Guardiola 1

Jorge Guardiola

Dr. Nelson

English 1301-122

11 October 2022

Essay 2 Final Draft

Mangas have been around quite some time ranging from Action to romance in this case

“Attack on Titan” Volume 34 a fantasy, action, post-apocalyptic novel presents us with the

unique cover of Eren, Mikasa, and Erwin the three protagonists of the story (Fig.1). The reason

for the unique cover is that the main characters are not seeing in uniform or in a battle, yet they

are simply showed as little kids. No titans, battles, or any kind of danger is seen going around

symbolizing the restfulness of the characters matching with the soothing background making the

view of the cover a warming sight.

Having a first glance at the cover the eye sets on various things, but especially the

calmness of the image (fig. 1). No threat or any fighting that previous chapter’s show is visible

only three children in a rural area. To contrary of the title viewers would have an idea of the

manga as an action related; meanwhile, what the viewers get is a calm background with no

battles, war, or any “titans” visible just the three protagonists as kids symbolizing inner peace

(Fig.1). It also relates to the innocence, happiness, and joy of being a child that would contrast

the real world that is gloomy, and not as enthusiastic. Looking at the characters and their

expressions gives the viewer a sense of friendship within the characters laughs and the happy

expressions the protagonist are making one can assume they are friends (Fig.1). When viewers

see the characters up close, they can also notice the similarity of the characters clothes. Two of
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them are boys (Eren and Armin) and one of them a girl (Mikasa). The three of them are wearing

slip on shoes following the pants of Eren and Armin are seeing as simple brown pants with

Mikasa wearing a white dress with a pink jacket and a scarf (Fig.1). Both Eren and Armin have

the same color shirt being white and Eren being the closest to the tree has a light jacket on while

Armin in the far back has a heavier coat (Fig.1).

Moreover, the cover includes various colors ranging from dark yellow, brown, orange,

blue, and some black to create contrast in the objects. In the very back we see a shining light of

white and yellow creating this sundown environment creating this calming environment aligning

with the kids (Fig. 1). We know that sunsets represent completion or the end of the day after

having done something throughout the day or finally having achieved a goal. Knowing this is the

last chapter viewers might see this like heroes returning home to finally enjoy their days while

the sun sets. The color yellow represents a cheerful spirit just like the protagonist have in the

cover (Fig.1) and combining the yellow to create a sunset makes the viewer see the protagonist

happy and living at peace at the end of the day marking the end of the novel.

Furthermore, if we look more into detail at the image, we can see that the characters are

in a rural area where the viewer only sees a plain field that is filled with trees without leaves,

grass, and some houses that seem quite normal nothing out of the ordinary (Fig.1). When looking

at far beyond the houses and the empty trees we see a big city that has many houses around a big

building that is not a skyscraper more of a castle like a citadel from a fairytale (Fig.1). The one

thing missing that everyone would expect is a wall to protect the castle or the city and, in the

image, the only thing surrounding the citadel is the city vulnerable to any attack yet we do not

see any danger (Fig.1). In the far background we see mountains that go as big as the sky and are

the farthest thing from the protagonist. The color is starting to go dark and means it is becoming
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night while the season could be fall more closer to winter due to the protagonist wearing clothing

over their shirt and we even see a scarf (Fig.1). The time of the year and the setting sun make this

image a chill, warming cover.

Overall, the image illustrates that final satisfaction of completing a task that required a

great amount of time to complete. Watching the characters not be in an adolescent stage but

instead being kids represents that freedom from guilt and that brings out the protagonist’s

innocence. The background has many sights from houses to mountains and the sunset that

creates the bright yellow-orange color to forward the fall of the day. The yellow-orange color of

the background also adds to the stillness of all the things combined that make the environment

feel welcoming and full of peace. In the end, no dangers are presented to us only the spectacular

view of nature while three children play until the sun sets.
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Appendix

Fig 1. Attack On Titan volume 34

Manga Cover.
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Works cited

Hajime, Isayama. “Attack on Titan”. Crunchyroll 5 /May/ 2022. Crunchyroll - Full Cover for

Final Attack on Titan Manga Volume Unveils What Could Have Been