Attack on Titan: Impact and Popularity Debate
Attack on Titan is one of the most popular works in recent history of Japanese manga and animation, but for Kazuhiko Toishima, it only made noise as it failed to have a lasting impact or sales. The former editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump, who worked with Akira Toriyama on Dragon Ball, states that unlike titles such as Dragon Ball and Naruto, Attack on Titan was quickly forgotten once the anime ended, as it lacks anything particularly memorable.
Simple Structure vs. Complexity
“In Dragon Ball and Naruto, readers discover the world through the characters’ eyes. It’s not about the story itself, but the fact that the reader goes on a journey with the character.” To Torishima, it’s a simple structure that allows people of all ages to be captivated by the story. According to Torishima, something he often discussed with Toriyama, a manga should pursue a similar goal to that of Tom and Jerry, being fun but very easy to follow, to prioritize the reader’s enjoyment and create a lasting impression.
In his opinion, Attack on Titan is too complex and its narrative is hard to follow, which ends up alienating readers. However, the manga has sold over 140 million copies and is an incredibly popular work, praised for its dark and adult narrative.
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