Attack on Titan: The Last Attack Review

Attack on Titan is one of the popular anime series. It’s a pop culture phenomenon and the series has been popular beyond anime fandom. The series finale has been adapted into an epic film with Attack on Titan: The Last Attack.

The Titans have formed a herd and are being led by a former Survey Corp soldier Eren Yeager. This stampede destroys everything in its way and forces the remnant of humanity to prepare to make a last stand. Humanity’s only hope is Survey Corps who set out to find and kill Eren.

I have watched some episodes and enjoyed what I saw, but did not get far into the show due to time contrasts and the series leaving Netflix. Jumping into the show’s finale was not the best idea. So, it’s best to consider this review within this context.

Attack on Titan: The Last Attack did start confusingly as it flipped back and forth across time showing Eren reflecting on his childhood, saving a boy from being beaten up, and leading the Rumbling through the boy’s hometown. There was also an unexpected element where characters could enter the astral plane where they can communicate with people in different locations and spirits, and see events in the past and future. There were a lot of story ideas and character dynamics that would be more impactful to a fan of the series. Attack on Titan: The Last Attack had a similar problem as Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part Two since they all had multiple endings.

There was a worry that Attack on Titan: The Last Attack would have the same issue as another anime series adapted into a film: Solo Leveling: ReAwakening. Solo Leveling: ReAwakening tried to condense the first season of the anime series into a feature film. It repurposed footage from the show and told the same thing which led to the question, who was it made for? It was also a disjointed film since it was telling putting different episodes into a feature film. Attack on Titan: The Last Attack also had the issue of who was it made for since fans of the show had probably already seen the final episodes and newcomers are going to get lost.

Attack on Titan: The Last Attack had a more concentrated story. On a basic level, it was about the Survey Corps needing to stop an apocalyptic event. It allowed for action heavy story as characters faced off against impossible odds. It was exciting seeing Survey Corp swinging around, cutting down Titans, and transforming into giant monsters so they could fight.

The film’s story had an added ingredient: melodrama. Survey Corp was forced to fight an old friend and for Mikasa and Armin, who had known Eren since childhood. There was personal weight throughout the film. Melodrama has generally been a part of anime stories so it fitted well in Attack on Titan: The Last Attack.

The film did set up high stakes. The Titans were unstoppable as they trampled over everything and killed any people who were in their way. The most humanity could do was kill a few Titans before getting overwhelmed. There was dread when the ground started to rumble because the characters knew they only had a limited amount of time. There was a sense of hopelessness throughout the film and at times it went in a nihilistic direction because characters ended up questioning why bother fighting. The Rumbling does fit into a Japanese tradition of using monster fiction as a metaphor for traumatic national events such as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and countless natural disasters.

Anime films and TV shows can offer some great settings and world-building. Attack on Titan: The Last Attack had a steampunk look due to the technology. Humanity was using steam trains, airships, bolt-action rifles, and seaplanes. It appealed to me as a His Dark Materials fan.

Attack on Titan: The Last Attack was not the best starting block for newcomers but it still had plenty of entertainment value and gives audiences a taste of the series.