Why Is Attack on Titan Called Like That? The Meaning Behind the Name Explained!

Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan is a global hit and one of those modern anime series that (re)defined the genre and made it more popular worldwide. The dystopian setting, the great fights, and the overall idea of the whole story all make Attack on Titan somewhat of a modern masterpiece. The story follows Eren Yeager, who vows to retake the world after Titan brings about the destruction of his hometown and the death of his mother. But wait, what does Attack on Titan actually represent? What does the title of this popular series actually mean? In case you’ve ever wondered about that, we at Fiction Horizon have the answer for you.

The title, Attack on Titan, is written as 進撃の巨人 in Japanese. The four kanji that comprise the title literally mean “The Advancing Giant,” with the hiragana の used to connect the two words. This makes sense in the context of the series, as it involves a series of monstrous giants (Titans) who keep attacking and killing their enemies. Why the translators opted for the title Attack on Titan instead of Attacking Titan is unknown, but it could have something to do with the fact that the characters are fighting against the Titans.

The rest of this article will be divided into two separate sections. The first one is going to explain the meaning of the title, and the whole etymology, while the latter is going to give you an overview of the series’ plot, which you will be able to use to see whether the title fits the plot and the atmosphere of the series. Some mild spoilers might be present.

What does the title Attack on Titan signify?

Unlike some anime titles, Attack on Titan is actually the English translation of the original Japanese title, Shingeki no Kyojin, which is written in Japanese as 進撃の巨人. This is why we must consider the original Japanese meaning to fully understand what it means. So, first of all, we have to state that the phrase is, in Japanese, written as 進撃の巨人, as we have said. It is comprised of four individual kanji and a hiragana symbol that means the following:

1. 進 – this kanji means to advance or make progress
2. 撃 – this kanji means to strike or attack
3. の – this hiragana means ‘no’ and is used as a particle that connects two nouns; it is usually translated as ‘of’, but not always
4. 巨 – this kanji means giant or large
5. 人 – this kanji means human or person

Now that you know their individual meanings, we must clarify their actual meanings, i.e., the phrases they make. 進撃 are, together, read as ‘Shingeki,’ which means to advance, but in an attacking or military manner; it would mean an advance in battle or an assault or an attack. The kanji 巨人 are read as ‘Kyojin’ and mean giant, titan, or colossus. So, literally, the phrase would be translated as ‘Assault of Giant,’ but since that is not natural for the English language, it is translated as ‘Advancing Giant’ (but could also mean ‘Attacking Titan’); this, of course, does not change the original Japanese meaning.

Now, this makes sense when you add it up because all of these four kanji are connected to the story of Attack on Titan, which involves a series of gigantic Titans who constantly keep fighting over the course of the series. The phrase “shingeki” actually means an attack or military advance, whereas “kyojin” means giant. This means that the literal meaning of the title is “Advancing Giant,” which actually fits the lore completely.

As for the translation, Attack on Titan, it is not known why someone is attacking a Titan, although it could simply be that the English title sounded cooler, and since people are fighting the Titans, it still makes sense.

What is Attack on Titan about?

For 107 years, the three concentric walls promising peace have existed until one day. However, the Colossal and the Armored Titan breach the outermost Wall Maria, pushing the humans further back. Eren Yeager’s mother dies in the process, and Eren flees with many other people behind the second Wall Rose. Eren swears that he will wipe out all Titans after his mother’s death.

Many people die within the walls from the onset of famine and desperate attempts to recapture the outer wall. Two years later, Eren joins the military, as do his friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert. Eren aims to join the Survey Corps after completing his 3-year training. Shortly after the graduation ceremony of his training, the Titans attack the walled district of Trost. During the fight, Eren, like many of his comrades, is devoured by a titan. But soon after, a Titan suddenly appears and attacks the other Titans.

It turns out that this is Eren, who has turned into a titan. Although initially viewed with great suspicion by the armed forces, the military later uses him against the attack. Now you can fight back with a successful counterattack for the first time and then seal the wall of the Trost district with a huge boulder. Eren is then transferred to the Survey Corps, where his abilities are to be researched in order to be able to use the information gained from this to retake the Outer Wall. Mikasa and Armin follow Eren to the Survey Corps, where they are assigned to Corporal Levi.

Soon, the Survey Corps embarks on its first mission with Eren outside of the Second Wall. Eren’s home district of Shiganshina is given as the supposed destination, where information about the origin of the Titans is hoped for in the documents of his father, the doctor Grisha Jäger. But on the way they meet a female Titan who wants to attack Eren and behaves intelligently. However, capturing this one is the real objective of the mission, as it is likely a titan shifter like Eren, acting for a group that has infiltrated the army.

But the mission failed, and the Survey Corps returned defeated and with many casualties. With the information gathered, however, Armin is able to determine the identity of the titan shifter: It is the former comrade and current military police officer Annie Leonhardt, who they set a trap for in the Stohess district. Eventually, in a battle between her and Eren as Titan, she is defeated and captured in her human form, encased in a crystal. During the fight, cracks appeared in the innermost wall of Sina, revealing a titan.

Hange from the Survey Corps presses Pastor Nick from the Wall Church for more information. Titans, most notably the talking Beast Titan, are sighted within the second Wall Rose. At Levi and Hange’s urging, Pastor Nick explains that the unassuming Christa Lenz knows more about the secrets of the walls. Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and Hange then go to Utgard Castle near the wall, where Christa is with other recruit group members. When Titans attack them, the soldier Ymir transforms into the Jaw Titan to protect her comrades. Christa, with whom she is close, is particularly protective of her. After the fight, she explains that she is actually Historia Reiss, a descendant of an ancient noble family.