Shingeki no Kyojin (SnK,) is one of the most amazing anime series of all time and it fully deserves its hype. A story of humanity, remorse, will, courage, revenge, sadness, life, death, suffering, carnage, military, the list continues... If these are aspects that you like in anime then this is definitely for you. If you like slice of life, comedy and dislike anything sad then walk away, walk far away. SnK made me cry more than any other anime, mainly because of how emotionally enveloped I was with the story. Don't judge a book by its cover, in this case anime, yes there are unclothed man-eating giants running around, grow up and watch it, you get over that fact pretty quickly.
Story - 10/10 - The story follows the storyline of the manga almost exactly, the anime is set in chronological order while the manga jumps from past to present, the anime also adds a few scenes of epicness. The story starts out intense and then gets a tad boring for some during the military training episodes, don't drop it. It gets so much more intense. If you want to avoid spoilers then don't look up anything! The anime does end at a cliffhanger and fans are waiting for the highly anticipated season two, if it bothers you enough then catch up on the manga. The anime cuts off right before the really good stuff starts, new chapters come out every month, I recommend it if you're as impatient as I am. But if you can wait then wait, the anime is much better. It is a psychological anime to an extent, there are way more unknowns then knowns which can be frustrating yes, but that factor creates a sense of suspense which actually is a fantastic touch and makes the story even more enjoyable. Grab a box of tissues, close all the curtains, have something to hug, and give SnK a well deserved marathon.
Art - 9/10 - Some people have issues with the animation... The animation is spectacularly done for its budget. The perspective isn't first person however, it's just as up close and personal, giving you a front row seat of the characters' suffering and the clear carnage of the situation. The character design is very original, the titans are drawn incredibly terrifying in the beginning and their quality dwindled some later on, however, I didn't even notice it until Gigguk pointed it out in his review of the anime. The animation is highly enjoyable and is fantastic during the fighting scenes especially, it flows superbly.
Sound - 10/10 - This soundtrack... Is orgasm worthy. Composed by the amazing Hiroyuki Sawano, it features Japanese, German, and English OSTs that get your heart beating fast as they keep you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoyed Guilty Crown's soundtrack, then you'll love SnK's, Hiroyuki-san composed them both.
Character - 9/10 - The story mainly focuses on Eren and his path of revenge, however it's a nice vantage point for the story. The anime has many characters and show cases them in a nice fashion. Information wise, we know just about as much as Eren. SnK features some of the most loved characters, everyone has a favourite. The relationships between the characters... I think this is what really made the anime as sad as it was. Even if those relationships weren't as detailed as others, they still displayed emotional attachments. Fangirls rave on Levi while fanboys rave for Mikasa, everyone gets to rave about someone, all the characters are epic. The character quotes are fantastic and every character is incredibly real.
Enjoyment - 10/10 - I enjoyed this anime like crazy, I'm a die hard fan, and if you asked me to join the Wings of Freedom/Scouting Legion I would gladly put my life on the line like the other characters. I'm excited for more of the series, based on what I know of the manga, season two is definitely worth the wait. I don't usually shed tears while watching anime, SnK made me bawl like a baby X3 and I respect it for doing so.
Overall - 10/10 - SnK showcases the full extent of military themes, sacrifice, human fragility, and revenge. It's a must watch for many, just be sure to have tissues! :3
