Part-time jobs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and Hajime Isayama is no exception. The mangaka is known for his magnum opus Attack on Titan, which made waves in the shonen genre. From characters to themes, it stands as a novelty, but the reason behind creating the series would shock most fans.
It was the tiresome work culture which catalyzed the manga’s existence. Breaking free from conventions isn’t something most artists do well. But the mangaka outdid himself through his work when he broke the monotony through his offbeat series.
9 to 5 grind dread birthed Attack on Titan’s existence
The Titanverse in Attack on Titan is a true hellhole for both readers and viewers. The giant beings running amuck and creating chaos is terrifying and bone-chilling on several occasions. But what the series also focuses on is powerplay, freedom, and a life beyond the constraints.
The freedom to choose your fate is a true privilege. Unfortunately, the characters find freedom in death itself, which makes it more grounded and realistic. It may not be one of the Big 3 of Shonen, but Isayama’s series is hard-hitting in several aspects.
It goes down a path most readers and viewers aren’t prepared for, which is precisely why the series got its fair share of hate as well. The ending especially was something that didn’t sit well with the readers. But does that make it a bad manga? By no means, considering the purpose behind it.
While Isayama sensei was inspired by Muv Luv and Jurassic Park, his editor Shintaro Kawakubo revealed the sole purpose of writing the story in an interview. He said:
He came from Oita all the way to the capital, and he was thinking that once his serialization was done, he wouldn’t have the means to support himself, so he’d be back to working part-time jobs, and he’d have to work hard until he’s serialized. It was this terror, this struggle to the death.
Interestingly, Isayama isn’t the only mangaka to fear the corporate hustle. A common example is Akira Toriyama, who quit his job to pursue manga in the end. It is difficult to sustain success, yes, however the mangaka broke the monotony with his shonen masterpiece.
Hajime Isayama broke the monotony with his story
Giants wreaking havoc isn’t something new, especially when it comes to popular media. Yet it is a common trope which was overturned eventually in Hajime Isayama’s series. It is so well-detailed and laid out that it wrings out strong emotions within people.
Isayama’s editor Kawakubo noted how his character designs were deeply disturbing, in which they were styled. They’re meticulously planned and executed, as seen with Colossal Titan and the Staircase Titan. The grotesque is the appeal of the series, but the way it fits into the plot is what makes it novel.
Breaking the monotony here has to do with the mangaka detouring from the normalcy of storytelling. Not just the ending, but the idea of cannibalism and gore is something out of the ordinary. To top it off, his writing of Eren as a deeply flawed anti-hero is truly remarkable, which makes one thing certain.
Despite the offbeat ending and detour, the series deserves its due recognition and appreciation. Not because of the novelties but because of how it brings the goriest and disturbing themes. It is a commentary on society and powerplay on the whole which makes it a masterpiece.
Attack on Titan is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
