Plot Summary

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is nearly extinct, the last remnants of civilization live behind three massive concentric walls built to protect them from the Titans—gigantic, human-eating creatures. Attack on Titan: Part 1 opens with the peaceful life of Eren Yeager (Haruma Miura), his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman (Kiko Mizuhara), and their friend Armin Arlert (Kanata Hongo). They live within the walls, oblivious to the dangers outside.

Their world is shattered when a colossal Titan breaches the outermost wall, allowing other Titans to flood into the once-safe zone. Amidst the chaos and destruction, Eren witnesses the horrific death of his mother and vows to exterminate the Titans. With Mikasa and Armin at his side, he joins the military, aiming to fight back against the Titans.

The movie largely focuses on the training of the new recruits and the challenges they face as they learn to use the ODM (Omni-Directional Mobility) gear, a key tool in fighting Titans. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin find themselves thrust into a larger war as they discover that the true enemy may not just be the Titans but also hidden forces within their own society.

Characters & Performances

  • Haruma Miura as Eren Yeager: Miura delivers a solid performance as Eren, portraying the anger, frustration, and desire for vengeance that defines his character. However, the film’s limited runtime doesn’t allow for deep character exploration, resulting in Eren’s motivations feeling somewhat surface-level compared to the nuanced portrayal in the anime and manga.

  • Kiko Mizuhara as Mikasa Ackerman: Kiko Mizuhara’s version of Mikasa differs from her manga/anime counterpart. In the original material, Mikasa is fiercely independent, stoic, and a highly skilled fighter. In the live-action adaptation, however, she is portrayed as more vulnerable and emotionally tied to Eren, which disappointed many fans of the original. While Mizuhara’s performance captures Mikasa’s inner struggle, the character’s diminished agency is a noticeable departure from the source material.

  • Kanata Hongo as Armin Arlert: Kanata Hongo brings Armin’s intelligence and quiet bravery to life. Though less physically imposing than other characters, Armin’s strength lies in his strategic mind, and Hongo captures this aspect well. However, similar to other characters, his development feels rushed, a byproduct of the film’s attempt to cram too much into too short a runtime.

  • Supporting Cast: The supporting characters, including Shikishima (Hiroki Hasegawa), a completely original character created for the film, and the various other military recruits, have little room for depth. Shikishima’s role as a mysterious and powerful figure loosely fills the role of Levi Ackerman from the anime, though his motivations remain unclear.

Themes & Analysis

The live-action Attack on Titan stays true to some of the core themes of the original manga, though with less nuance and depth.

  1. Humanity vs. Extinction: The film continues the central theme of survival at all costs. The Titans represent the existential threat that looms over humanity, a reflection of our primal fears of annihilation and powerlessness. However, the film’s portrayal of this struggle feels more action-driven than philosophical, prioritizing spectacle over deeper exploration.

  2. The Nature of Fear and Heroism: Like the source material, the film grapples with the notion of fear and what it means to be a hero in the face of overwhelming odds. Eren’s desire to fight the Titans and reclaim his world is both heroic and reckless, a duality that the film touches on, though less effectively than the anime, which has more room to explore these nuances.

  3. Social Class and Government Control: The original story also critiques social class and authoritarian control, as the walls separating humanity from the Titans also divide people within the society itself. The elite live closest to the innermost walls, farthest from danger. This theme is hinted at in the film but is overshadowed by the fast-paced action sequences.

  4. Hope and Despair: The juxtaposition of hope and despair is a constant theme in Attack on Titan. The film captures moments of horror and loss, but because the pacing is so fast, there’s little time for emotional impact. The moments of hope, such as the characters finding small victories or bonds of friendship, are similarly underdeveloped.

Action & Visual Effects

One of the biggest draws of Attack on Titan: Part 1 was the promise of spectacular action scenes and the live-action depiction of Titans. The film does not disappoint in delivering visually stunning sequences, particularly the scenes of Titans invading human territory. The CGI Titans are suitably grotesque and unsettling, their appearance capturing the bizarre, nightmarish quality of the source material. The Colossal Titan, in particular, is rendered impressively, towering over the city’s walls in a display of raw power.

The action scenes involving the ODM gear, where soldiers fly through the air to engage Titans, are exhilarating but lack the finesse and fluidity seen in the anime. The use of practical effects combined with CGI provides a unique look to the action, though at times it feels stilted and less dynamic than what fans of the anime might expect.

Direction & Cinematography

Shinji Higuchi’s direction is focused heavily on action and spectacle, which is both a strength and a weakness. The film’s pacing is brisk, moving quickly from one dramatic moment to the next, but this leaves little room for character development or deeper thematic exploration. While the visual effects and set design are commendable, creating a grim, dystopian atmosphere, the overall experience feels rushed.

The cinematography captures the bleakness of the world with dark, muted tones that enhance the post-apocalyptic setting. The contrast between the massive Titans and the tiny, vulnerable humans is effectively conveyed, visually emphasizing the overwhelming odds humanity faces. However, the over-reliance on CGI at certain moments detracts from the emotional intensity of some scenes, making it feel more like a video game than a grounded dystopian film.

Weaknesses

Despite its impressive visuals and action-packed sequences, Attack on Titan: Part 1 suffers from a number of issues. The most glaring flaw is the lack of character development. In trying to condense such a sprawling and complex story into a two-part film, the emotional depth and backstory that made the manga and anime so compelling are lost. Key relationships, such as the bond between Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, feel underdeveloped, and the emotional stakes are weakened as a result.

Moreover, some creative decisions—such as the exclusion of pivotal characters from the original story and the introduction of new ones like Shikishima—frustrated longtime fans. The film’s changes to the storyline may alienate viewers who were hoping for a more faithful adaptation.

Final Thoughts

Attack on Titan: Part 1 is a visually striking but narratively uneven adaptation of one of the most beloved manga and anime series of the past decade. While the film succeeds in delivering impressive action sequences and a dark, dystopian atmosphere, it falls short in terms of character development and emotional impact. For viewers unfamiliar with the original story, the film may be an enjoyable, if confusing, ride. However, fans of the manga and anime may find it lacking in depth and complexity.