The anime is only three episodes in, but Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is already racking up the praise and a fanbase. Indeed, with the director and writer of the immensely successful Attack on Titan involved in the project, it seemed like the anime could not possibly fail.

Sure, many aspects of the plot are quite similar to the Attack on Titan universe, such as a subjugated humanity and an enemy which is barely understood. Despite this, however, the smooth execution of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress' story and its compelling action sequences has already endeared fans from around the world.

Indeed, the first two episodes of the anime were intense, with viewers being treated to intense action sequences courtesy of fan favorite and deadly female warrior Mumei. As the series progresses and as the third episode was shown, however, it seems like the plot is starting to take a breather.

The third episode of the anime is actually a bit calmer than the first two, with a significant chunk of the running time dedicated to the protagonist Ikoma's backstory. Though the scenes involving him relating his tragic story screams every single anime trope out there, the episode was nonetheless a victory for Tasuku Hatanaka, Ikoma's voice actor. While new to the voice acting stage, Hatanaka was able to draw out some very real and genuine emotions from Ikoma's lines.

Of course, one thing that could not be denied in the third episode is the possible development of yet another classic anime trope - the love triangle. Viewers are pretty much aware of Ikoma's interest in the beautiful and headstrong Lady Ayame, but his chemistry with the deadly Mumei is also undeniable.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the episode was the exploration of the concept of the Kabaneris themselves, which are revealed to be creatures that are essentially sub-humans with enhanced physical strength and a very real thirst for flesh and blood.

Episode 3 seems very much like the calm before the storm, as the characters' backgrounds and relationships are explored just a bit more for the viewer. As could be seen in Episode 4's preview, however, it seems like the action will intensify once more.

Regardless of how Episode 4 turns out, however, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is pretty much already a clear winner among this year's anime releases.