Manga is still on going and this is really close to the Manga series.
What is it about? Well, this is one of those synopsis that are really quite far off. Titans vary in height, and most are mindless human eating machines. The people are protected behind giant walls, but one day that all changes with a breach that leads to a crushing defeat for mankind. The main characters witness a very brutal and terrifying event in there hometown which leads them to joining the military in hopes to fight and defeat these monstrous beasts. Their method of fighting involves swinging/flying through the air on cables that allow them to swing behind the beasts and hit their weak spots with thin blades. It has a unique feel to the combat in the story, and witnessing them training to fight these creatures in itself is very entertaining. Once trained they witness another breach, and the story takes a few more dark turns that lead to a greater and more sinister plot than originally presented. It is brutal, it is violent, but it holds back just enough to not be too gory.
One thing I found relieving is that the main character isn't the best but he works hard to become among the best. His greatest strength is his will which makes him an exceptional leader and a great inspiration to those around him. His closest friends have their own unique strengths which makes all of them useful and important to the overall picture. It has a good feel from start to finish.
I feel this is a much watch for action anime fans. Be warned it is brutal, it is dark, and these 25 episodes end just as the major plot gets started in the manga, but it is close to the original material and it is a great piece of work. Definitely add this to your short list.
