“Heroism”, “Freedom”, and “Independence” are terms deeply engraved in Filipino culture & history. For centuries, Filipinos have experienced oppression subjected to them under different nations which ignited the country’s thirst for freedom. The culmination of cruelty, tyranny, & injustices led to the eruption of numerous monumental revolutions in Philippine history.
In the 125th Celebration of Philippine Independence day, we Filipinos look back as to how these three themes are advocated by history to appreciate how these fascinating events truly occurred. Textbooks, historical monuments, statues, and documentaries are just a couple of examples on how we are able to appreciate these themes in the modern day. And though it may be unexpected for others, these themes are also well advocated by modern forms of entertainment that we Filipinos enjoy. From Television shows, movies, books, and yes even “Anime” which lead to appreciation and an eye opening perspective towards Heroism, Freedom, & Independence.
STORY SPOILER ALERT ⚠️⚠️⚠️
The following includes some story spoilers that you may want to avoid. Although not everything is told blatantly, still be cautious in continuing!
Attack On Titan : Heroism, Freedom & Independence
The masterful story of Attack on Titan (AOT) checks all the boxes when it comes to the portrayal of Heroism, Freedom, and Independence. To put you back on the loop on what AOT revolves around, the story involves the main character named “Eren” on his journey to achieve freedom for his people, family, and friends. Honestly, it’s hard to describe the plot of the show with justice because of its complex writing.
The story starts in a post-apocalyptic world where almost all of humanity was wiped out by these giant humanoid monsters called “Titans”. The remainder of the human race resides within the confines of three large walls that keep the titans from going inside and eating all the humans that are left. Of course almost nothing goes right and the wall on Eren’s town was immediately penetrated in the first episode. (Big story spoiler alert for those who haven’t caught up yet!). Later on , it was revealed that the people within the walls are actually the race of “Eldians” oppressed by the outside world wherein the fictional nation of “Marley” would send monstrous armies of Titans to keep them on their island. I was kind of sweating trying to summarize the whole plot in a few sentences but long story short, the plot involved a lot of action on top of issues regarding race, oppression, war, and especially the desire for freedom.
HEROISM
In the story, Heroism came in the form of the Survey Corps which are part of the military unit of the people within the walls. This unit was created to survey the lands outside, in hopes of building possible communities and to be free from the huge cage that restricts them from the outside world. Eren and his friends became members of the corps and throughout the show, they showed heroism in fighting against the titans. The survey corps are referred to as “The Hope of Mankind”, the symbol of the corps also symbolizes the wings of freedom which is their aim in living in a world devoid of restrictions from the walls and the titans.
The story presents many deaths and sacrifices made by the corps in achieving their goal, there were many heroic moments made especially by the main cast including Armin and Mikasa who are the two closest friends of Eren. The world of Attack on Titan is a cruel place, many characters die either by being eaten by titans or being victims of war. The courage of the corps are well evident in facing the figurative and literal monstrosities of their world.
Like the heroes of history who faced insurmountable odds, uncertainty, and even death. Heroism is another theme that is prominent with how our nation reached the state to where it is today. They did not face gigantic monsters but rather, they faced monstrous armies and a government that abused them for many years. In the face of these challenges, they fought on and did not falter.
FREEDOM
“If Someone Is Willing To Take My Freedom… I Won’t Hesitate To Take Theirs.”
- Eren Yeager
Freedom is one of the most prominent themes of the show. Eren’s greatest dream is to one day explore the lands beyond the walls. This is the reason why he wanted to join the survey corps in the first place, he wanted to see what is out there. The meaning of the word “Freedom” in the show has also evolved in many ways. In the beginning, it referred to physically going outside the walls… but at the latter part of the story “Freedom” also dealt with being free from oppression, hate, & racism subjected by another “superior” race. Freedom is also seen in different perspectives, whether it is the freedom of the main characters or even those sought by the antagonists. In ways, the conflicts confronted by the characters involve the idea of freedom where they break free from the chains that hold them back. This theme is heavily presented to the face of viewers and it does a great job in igniting an inspiration to seek for freedom and any form of limitation that one may encounter.
The way that characters behave for “Freedom” can open the minds of viewers, especially younger audiences. Another thing that it does really well is to open the conversation about the limitations of Freedom. This idea is often brought upon in philosophy, and as it is said all men/women have the right to be “Free” in doing whatever they desire. However the show also portrays the consequences and responsibility of the actions done by characters for their “Freedom”. Seeing how far “Freedom” can really go and the limitations that it has (quite ironic because FREEDOM is literally the idea of having no limitations) with what it offers to the world and its characters is such an engaging sight to see. It also makes you think about what is “Good Freedom” and “Bad Freedom”, quite a deep topic coming from a show for teens. Well that type of writing is one of the things that make the show so amazing in the first place.
It also gives a perspective on to what ends people will go to grab their freedom, perhaps similar to what Filipino heroes have done in starting the revolution for our people and nation back then. It can also somewhat motivate viewers to look at our past heroes!
INDEPENDENCE
Similar to Freedom, independence also means being free from rules or restrictions, here we’ll refer to it as the “Independence of a Nation or State” because this is also portrayed in the show in one way or another. First, the island of “Paradis” where most of the story took place and the main characters came from were ruled under a royal family that controlled the ins and outs of their lands. They rewrote history, lied to their people, and kept their power for their perspective of “Freedom”. The show included a lot of internal warfare specifically with the government of the island. Characters confront the conflict presented by the higher ups and they seek ways to overcome this obstacle in order to find a more stable ruling. This in turn also provided more support on their mission to eradicate the titans and find the mysteries ingrained within the plot. Thus independence was achieved internally.
“So If We Kill The Enemy, The One Waiting For Us On The Other Side, Will We… Finally Be Free?”
- Eren Yeager
This is followed with even more issues of independence when it was later revealed that their island and race was actually subjected to the oppression of the powerful nation “Marley”. Bringing forth war, death, and battles in order to achieve the independence of Paradis from hate and abuse. Just like freedom, Eren will do anything to achieve their independence even in the means of ignoring all the consequences of his actions. So he bears all this responsibility and declares himself as the sole initiator of what must be done to achieve “Freedom & Independence”, even if it means killing innocents, destroying the lives of others, and taking the freedom of other people. That is what he saw to be the only way of gaining his and their “Independence”.
It makes us look back to real life examples, especially with the many situations that our country sought for independence. The oppression and subjugation that our countrymen experienced was no joke. Independence was a far away dream for our people who experienced all the hardships of being under dominant rule, their courage was something to admire, hell we even admire the way characters on “Attack on Titan” fought for their country so seeing how our ancestors did it must be a sight to see and an inspiring story to absorb. And because of them, we enjoy the blessings of independence that we have today. Well maybe Eren also thought that way for his people.
So… What?
The story of Attack on Titan deals with themes of Heroism, Freedom, & Independence. Along the complex characters, writing, and callbacks that make up this immersive world is a message that Filipino viewers can relate to. The strong desire for Freedom that Eren has for his people is a playful reflection of what our Filipino heroes have sought for many years ago. The issues presented throughout the show can also be applied in many aspects of Philippine history.
Oppression, Subjugation, and even racism are the inhumane treatment that these fictional characters suffer from, which can open the eyes of the younger viewers to the seriousness of such matters. Younger viewers can also gain a better outlook on the experiences of real life people under the same shoes, making them more aware that the dread of our ancestors from long before are to be taken seriously. The heroes who have sacrificed their lives, relationships, and dreams are told to the modern youth Filipino viewers, such shows like Attack on Titan have creatively portrayed historical concepts that people around the globe can enjoy.
Viewers can gain more appreciation of the long history of the Philippines. An entertainment that can give them an idea and push them to know more about the real life applications of such issues is always a welcome idea. Many more shows continue to open the eyes of its viewers about real life issues that exist today, in the past, and those that may continue in the future. And Filipinos! Let us learn and appreciate our history more, we would not be here without the efforts made by our ancestors. We are who we are right now because of the courage that they have shown. Let us also learn from the lessons of the past, to never let such actions be repeated, and mistakes to be corrected in the future.
But hey! That’s just a snippet of the rich story of Attack on Titan, it goes on much deeper and you can never really appreciate everything that it offers unless you witness it yourself. Same is true for our history, nothing beats reading our history books and fully comprehending where we came from. So may these forms of entertainment become somewhat of a bridge in gaining a deeper understanding towards our history.
In Summary
- Anime can be an entertaining way to open up about Historical issues, themes, and life-like events. The deep story of Attack on Titan is one example of creatively incorporating these issues where viewers can learn and relate to.
- Anime can inspire “heroism” to viewers, especially younger viewers. With Attack on Titan, “Heroism” in terms of patriotism and the love for one’s nation is a takeaway that audiences can gain in watching the show. It also gives a lens about the patriotism of our ancestors in connection to our history in real life.
- Deep and complex discussions are also tackled in these types of shows. Attack on Titan shares a story that challenges the morals of its audiences. Particularly to the end of “Freedom” which Filipino viewers can learn more about. “Freedom” is also another theme that is largely prominent to the history of the Philippines, which viewers can gain more appreciation of.
- “One’s Love for Country” and “Fight for Independence” are themes that are in the backbone of Attack on Titan’s plot. These are the same things that our ancestors embodied during their fight against those who colonized our country. What’s more, we can gain and practice these values just like the characters that we loved & the ancestors that spilled their blood for the Philippines.
How do you show your love for your country? And how can you relate other shows you’ve watched to the history of the Philippines?
Thanks! Follow Chingu for more interesting reads!
