Hajime Isayama has created a wonderful set of characters for Attack on Titan (despite more than half of them dying). While characters like Eren shifted their personalities by the end of the series, one character maintained their gravitas. As it turns out, Isayama had actually designed this person to aim for success.
In an interview, Isayama poured his heart out about how he worked as a part-timer and had to handle rowdy crowds. But it was this experience that gave him the opportunity to create a major character in Attack on Titan.
Casca from Kentaro Miura’s Berserk Influenced Mikasa’s Character
In the interview, Hajime Isayama admitted that the character of Mikasa was influenced by Casca.
There are some parts of Mikasa that are unrefined, yet on the other hand, she has a brave personality. I think these are influenced from the heroine of Berserk, Casca. At that time while drawing, I didn’t realize it – but after a while, I realized that Mikasa resembles Casca.
Casca is the deuteragonist of Berserk and the estranged companion of Guts. Before the fifth Eclipse, she had proved to be a determined and capable leader within the Band of the Falcon. She could rally the band despite perilous moments and even fostered morale among the band. These characteristics are quite similar to that of Mikasa, who is a member of the Survey Corps. In fact, she is one of the best cadets and is able to get through any kind of tricky situation. Other members often admire her due to her strength and sense of duty and responsibility.
The heroine of Berserk also has a hardened appearance and is called ‘unfeminine.’ Judeau observed that Casca had given up on being a woman in order to be a mercenary. The same could be said about Mikasa who is adept at using the vertical maneuvering equipment and wears clothes accordingly. She is never seen wearing feminine clothing, only clothes that are convenient for battles. Both characters yearned for acceptance as a woman despite their external appearances.
Furthermore, Casca’s loyalty to Griffith made her yearn for strength so that she could serve as his weapon. Mikasa on the other hand became strong because she needed to protect Eren and also because of her Ackerman genes. Both the characters experience the nature of unrequited love.
Hajime Isayama Explains Why Mikasa is Asian in Attack on Titan
Hajime Isayama reminisced during the interview that when he first moved to Tokyo, he worked part-time at an internet cafe, situated in a shopping district. Because he worked late-night shifts, he received crowds of drunkards, but there was one client who stood apart from the rest.
She covered her face with a muffler late at night, and I thought this look of hers was endearing [cute]. When she came to the store, I felt something and quickly started to sketch on the memo pad I had in my hand. The sketch from that time was the original drawing of Mikasa.
The author then explained that the lady she saw was of Asian/Japanese descent. This inspired him to make Mikasa of Asian origin. Of course, there is a canon explanation of Mikasa being from an Asian family and a member of the Ackerman clan.
As you may know, in SNK, Eren and the other characters’ races have yet to be revealed. Only Mikasa’s race as someone of Asian descent has been noted.
Hajime Isayama then confessed that he took Mikasa’s name from an old Japanese navy battleship because he believed naming the female character after a ship brings success to the work. Eventually, it all worked out in his favor since Attack on Titan is one of the top Shonen anime/manga.
You can read Attack on Titan on Viz Media and watch the anime on Crunchyroll.
