A three-time Best Shōnen Manga award winner, Attack on Titan has grown in popularity since it was published in September 2009. Fans visually partake in Eren Yeager’s mission to eliminate the Titans and avenge his mother’s death. On his way, he meets many friends and foes, including the fan-favorite character of Levi Ackerman.
The highlight of Attack on Titan is its realistic characters and plot. Eren Yeager doesn’t possess the moral code of a hero, female characters are not depicted as overly feminine, and there is a constant tussle between the good, evil, and the greater evil. The story consists of multiple plot twists that could even result in a main character’s death so it’s always fun when plot armor is in the backseat.
Also Read: 5 Reasons There Will Never Be Another Character Like Eren Yeager in Shonen History
However, AoT has also been under fire for its simplistic artwork in the manga. Writer Hajime Isayama even apologized to fans during a signing event because his drawing skills were ‘depressing.’ He didn’t want fans to leave with such poorly made sketches.
Hajime Isayama disliked Attack on Titan’s art style
A rule of thumb is that being a good artist is the first step to being a great mangaka. While Hajime Isayama proved it to be wrong and Attack on Titan fans adore his simple sketches and unorthodox art style, he is still critical of his artistic failures.
During a lengthy interview with Men’s Culture magazine Brutus in 2014, Hajime Isayaka revealed that he became a successful mangaka out of sheer luck. He liked mangas that had “mature, smart, cool characters,” and wanted a similar approach to Attack on Titan but it became increasingly clear to him that it wasn’t possible.
Nonetheless, the world-famous writer did reveal that it was better “to have memorable art, even memorably bad art, and stand out.” Hajime Isayaka followed his passion for all things manga, developed an exciting story containing super cool characters, and the rest is history.
Hajime Isayama channeled his love for doodling into Attack on Titan
Similar to Hajime Isayama, Hitoshi Iwaaki, creator of Parasyte, didn’t have apex drawing skills yet managed to make a name for himself. It was a surprising affair for young Isayama during his early years as a mangaka. He termed his art to be idiosyncratic, awkward, and ugly after comparing it with other works but Iwaaki’s hustle ignited a fire in him as well.
When asked about the inspiration for the horrific art of Attack on Titan, Isayama disclosed that “drawing ugly stuff” was a habit because he loved to doodle:
“It might just be something like habit. Doodling as a kid, I started drawing ugly stuff, and by the time I was in junior high, it got so that I was drawing ugly things exclusively. Just as everyone’s handwriting is unique to them, I think my art is idiosyncratic to me in its ugliness; people got a kick out of it and it somehow caught on.”
After the culmination of the manga series in April 2021, the long-awaited ending of Attack on Titan anime will be released on November 4, 2023.
Source: MangaBro | Comic Book Resources
