Whether you're a fan of Shingeki no Kyojin or a fan of Linked Horizon, we've created a unique worldview with a strong message for all the characters, backgrounds, actions and other motifs so that you can enjoy the song even if you don't know anything about it. We have created a unique worldview. Revo and Hirokazu Ebisu, who was in charge of the sound effects, also put a lot of effort into the sound effects that enhance the video.
The story begins quietly, with a mysterious white creature that appears from the beginning, and a man in a black coat who appears in front of the creature every day. We hope that each viewer will understand the “truth” that gradually appears as the story progresses"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is written above is the music video description of Akatsuki no Requiem MV. This music video has been "controversial" with the fans of Attack on Titan during the course of the manga's publishing to some it's just an "artistic music video" for the ending song of AOT but for some, this is the prime source of hopium! As the description said, we hope that each viewer will understand the "truth" that gradually appears as the story progresses. I hope that in this review I may reveal some of the "truth" hidden in the MV.
Story: The story started with the grave full of flowers and the mysterious puffball who knelt on that grave. Throughout the music video, this puffball is observing and following a lizard man in a black coat with one leg visiting the grave and giving out flowers. The man always visits that grave up on the hill. The puffball observes that the man is weeping full of regret and guilt in front of the grave. The puffball sympathizes with the man and followed him to his place. The man was prevented to go in by the bird guards but he took off his mask and revealed that he was also a bird. The man was greeted by his child and wife but in his room, he is still depressed and full of regret. The puffball is curious to know what happened to the man so he touched his back and saw his memory of him murdering a lizard family with his crimson bow and arrow. The puffball was shocked by what he saw as he walks through destructed buildings. The puffball was so angry with the man. The last scenes were the puffball observing the man now with a stick near the end of his life and he lets go of the arrow upon a sudden realization, the scene ends with the puffball up on a tree on a hill which became a graveyard.
The story is indeed very cryptic at the first watch but if you relate it AOT it is very obvious that the man is Eren. It's a story of Eren's regrets and guilt. What was Eren guilty for? What does he regret the most? This is a spoiler for the anime (cause many believe that the anime ending will be different) but Eren rumbled the world and killed the majority of the people. He is full of guilt for murdering innocent people. But who is the one he is grieving? It is speculated that he killed his friends and one of them is Mikasa. Mikasa is the one he is grieving. He visits her grave up the tree on the hill. Who is the puffball? Many speculate that this is a young Eren observing an older version of himself after he rumbled the whole world. Overall the story in the music video can only be understood if you really follow the story of AOT and the story where it was inspired--Muv Luv Alternative. The mv description really stays true to its world that the truth will gradually appear as the story progress.
Art: Stop-motion animation is rare (for me) to see in Japanese animation. I don't have much to say about the art but I can say it is indeed unique and has a charm of its own.
Music: Linked Horizon is a musical genius and a lyrical genius as well. The way they create a story through this song as part of a greater narrative of AOT amazes me. I really recommend listening to their discography and you'll realize that their songs are a series of stories from the different characters of AOT.
Enjoyment: I love this MV so much. It's the anthem of the hopechads!
