Note: this review focuses more on the negative aspects which could have been better managed, its an easier way to rate an anime at least in my perspective.
For this anime I will focus on two main problems:
Problem#1)
The anime made a poor use of its 25 episodes. This includes several "Moral Dilemma in my head" moments were the character just thought out what he should do or the "The world is cruel, Fight to survive" message. This could have gone better if they did not slap it on your face in every episode or if they had made the characters more acting on the matter. Although the moral messages are meant for adults or teens to understand, the anime is clearly for children so this creates a conflict between the two. Second, there are flashbacks which provide no useful or interesting background information and just reinstate what we already know or can conclude, which are meant to be fillers or suspense delays. -1
Problem# 2)
The story does not focus on a consistent plot with a clear problem or antagonist. The sort of thing you see in "Make up shit as you go" anime *cough* Deathnote *cough*. This shows that instead of following the route the writers originally chose for their story they get stuck on some other problems to focus the anime on the main characters only and please the audience, this is laziness by their part. There are moments in AoT which depict the people inside the wall as poor "Pigs in a Pen" and other moments where I actually wish they died for being such disgraceful jerks. Also the objective for the scouts/MP Brigade is not clear, so your goal is to protect the people inside the walls, so you give that up for some maniac who can turn into a titan. Then you choose to sacrifice 50% of your soldiers to help this maniac and obtain a supposed "titan origin code" from under a cellar. Then you give that up because, by pure coincidence, in the middle of your mission you happened to find a never before seen female titan (which you already had traps for) and instead chose to capture it. Who's in charge of all these dumb suicidal decisions anyways, maybe that bald pervert who appeared in two episodes... Decide what the route for this story is already! Chose a problem: the titans, the traitor, or protecting the people and don't change your mind midway. Please, writers. -1
Story/Action:9( It was an action anime, it had action. Original story) Art: 8 Sound:7 (titan screams, ODM gear annoying, few BG sounds) Character: 8(not in love with the teen drama style, had some character development) Enjoyment: 7 (was fun... Like action movie fun)
Overall: 8/10 (tries to be interesting, Action anime, has action!) (7.8 rounded to 8)
The review ends here.
Personal Note: This anime tries to be logically illogical. So you have nice transitions which explain how ODM gear works and the agricultural techniques used by farmers inside the walls, etc, etc. But yet you cannot give a simple explanation of armored/size of titans, how Erin or Aaron (don't care) controls his titan or why none of the commanders have any common sense, more than the teenagers they command at least. I guess they just forgot to add that in, like they forgot the original problem of this anime. Because to them pleasing the curiosity of viewers is more important than explaining elements which help the actual Anime. Also my name is Armin , I say the most obvious things like why don't we attack titans...from the back...with cannons! and i'm a strategy genius! However, these personal views did not affect my way of grading this anime. I just hope the second season explains all this stuff.( it won't)
