Attack on Titan is an anime series adapted from the manga of the same title by Hajime Isayama.

It is set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous walls due to the
Titans, gigantic humanoid beings who devour humans seemingly without reason. The story
follows the adventures of Eren Yeager,[a] his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman,[b] and their friend
Armin Arlert,[c] whose lives are changed forever after a Colossal Titan breaches the wall of their
home town. Vowing revenge and to reclaim the world from the Titans, Eren and his friends join
the Scout Regiment,[1] an elite group of soldiers who fight Titans.

Produced by IG Port's Wit Studio and directed by Tetsurō Araki, Attack on Titan was broadcast
on the Mainichi Broadcasting System from April 7 to September 29, 2013, and later aired on
Tokyo MX, FBS, TOS, HTB, TV Aichi and BS11.[2] Both Funimation and Crunchyroll have
streamed the series with subtitles on their respective websites.[3][4] Funimation has also licensed
the anime for home video release in 2014.[5] Episode 1 of the English version premiered at
Anime Boston,[6] with other episodes put on Funimation's subscription services.[7] On television
of the series has broadcast weekly on Adult Swim's Toonami block on May 3, 2014, starting at
11:30 p.m. EST.[8]

From episode 1 to 13, the anime's opening theme song is "Feuerroter Pfeil und Bogen" (紅蓮の
弓矢 Guren no Yumiya, lit. "Crimson Bow and Arrow") by Linked Horizon and the ending theme
song is "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (美しき残酷な世界, lit. "A Beautiful Cruel World") by
Yōko Hikasa. From episode 14 to 25, the anime's opening theme song is "Die Flügel der
Freiheit" (自由の翼 Jiyū no Tsubasa, lit. "The Wings of Freedom") by Linked Horizon and the
ending theme song is "great escape" by Cinema Staff. The opening themes were collected on
Linked Horizon's single "Jiyū e no Shingeki" which sold over 100 thousand copies in its first
week of sales.[9]

A second season aired from April 1 to June 17, 2017 on MBS and other television networks.[10]
Funimation and Crunchyroll streamed the second season on their respective websites, while
Adult Swim aired a dubbed version.[11] The opening theme song is "Opfert eure Herzen!" (心臓
を捧げよ！ Shinzō o Sasageyo!, lit. "Dedicate Your Hearts!") by Linked Horizon and the ending
theme song is "Yūgure no Tori" (夕暮れの鳥) by Shinsei Kamattechan.[12]

On June 17, 2017, a third season was announced at the close of the second season's final episode,
with a release date slated for July 23, 2018.[13] A trailer for the third season was released on April
27, 2018. After 12 episodes, Season 3 was confirmed to be in hiatus until it returned with the
remaining ten episodes on April 29, 2019.[14][15] Adult Swim is scheduled to air the English
version of the third season, starting on August 18, 2018.[16] The first opening theme for the third
season is "Red Swan" by Yoshiki featuring Hyde,[17] and the ending theme song is "Akatsuki no
Requiem" (暁の鎮魂歌 Akatsuki no Chinkonka, lit. "Daybreak Requiem") by Linked Horizon.[18]
The second opening "Shoukei to Shikabane no Michi" (憧憬と屍の道, lit. "The Path of Longing
and Corpses") is performed by Linked Horizon and the second ending theme "Name of Love" is
performed by Cinema Staff.
Third season

The opening theme song is "Red Swan" by Yoshiki feat. Hyde,[37] while the ending theme is
"Akatsuki no Requiem" (暁の鎮魂歌 Akatsuki no Chinkonka, lit. "Daybreak Requiem") by
Linked Horizon.[38] The second opening theme will be performed by Linked Horizon, and the
second ending theme will be performed by Cinema Staff.[39]

Anime films

For the first compilation film, Attack on Titan – Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow, the ending
themes were "YAMANAIAME" (lit. "Unstoppable Rain") by Hiroyuki Sawano feat. Mika
Kobayashi, Mica Caldito & mpi and "Guren no Zahyou" (紅蓮の座標, lit. "Crimson
Coordinate") by Linked Horizon.[40] For the second compilation film, Attack on Titan – Part 2:
Wings of Freedom, the ending themes was "theDOGS" by Hiroyuki Sawano feat. mpi.[41] The
film's theme song was "Jiyuu no Daishou" (自由の代償) by Linked Horizon.[42]

Reception
The anime series has been successful in Japan, with average sales of 52,067 across 9 volumes,
with a total of 468,603 as of August 2016.[43] It was the number one selling TV anime of 2013 in
Japan[44] and is currently the eighth best selling anime of 2010's.[45] It has also been very
successful in the U.S. with sales of at least 200,000.[46] It was also the number one streaming
anime from Funimation in 2014[47] and the number one fan favorite Funimation home video
released of 2014.[48] The anime adaptation won multiple prizes during the 3rd Newtype Anime
Awards, including Best Director, Best Script, Best Soundtrack, Best Theme Song, Top Female
Character and Title of the Year.[49] It received the award for Best TV Animation at the 2013
Animation Kobe Awards.[50] It received the award for Animation of the Year at the 2014 Tokyo
Anime Award, along with, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Music.[51] It won the 2013
Digital Contents of the Year Award at Japan's 19th annual Association of Media in Digital
(AMD) Awards.[52]

The first and second seasons of Attack On Titan were met with overwhelming acclaim with
praise for the storyline, writing, animation, action sequences, characters, and dub performances,
though some criticized its dark tone.[citation needed]

Carl Kimlinger from Anime News Network was sharply critical of the first two episodes of the
anime adaptation. He did praise the show for "making giants freaky again", but added that
"bringing back the terror of the fee-fi-fo-fum set does not a good show make". Kimlinger
criticized Araki's direction, saying he "clearly intends it to be powerful and unsettling, but it's
just crude and unpleasant."[53] However, other critics from Anime News Network praised much of
the series. Rebecca Silverman said it "is both gorgeous and appalling in its visuals", and "an
excellent mix of what 18th century Gothic novelist Ann Radcliffe defined as horror versus terror:
the one is physical, making you want to look away, and the other is intellectual, making you want
to know what's going to happen next."[54] Carlo Santos noted that "few [apocalyptic action
shows] get as close to perfection as Attack on Titan does". Santos described it as "a masterpiece
of death and destruction" after watching only the first episode.[55] Theron Martin of Anime News
Network praised the musical score and the "intense, impactful first episode" despite his feeling
that it has "limited animation". Martin also compared Attack on Titan's vibe and visual aesthetic
to Claymore.[56] John Sinnott of DVD Talk called the series one of the best ones he has ever
watched and one "that anime fans should not miss."[57]