17. The Meaning of Life (And Death) - And Anime - AOT Attack on Titan - adds to my list of Anima Favourites!

27 Nov 2023

Attack on Titan (2013)

what does freedom mean?

after inktober challenge 2023, i re-attempted to watch Attack on Titan again.

except, this time, i got to watch the correct anime series!

the likely reason why i didn't understand the anime when i first watched it was probably because i watched the wrong series - think i caught the spin off or the side stories.

well, this time, i got to figure out why fans love Attack on Titan!

omg it's sooooo good! 

so intense, so real, so engaging!!

the first thing you learn in the story...

life and death

this series spins a story where life - without protective walls (to keep the titans out) - is utterly fragile and death can come too easily (when faced with a titan).

death is brutal, horrific when the monstrous, powerful titans eat humans alive - and there's a raw realisation about how tiny and insignificant humans are in the world. while the humans fight back, there are too many casualties - with such tremendous sacrifice and lives lost, one may almost question the meaning of life and death!

and the next thing that is drilled in every episode ...

freedom

(sub themes are power, cruel world, humans will always cause conflict)

but what does freedom really mean?

 

freedom to live beyond the walls and without walls

freedom from the terror of titans

freedom from wars, slavery, violence, human conflict

fight or die

in the final season, the idea of freedom becomes...

freedom to let go and move forward - seen with mikasa's choice

Quote - Season 1, Episode 1

That day, humanity was reminded of the terror of being at their mercy,

of the humiliation of being trapped inside a cage.

Quote - Season 3 - Part 1, Episode 26

The walls gave humanity a century of peace and security.

The battle for humanity's survival began when titans breached the wall.

Quote - Season 3 - Part 2, Episode 50

Would they finally start believing that humanity deserves to live?

That our own fate is something we can decide?

june/july 2024

rewatching attack on titan - still so good!

and couldn't resist trying to sketch the characters...