Attack on Titan is one of the highest-selling manga in history. In 2016, it finished fourth in total sales, and in early 2017 it was just behind One Piece. The manga was soon adapted into an anime. The Attack on Titan anime first premiered on 7 April 2013. Since then it has become a cult anime and people have showered it with love throughout.
Attack on Titan was created by Hajime Isayama. The mangaka wanted to create something other than drama and fantasy story. His idea was a success since Attack on Titan had corpses flying every time. Even though it was based on blood and gore, there was a single iconic element that was inspired by the Japanese culture, and it was not the Titans.
The Walls In Attack on Titan Were Inspired By The Japanese Culture
The Attack on Titan anime is set in an apocalyptic world, where the humans are living like caged animals. The human civilization has been reduced to a small number and they live inside 50-metre-high walls. The walls protect them from mindless huge giants, known as titans, who feed on human flesh. These walls in the anime are inspired by Japanese Culture.
According to George Wada, President of Studio WIT and the man behind Attack on Titan anime adaptation, the walls represent the different classes of people. The three walls (Maria, Rose, and Sina) are a division of the classes. The wealthy and high-class people stay in the middle, surrounded by three walls, while people belonging to the lower sections of the community, live inside the protection of a single wall. If the wall is breached, then they become dinner to the Titans.
During the 2013 Anime Expo, George Wada said,
“The idea of being isolated within the wall originated with manga creator Hajime Isayama, who was inspired by Japanese culture. The Japanese people can become very isolated and enclosed, so it’s more of a Japanese cultural idea… The ‘Wall of Fear’ plays a big role in the series. I think people overcoming that fear is relatable to the audience.”
Where Did The Idea Of The Walls Come From?
Hajime Isayama is a man of many talents. He was determined to choose a different genre for creation. It paid off and today Attack on Titan has become a legendary anime. Like that, the idea of having walls in the anime came from his imagination of living alone. He believes that he will be well even if his ties with the outside world are cut off.
During his interview with Brutus Magazine, he said,
” I think I could actually pull it off so long as I have my living environment intact. I could probably easily live the life of a hermit if access from the outside world were cut off.”
Isayama took the reference from the movie I Am Legend. The movie also had a similar plot of the hero being the only survivor in the whole world.
The idea of living alone was not a strong one, so the walls were introduced. It signified the separation from the outside world. Both, Hajime Isayama and George Wada put their ideas together to make it. It is always great when people are influenced by their homeland. The Walls of Attack on Titan being inspired by the Japanese culture is just another example of that fact.
Source: Looper
