Demon Slayer vs. Attack on Titan: Which Anime Should You Watch?

The “Big Three” are, even after two decades since their inception, considered to be untouchable. But, although the anime series paradigm has shifted from 300+ anime series to 20-ish-episodes-per-season series, some modern anime has been able to come close to the notoriety of the original “Big Three” in their respective times, and that is why we are talking about the “New Big Three.” Demon Slayer is certainly one such anime, and in this article, we will compare it with Attack on Titan and tell you which one you should watch.

In our opinion, Demon Slayer offers more entertainment for shonen fans and is far less controversial. In contrast, Attack on Titan has a lot of controversies behind it and is closer to the seinen group than anything else. You should watch both series, as both are amazing, but Demon Slayer is more for shonen fans, whereas Attack on Titan is better suited for those fans of seinen works.

The rest of this article will explore and explain the reasons behind this decision. You’ll find out about the two shows and how and when they were originally broadcast. You’re also going to see the main similarities and differences between the two shows, after which we are going to elaborate further on which of them is the better show.

Plot

Now, we have decided to divide the points in this category simply because we couldn’t really pick the better one. Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan have very different plots, and they’re hard to compare; it all comes down to one’s personal preferences since both plots are intriguing and interesting. That is why we have divided the points.

Points: Demon Slayer 1, Attack on Titan 1

Animation

Attack on Titan is one of those series that changed its animation studio. For the first 59 episodes, Wit Studios was in charge of the animation, whereas MAPPA took over fro episode 60 onwards. MAPPA has been doing a great job, and the animation rose to a new level after episode 60, especially when the battle scenes and Titan animations are concerned. Still, Attack on Titan has a somewhat specific style that many fans might not like, but that is never a reflection on the quality of a series’ animation but rather on the fans’ preferences.

Ufotable has been responsible for the animation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba since the show’s premiere. As mentioned above, Demon Slayer has shown a consistently high level of quality animation with a more modern character design, a dark style, and excellent dynamics. The series uses a slightly more modern style that gives it more fluidity, especially in the fight scenes. This is at least one level above what Attack on Titan had to offer during its run, but that is more a consequence of the technology of the time when compared to today’s, but it’s still relevant for this section.

And while we cannot really say anything against the animation of Attack on Titan, as MAPPA has done a great job (a lot better than Wit), there is the fact that Demon Slayer has some of the most fluid and dynamic action sequences, on par with Jujutsu Kaisen, which is why we had to give this point to Demon Slayer.

Points: Demon Slayer 2, Attack on Titan 1

Adaptations

Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan manga became a true hit, and the anime certainly cemented the work’s popularity worldwide. Now, Attack on Titan quickly evolved into a franchise, and aside from the core manga and the Attack on Titan anime adaptation, many other spin-offs and derivative works have been produced. Among the latter are the Attack on Titan video games, of which there are six, and which have reached a solid level of popularity among fans.

Aside from that, a total of four anime films have also been produced as supplements to the original anime series, but that is not everything. Two live-action films have also been produced, as well as several manga spin-off series, some of which have also been animated as well, mostly in some short(er) or even omake format. There are also numerous printed works, including guidebooks and light novels, all of which are part of the larger Attack on Titan lore created by Hajime Isayama.

Demon Slayer was turned into an anime by the studio Ufotable under the title Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The 26-episode first season aired between April 6 and September 28, 2019, and the first “The Evolution of Kamado Tanjirō” saga was adapted. It was followed by an animated film titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, which was released on October 16, 2020.

A seven-episode re-adaptation of the film aired in October 2021, while the second season of the anime series adapting the Entertainment District arc aired in December 2021. A video game called Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles was also released in October 2021, although to mixed reviews.

This was yet another category with no clear winner, but we have decided to give the point to Attack on Titan. Namely, Attack on Titan actually surpasses Demon Slayer in terms of quantity. While neither franchise has been able to become a household name when other adaptations are concerned, we decided to honor that advantage here.

Points: Demon Slayer 2, Attack on Titan 2

Demon Slayer vs. Attack on Titan: Which one should you watch?

And now for our article’s most important and interesting section – the analysis. Here, we will use what we have learned about these two anime and analyze how all these facts would (or would not) help them in this comparison. Let us continue.

With the points being tied, we have to say that it all comes down to your preferences when Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan are concerned. Namely, the two series are so inherently different that it was impossible to simply give a straightforward answer, especially since both of them are actually great. Demon Slayer is more or less a typical shonen work, whereas Attack on Titan leans more to the seinen side of the specter, and that is why it was important to stress out that there is no one better show but that it all comes down to preferences.

Both series offer a lot to their respective fans, and in our opinion, you should watch both series, as they are both really amazing. But, we must warn you that Demon Slayer remains a series that is more suitable for shonen fans, whereas Attack on Titan might be more suited for those who prefer seinen works.