Attack on Titan and DC's Watchmen are often heralded in their respective genres as the benchmark by which everything else should be judged. It should come as no surprise then that the two properties share several glaring similarities in narrative, structure, and character development.
Watchmen's Adrian Veidt possesses traits similar to Attack on Titan's eventual anti-hero Eren Yeager, while Yeager's Attack Titan shares striking similarities to the genetically altered Dr. Manhattan. That said, there are also a number of differences between the two stories that shouldn't be overlooked.
10 Similar: Both Stories Feature Multi-Layered Narratives
Attack on Titan is renowned for encompassing a fascinatingly layered narrative. Hajime Isayama's captivating series explores a myriad of pertinent issues and does so with a degree of thematic adroitness that elevates the story to heights not often reached in anime. This feat is perfectly exemplified by Eren's meeting with the Founder, Ymir Fritz.
Comparably, Watchmen is the world's most critically-acclaimed graphic novel. In addition to tackling various complex themes scarcely addressed in the superhero genre, Alan Moore's epic tale manages to separate itself from the pack by being one of the most layered superhero stories ever written. This fact is substantiated by the political and philosophical ideas that guide the plot.
9 Different: The Crimebusters Are Superheroes
Watchmen is no ordinary superhero tale. Rather than adhere to commonly employed tropes and restrictive characterization, Moore places his heroes in a world that feels true to life, and, as a result, encompasses far more depth than is typically apparent in a superhero story. That said, Watchmen still sits in the superhero genre.
It's no surprise that Attack on Titan is firmly established among the most elite anime and manga. Isayama's ingenious series is as complex as it is thought-provoking, often addressing issues found present in some capacity or other in Moore's Watchmen. The most glaring difference between the two entities, however, exists in the premise.
8 Similar: Both Stories Are Elevated By Formidable Foreshadowing
Throughout the series, Isayama capably incorporates elements of foreshadowing into Attack on Titan's story. One of the most profound examples is the relationship between the Survey Corps' Ymir and Krista Lenz, which brilliantly alludes to the Founder Ymir's connection to the royal family.
Similarly, Moore masterfully foreshadows some of Watchmen's most significant events. The most iconic might be the Comedian's death, which expertly alludes to the violent events to come. Even more impressive is how well these significant events link back to the Comedian's death and set the stage for an epic finale.
7 Different: A Giant Adversary Threatens All In Attack On Titan
For the residents of Paradis Island, life has always been confined to the space inside the walls. To venture beyond them is to face a race of giant man-eating humanoids known as Titans. Eren and his comrades eventually unearth secrets about the Titans that reveal far more about their origin, but not before humanity has incurred severe losses.
In the case of Watchmen, while the discovery of who's behind the chaos in New York City is certainly of seismic proportion, there's no man-eating giant threatening to seize the City and eats its inhabitants. Even the gigantic squid, believed by the public to have claimed the lives of millions, is nothing more than a biologically-engineered entity.
6 Similar: Each Tale Encompasses Profound Motifs & Symbolism
In addition to foreshadowing, Attack on Titan is cram-full of profound motifs and symbolism. For Eren and Mikasa, the purple flower present throughout the anime is symbolic of their love for one another. For the Scout Regiment, the color green represents their search for renewal and prosperity without the Titan threat.
Much like Attack on Titan, Watchmen features some powerful symbolism and recurring motifs. Throughout the story, Moore presents time and clocks as major portents for what is to come. The Comedian's blood-stained smiley face badge is a visual allusion to the doomsday clock, which plays a major role in the overall story.
5 Different: The World Of Attack On Titan Is Merely Fictional
Although Attack on Titan possesses realistic properties, such as that evident in its depiction of military strategy, the world where the events take place is completely fictional. Of course, Yeager's world certainly bears resemblance to Earth with many of its locations sharing distinct similarities to real places, but ultimately, the world itself is a mere invention.
Watchmen, on the other hand, takes place in America's New York City. This establishes Moore's desire to place the Crimebusters inside a world that feels more representative of real life. This notion is clearly expanded on in Moore's exploration of superheroes and vigilantism, which examines what things might look like if normal people chose to become heroes.
4 Similar: Dr. Manhattan & The Attack Titan Each Transcend Time
One of the incredible abilities Eren enjoys as the possessor of the Attack Titan is, as his brother Zeke describes it, the power to transcend time. This gives Eren access to the memories of both past and future inheritors. Eren later uses this ability to devastating effect when he accesses the Founder Ymir's memories and initiates the Rumbling.
As it pertains to Watchmen, Dr. Manhattan ultimately acquires the ability to manipulate space and time following a freak accident that sees him ripped apart inside a radioactive particle test chamber. For this reason, Dr. Manhattan is the first to see humanity's bleak future before Veidt's giant squid wrecks New York City.
3 Different: The Survey Corps Boasts Several Key Female Members
Attack on Titan's Survey Corps contains both male and female military personnel. Mikasa, Sasha, and Historia have fought valiantly alongside the likes of Eren, Levi, and commander Erwin Smith in their mission to uncover the truth about the Titans. Mikasa has often been instrumental in ensuring the survival of some of the Corps' key members.
Although Watchmen's Crimebusters enjoy the support and strength of the formidable Silk Spectre, the rest of the group consists of male heroes and Dr. Manhattan. Even when Nite Owl, Rorschach, and Silk Spectre join forces again following the Crimebusters' split, Spectre remains the only female privy to Veidt's decimation of millions in New York.
2 Similar: Ozymandias & Eren Yeager Share A Genocidal God-Complex
For Eren Yeager, the pain and suffering of his people are enough to justify taking genocidal action against the rest of the world. Yeager believes that the Eldian people will never truly be free until any potential threat to their existence is completely wiped out. Consequently, Eren's once noble disposition is nowhere to be found when he sets the Rumbling in motion.
In a similar vein, Adrian Veidt will stop at nothing to prevent World War III. As a result, Veidt drops a biologically-engineered alien squid on New York City to unite the world against a false alien threat. Veidt's actions result in over three million people losing their lives, but, much like Eren, he is adamant that the ends justify the means.
1 Different: The Crimebusters Have No Restrictions Beyond The Keane Act
The costumed adventurers of New York are free to engage in hero activity until the Keane Act prohibits it in 1977, granting only those working for the government the freedom to continue. Despite this, each member of the disbanded Crimebusters collective is still free to traverse the world should they choose to as an average citizen.
In Attack on Titan, the people of Paradis Island enjoy no such freedom. They have known nothing but captivity within the walls. Hence, Eren and his comrades initially share the same goal to uncover the truth about the Titans until Eren's motivations later change and lead him down a genocidal warpath.