Is Attack On Titan Ruining Its Own Hype?

The Attack on Titan anime has been making waves since its debut in 2013, however, a controversial decision in the production of its final season has arisen. The final season has already been split into Part One and Part Two, however, it has been announced that there will be a final Part Three to cover the remaining chapters of the Attack on Titan manga.

Long-time fans of the Attack on Titan anime's run have mixed feelings about this announcement. Many have voiced their concern online since they experienced anime studio MAPPA, known for popular hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Banana Fish, and the upcoming Chainsaw Man, has taken over since the fourth season from Wit Studio, which was the producer for the previous seasons. Now, with the recent announcement of Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 3, concern is once again rising for the future of the franchise. Many fans believe that MAPPA has made many bad decisions since taking over Attack on Titan, but is this the case of a loud minority overshadowing a quiet majority, or has Attack on Titan truly lost what made it the modern-day classic it is often hailed as?

MAPPA Critiques and Concerns, Explained

MAPPA took over the franchise in 2021, and since then many fans have criticized most of their decisions, even citing plot lines that happened in the manga anyway as a reason to question their validity, even though that decision wasn't made by MAPPA themselves. Still, there are many criticisms of MAPPA that have become popular in online spaces.

One change that fans are upset about is how the animation style changed. This often happens when a new studio takes over, however many fans felt it was a severe downgrade from the iconic style of Wit Studio's version of Attack on Titan. Wit Studio's version was incredibly stylized, using bold outlines and a recognizable style. MAPPA, however, opted to match the manga as closely as they could.

Other critiques of MAPPA's animations include the use of CGI during Titan fights instead of 2D animation to match the rest of the anime, and how some characters like Mikasa look completely unrecognizable. Others critiqued the differences between the animation in the trailer and compared it to what was shown in the anime, arguing that the trailer looks better than the final version in multiple instances.

Another common critique of MAPPA is how faithful they are to the manga. Wit Studio had anime-only scenes to ramp up the action or fill in slower moments portrayed in the manga, however, MAPPA is remaining loyal to how Hajime Isayama wrote the original story. The biggest concern for many fans is the incredibly controversial ending, as petitions have already been circulating for the ending to be canonically changed and many people writing and animating their own endings to 'replace' Iyasama's ending.

And finally, of course, is splitting the 'final season' into four seasons. Although some fans are excited to prolong Attack on Titan and enjoy it for a little while longer, others are concerned that stretching the nine remaining chapters into one season could be spreading content too thin. This is also concerning to some as the Attack on Titan franchise is often noted for its lack of filler, and the lack of source material for the final season might hint at the possibility of such.

Is This Affecting Attack on Titan's Popularity?

In short, no. Most of the vitriol towards Attack on Titan seems to be contained in online social spaces. At the time of this article, Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2 is the 25th highest-rated anime on the entirety of MyAnimeList, and is the second-highest rated season in the Attack on Titan franchise.

The Attack on Titan franchise also has had multiple collaborations with video games for exclusive in-game items, with everyone from the Call of Duty franchise's most recent installment to Dead by Daylight. The argument can be made that Attack on Titan has never been more popular, with other brands such as Subaru and Snickers using Attack on Titan imagery to advertise their goods. Even The Simpsons and The Amazing World of Gumball have referenced Attack on Titan.

Attack on Titan has found its way into the mainstream, non-anime culture. Negativity online isn't going to ruin the reputation of MAPPA's Attack on Titan, especially when other adaptations helmed by MAPPA such as Jujutsu Kaisen are often praised for stellar animation and accurate adaptation of the source material.

Is MAPPA's Version Worse Than Wit's?

Although some fans are upset at the current state of Attack on Titan, many fans of the manga prefer MAPPA's version, especially as MAPPA isn't censoring grittier and more graphic scenes, something Wit Studio did regularly. Many fans who are upset at the sudden change in animation were just that; upset with the change.

Although CGI doesn't have to be preferred, Wit Studio also used CGI in multiple instances, so why can't MAPPA? Why are fans upset at how the anime looks when the creator himself has praised MAPPA for animating in a style that so closely mimics his own, to the point of sending death threats to animators and Isayama himself? And what do these fans hope to achieve, do they really think threatening creators will change the anime in their favor?

Of course, all these threats are online, and a sense of anonymity masks people from the harmful effects they are pushing onto staff who are working long hours to produce the highest quality adaptation they can produce. There are humans creating Attack on Titan, and these humans love what they do. Is MAPPA's version worse? That's down to your opinion. Attack on Titan, just like any animation or drawing, is art and is therefore subjective. However, MAPPA's 'controversial' decisions haven't affected the popularity of Attack on Titan and haven't shown any significant difference in ratings or fan engagement.

MORE: Attack on Titan: How Much Has Armin Changed Since Season 1?

Attack on Titan: Final Season Part 3 will reportedly premiere in 2023.