New Attack on Titan 2D & 3D-Animated Film Took 1.5 Years, "Looks Better Than the Anime"

 

Hajime Isayama's iconic Attack on Titan series paints an image of human civilization mired in violence, tragedy and death. Recently, a talented artist released a breathtaking short film that recreates the film's gruesome universe by combining 2D and 3D animation techniques.

This short work was created by freelance digital artist Xie Boli, who has made it available on their personal ArtStation page and via X (formerly Twitter). The bulk of the film, which took a year and a half to make, depicts an intense action sequence featuring various Titans from the series. The use of blended 2D and 3D animation creates a striking aesthetic that's quite different from the one featured in Wit Studio and MAPPA's popular anime adaptation. Boli, who highlights the film as a "non-profit fan work," states that he was "responsible for all aspects of production," which included character modeling, environmental design, lighting, rigging and asset creation. The version of the film featured on X also contains special behind-the-scenes footage showcasing the technical side of the animation process. CBR readers can check out the full film below.

Attack on Titan's New Fan Movie Explores the Blend of 2D and 3D Animation

Boli's Attack on Titan fan animation is the artist's first attempt at a "large-scale" project. "Everything started from scratch, without any budget, solely to express my love for this work," he says in a short address that prefaces the film. Boli's creative process involved numerous elements, such as reworking the original Titan designs, creating dynamic visual effects and staging the various shots. Boli also developed original storyboards, taking inspiration from Attack on Titan as well as other cinematic properties. Because of his inexperience with longer animated works, there was a certain amount of trial-and-error involved in the production process. "I experimented with building my own workflow, and explored the integration of 2D and 3D animation," says Boli.

The Attack on Titan franchise began with Hajime Isayama's titular manga, which launched in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine in September 2009. Set in a world plagued by monsters called Titans that force human beings to shelter behind giant walls, the series chronicles the journey of central protagonist, Eren Yeager. After his hometown is destroyed in a devastating Titan attack, Eren, his adopted sister Mikasa Ackermann and his childhood friend, Armin Arlert, join up with the Survey Corps -- a military group dedicated to destroying the Titans and restoring humanity to its former glory. However, as the series progresses, startling revelations about the titan's true origins are revealed, causing Eren to seek a different path. Seasons 1-4 of the Attack on Titan anime, which aired from April 2013 to July 2019, were produced by Wit Studio. MAPPA officially took over production in 2021, rebranding the series as Attack on Titan: The Final Season. This anime wraps up the events of Isayama's original manga, which released its final chapter in April 2021.

Attack on Titan Continues With the Hajime Isayama-Praised Live-Action Show

While the Attack on Titan manga and anime series have completed their respective runs, the franchise continues to live on in other forms. 2023 saw the Japanese debut of AOT's first musical stage adaptation -- a production which has received high praise from Hajime Isayama. This October, the production will begin its first North American run at the New York City Center Theater. In the meantime, Xie Boli's film serves as a similarly impressive tribute to the beloved dark fantasy series. "It has always been my dream to create an animation on my own, and now I have finally achieved it," says Boli. "I have poured all my time, passion and patience into this short film...I hope everyone enjoys it."

The Attack on Titan manga is available in English from Kodansha USA. Wit Studio and MAPPA's Attack on Titan anime series is available to stream on Hulu and Crunchyroll.