Summary
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many anime were either put on hold or took a backseat. Though because ofAttack on Titan’s popularity, fans didn’t want to be let down, and so inWIT Studio’s place,MAPPAtook up the mantle to animate the final season ofAttack on Titan.
The most visible differences between the two were the art style, which embodied Isayama’s artstyle more accurately, yet fans missed the unique mix of realism and contrast thatWITandProduction IGgave the anime, which let it stand out as its own medium. ThoughMAPPA’s effort to deliver the final episode was nothing short of stellar, a common argument remains among fans to this day: who did it better?
Animation
The most popular aspect thatAttack on Titanwas known for werescenes with ODM gear. Utilizing a healthy dose of CGI and 2D animation,WIT Studioexcels in its action scenes. With Tetsuro Araki as the director, there is no room for disappointment. As this was also a collaboration withProduction IG, the latter always maintains a steady consistency with character designs. This includes a crisp and sharp aesthetic, with a healthy mix of warm colors or cool colors depending on the scene, rather than other studios, that tend to mix and match.
MAPPAand realism go hand in hand. So much so thatChainsaw Manwas often compared to a real film when it came to choreography. Rotoscope animation also plays a large part in its production process. In season 4 ofAttack on Titan, we see a lot of this being utilized in character interactions, such as when Gabi and her friends return to Liberio. We also see instances of this in its final OP, “The Rumbling”, where Eren puts on his jacket in the beginning, and when his hair becomes undone at the end. In all,MAPPAis one of the more “realistic” studios when it comes to animation consistency.
A common argument inMAPPA’s favor is that the final season is dark in tone. However,WIT Studiohas demonstrated the ability to animate darker themes, as it is a branch ofProduction IG, one of the talents behindPsycho-Pass.
Art Style
Isayama’s art style has certainly evolved over the course ofAttack on Titan’s serialization, and the anime reflects that. Though in season 3,WIT’s style maintained the original visuals while still adjusting toIsayama’s current styleto keep its consistency. We see in a teaser for season 4, beforeMAPPAwas slated to take over as the primary animation, an image of Eren looking at his own reflection post-timeskip. He still has that darkened look in his eyes that we see inMAPPA’s art direction, but what’s most noticeable is that inWIT’s style, Eren, along with his peers, are more visibly young. Moreover, there’s a hyperfocus on eyes inWIT’s style.
One of the biggest things about season 1-3 ofAttack on Titanwas the wide range of emotion characters exhibited, and most of that was primarily through their eyes. WithMAPPA, there’s less emphasis on the eyes, and more on the rest of the face. This could also be partially attributed to the fact thatWITis more stylistic, whereasMAPPAfocuses on creating a sense of realism. While both are competent studios forAttack on Titan, the fact that the series began and created a legacy around a heavily stylized and color centered aesthetic, needs to be taken into account. The tone of the series shifted, yes, butthe visual legacy ofAttack on Titanhad already been established, making the change jarring in the eyes of audiences.
On the contrary, hadMAPPA(orMadhouse) picked upAttack on Titan’s anime adaptation from the get go, theexact same set of points would apply. Maintaining a steady visual consistency is important for any adaptation, regardless of tonal shifts.
Which is Better?
Saying which studio is “better” would be undermining the qualities each studio brings to the table. For most, it’s a matter ofpersonal taste, but as a production, it’s best to be viewed in entirety. Another thing to consider is that the director changed from Tetsuro Araki to Yuichiro Hayashi, hence why the ODM and action sequences are so different. The question should be: which studio should have animatedAttack on Titanfirst?
Attack On Titan
Cast
Based on Hajime Isayama’s widely popular manga, Attack on Titan is a dark fantasy anime set in a world where humanity lives behind walls to protect themselves from massive creatures known as Titans. Over the course of four seasons, the story takes plenty of unexpected twists and turns, almost evolving into a different type of series in the process.
