Anime REVIEW: Attack on Titan Season 3

Attack on Titan season 3 is available in streaming form via Crunchyroll

It was only a few years that you couldn't escape from Attack on Titan. The success of that first season reached excelled beyond that of an average anime series, reaching a far wider audience as everyone seemed to want to talk about it. Even after its 25-episode run Hajime Isayama's manga series continued, and the series was also adapted into two live-action films as well as a comedy spin-off. However the years continued to go by with no sign of a second season on the horizon, until that finally arrived four years later. Though fans' patience had finally been rewarded, a shortened 12-episode runtime made it feel like the Titan hype train was beginning to run out of steam. Thankfully Studio WIT has freed up its schedule to ensure the wait for the next season wasn't anywhere near as gruelling, with Attack on Titan season three arriving shortly afterward for a full 22 episodes. The first 12 episodes aired in the summer of 2018, with the remaining ten following in spring 2019.

First Impressions: Attack on Titan Season 3

Attack on Titan season 3 is available in streaming form via Crunchyroll 

If there's one mistake the phenomenally popular Attack on Titan anime adaptation has made since its debut all the way back in 2013, it's probably the five hiatus there was between the first and second seasons. And then if there's two mistakes the show has made, the other would be the decision to cut that second season short at a mere 12 episodes (compared to the first's 25 episodes). It seems that Studio Wit are well aware of this fact, as not only does Titan's third season arrive just a year later than its predecessor but has already been guaranteed to run for a far more agreeable total of 24 episodes. After the big revelations that took place at the end of the previous season, what will this batch of episodes have in store for Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi and the rest of the Survey Corps?

Anime REVIEW: Attack on Titan Season 2

Attack on Titan season 2 is available in streaming form via Crunchyroll

Back in 2013 you couldn’t get away from Attack on Titan. Studio Wit’s adaptation of Hajime Isayama’s manga series about humanity fighting back the onslaught of grotesque giants seemed to be one of those shows that surpassed the popularity of your average anime series. But without a second season in clear sight even two live action films, two compilation films and a comedy spin-off couldn’t stop the franchise from falling into a state of limbo. However four years later and the series is finally back, as Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi and the rest of the Survey Corps return for a further 12 episodes of Titan-slaying action.

(This review contains spoilers regarding character identities. You have been warned!)

First Impressions: Attack on Titan Season 2

Attack on Titan season 2 is available in streaming form via Crunchyroll

It's been nearly four years since the final episode of Attack on Titan's first aired, but that wait has finally come to an end. With a premiere date of April 1st it all felt like Studio Wit could be playing one cruel joke on us all, but the show's second season has finally arrived! It's easy to get worked up about how this season is only going to be 12 episodes long as opposed to the original's 25 (and how that will affect the show's very glaring pacing problems) but right now it just finally feels good to have the show back at long last. Will 2017 finally be the year non-manga readers find out what secrets are hiding down in Eren Jaeger's basement? Or will this be another year of thrilling action painfully cutaway to further flashbacks and exposition?

Anime REVIEW: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

Many will have found the wait for Attack on Titan season two long and agonising, but animators Studio Wit haven’t been taking that downtime lightly. Director Tetsurō Araki teamed up with Code Geass writer Ichirō Ōkouchi to produce Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri) – an original 12-episode series that combines zombies, samurais and steam trains into one explosive package. As well as being part of Fuji TV’s prestigious Noitamina programming block, Kabaneri also saw Amazon enter into the world of anime simulcasting – with the series streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime around the world.

First Impressions: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

While Attack on Titan fans are undoubtedly still waiting for season two with baited breathe, they’ll have to sadly wait a little longer as Studio Wit return this anime season with a series of their own design. Promising industrial revolution era swordsman, guns, trains and zombies, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri) was almost instantly tipped to be one of the “must-watch” shows of the season. Its draw has even managed to get Amazon Prime fully on board with the anime streaming game, with the series being a surprise simulcast for them in certain parts of the world.

Anime REVIEW: Attack on Titan

With anime being the incredibly diverse medium it is, everyone has their own favourites. But every so often one show will come along and everyone's attention will be squarely on that, whether they're a fan of the show or simply caught up in the media frenzy/hype train that follows it. Recently, that show has undoubtedly been Attack on Titan (or Shingeki no Kyojin for those purists out there). Championed as a show suitable for longtime anime fans, casual fans and newcomers alike, the internet has been ablaze with this 26-episode series based on the ongoing manga series by Hajime Isayama. With two recap films, a live-action remake and a second season planned somewhere down the line, demand couldn't be much higher for this franchise. Better check out what all the fuss is about I guess.