Attack on Titan is a popular anime and manga series that follows the story of Eren Jaeger, a young boy who vows to fight against the Titans, giant humanoid creatures that have nearly wiped out humanity. The series is full of mystery, action, drama, and twists that will keep you hooked until the end. But before you dive into the world of Attack on Titan, there are some essential pieces of lore that you need to know to understand the plot and the characters better. Here are some of the most important ones:
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The origin of the Titans
The Titans are the main antagonists of the series, and their origin is one of the biggest mysteries of the story. According to the legend, the first Titan was a girl named Ymir Fritz, who lived over a thousand years ago. She made a deal with a mysterious entity, often referred to as the Devil of All Earth, and gained the power to transform into a colossal Titan.
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She used her power to help her people, the Eldians, conquer other nations and expand their empire. She also had three daughters, Maria, Rose, and Sina, who inherited her power after she died by eating her flesh. This created the Nine Titans, the special Titans that have unique abilities and can be passed down from one person to another through a ritual of cannibalism. The Nine Titans are:
- The Founding Titan, which can control other Titans and alter the memories of the Eldians.
- The Attack Titan, which can see the memories and future of its past and future inheritors.
- The Colossal Titan, which is the largest and most powerful Titan, capable of emitting a massive blast of steam.
- The Female Titan, which can attract other Titans with a scream and has a hardening ability.
- The Armored Titan, which has a layer of armor that protects it from attacks and can break through walls.
- The Beast Titan, which can throw objects with great accuracy and communicate with other Titans.
- The Jaw Titan, which has powerful jaws and claws that can crush anything.
- The Cart Titan, which can stay in its Titan form for a long time and has great endurance and speed.
- The War Hammer Titan, which can create weapons and structures from its hardened flesh.
The power of the Titans is also linked to a mysterious phenomenon called the Paths, which connect all the Eldians across space and time. The Paths are also where the Titans’ bodies are created and sent to the inheritors when they transform.
The history of the Eldian Empire and the Marleyan War
The Eldians are the descendants of Ymir Fritz and the only people who can inherit the power of the Titans. They used their power to create a vast empire that ruled over most of the world for centuries. However, their reign was not peaceful, as they oppressed and enslaved other nations and fought among themselves for the control of the Nine Titans. The Eldians also had a practice of turning some of their people into mindless Titans and unleashing them on their enemies, creating a cycle of hatred and fear.
The Marleyans are one of the nations that suffered under the Eldian Empire. They were able to rebel against the Eldians with the help of the Tybur family, a noble Eldian family that possessed the War Hammer Titan and secretly sided with the Marleyans. The Marleyans managed to capture seven of the Nine Titans and use them to overthrow the Eldian Empire. They also forced the remaining Eldians to retreat to a remote island called Paradis, where they built three concentric walls to protect themselves from the Titans. The Marleyans then oppressed the Eldians in their mainland, confining them to internment zones and treating them as second-class citizens.
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The Marleyans also waged war against other nations, using the Titans as their weapons. However, as technology advanced, the Titans became less effective and more vulnerable. The Marleyans then decided to invade Paradis and take the Founding Titan, which was hidden within the walls, to secure their dominance and resources.
The story of Eren Jaeger and his friends
The story of Attack on Titan begins in the year 845, when a Colossal Titan and an Armored Titan break through the outermost wall, Wall Maria, and allow a horde of Titans to enter. Eren Jaeger, a young boy who lives in Shiganshina, the southernmost town of Wall Maria, witnesses his mother being eaten by a Titan and vows to kill all the Titans. He escapes with his childhood friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, and joins the military to fight against the Titans.
Eren soon discovers that he has the ability to transform into a Titan, and that he possesses the Attack Titan. He also learns that his father, Grisha Jaeger, was a doctor who came from the Marleyan mainland and was a member of a rebel group called the Restorationists, who wanted to restore the Eldian Empire. Grisha infiltrated Paradis and stole the Founding Titan from the royal family, the Reiss family, and passed it to Eren by injecting him with a serum and having him eat him. Eren also inherits his father’s memories and learns the truth about the world and the Titans.
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Eren and his friends join the Survey Corps, an elite branch of the military that ventures outside the walls to explore and fight the Titans. They encounter many enemies and allies, such as the Female Titan, who is revealed to be Annie Leonhart, a Marleyan warrior who infiltrated the military; the Beast Titan, who is revealed to be Zeke Yeager, Eren’s half-brother and the leader of the Marleyan warriors; and the War Hammer Titan, who is revealed to be Willy Tybur’s sister, the head of the Tybur family. Eren also meets Historia Reiss, the true heir of the royal family and the only person who can activate the full power of the Founding Titan with Eren.
Eren and his friends face many challenges and losses, as they uncover the secrets of the world and the Titans, and try to find a way to end the cycle of hatred and violence. They also have to deal with their own moral dilemmas, as they question their loyalty, their humanity, and their freedom.
FAQs with Answer: Attack on Titan Lore for New Viewers
What is the difference between the anime and the manga?
The anime is an adaptation of the manga, which is the original source material. The anime follows the manga closely, but there are some minor changes and omissions. The anime also has some original scenes and filler episodes that are not in the manga. The manga has more details and depth than the anime, and it is also ahead of the anime in terms of the story.
How many seasons and episodes are there in the anime?
The anime has four seasons and 75 episodes so far. The first season has 25 episodes, the second season has 12 episodes, the third season has 22 episodes, and the fourth season has 16 episodes. The fourth season is not finished yet, and it will have a second part that will air in 2022.
What are the names of the opening and ending songs of the anime?
The anime has different opening and ending songs for each season and part. Here are the names of the songs and the artists who performed them:
Season 1: Opening 1: “Guren no Yumiya” by Linked Horizon, Ending 1: “Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai” by Yoko Hikasa, Opening 2: “Jiyuu no Tsubasa” by Linked Horizon, Ending 2: “great escape” by cinema staff
Season 2: Opening: “Shinzou wo Sasageyo!” by Linked Horizon, Ending: “Yuugure no Tori” by Shinsei Kamattechan
Season 3 Part 1: Opening: “Red Swan” by Yoshiki feat. Hyde, Ending: “Akatsuki no Requiem” by Linked Horizon
Season 3 Part 2: Opening: “Shoukei to Shikabane no Michi” by Linked Horizon, Ending: “Name of Love” by cinema staff
Season 4 Part 1: Opening: “My War” by Shinsei Kamattechan, Ending: “Shock” by Yuko Ando
Who are the main characters of the series?
The main characters of the series are:
Eren Jaeger: The protagonist of the series, who has the power of the Attack Titan and the Founding Titan. He is determined to destroy the Titans and free humanity from the walls.
Mikasa Ackerman: Eren’s childhood friend and adoptive sister, who is a skilled soldier and cares deeply for Eren. She is of Asian descent and has a special bond with Eren.
Armin Arlert: Eren’s childhood friend and a genius strategist, who has the power of the Colossal Titan. He is timid and gentle, but also brave and loyal.
Levi Ackerman: The captain of the Survey Corps and the strongest soldier in humanity, who is a distant relative of Mikasa. He is cold and ruthless, but also cares for his comrades and has a sense of justice.
Historia Reiss: The queen of the walls and the true heir of the royal family, who has a connection with the Founding Titan. She is kind and compassionate, but also strong and independent