Attack on Titan has made quite a name for itself since the early 2010s. Along with the popularity of the series, Attack on Titan helped the manga’s popularity to skyrocket as well. The series featured quite a dark and messed up plot with violence and psychologically pressuring themes. This was somewhat different from what people in the early 2000s grew up watching, like Dragon Ball or One Piece.
The Dark Triad of Shonen has been quite popular as of late. It is currently a hot topic in the anime community. Taking over the audiences with their darker and more sinister plot, the new generation is surely loving these anime. Attack on Titan was a great contender for being one of the Dark Trio, but its theme and plot just wasn’t it.
Why isn’t Attack on Titan a part of the Dark Trio of Modern Shonen Anime?
One of the primary reasons Attack on Titan isn’t a part of the Dark Trio is that the anime was released in 2013. The dark triad of shonen anime was released in 2018, whereas Attack on Titan first started its serialization in 2009. There is almost a decade difference between these series. However, the release date isn’t the only factor that segregates Hajime Isayama’s masterpiece from being a part of the modern dark triad.
The Shonen Dark Trio mostly features stories that trace around concepts like the realms of supernatural horror and fantasy. The antagonists and villain roster is mainly made up of demons and similar monsters. These series are relatively modern compared to previously mentioned series like classic Shonen trio like Bleach. This genre unites the Dark Trio through similar plot threads, but Attack on Titan is only partially on the same wavelength.
What is The Dark Trio of Modern Shonen Anime?
The Dark Triad consists of three series, as the name suggests. These three anime are Hell’s Paradise, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Chainsaw Man. There is a common misconception that Demon Slayer is one of the dark triads of modern shonen. The reason they’re called such is because of the violent and gory concepts they feature, with demons and dismemberment being somewhat prominent. This dark and messed-up remise of the story contrasts massively with franchises such as Dragon Ball Z or the 2000s Shonen Trinity, made up of Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach.
