It is rare for an anime series to reach the level of mainstream popularity that Attack on Titan has achieved in only a few short years. Usually, when an anime becomes a household name it is one that is aimed at children or young teens, such as Dragon Ball Z or Pokémon. You should never show Attack on Titan to young children, as it features some of the most horrific violence ever depicted in a cartoon series. The show is set in a world where humanity has almost been wiped out by a race of carnivorous giants, who lay siege to the last city in order to eat its inhabitants. attack on titan nendoroid figure

So how did a show with such a dark premise become so popular? Attack on Titan has unforgettable visuals, an interesting cast of characters, and several mysteries that have engaged the readers, much like Lost did all those years ago.

We are here today to look into the meteoric rise of one of the strangest and most unforgettable series of our time. attack on titan toys

From the time the Titans battled the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, to the original ending of the series that would likely have caused the biggest outcry in the history of the Internet, here are the 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Attack On Titan.

1. IT HAS CROSSED OVER WITH THE AVENGERS & THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Crossovers are a common occurrence in American comics. The teams within Marvel and DC will often encounter each other, and some events will include several characters from across each company. There have even been occasions when characters from different companies will join together with heroes from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, and 2000 AD.

The manga/anime world has crossovers as well, but these are a much rarer occurrence. What is even rarer is an anime crossing over with a non-Japanese series. This happened in 2014, when the Titans from Attack on Titan battled the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Attack on titian figure

Marvel Comics made a deal with Kodansha to release Attack on Avengers in 2014. This was an eight-page comic that showed the Titans attacking Manhattan. The Avengers rush to the rescue and engage the Titans in combat. At the end of the comic, the Colossal Titan threatens to crush the city, when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive to stop it.

1. HE SERIES WAS INSPIRED BY AN ALTERCATION AT AN INTERNET CAFE

The author of Attack on Titan is Hajime Isayama. He is considered to be a polarizing figure to some, due to the inconsistent quality of his artwork in the manga. The Titan’s look amazing, but everything else lacks the same polish. Indeed, this is why it took so long for Attack on Titan to be published. levi toy figure

Isayama took the series to Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2006, which is the biggest manga publication in Japan. It was rejected due to the quality of its art. Weekly Shonen Jump are likely kicking themselves now, though, as Attack on Titan was picked up by one of their competitors, and grew to become a worldwide hit.

Hajime Isayama was inspired to create Attack on Titan during a time when he worked at an Internet cafe. He once faced an irate customer, who grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. Isayama was terrified of the man and felt that nothing he said was getting through to him. This gave Isayama the idea to create a series where the enemy was something that could not be communicated with.

1. THE SERIES IS BANNED IN CHINA

Those who follow film news will likely be aware of the rising importance of China when it comes to making money with movies. This is due to the fact that the Chinese government has relaxed its stance on censorship and what kinds of international media they allow to be shown in their country.

The growth of the Chinese middle class, in comparison to the economic decline in markets like the USA, has reshaped how movies are made, as Hollywood now looks to Chinese sensibilities when it comes to creating their films.

China hasn’t become totally relaxed, however, especially when it comes to some Japanese media. In 2015, the Chinese government banned series like Attack on Titan and Death Note from appearing on Internet streaming sites. This is due to the high amount of graphic violence that appears in Attack on Titan. The ban led to numerous websites being shut down and others being fined.

1. IT IS THE YOUNGEST SERIES TO BECOME ONE OF THE BEST SELLING MANGAS OF ALL TIME

The first series of the Attack on Titan anime is what helped propel the series to mainstream status. We would never have seen an Attack on Titan anime series if it weren’t for the success of the original manga.

When Attack on Titan debuted in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine in 2009, it quickly made a name for itself, due to its horrifying antagonists, interesting setting, and an overarching mystery plot that hooked readers in from the very first issue. Due to its global success, Attack on Titan is the newest series to enter the best-selling manga of all time list. Attack on Titan debuted in 2009 and has sold 66 million copies to date. Its closest rival in terms of debut time is Fairy Tail, which first appeared in 2006 and has sold 60 million copies.

Attack on Titan consistently dominates weekly and monthly manga sales in Japan… except for one series. The one manga that has mostly kept Attack on Titan off the top spot is One Piece, which is the current best-selling manga series of all time.

1. HERE IS AN OFFICIAL PARODY OF THE SERIES THAT IS SET IN HIGH SCHOOL

Attack on Titan quickly became the most popular series ever to be associated with Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine. As such, they have proceeded to milk Attack on Titan for all that it’s worth. Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine is home to the official Attack on Titan parody series and is where the Lost Girls prequel series was published. The other Attack on Titan prequel manga was published in Monthly Shonen Sirius, which is also owned by Kodansha.

The parody series is called Attack on Titan: Junior High, and follows the characters from the main series in a school setting. They attend a junior high, where humans and Titans coexist. The Titans have a tendency to bully the human students and steal their lunch, which has caused Eren Yeager to try and eliminate them from the planet for good. Super Mario nendoroid

Attack on Titan: Junior High was so popular that it received its own anime adaptation in 2015.

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