Some other pieces of war-focused media lean towards romanticizing triumphs in battle, and the Attack on Titan takes a much more realistic, sobering approach, honing in on the harm war causes rather than focusing on victories. At first glance, I was a little horrified at how dismal Attack on Titan was from the very first episode, which did not at all shy away from portraying gruesome displays of violence.

In the first episode, the fearsome Titans toppled Wall Maria, the one barricade protecting the Eldians from the creatures' wrath. Eren’s mother, Carla Yeager, was pinned down by falling debris, and although Eren and the others attempted in vain to rescue her, their efforts were futile.

Carla was bitten in half right in front of her son, creating a nauseating torrent of blood. This early attack claimed so many victims, and set the stage for the rest of the series, revealing how little protection the walls actually offered residents from the hulking beasts who threatened their lives daily.

I Appreciate How Attack on Titan Does Not Romanticize Times of War

Mangaka Hajime Isayama’s Sobering Realism Is Jarring, but Necessary for the Heavy Subject Matter

I was certainly expecting violence from Attack on Titan based on the premise, but the sheer intensity and realism caught me off guard. The main war that takes place in Attack on Titan is multilayered and goes a lot deeper than just humans vs. Titans, since there are numerous smaller conflicts between countries, one of the most significant in the series being Eldia vs. Marley. These gory battles took a physical and mental toll on every single character, in a myriad of ways, ranging from injuries and losing loved ones to mental illness and steadily growing resentment.

Most series and movies obviously agree that war is a bad thing, but I appreciated how Attack on Titan really delves into the specific negative effects that occur in the aftermath. The series does have beautifully animated battle sequences and plenty of heart-racing action, but, in my opinion, even more important than those scenes are the ones unpacking the catastrophic repercussions of war. Death is always imminent for these characters, and they are frequently forced to watch their friends and loved ones being slaughtered with no hope of saving them from the clutches of their far more powerful Titan enemies.

The Negative Repercussions of War, From Death to Mental Illness, Are Explored

The Series Goes to Great Lengths To Unpack Characters’ Struggles and Losses, in a Way I Rarely See in Media

The core trio, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, represent a sort of found family in my eyes, since they have all lost every relative they ever had. of the Survey Corps, from Hange to Erwin, were killed in battle, devastating losses that caused me to shed a tear while watching. One harrowing scene in particular that always sticks in my mind because of how effectively it conveys the sheer magnitude of lives lost is the flashback Erwin Smith, 13th Commander of the Survey Corps, had of the suicide charge he led against Zeke Yeager's Beast Titan, during which all of his men were slaughtered.

The image features the commander standing atop a pile of dead bodies, wearing a remorseful expression, as he deaths he inadvertently caused by pushing his soldiers into danger. His entire army died during that battle, pelted to death by the stones Zeke threw. That one fight alone displayed to me how serious the mangaka Hajime Isayama was about accurately capturing a realistic depiction of war. The Attack on Titan author refused to sugarcoat any details or hide the gory parts, offering up a story that is oftentimes very uncomfortable to watch, but it should make viewers uncomfortable.

Attack on Titan’s Realism Is Necessary And Conveys a Crucial Anti-War Message

By Unabashedly Displaying the Atrocities of War, Isayama Proves the Virtue in Seeking Peace Instead

Additionally, mental illnesses like Reiner’s Dissociative Identity Disorder and other characters' PTSD and depression are portrayed candidly. Finally, racial discrimination plays a major role in the story, urging viewers to re-examine their own biases. The nations of Eldia and Marley harshly judged one another. Eldia hated Marley for banishing them to an island and trapping them within walls, while Marley hated Eldia for the past actions of the Eldian king, who wreaked havoc worldwide using the Titan powers Ymir had discovered accidentally. Both sides failed to see the other's humanity and made harsh judgments, a mistake they would come to regret.

Prior to watching and reading Attack on Titan, I had never seen such a realistic, thought-provoking depiction of these real world issues, such as the grieving process, mental illness, and the harm caused by racial discrimination, in an anime before. Isayama handles these sensitive topics exceptionally well and with a lot of nuance. Overall, while there are indeed compelling action sequences in the series, tragedy, trauma, and social issues take the forefront. Attack on Titan’s sheer realism can be nauseating and has turned some viewers off of the series due to the amount of gore and disturbing moments, as well as the heavy emotional tone.

Attack on Titan’s Accurate Portrayal of War Could Be a Catalyst for Real World Change

The Series’ Disturbing Realism and Impactful Messages Are Pivotal To Keep in Mind When Resolving Conflicts

Personally, I respect the realism Isayama embedded in the story, and it gives the series much more emotional impact by delving into the character's specific struggles internally and externally, rather than just providing a broad outward view of the war itself. These raw, unfiltered details helped me feel closer to the characters, and even more devastated when harm befell them. No matter how difficult it may be to stomach Attack on Titan's brutal realism, confronting these atrocities head on is a painful but important first step in allowing humanity to move past such senseless acts of violence towards peace, in the series and in real life.