Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan is a Japanese entertainment franchise created by manga artist Hajime Isayama. It began with the manga series Shingeki no Kyojin, which was serialized in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine from 2009 until its conclusion in 2021. The story is set in a heavily fortified society whose inhabitants live behind enormous concentric walls to protect themselves from Titans, giant humanoid creatures that prey on people. Its principal characters include Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, whose military service gradually exposes the political, historical and geopolitical realities behind the apparent conflict between humans and Titans. The property became internationally prominent through its anime adaptation, produced initially by Wit Studio and later by MAPPA. The first television season premiered in 2013 and was followed by multiple seasons and concluding installments that expanded the franchise's global audience. The anime's combination of high-intensity action, militarized world-building, moral ambiguity and escalating revelations helped make it one of the most influential Japanese animated series of the 2010s and early 2020s. Its music, visual style and use of vertical maneuvering equipment became especially recognizable elements of the brand. Attack on Titan developed into a broad licensing and merchandising property. In addition to the original manga and television anime, it has been represented through novels, guidebooks, compilation films, live-action films, stage productions, apparel, figures, collectibles and collaborations. Video games form an important part of the franchise's commercial identity. Most prominent are Koei Tecmo and Omega Force's action titles Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom, Attack on Titan 2 and Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle, which adapt major story arcs and allow players to fight Titans using three-dimensional maneuvering equipment. Other adaptations have included Nintendo 3DS, mobile and browser-oriented games. The franchise's brand positioning combines large-scale action with serialized mystery and dramatic character development. Rather than presenting Titans only as conventional monsters, the narrative uses them as instruments for exploring fear, militarism, discrimination, inherited violence, nationalism and the consequences of collective trauma. This thematic breadth helped the property appeal beyond the usual action-manga and action-anime audience, while its recognizable iconography supported extensive international licensing. The manga ended in 2021, and the anime adaptation concluded with its final television special in 2023. The end of the main narrative did not terminate the commercial franchise: publishers, licensees and entertainment companies continue to use the Attack on Titan name for reissues, home video, streaming, games, merchandise, exhibitions and other derivative projects. Because the brand is an intellectual-property franchise rather than an independent corporation, responsibility for its different products is divided among the manga publisher, animation studios, broadcasters, game publishers and license holders.

Hajime Isayama created Attack on Titan, whose Japanese title is Shingeki no Kyojin. The manga began serialization in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine in 2009. Its initial premise concerned a remnant of humanity living inside giant walls while defending itself from Titans, but the narrative progressively widened into a story about competing nations, suppressed history, inherited conflict and the political use of fear. The manga became a major commercial and critical success in Japan and was translated and distributed internationally. The television anime adaptation premiered in 2013. Produced by Wit Studio, its early episodes introduced the setting, the Survey Corps and the three-dimensional maneuvering equipment used to fight Titans. The adaptation's action direction, visual intensity and soundtrack gave the property a major international profile. Subsequent seasons continued to reveal the origins of the Titans and the historical relationship between the population inside the walls and the outside world. The third season substantially advanced the political and historical plot, while the fourth season, titled The Final Season, shifted production to MAPPA. The final adaptation covered the manga's concluding conflict and was released in installments, including concluding television specials. The anime ended in 2023, following the manga's completion in 2021. Parallel to the core manga and anime, the property expanded through novels, spin-offs, compilation films, live-action adaptations, stage presentations, exhibitions and licensed merchandise. Its video-game history includes adaptations for handheld systems, mobile platforms and consoles. Koei Tecmo and Omega Force produced several of the most visible console games, translating the series' maneuvering-based combat into an action format. These games generally combine playable character rosters, mission-based combat and story content based on the anime. Attack on Titan's international reach was supported by manga localization, anime licensing, streaming distribution, home video, game publishing and consumer-products partnerships. The franchise's mature themes and dramatic reversals distinguished it from simpler monster-action properties. At the same time, its recognizable symbols, military uniforms, Titans and maneuvering gear made it suitable for games, apparel, figures, events and promotional collaborations. Following the completion of the principal manga and anime narratives, the brand remains active as a licensed intellectual property through rereleases, merchandise, games, exhibitions and other derivative uses.

• 2023

  Anime adaptation concludes

  The television anime concludes with its final special, completing the main animated adaptation.

• 2021

  Manga concludes

  The original manga reaches its final chapter after more than a decade of serialization.

• 2019

  Final Battle expansion releases

  Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle expands the game with later story material and additional playable content.

• 2018

  Attack on Titan 2 launches

  A larger action game adapts additional anime material and adds expanded character and mission systems.

• 2016

  Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom launches

  Omega Force and Koei Tecmo release a console action game focused on high-speed Titan combat.

• 2015

  First major game adaptations expand the property

  Attack on Titan games appear on handheld and mobile platforms, including Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains for Nintendo 3DS.

• 2013

  Television anime premieres

  The first television anime season brings the franchise to a broad international audience.

• 2009

  Manga serialization begins

  Attack on Titan begins publication in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine.

A globally recognized Japanese action and dark-fantasy franchise that combines serialized mystery, military spectacle, survival horror and politically complex storytelling across manga, anime, games and licensed merchandise.

• Manga · 2009

  Attack on Titan manga

  The original manga by Hajime Isayama established the franchise's setting, characters and mythology. It began in 2009 and concluded in 2021, combining survival action with political drama and a progressively expanding historical narrative.

• Television animation · 2013

  Attack on Titan anime series

  The anime adaptation translated the manga's Titan battles, military setting and large-scale revelations into a serialized television format. Its production moved from Wit Studio to MAPPA, and the adaptation concluded in 2023.

• Console video game · 2016

  Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom

  This Omega Force and Koei Tecmo action game adapts early anime story material and emphasizes fast movement through city and wilderness environments using three-dimensional maneuvering equipment.

• Console video game · 2018

  Attack on Titan 2

  Attack on Titan 2 expands the earlier game's mission structure and playable cast while following a broader portion of the anime story. It combines character progression, squad interaction and maneuvering-based combat.

• Video game expansion and edition · 2019

  Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle

  Final Battle adds later narrative chapters, characters and combat features to Attack on Titan 2, giving the game a wider adaptation of the anime's story.

• Handheld video game · 2015

  Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains

  A Nintendo 3DS action title that adapts the franchise's core Titan-hunting premise for a handheld format.

• 2018

  Anime production changes for the final seasonGeneration change

  Background

  The television adaptation entered a new production phase as its story moved into the later manga arcs.

  Action taken

  Production responsibility shifted from Wit Studio to MAPPA for The Final Season.

  Aftermath

  The change enabled the adaptation to continue through its concluding storyline, which was released in multiple installments and completed in 2023.