So, here we are. The end of one of the greatest stories ever told approaches us in Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 3 as we head into the absolute final leg. There will be no more two-part seasons, rumoured movies, or other bewildering production decisions. The next one-hour special will ensure that the series is laid to rest. The anime world has completely transformed from when Hajime Isayama’s grand title first started airing, a lot of which has happened because of the show. Let’s take a look back at the show we have seen so far and the legacy that it is going to leave.
The Beginning And Attack On Titan Season 1
Attack on Titan had humble beginnings, starting in 2009 and gradually gaining ground with the strength of its art and character writing, as well as the engaging and horrifying premise that captivated anyone who saw it for the first time. An anime adaptation came in 2013, and there started the anime giant that would overtake almost every other show to become one of the most revered and acclaimed anime adaptations of all time. It wasn’t that obvious back then, but every look back at it makes it feel a little bigger than it was.
Season 1 was highly successful, and there was no doubt that there was going to be no stopping this hype train. Despite some complaints about shoddy CGI, Studio WIT had done a tremendous job bringing Paradis and Eldia to life. The show was dark, gritty, and the exact right tone it needed to be to capture the hearts of many, which also brought a lot of attention to the manga, which saw its sales rise considerably. Just as well because the anime wasn’t going to be returning for a while.
Attack On Titan Season 2 and Studio WIT
Attack On Titan Season 2 dropped in 2017, which was a long break even for the standards of those days. Those were the times of continuous anime having to put filler arcs in between so that the authors had enough time to write the stories in the first place. 4-year breaks were almost unprecedented, but that’s not the only trend that was led and popularised by this groundbreaking series. Speaking of ground, Season 2 was just as gritty as Season 1 but brought along a lot more worldbuilding and the first signs that this might be a much bigger story (and world) than initially let on.
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Studio WIT worked on this season as well, and they did a fantastic job. This season also brought along one of the most popular openings to any anime ever in Shinzou wo Sasageyo. Whoever claims that they haven’t at least belted it out in full volume is either lying to you or is not into anime. There were some pacing issues with this season, and it did not endear itself to the fandom after not giving many answers after a four-year wait, but it was still a great watch.
Attack On Titan Season 3 and Attack On Titan Season 3 Part 2
Season 3 is where the shift from a somewhat popular anime to an entity that can make seismic changes throughout the anime community began for the show. Seasons 1 and 2 were great, but Season 3 was something special. The intensity and the tension that this season brought along were unseen before this point and combined with everything that came before and after, many people (and myself) call this the peak of the show so far. This argument becomes even more potent once Attack On Titan Season 3 Part 2 is brought into the picture.
Wait a second, Season 3 Part 2? Why not just call it a Season 4? Whose idea was this? Turns out, the real villains in this story were the production team behind the anime adaptation of this show. As the manga was still going strong, the anime committee began making some truly bizarre decisions for the fate of the show. Season 3 Parts 1 and 2 were the last parts adapted by Studio WIT. Call it a graceful exit after one of the greatest seasons in all of anime or a recognition of how difficult the next seasons were going to be if they didn’t quit now- it is hard to call this a bad decision.
Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 1 and Studio MAPPA
Studio MAPPA was the studio granted the rights to bring this incredible tale to its end. MAPPA was just coming off an incredible high of One Punch Man Season 1, and it was hard for anyone to argue against this idea. If it wasn’t going to be WIT, then there wasn’t a better option in the anime industry than MAPPA. However, with this announcement came another one- “Attack On Titan The Final Season” was on the way, and just like Season 3, it was also going to be split into two parts. At least that’s the worst this was going to get, right?
Season 4 Part 1 was also good. Not as good as what came before and not as good as what would come after, but it was still good despite comfortably being the worst season of the show (in my opinion, although I would love to hear yours in the comments). The focus of the show turning away from the characters we had come to know and love so far was a harsh change, and it is hard not to wonder if this was the correct direction to push the show towards.
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It was also here that the Titans and the show’s story, in general, became a lot less black and white and became much greyer. The show wanted to push a “what if both sides were evil” narrative that was accepted much more readily by some than the others, and the general tone had changed to be more layered and mysterious than ever. The deep unpopularity of some of the new characters (*cough* Gabi *cough”) did not help, and the less time afforded to the main characters brought this part down somewhat.
Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 2 and the Production Committee
Then we get to Attack on titan Final Season Part 2. Notice the naming chosen here by the anime committee. This was supposed to be the final season, but whoever said a season could only be two parts? How about three? How about we also split the third part into two distinct parts of its own? We are getting a little ahead of ourselves. Most of the time while watching this part, it felt like we were approaching the endgame. It wasn’t, but just the feeling was enough. This was also around the time the manga ended in an extremely controversial fashion.
It was also, by all means, a pretty phenomenal season. The twists, turns, and reveals alone would have had it sit on the top of many people’s lists, but add the increasingly fantastic job being done by MAPPA with the animation, alongside the series finally answering most of the questions we had been wondering about for aeons made this an entirely worthwhile season. This was also the first season we reviewed live on this website, which you can read here! Just know that the author (me) was a little too pissed at the show for not being entirely transparent, and it was harshly judged because of it. I’m not quite sure if I regret it yet.
Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 3 Review and Legacy
From there, we come to Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 3, a part that should have never existed in the first place. How difficult is it to finish things before you decide to release them? Would anybody get hurt if the entire end came out in one fell swoop, even if that happened the next year? I wouldn’t dare speculate on what goes on inside of minds that sit on this show’s committee. However, this didn’t help with the “milking it for all that it is worth” accusations. With the end of the manga as controversial as it is, maybe they wanted to get as much out of it before the public’s opinion soured on the show.
But it was still an amazing episode. In my Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 3 Review, I showered the show with praise in almost every area I reasonably could. Whether it be the razor-tight plot, fantastic character moments, great music, and just the overall feeling of desperation and terror that it conveyed so beautifully. Naturally, there was criticism of the production cycle and the animation that came out of it, but that’s like two things against the many things I praised. Surely people didn’t invalidate the entire review because of that? Oh well.
Again, this isn’t about the animation. This is about the legacy of the show. Ignore every bad decision made by a production company instead of people who care about the art, and ignore every decision that caused the seasons to be named what they were and released when they were. You are left with an undeniable masterclass in worldbuilding, storytelling, animation, music, and character writing. That there even is a doubt because of the production issues is a crime on its own, and it is insane that people aren’t mad enough about it.
However, at the end of the day, the end of Attack On Titan with the two-parter of Attack Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 3 is a moment to be revered and celebrated. 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the anime, and this is a show that has broken new ground and changed the definition of what an anime can be. Attack on Titan is the kind of show that only appears once in a decade and leave a permanent mark on the medium. In a few decades, nobody is going to remember the production being bad. They will remember how good the show still looks and how this kind of narrative started a new anime genre.
So, what are your thoughts about the end of Attack on Titan? Do you have any feelings on Attack On Titan Season 4 Part 3 Second Half? Did you think I focused on the production too much again? Let me know in the comments!