With the anime world still waiting for the second season of Attack on Titan, another intense anime has taken its place as this year's breakout hit. Bold and unrestrained, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is quickly becoming a fan favorite, mainly due to its great action scenes and its engaging characters.

However, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is not without its detractors. For one, it has been criticized to be a simple Attack on Titan clone. After all, both series does employ similar themes and elements. Then again, it is also quite different in terms of the anime's featured set pieces.

Thus, for today, we shall look at the similarities and differences of Attack on Titan and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. In the end, we shall see if Kabaneri really is an anime of its own or if it is but a shadow of its predecessor.

The Similarities

The similar aspects and elements of Attack on Titan and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress are pretty overt, since both feature a world that is living in fear of monsters that almost no one understands. Apart from this, the elements of walled cities and genius female fighters are present in both series. Finally, both could be considered steampunk, though Kabaneri is more prominent in this respect.

The Differences

Of course, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress does differ significantly from Attack on Titan as well. The setting alone is the exact opposite of AoT, with Kabaneri utilizing a distinctly Eastern setting as opposed to AoT's European set pieces. Apart from this, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress' main character, Ikoma, is also pretty different from AoT's Eren, with the former being much more level-headed and mature than the latter.

Verdict

While the two series do have distinct similarities, there are just some times when Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress really feels like an anime of its own. Of course, being created by the same studio and sharing some of the staff who worked on Attack on Titan, there are indeed times when Kabaneri seems like it is channeling its predecessor. However, these times only happen far and between.

What really makes Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress stand on its own is the fact that its character lineup is far different from Attack on Titan. While Kabaneri's Mumei shares the same innate fighting capabilities of Attack on Titan's Mikasa, the other characters are pretty much original in their own right.

One thing is sure, though. Similar or not, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is undoubtedly a very enjoyable series to watch, featuring intense action scenes and an engaging set of characters. It truly is, without a doubt, one of the most memorable anime to be released this season. 

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