Should I Wait for Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 or Just Read the Manga?

The decision to wait for Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 or read the manga entirely depends on your preferences for storytelling, pacing, and the depth of the experience you seek. Here, we explore the pros and cons of both options to help you make an informed choice.

Manga: The Full Story

Complete Story: One of the primary advantages of reading the manga is that you can experience the entire story from start to finish without waiting for new episodes. The manga offers a complete narrative, ensuring that you won't miss any crucial plot points or developments.

Deeper Details: The manga often includes additional details and contextual information that may be omitted or altered in the anime adaptation. This additional depth can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the characters and the world they inhabit.

Faster Pace: Reading the manga allows you to progress through the story at your own pace. You can immerse yourself in the narrative as deeply as you desire, absorbing the story as quickly or slowly as your preference dictates.

Anime: Visual and Auditory Experience

Visual and Auditory Experience: The anime adaptation offers a unique visual style and soundtrack that significantly enhance the storytelling experience. The animation enhances emotional moments and key plot points, creating a more immersive and engaging experience.

Community Experience: Watching the anime allows you to engage with the community as you share your reactions and theories with others. This social aspect can be a significant part of the overall enjoyment of the series.

Animation Quality: Attack on Titan is renowned for its high-quality animation. The visual narration can make pivotal moments even more impactful, adding a layer of richness and detail not always present in the manga.

A Personal Perspective

Generally, it is recommended to read the manga before watching the anime. The manga provides the original vision and artistic direction, and it covers some changes between the anime and the manga, particularly in the main narrative for characters Eren, Mikasa, and Armin.

Specifically, I lean towards reading the manga from the start. It serves as the source material, and while the anime remained faithful to the manga, there were significant alterations that altered the characters and major plot developments.

The relationship between Eren and Mikasa, in particular, was portrayed differently in the anime due to voice acting and animation nuances. This is why a large number of my related answers focus on the main trio, as they are often misunderstood by anime-only viewers.

The final arc of the anime could potentially surpass blockbuster movie standards, with its epic and landmark synergy of animation and emotional storytelling. The vivid animation, gripping emotional turmoil, and the tragic yet heroic narrative make for a deeply enthralling viewing experience.

While the manga ending has faced some ambiguity, a significant number of fans hope for different endings between the manga and anime. Personally, I am open to the manga ending, finding it fitting for the story's emotional weight.

From my perspective, the manga has the potential to be a classic piece of literature or comics. However, the decision to read or wait is ultimately yours, and it comes down to your preference for pacing, storytelling, and character portrayal.

My recommendation is to read the manga from the start. The differences in portrayal are significant enough that if you jump straight from the anime to the equivalent manga chapter, you might not fully grasp the nuances and motivations of the characters as intended in the original source material.