Attack on Titan is a well-known name in manga and anime, and while certain parts of the series are controversial(not just the ending), it's still high quality enough that it's well worth your time.
The most I can say about the plot without spoiling anything is that it's about the supposed last bastion of human civilization, a massive civilization with three layers of defenses, being besieged by mindless man-eating giants known as Titans. Much of the plot is about uncovering the long-buried secrets of the world, and gradually learning more about the setting is one of the most entertaining parts of the story.
Speaking of the setting, it's a rich and surprisingly complex world. The tone of the series is realistically dark and cynical, showing that a common enemy is not enough to get humanity to put aside their differences and band together.
The series features quite a few exciting action scenes, which generally eschew flashy techniques in favor of intelligent use of strategy. Battles often feature brutal violence and copious blood and gore, and generally end with significant casualties even for the winners, fitting the dark yet entertaining nature of the series.
The cast is quite large, most likely due to how many characters die in the course of the series. While the main characters often have vices and virtues and develop over time(Jean, for example, grows from a selfish young man who wants a cushy position to a capable leader), many others, especially the red shirts who get killed off, are relatively forgettable. While the main characters are less likely to die than the secondary characters, Isayama usually wisely chooses to kill off main characters when their deaths will have noticeable impacts on the plot.
While the manga's art is so-so, especially early on, the anime does a noticeably better job with the visuals. The anime also has an excellent soundtrack, including memorable opening and ending themes that do an excellent job of capturing the themes of the show and the characters' beliefs- "Guren no Yumiya," the famous first opening, evokes Eren's desire to wage war on his enemies.
Since my reviews are almost always spoiler-free for the benefit of the uninitiated, and Attack on Titan is best enjoyed by going in blind, I won't comment on the ending, save for noting that while it's controversial, I personally thought it was OK. Rather than tell you what to think about it, I recommend that you watch this series, get to the end and form your own opinion on the way, because Attack on Titan is a worthwhile experience.
Dark but enjoyable (Spoiler-Free Review)
Attack on Titan is a well-known name in manga and anime, and while certain parts of the series are controversial(not just the ending), it's still high quality enough that it's well worth your time.
The most I can say about the plot without spoiling anything is that it's about the supposed last bastion of human civilization, a massive civilization with three layers of defenses, being besieged by mindless man-eating giants known as Titans. Much of the plot is about uncovering the long-buried secrets of the world, and gradually learning more about the setting is one of the most entertaining parts of the story.
Speaking of the setting, it's a rich and surprisingly complex world. The tone of the series is realistically dark and cynical, showing that a common enemy is not enough to get humanity to put aside their differences and band together.
The series features quite a few exciting action scenes, which generally eschew flashy techniques in favor of intelligent use of strategy. Battles often feature brutal violence and copious blood and gore, and generally end with significant casualties even for the winners, fitting the dark yet entertaining nature of the series.
The cast is quite large, most likely due to how many characters die in the course of the series. While the main characters often have vices and virtues and develop over time(Jean, for example, grows from a selfish young man who wants a cushy position to a capable leader), many others, especially the red shirts who get killed off, are relatively forgettable. While the main characters are less likely to die than the secondary characters, Isayama usually wisely chooses to kill off main characters when their deaths will have noticeable impacts on the plot.
While the manga's art is so-so, especially early on, the anime does a noticeably better job with the visuals. The anime also has an excellent soundtrack, including memorable opening and ending themes that do an excellent job of capturing the themes of the show and the characters' beliefs- "Guren no Yumiya," the famous first opening, evokes Eren's desire to wage war on his enemies.
Since my reviews are almost always spoiler-free for the benefit of the uninitiated, and Attack on Titan is best enjoyed by going in blind, I won't comment on the ending, save for noting that while it's controversial, I personally thought it was OK. Rather than tell you what to think about it, I recommend that you watch this series, get to the end and form your own opinion on the way, because Attack on Titan is a worthwhile experience.