Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom

A feature compiled from an anime series. The narrative is set in a city surrounded by walls. Outside are giants that eat people; humans have lived inside these walls for centuries and know nothing of what lies beyond. This film covers the second half of the series' first season. The main subject is an expedition: a military unit goes outside the walls and advances in a fixed formation. During the expedition a giant appears. It differs from the others: intelligent, working to a plan and aware of what it is after. The unit takes losses and has to withdraw. From there the film turns into a question of identity: it becomes clear that this giant is a person, and the search is for who. The best passage is a chase through a forest. The soldiers move between the trees on grapples and the sequence is held long. The film's second subject is command: an officer sending his soldiers knowingly to their deaths, and the argument over his reasons. It was compiled from the series; the new footage is limited and the narrative is compressed. Tetsuro Araki directed. Who it is for: anyone who has not watched the series but is curious about the story, and anyone who likes action animation. Who it is not for: anyone expecting development of character; because of the compilation, intermediate scenes are dropped and some transitions are abrupt.