Attack on Titan may have already ended, but the story of Hajime Isayama’s manga has made a huge mark in the minds of many. Hence, it’s no surprise that it was adapted into anime starting in 2013 and produced by Wit Studio. However, as the company had already worked on its first three seasons, to fans' surprise, MAPPA took the mantle to create its fourth and final season. Now, four months after the anime finally ended, Wit Studio president George Wada speaks up about Mappa continuing the work for the series.
In an interview with Anime Corner, Wada was asked what it was like to hand the works for Attack on Titan to MAPPA and how it felt seeing fans engaging with the animated work. Though Wit Studio didn’t end up working on the series’ final episodes, the Production I.G CEO was still happy about its popularity.
“Yes, I’m very happy about Attack on Titan itself is so popular,” he said.
He then explained what happened behind Wit Studio’s departure from the project, saying timing had something to do with it. The company left the anime’s production at the height of its success. At the time, there were several claims as to why the switch was made, with many saying it was because of the escalating scale of the series. However, though Wada didn’t reveal the exact reason, he was thankful to MAPPA for completing the anime.
What actually happens a lot is that the timing of the popularity of a manga and the timing of when a studio can actually get out the anime doesn’t always match up. The reason that we were able to complete the series was because MAPPA took it on. And it’s a wonderful studio, so I’m very happy that they were able to take it on and continue with it.
Why did Wit Studio stop animating Attack on Titan?
Attack on Titan is considered one of the most difficult high-profile anime productions in recent history. But despite the hardships of producing a grueling production like this, the then-unproven studio proved it was a force to reckon with the first season's success. However, though it continued to produce its next two seasons, it was decided that the series would continue with another studio, MAPPA.
In an interview with Newtype, as translated by Anime News Network, producer Kensuke Tateishi revealed that the decision to move Attack on Titan from Wit Studio to MAPPA was because the producers wanted to take its production even further, like a one-hour special Final Season Part 3 that featured a movie-level animation. As Wit Studio’s schedule was getting tighter at the time, thanks to the incredible reputation it had built, the production committee believed it would be best for the anime to find another studio that could work on its ending that could meet its deadline. After a long search, with many studios turning it down, MAPPA accepted it, knowing it could handle a big project like it.
What is Attack on Titan about?
Attack on Titan is based on the manga of the same title by Hajime Isayama. It was serialized from September 2009 to April 2021, collecting 34 tankobon volumes. As of November 2023, it had over 140 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time. It also has spin-offs, novels, video games, live-action movies, and other media adaptations.
Wit Studio adapted it into anime and produced its first three seasons, while MAPPA handled the fourth and final season. The first season was released in April 2013, the second in April 2017, and the third in July 2018. Its fourth and final season premiered in December 2020, while a second part was released in January 2022, and its third and fourth parts were featured in two specials, released in March 2023 and November 2023. Crunchyroll streams the series in the US.
You can read its synopsis below:
Known in Japan as Shingeki no Kyojin , many years ago, the last remnants of humanity were forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roamed the land outside their fortress. Only the heroic members of the Scouting Legion dared to stray beyond the safety of the walls – but even those brave warriors seldom returned alive. Those within the city clung to the illusion of a peaceful existence until the day that dream was shattered, and their slim chance at survival was reduced to one horrifying choice: kill – or be devoured!
Despite the backlash MAPPA received after Attack on Titan Season 4 aired, it couldn’t be denied that the studio did everything it could to give justice to Isayama’s brainchild. Fans lauded its last few episodes, and the finale even won the Best Drama and Best Score at the recent Crunchyroll Anime Awards, proving MAPPA’s take on it was a huge success.
