Attack on Titan’s Only Real Successor Is a 2016 Crunchyroll Drama Nobody Watched

When Attack on Titan became a global phenomenon, it reshaped modern anime. Its brutal action, political tension, and moral ambiguity set a new bar for dark fantasy storytelling. Studios have tried to capture that same lightning-in-a-bottle intensity ever since, but few projects truly felt like they carried its DNA forward in a meaningful way.

Yet one series arguably came closest, and almost no one talks about it. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress debuted in 2016 as a streaming-era original backed by serious talent and cinematic production values. With its tenth anniversary arriving this year, it’s worth reconsidering whether this overlooked drama was the only real successor to Attack on Titan’s throne.

How Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is Similar to Attack on Titan

Part of what made Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress feel like spiritual kin was its creative pedigree. It was produced by Wit Studio, the same studio responsible for the early seasons of Attack on Titan. The visuals of dynamic camera sweeps, desperate close-quarters combat, and apocalyptic set pieces felt instantly recognizable to fans craving more of that visceral energy.

The premise also echoes Attack on Titan’s high-stakes survivalism. Humanity is cornered by monstrous beings known as Kabane, forcing survivors into fortified train stations and armored locomotives. The industrial aesthetic replaces medieval walls, but the core anxiety remains: extinction looms, and safety is always temporary. Every episode pulses with urgency and dread.

At its center stands Ikoma, a driven young engineer who refuses to accept passive survival. Like Attack on Titan’s Eren Yeager, he’s fueled by obsession and rage. But Kabaneri adds a twist because its hero becomes partially infected, blurring the line between human and monster. That moral and physical hybridity gives the story a distinct identity rather than feeling like imitation.

Why Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Never Reached AOT’s Heights

Despite strong animation and a compelling hook, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress struggled to escape Attack on Titan’s shadow. The early episodes drew praise for intensity and world-building, but later arcs leaned heavily into spectacle at the expense of deeper political intrigue. Where Attack on Titan expanded its lore in daring ways, Kabaneri narrowed its focus.

Character development also proved uneven. Supporting figures showed promise but rarely received the layered treatment that made Attack on Titan’s ensemble unforgettable. Emotional beats landed, yet they lacked the long-term payoff that keeps audiences theorizing and debating years later. The foundation was strong, but the follow-through felt rushed.

Still, dismissing Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress as a lesser copy misses its achievements. Its steampunk-infused horror, kinetic train battles, and operatic tone gave it a flavor all its own. A decade later, it stands as a fascinating time capsule of mid-2010s anime ambition—an earnest attempt to bottle the intensity of Titan and reshape it into something new.

As the series marks ten years, it deserves another look. It may not have ignited a cultural wildfire, but in spirit and style, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress remains the closest anime has come to inheriting Attack on Titan’s brutal crown.