Why Is Attack on Titan Rated TV-MA? Rating 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. Due to the series’ popularity, in this article, we have decided to tell you why some of its episodes have received a TV-MA rating in the United States, while others received a regular TV-14 rating.

Attack on Titan is categorized as TV-14 in the United States, although some episodes have received a TV-MA rating; in Japan, the show is rated R-15. Attack on Titan is generally normal and doesn’t have too much mature content. Still, it does have a moderate level of profanities and some scenes of severe violence and gore, which is why some episodes have received a stricter rating.

In the following paragraphs, we will elaborate on this answer and give you some additional information on the show’s content. You’ll find out what ages Attack on Titan is appropriate for, how scary and gory it is, and whether there are sex, nudity, and profanities, as well as why the ratings are different from episode to episode. This will be your ultimate parent’s guide for Attack on Titan.

What age is Attack on Titan appropriate for?

As per the official ratings, Attack on Titan is rated as “TV-14”, which means “parental guidance.” That standard is defined as follows: This program contains material that most parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years of age; this is a stricter standard than TV-PG, the standard that is generally used for anime series. Japan lists the series as an R-15 one, whereas most other countries have it listed in similar age categories (15+, depending on the country). Only a few countries have applied the strictest (18+) standard for the series.

But, even in the United States, some episodes have received a stricter rating, mostly due to the severe graphical violence and gore depicted in the series. These episodes have been rated as “TV-MA,” which means “mature.” This particular standard is defined as follows: This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and, therefore, may be unsuitable for children under 17. This is in line with some countries with a strict rating for the show, but in the US, only some episodes have received this rating.

This means that Attack on Titan is a show that is appropriate for teenagers and older fans. Children under the age of 15 should not be able to watch the series, as there is content that might be inappropriate for them as per the standard. This is the official rating for the show, and we will now observe how things stand in several different categories.

Attack on Titan: Sex & Nudity

As far as Attack on Titan is concerned, due to the seriousness of the issue, the series is devoid of usual shonen tropes related to sex comedy. Such tropes are generally present in shonen anime series, but as far as Attack on Titan is concerned, sex and nudity are basically non-existent. Some nude characters are shown from the back in a completely non-sexual way, and yes, the Titans are depicted as being nude, but since they have no genitalia, this cannot be considered as sexual content.

As you can see, this is really nothing, and while some scenes might be a bit borderline, they are very limited and never actually cross the border.

Attack on Titan: Violence & Gore

The violence of the fights and the gore depicted in the series are the main points of contention when Attack on Titan is concerned, and they are the primary reason why some episodes have received a TV-MA rating. However, the number of such scenes is very small and limited when observing the whole series. The fight scenes are epic, and violence is depicted in the show as per the plot, and yes, we can confirm that a lot of the scenes are over the top and that the violence is truly severe, which some fans, especially younger ones, might not like. But, when Attack on Titan, things are as they should be.

Namely, most of the violence depicted in Attack on Titan is authentic and in line with the story and the world created by Isayama; some of it might gross you out, but you have to understand that it is inherent to the series and that the world created by Isayama simply demanded such a level of violence. Most of the scenes are completely fine, but there are some really nasty ones, and as the series progresses, the violence and the fights become more intense. There is more blood and even some morbid elements due to the villains becoming more dangerous. However, it’s all part of the series’ inherent realism.

Attack on Titan: Profanity

As far as profanities are concerned, they are moderately present in Attack on Titan. Examples of words that can be heard are “son of a bitch,” “goddamn,” “hell,” “damn,” “bastard,” “ass,” and “shit,” and all of this could, understandably, be too much for someone. Now, this might bother some viewers, as we have said, and it is something that children shouldn’t really repeat, but it adds to the realism of the show, doesn’t it?

First of all, we have to state that the characters of Attack on Titan are mature characters fighting a war for survival against gigantic monsters. People don’t really tend to watch their language while they’re fighting someone who wants to kill them altogether, do they? It would be silly if these characters didn’t curse from time to time, wouldn’t it? This is only realistic, and the series adds to it by adapting the language appropriately for a specific situation.

So, profanities are certainly present in the show, but we don’t think it’s something bad. It simply adds to the show’s realism, like the violence, and helps the viewers better understand the characters, the world, and the complete setting. Anything else would be completely out-of-character, so we can only praise the show’s authenticity. And on top of that, they are only moderately present.

What age is Attack on Titan appropriate for?

In the case of Attach on Titan, the ratings are actually quite reasonable and understandable. Most of the show is quite fine, if not completely child-friendly, due to its dark setting and topics. But, most of the things depicted in the series are moderate,d and only the violence and the gore tend to get severe from time to time. But all of this aligns with the series’ realism and overall lore.

This means that Attack on Titan probably isn’t for the youngest viewers, which explains the TV-14 and TV-MA ratings. We don’t really think that your teenagers will have any problems with the show, but your younger children might find it a bit too much. So, be careful how you approach Attack on Titan, but remember that it is a great show and that you definitely should see it at one point or another.