Is the Demon Slayer Movie Worth Watching?
The Short Answer: Yes, the AOT Movies are Not Required
Friend, if you‘re wondering whether you need to watch the Attack on Titan compilation films to understand the anime series, I have good news – the movies are completely optional recap films that can be skipped without missing anything significant from the main storyline and world of AOT.
The two compilation films, Attack on Titan Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow (2014) and Attack on Titan Part 2: Wings of Freedom (2015), are essentially just recaps of the events, characters, and highlights from Season 1 of the anime series. While they use some minor new footage, the movies do not contain crucial new story content or info you would miss if you only watched the anime series. The films are intended more as refreshers rather than essentials for AOT fans before the second season aired.
So in summary – no, you absolutely do not need to watch the compilation films before starting AOT‘s later seasons. You can dive right into Season 2 and beyond after finishing up Season 1 without worry. But let‘s take a more in-depth look at why the movies are skippable for those new to the Attack on Titan universe.
A Recap of Attack on Titan‘s Runaway Success
To understand the context around the compilation films, it‘s worth recapping why Attack on Titan is such a monumental franchise, especially in the anime industry. Based on the manga by Hajime Isayama, Attack on Titan made its anime debut in 2013 and immediately captured the attention of viewers globally with its dark, apocalyptic story, intense action, and chillingly iconic Titan monsters.
Some fast facts on Attack on Titan‘s staggering popularity:
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Over 100 million copies of the manga sold worldwide [1]
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Anime ranked #1 on MyAnimeList with a score of 9.10 [2]
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Has remained in the top 5 most watched anime on leading platform Crunchyroll since 2013 [3]
| Year | Global Google Searches for "Attack on Titan" |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.7 million searches |
| 2020 | 2.1 million searches |
| 2019 | 1.8 million searches |
| 2018 | 1.7 million searches |
Simply put, Attack on Titan has etched itself into pop culture history as one of the most successful and popular anime franchises of all time.
AOT Movies Are Recaps, Not New Content
Given the hype around Attack on Titan, it‘s understandable why compilation films were produced. The first two movies, Attack on Titan Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow and Attack on Titan Part 2: Wings of Freedom, were released in late 2014 and early 2015, respectively.
These films essentially serve as extended recap episodes covering the events of Season 1 broken into two parts. If you actually compare the content side-by-side, you‘ll notice the movies use mostly footage directly from the anime‘s first 25 episodes with just some minor new scenes interspersed.
In terms of new content, each film only contains about 10 minutes of never before seen footage and remastered scenes. These new pieces don‘t reveal anything integral to the plot but rather embellish on the existing story.
For instance, Part 1 has extra moments of Eren waking up from a dream and flashbacks to his mother. Part 2 features some new bits of the 104th Training Corps goofing around to add to their bonds. Again, while these snippets are fun for fans, they don‘t provide vital info or developments missing from Season 1.
Key Things Covered in Each Recap Film
To break it down, here‘s what story content is included in each compilation movie:
Attack on Titan Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow
- Covers Episodes 1-13
- Focuses on Eren joining the military after Titans attack his village
- Eren struggles to control his Titan powers
- Humanity fights back against the Titan threat
Attack on Titan Part 2: Wings of Freedom
- Covers Episodes 14-25
- The identity of the Colossal and Armored Titans is revealed
- Eren can fully transform into a Titan
- The Elite Survey Corps battles the Female Titan
As you can see, the films closely align to the original episodes – just condensed down into movie format.
Should You Watch the Movies?
Given that the compilation movies don‘t contain any vital new story details, whether you choose to watch them comes down to personal preference:
For first-time viewers: Feel free to skip the movies entirely and jump right into Season 2 after finishing Season 1. You won‘t miss any crucial information. The films are more supplemental than essential viewing.
For rewatchers: The movies can be a nice refresher on Season 1‘s events before diving into later seasons. Condensing 25 episodes into 2 movies may also appeal if you‘re tight on time. They also allow you to re-experience AOT‘s epic scenes on the big screen.
For completionists: Big fans who want to take in all AOT content may find it rewarding to watch the compilation films and spot the minor new bits of footage sprinkled in. But again, nothing here is a must-see.
At the end of the day, the AOT compilation movies are optional supplemental viewing. While long-time fans may appreciate them as recap episodes, skipping them will not impact your enjoyment or understanding of the anime series itself. I hope this overview has helped explain their purpose and role within the franchise! Let me know if you have any other AOT related questions.
Sources
[1] https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2021/12/06/attack-on-titan-manga-surpasses-100-million-copies-in-print[2] https://myanimelist.net/topanime.php
[3] https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-feature/2021/12/31/the-top-25-most-watched-anime-of-the-decade-on-crunchyroll