17 Years of Attack on Titan
Yep, today marks 17th years since Attack on Titan began.
Well… today is September 9.
And if you’re an Attack on Titan fan, or even just someone who has been around the anime community for a while, you probably already know why this date is special. 😅
Why? Because on September 9, 2009, Sensei Hajime Isayama’s manga Attack on Titan began its serialization in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine. And today, September 9, 2026, marks 17 years since the beginning of Attack on Titan. Yep, it was launched at a time when I was just around two and a half years old, and today, I am covering this. 😅
Yep Seventeen years.
That’s honestly a very long time for any manga or anime series to remain this relevant even now.
But this isn’t just another anniversary. September 9 has now officially been recognized as Attack on Titan Day by the Japan Anniversary Association, and the announcement was made on September 2, 2026.
But why this date, though?
Because it is the date on which the original manga began serialization. The number nine also has a connection to the series through the Nine Titans.
And that made me think about something.
Why Attack on Titan?
Why did this particular series become such a huge name in the anime and manga industry? What did it achieve that made its impact reach so far beyond Japan? And why, even after the main story has ended, is Attack on Titan still receiving major celebrations, new projects, merchandise, events, and recognition around the world?
Well, to be honest, most of you guys probably already know the answer to that. But still, if there is someone who doesn’t know—although I can’t believe that 😅—then let me tell you why.
For the anime fans who already know, let’s refresh some memories.
Well, there is actually a lot to talk about.
And that’s what I want to talk about today as well.
Not an anime review.
Not an episode review.
Today, we’re going to talk about Attack on Titan itself—where it started, what it achieved, how it affected the international anime audience, and why September 9 has become a special day for its fans.
From a Manga to a Global Phenomenon
Well, before we talk about the achievements, let’s go back to the very beginning. Attack on Titan was created by Hajime Isayama, which I already told you before. The manga began its serialization in 2009, and its basic concept was already something different for that era. Even today, it is still considered unique.
Well, humanity was trying to live behind enormous walls while being threatened by Titans—literally giant creatures that preyed on humans. Well, yeah, the Titans were trying to eat them. 😅
But the series isn’t as simple as it sounds at first, being honest. I mean, Attack on Titan wasn’t really what it looked like from the outside or what everyone initially thought it was. As the story continued, the world started getting bigger and bigger, and the story went far beyond its original premise. What started as a story about humanity surviving behind walls eventually became something much larger.
And after all those years, the manga eventually reached 34 volumes. Well, according to the official Attack on Titan portal, the series has surpassed 140 million copies sold worldwide. Literally sold. I mean, it’s not something that needs me to explain how popular it is. 140 million copies across 34 volumes. Yep, that many. 😅
It has also been published in 18 languages across more than 180 countries. And when you think about that number, you can probably already understand why Attack on Titan isn’t famous only in Japan. It became much larger than that and gained a name internationally as well. I mean, it became a worldwide name. And now you understand what those numbers mean. If you think that’s already a lot, then let me tell you about some of the achievements that Attack on Titan has received. 🫡
What made Attack on Titan stand out?
The answer is very simple. If we go back to the very beginning, Attack on Titan is one of the series that became most recognized by the international audience. Plus, one of the biggest strengths of Attack on Titan was the handling of the story and the mystery. Well, that is a point about the entire story. It is a much bigger, larger world, and when you make a larger world, it becomes harder to maintain the story. But still, the audience was continuing to get new information while the story was progressing, and many of the questions could be answered later.
Well, literally, they gave that many hints in the series that people were confused: is it a part of the story? Literally, I mean, people were confused about whether it was connected to that part, and people kept considering how everything was connected. The world was also becoming larger and more complicated as the story was continuing. But the story was showcased in a way that, even when it was getting complicated, it still didn’t feel overwhelming.
Why? Because you don’t even know what you are watching at that time. You don’t know that what you are seeing is connected to something in the future that you never knew about. And that’s something that helped Attack on Titan stand apart from many other series. And there was one more portion that came into it. It doesn’t just tell you what the world was. It keeps making you question what you thought you knew about it.
And then there were the themes. The series dealt with things such as freedom, war, hatred, survival, sacrifice, despair, and the consequences of human decisions. And because of that, Attack on Titan became something that people could discuss far beyond simple questions like, “Who is a strong character?” Or people were asking a much simpler question: “What does freedom actually mean?”
And that’s honestly one of the things that made Attack on Titan so different. It wasn’t only about the Titans, the fights, or who was stronger than who. The story kept giving you something to think about, and sometimes you didn’t even realize the importance of something until much later. Well, that’s what made people keep talking about it, keep questioning it, and keep trying to understand what was actually happening. And I think that is one of the biggest reasons why Attack on Titan became such a different kind of series. 😅
Attack on Titan and the International Audience
Well, this is probably the biggest reason why I wanted to write this article. I already told you about how Attack on Titan wasn’t only a success in Japan, but also became popular worldwide. And I already told you that it has become a major part of the international anime conversation. And the official portal, as I already told you, says that it has been published in 18 languages across more than 180 countries, along with its huge sales number, which is definitely not a small amount. 😅
And it doesn’t stop there. Why did it become so big internationally? Because it also received one of the kindest awards, to be honest. And that is the part which makes this anime entirely different. And I’m not gonna lie, I know it’s kind of just a dream, but yeah, it is my personal dream that I will receive this same award one day. It doesn’t matter whether I’m going to achieve it or not. But, aside from that, to me, receiving a Global Impact Award would mean a lot.
The award itself represents what the name suggests. It means that something you created went beyond just being a story. It reached people throughout the world and crossed different cultures. And honestly, I think that’s one of the biggest things a creator can achieve
During the ceremony, director Yuichiro Hayashi talked about how the series had crossed borders, cultures, and generations, reaching people who normally don’t watch anime. And that is one of the reasons why even people who don’t normally watch anime know about Attack on Titan.
The Numbers Behind Attack on Titan
Well, let’s talk about the numbers. And by the way, when I’m giving a number, don’t think about it like I have bad numbers in maths, okay? I had pretty good marks in maths when I was in ninth grade, okay? Don’t ask me about my current numbers, though. 😅 Well, that’s aside. Let’s go to the numbers.
And to be honest, you will understand what it is. Because sometimes numbers can explain more than anything. And to be honest, for me, seeing these numbers across multiple anime and the data behind them, it is also a very big thing.
So, let’s go through some of the numbers and achievements of Attack on Titan one by one.
1. 140+ Million Manga Copies Sold
According to the official Attack on Titan portal, the manga has sold over 140 million copies worldwide as of 2024. And honestly, I don’t think I need to explain how big that number is. 😅
2. Published Across 180+ Countries
The manga has been published in 18 languages across more than 180 countries. So yeah, when we talk about international popularity, this number itself says quite a lot.
3. 42 Wins and 88 Nominations
According to IMDb’s current awards listing, Attack on Titan has 42 wins and 88 nominations. And that’s not just from one award organization. The list includes recognition from different awards and organizations.
4. Anime of the Year
Attack on Titan won Anime of the Year at the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. And yeah, that’s definitely one of the achievements that deserves to be mentioned here.
5. Global Impact Award
In 2025, Attack on Titan received the inaugural Crunchyroll Anime Awards Global Impact Award. The award recognizes groundbreaking works that have made a lasting impact on culture, history, and audiences around the world.
6. 9.1/10 on IMDb
And then we have the IMDb rating. Attack on Titan currently has around 9.1/10, with hundreds of thousands of ratings. And when you look at the individual episode ratings, many episodes have also received extremely high scores.
And these numbers are just some of them. If we go through all the achievements, I might never be able to complete or write them in a single blog. 😅 These numbers are just some of the things that make Attack on Titan look impressive. They show how consistently the series has remained visible across different parts of the anime and manga industry together.
And when you pull those achievements together, you start to understand why Attack on Titan was treated very differently from just an ordinary anime or any other ordinary franchise. It wasn’t successful in only one area. It managed to make an impact through its manga, anime, awards, international popularity, and the wider anime industry.
And What Is Happening on Attack on Titan Day 2026?
Well, as you know, by now you already understand why Attack on Titan Day is a special day. But yeah, of course, if they’re getting a special day, then we’re going to celebrate it officially. It is not just a name on the calendar. It is a day, and this year the franchise has prepared a huge number of things. And the official Attack on Titan Day 2026 celebration is covering 99 pieces of news.
Yep, 99 news items. 😅 We’re getting announcements covering new videos, merchandise, manga availability, the official YouTube channel, upcoming theatrical screenings, gaming, collaborations, and much more. Well, being honest, it is 99 news items. As I told you, I can’t cover everything, but I’m going to give you a few points which are, like, the main, main highlights of it. 😅
One of the biggest campaigns is giving fans access to 99 chapters of the original manga for 99 hours through Magazine Pocket. Yep, you can read it for those 99 hours from this moment. The campaign started at 12:00 a.m. JST on September 9 and runs until 2:59 a.m. JST on September 13. They also revealed a new commemorative visual featuring the Nine Titans, along with a special celebratory illustration by creator Hajime Isayama.
And there are many more things as well. They are even holding a special livestream on September 9 at 21:30 JST, featuring the voice actors of Eren, Mikasa, and Connie. So yeah, get ready for the livestream on YouTube. And that’s really not just a normal anniversary celebration, because it isn’t actually a normal anniversary anymore. Literally, just think about it: if a franchise gets officially recognized and given a day which is now in its own name, it is really something. 😅
Want to See Everything Happening on Attack on Titan Day?
Well, I obviously can’t cover all 99 pieces of news in this one blog. 😅 So, if you’re an Attack on Titan fan and want to check out all the official announcements, news, merchandise, videos, and everything else connected to Attack on Titan Day 2026, you can check out the official Attack on Titan website below.
Attack on Titan Official Portal
Go and check it out, because there is a lot happening there. 😅
My Thoughts
Let’s go to my thoughts. And I’m not going to pretend that I am the biggest fan of Attack on Titan. Being honest with you, I haven’t watched the series yet, okay? 😅 But I know about it, and even most of you who are reading this probably know about it.
Why? Because this is one of those series that has a name that you know despite whether you’ve actually watched the series or not. It is not like you need to be a part of the anime community or something. You still know about it. Everyone knows about it. It is not just a part of the anime community anymore; it has become a part of what we live with. You know the name from somewhere, somehow. Maybe you saw it in a clip, somewhere online, or heard people discussing it.
And well, you know how huge the fandom is, and you know how the discussions around it keep going. And that is exactly why I wanted to write this article today. Because sometimes you don’t personally have to go through every single episode of something to recognize what it has achieved. It has become a complete vibe. 😅 It is something that I think every anime writer and anime fan wishes for.
Attack on Titan became one of those anime where Japanese anime could travel far beyond Japan and reach people around the world. And after 17 years, people are still talking about it, celebrating it, creating things around it, and giving it new recognition. Why? Because if it wasn’t for series like this, maybe Japanese anime wouldn’t have received this level of recognition internationally.
Fun Fact Before We Finish
Well, before we finish this, let me give you a little fun fact about it.
Did you know that there are bronze statues connected to Attack on Titan that were created through fan support? Well, yeah, they really exist, and they are in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan, the hometown of Hajime Isayama.
The most famous ones are the bronze statues of young Eren, Mikasa, and Armin at the Oyama Dam, recreating the scene where they look toward the Colossal Titan. The statues were made possible through a crowdfunding effort supported by many fans. There is also a bronze statue of Levi at Hita Station.
And yep, when I first came across that, I honestly got very surprised. 😅 But that is probably one of the biggest examples of how passionate Attack on Titan fans can be. I mean, fans literally helped bring a scene from the story into the real world.
Final Thoughts
Well, 17 years have passed since Attack on Titan was just beginning its journey as a manga. Today, it has become a worldwide franchise with more than 140 million copies sold, expanding into multiple forms of media, building an amazing fanbase, and continuing to be celebrated around the world. And nowadays, it has officially become Attack on Titan Day.
So whether you are someone who follows Attack on Titan or not, whether you discovered it years ago or you’re discovering it today, this is a good day to remember what the series achieved.
If you don’t know much about it, that’s fine. But you probably know the name.
Just think about it: how far can anime go?
Not just as a source of entertainment, but as something that can become part of culture, something that can bring people together, and something that can remain in people’s memories for years.
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Well, that’s it for today, guys. Happy Attack on Titan Day! ❤️
TATAKAE! 🫡🔥
This Blog Written By: Prince Sanatan Kumar
(Yuu-Kun)
