In a 2016 interview with Gong Kakutogi journal, Hajime Isayama spoke at size in regards to the connections between etching manga panels and MMA, the place each artwork varieties require mastery over particular talent units for the very best outcomes. Whereas MMA requires managed power and muscle coordination, manga illustration calls for constant type and inventive ingenuity, and Isayama appears riveted by these conceptual overlaps.

It’s attention-grabbing to notice that Isayama’s protagonists are at all times etched to embody robust, muscular bodily varieties, which he claims stemmed from an acute consciousness of his smaller, delicate type as a child, as his formative experiences included taking part in weighted-envelope throwing contests. The manga-ka is refreshingly candid about his motivations behind making “weaker” characters rework into highly effective entities with time, because it fulfills the fantasy of embodying a type of power he can solely dream of. This sentiment is mirrored in Eren’s arc, the place he goes from a semi-skilled navy recruit hell-bent on revenge to a one of the strongest Titans on the verge of shedding his humanity. This facet makes Eren’s flip extra compelling, as a style of energy has urged him to some extent of no return.

Talking of wielding unimaginable power, one has to look no additional than the Beast Titan, which had a number of animal-like traits (relying on the human) and distinctive talents resembling hardening its nape to keep away from loss of life and withstanding unimaginable harm. Isayama cited MMA artist Alistair Overeem as his inspiration for the Beast Titan, explaining that his “intimidating physique” served as a blueprint for the formidable Titan in query. With the intention to exaggerate the monstrous nature of the Titan, Isayama added apes, crocodiles, and elks to cement the otherworldly existence of this specific Topic of Ymir, who additionally possessed the terrifying means to create Titans.