Attack on Titan Season 4 Episode 1 - Thoughts & Review

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ATTACK ON TITAN S4E1: Thoughts & Review


Right off the bat we have an excellent episode animated by Studio MAPPA (not the usual lads at Wit Studio). People may have heard of them animating Dorohedoro and the recently released Jujutsu Kaisen. Their animation talents undoubtedly have made itself the forefront of today's premiere episode.

The episode kicks off at Fort Zlava, a Middle Eastern Federation fortress who is at war at the Marleyans whom we already know since the last few episodes of season 3. Looking at my current interests at the moment, especially with anything WW1, I'd say the integration of the setting and AOT's more fantastical elements work extraordinarily well. With the stunning animation done by the studio, the Battle of Fort Zlava is an eye candy to look at - as with most first episodes in a new season of anime.

The integration of CGI into its fight scenes is really good, not even feeling as if it is out of place like most other anime. Granted, Studio MAPPA have shown that they can do CGI well in Dorohedoro but nonetheless, it's great to look at. I'd say that this is the best use of CGI in the series (aside from the more dynamic shots including the OMD Gear worn by the main cast of previous seasons).

Reiner returns as the Armored Titan.

The soundtrack itself is amazing. While Hiroyuki Sawano isn't returning to compose this season's soundtrack, Masafumi Mima has done a terrific job in capturing the sense of epicness and dread in its orchestral score which is fitting for this season (manga readers would find it especially true in the next few episodes).

While Hiroyuki Sawano is indeed a great composer, his style suits the previous seasons more as it displays a sense of hope in its loud and bombastic soundtrack coupled with the use of vocal songs. Even with a few tracks that displays the sense of hopelessness, I don't think it would really fit the tone for this season seeing as how it can really be in future episodes. And oh boy, it gets really dark.

I've also heard a few people criticizing the different tone of the opening, seeing as how widely different it is than previous songs used in the earlier seasons. Sure, it lacks the sense of patriotism and the overwhelming sense of courage displayed in those songs - again, I wouldn't think it fits the current season. But Linked Horizon's back catalog for the anime seems quite varied so I'm curious as to what they could come up with if they are ever brought back in for a second intro song.

All in all, it's a good episode and I'm finding myself watching the same thing over and over because of the battles and the soundtrack. I wouldn't give the obligatory numerical score but if you insist, it's a 8/10.

THE COFFEE SCORE: 8/10

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