“Attack on Titan” Creator gets Fans Excited for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” with Unexpected Collaboration
Nearly three years following the conclusion of Hajime Isayama’s celebrated manga/anime “Attack on Titan”, the beloved author has made recent waves with his newest illustration: an official poster for Disney’s upcoming live-action Star Wars movie, “The Mandalorian and Grogu”.
The unexpected collaboration between one of the world’s most recognized storytellers and one of the largest corporations suddenly seems like a match made in heaven, bridging fans from two separate media, unified by a love of great storytelling.
Hajime Isayama Blends His Signature Style with A Galaxy Far, Far Away
The poster for the upcoming “The Mandalorian and Grogu” movie features the titular hero, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), clutching his adorable partner, Grogu (himself), as they swing into battle with the same dynamic flair fans of “Attack on Titan” have grown accustomed to. Even without monstrous titans in the background, the art style is infused with a sleek yet intense scale that allows fans to instantly recognize his work.
The poster also includes a personal note from Isayama detailing his love for the Star Wars franchise.
“My first encounter with Star Wars was when I was shown Episodes 6 → 5 → 4 during a homestay in Idaho. The biological feel of mold and dust drifting inside inorganic spaceships—that contrast was what gave me a sense of real life within Star Wars. Above all, Grogu is just too cute, I can’t get enough of him.”
Isayama was not alone in this collaboration either. Disney also reached out to other prominent manga artists to help promote their upcoming Star Wars film, such as George Morikawa (“Hajime no Ippo”), Ito Ogure (“Air Gear”), Ken Wakui (“Tokyo Revengers”), and Atsushi Ohkubo (“Soul Eater”). By having them join the fray as well, the promotional material came off as more than just a one-off promotional stunt but rather a full celebration between beloved forms of media.
Even the creator of “Soul Eater”, Atsushi Ohkubo, expressed his own wishes following the collaboration regarding the possibility of Grogu wielding his own lightsaber someday.
“There’s no end to talking about the appeal of “Star Wars,” but I especially love lightsabers! I love all kinds of lightsabers, red ones and green ones, but I’m particularly fond of blue lightsabers! Looking back, I think it might be because of blue lightsabers that I started thinking that anything that glows blue looks cool! I’m rooting for Grogu as he follows the Mandalorian path, but I’d also love to see him wield a green lightsaber someday!”
“Star Wars” Continues to Expand into Anime
While the recent “The Mandalorian and Grogu” collaboration may have turned heads, Disney has already shown that it is invested in merging Star Wars content more closely with the Anime market. With a total of three seasons and more rumored to be on the way, “Star Visions” was the first attempt to merge the two markets, and it has been met with great success.
What makes the “Visions” show so unique is the different animation style it employs for each episode instead of sticking to the known style fans have become familiar with in earlier Star Wars TV, such as “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels”. Through an intensive collaboration with six Japanese animation studios, Disney manages to create a distinct anthology series that grants viewers a rich and new perspective on Star Wars that they weren’t used to.
Each episode is highly regarded for its unique voice and tone. While not having to adhere to restrictive canon guidelines that most Star Wars shows are tied up, “Visions” freedom allowed it to blossom into a standalone project that is truly unique and showcases the creative power of the anime market.
Fans are excited to see what else Disney has in store for the Galaxy Far, Far Away as “The Mandalorian and Grogu” hit theaters May 22nd.
