Attack on Titan fans furious over anime’s “excessive” censorship
Wit Studio / FunimationDespite releasing in 2013, some Attack on Titan fans are only now discovering the anime’s censored violence in comparison to the manga. A YouTube video went viral after showcasing the stark differences.
Attack on Titan made its groundbreaking anime debut in 2013, and quickly exploded in popularity. Viewers around the world became captivated by its intense themes and relentlessly brutal story.
A YouTube video about the series went viral on November 15 after showing the difference between the manga and the anime adaptation’s depiction of violence – and some fans were not happy about it.
Wit Studio / FunimationAttack on Titan fans discover manga is darker
For decades, it has been the norm that the manga version of a story is almost always more fleshed out story-wise, and often more graphic compared to its animated counterpart. Just like traditional shows, anime aired live has to dial back elements not suited for TV.
Despite this common wisdom, some Attack on Titan fans were not aware of just how much more brutally violent the written version actually was. YouTuber ‘Zmyh’ went viral after uploading a video that showcases just that.
The upload compares iconic scenes from the anime and manga, and puts them side-by-side to demonstrate the visual differences between them. The video quickly exploded online, and has over 1.6 million viewers at the time of writing.
For some fans of the series, this was their first time seeing the changes the anime made. One viewer wrote, “Interesting how there is censorship for Attack on Titan. Like seriously?” Another user said, “And here I thought that AOT was brutal…looks like I should read the manga.” Another YouTube comment exclaimed, “WHAT MAN THEY BETTER MAKE IT UNCENSORED FOR THE FINAL SEASON.”
Many hit out at the alterations made in the animated series, arguing that it takes way from the story’s original impact. “They need to stop censorship, it completely ruins the more powerful impact it can have,” one commentator replied to the video. Another fan stated, “And that’s why you absolutely need to read the manga version of the Uprising arc, because it is literally just better in every way.”
Not everyone was critical of the changes though. A handful of fans pointed out that Wit Studio did the best job they could given that the animated version also airs on TV. Some even argued that the changes were for the better.
The viral video is just another example of the divide that can sometimes exist between a manga and its anime adaptation. There will always be those that prefer the former to the latter. However, it is interesting to see the difference nonetheless.