Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and Attack on Titan share more than their basic elements. Created by the same studio and almost the same staff as the other, the similarities of the two anime are undeniable. Indeed, a number of anime fans have branded Kabaneri as simply a clone of its predecessor. However, the newer series does have a lot of merits, and fans have also noted that Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress stands pretty well on its own.

In a lot of ways, such a notion is actually well-founded. After all, when the two anime's release date is stripped away, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress could easily be considered as a more polished and vibrant version of Attack on Titan.

Indeed, while this is a bold statement to make, the notion does have a pretty strong foundation. Simply put, Kabaneri exceeds Attack on Titan in two prominent aspects - characters and tone.

First off, let us consider the characters. Specifically, the lead of the series. In Attack on Titan, Eren is characterized as a young man driven primarily by anger and rage, to the point where he goes berserk while in his titan form more often than not. Is rage makes him dangerous, but it also makes him imbalanced, to the point where he actually becomes one of the weakest aspects of the anime.

On the other hand, Kabaneri's lead, Ikoma, has a pretty good head on his shoulders. Unlike Eren, his motivations for fighting the Kabane actually stem from a very real desire to help and protect. He's also a lot more mature and innately capable, quite unlike AoT's protagonist, who is, apart from his titan-shifting powers, largely unremarkable. Thus, when it all comes down to it, Ikoma of Kabaneri is actually the stronger lead.

The tone of Attack on Titan is largely depressing and grim. Indeed, as the series wears on, the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness is ever-pervading. In fact, it is said that even if the plot of AoT does end on a happy note, it would still be drinking from a glass half-empty. This is largely due to the style of the anime itself. Through the course of the series, the protagonists of Attack on Titan are constantly defeated, killed and largely considered failures. Eventually, such eventually becomes tiring for the viewer.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress avoids this grim and hopeless tone by modifying several aspects of its story, such as the set pieces where the notable events of the anime take place. Some towns and locations are vibrant, and settings are constantly presented as beautiful despite the pervading threat of the kabane. Also, despite the fact that kabane are extremely strong, there is never a sense of hopelessness in the series at all. Even if Kabaneri's protagonists are constantly on the defensive, the anime exudes the impression that there might be a good resolution waiting at the end.

At the end of the day, however, both Attack on Titan and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress are great anime to watch. Their massive fanbase alone, as well as the constant dialogue among fans concerning the two series, is proof of their worth. 

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