The Walking Dead vs Attack on Titan

Last week, I spent my whole time catching up with the story of Attack on Titan. I read the manga and watched the seven episodes. Considering that I already stopped watching animes since the Bount Arc of Bleach (that was years ago, the prime years of The Big Three), I have to admit it; I decided to ride the hype wagon of Attack on Titans and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, I was hooked! I can’t even put my tablet down until I finish reading two chapters or so. This series convinced me to watch anime again. As of the moment, for the sole purpose of Attack on Titan only.

I know some of you have this big question mark floating above their head asking why I need to make this pointless comparison. Both series are completely different in their main aspect; The Walking Dead is a western drama series while Attack on Titan is well yeah, obviously, an anime. But if you watched them both then I think we’re in the same boat and you’ll agree with me (in some ways). I will state all the similarities I could possibly think of. Some points are overstated so please bear with my thoughts. It’s just me over thinking vividly. So here we go:

Adapted from Manga/Comics

Both series were adapted from their respected visual material; i.e. comics and manga. Attack on Titan manga, created by Hajime Isayama and The Walking Dead comics, created by Robert Kirkman. Take note that both series were also award winners. Attack on Titan won the Kodansha Manga Award last 2011 while The Walking Dead was named the best continuing series at Eisner Award last 2010. So it’s no surprise that both series have their own fanbase that still grows as the series continue to cater for them. The only difference is Attack on Titan is faithful to the manga (which is good IMHO) while The Walking Dead took a different route with its story line from the comics.

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Zombies and Titans

If someone’s going to ask me what is the main plot of Attack on Titans, this would be my response; “Imagine giant zombies, people struggling for survival and the only way to fight them is to become Spiderman!” As for the similarities; the main scoundrels of the series, both have weak points; head for zombie and nape for titan. They are both fugly as hell. What else? They love humans! And the most common thing, they eat people!

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Isolation and protection

Protags hide their asses behind walls! Rick and the rest of the gang isolate themselves within the prison and Eren with the rest of humanity resides behind these humongous walls they built for century. Also, there’s this point in both series that the ‘walls’ were breached and characters die for some shitty reasons whether it’s a cause of betrayal or some plot twist. By the way, let me praise both series, both have their both shares of some good plot twist. Kudos to their writers and directors!

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Gore and Violence

Bloodbath, flying limbs, red stains, decapitated heads, bleeding people and more blood! Both have this ‘apocalyptic-genocidal’ theme that will make you cringe on the edge of your sit while watching. I can’t seem to dodge the idea not to mention this, but Attack on Titan have different approach when it comes to gore. Human giants eating and swallowing people alive, how sick is that? Yet they censor some scenes, I can simply tell that it’s effing brutal. But in the case of The Walking Dead, it’s far more brutal. (pointing at Rick Grimes ‘shit happens scene’) Why? Because seeing them stabbing and stepping on zombie’s head is far more gruesome because they do it in a sense of ‘being-real’. This series will be the epitome of zombie apocalypse in case it happens in reality. Nonetheless, they are both delivering the gruesome and gory goods frantically.

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Main Objective: Survival

In this point, it’s just me overlooking things. But meh, whether you agree or not, I think the main objective of both series is survival. Fighting for their lives is the main reason why the story evolves.  That’s the sole reason! No question about that. As quoted by Mikasa Ackerman in Attack on Titan, “this world is cruel”. And don’t forget Rick Grimes’ “yeah, yeah I get it, Shit Happens” in The Walking Dead. If you consider these two quotes, they are quite similar, very similar.

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The Hype

Waiting for an episode every week is a true test of patience especially for us fans. The hype for both series are scattered everywhere around the net. Name it, facebook, twitter and forums. Fans are waiting eagerly for the episodes to air. As of now, The Walking Dead is on break so the hype is not inflated as Attack on Titan but I bet when the series resume, the hype will surely heat up. Both series are ongoing including the manga and comics so there are more reasons to hype up.

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Bonus Round: 

Hey Axel, please be more badass like Pixis and just make yourself bald. (Lol, look at all those wrinkles)

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~So there you have it. My two cents regarding the similarities of Attack on Titans and The Walking Dead. If you guys can give me more similarities or whatsoever sound off in the comments below!