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Attack on Titan Invades the Tokyo Skytree with Lifelike Recreations
posted on by Kim Morrissy
“Just shut up and put all your faith in the Skytree!” Eren Jaegar yells, as hoarse and angered as he always is. It's an almost word-for-word rendition of his iconic scene in episode 14 of the first season, where he calls out the military police for their cowardice and challenges them to place their trust in him. But instead of himself, Eren urges the crowd to put their bets on the Tokyo Skytree.
This line might sound incredibly puzzling until you remember the place it is being uttered. Attack on Titan has come to the Tokyo Skytree, and it is here to stay until July the 14th. Not only does it promote the second season of the Attack on Titan anime, it also marks the fifth year since the Tokyo Skytree has been open to the public. I went to the Skytree to check out this titanic event.
Hiroyuki Sawano's bombastic soundtrack for the Attack on Titan anime blared out as I stepped into the Tembo Galleria of the Tokyo Skytree. Located 450 meters above ground, the Tembo Galleria is the highest observation deck on the Tokyo Skytree, offering the highest panoramic view of Tokyo and its surrounding bay.
The Attack on Titan collaboration with Tokyo Skytree is impressive in scale. There's been a laundry list of Attack on Titan collaborations and paraphernalia so far, but they're generally pretty cute and silly for the most part. It's more fitting to see titans inside the Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest free-standing tower. As a narrative, Attack on Titan has always been larger than life, so much so that only the Skytree could possibly hope to match its gargantuan scope.
There's even a story involved with the Skytree setting, appropriately called “Attack on Skytree.” Inside the tower, Eren and the Survey Corps are supposedly battling against a 350-meter tall Titan. At night, visitors to the Skytree can watch this battle play out on the Tembo Deck, which is, not coincidentally, located 350 meters above ground. This is an original animation which plays on a big panorama screen from all directions, and is a must-see for Attack on Titan fans.
Even during the day, however, there's plenty to see in the Skytree. The Tembo Galleria is where most of the action is, featuring plenty of decorations and even a Colossal Titan. It does cost an extra 1030 yen for adults on top of the regular entrance fee, but that's the same price for anyone who wants to venture to the very top deck of the Skytree. The Attack on Titan stuff is an extra perk that even the most casual visitor to this part of the Skytree will not fail to notice.
Once you step out of the elevator to the top floor (which shows Attack on Titan clips), you'll see the Colossal Titan. You then follow a tunnel around the tower to reach its highest point, which is marked by another titan. For this event, the tunnel is called “the Defensive Battle of the Sky Survey Corps” and is covered with pictures of the characters in fighting poses. You'll hear their voices coming from the speakers as you venture up the tower.
“This is no time to stand around gawking,” Eren shouted in Japanese as I walked by. “The titans are surrounding us as we speak!” This was just one of a handful of lines that were recorded specifically for this event. Fans who are curious about every line can purchase a 3,700 yen ticket from certain convenience stores which includes a book that lists all the lines.
Attack on Titan might not be a show for children, but kids can have fun looking for the little “background titans” hiding in the corners. There are apparently nine in total. There's also a “Counterattack of the Sky Survey Corps” area, which is the designated camera spot, along with character images and key animation frames from the anime itself.
And of course, it wouldn't be a collaboration event if there wasn't some merchandise and a café to go with it. A part of the Tembo Galleria is dedicated to tie-in merchandise printed exclusively for this event. The shop mainly sells simple souvenirs like medals and gatcha, although There are also life-sized statues of Eren and Levi on display, along with a lifelike rendition of the vertical maneuvering equipment depicted in the show. They're not for sale, but they do provide an extra touch of realism to the exhibit.
As impressive and lifelike as the statues are, the thing I was most surprised by was how short these two characters are by American standards. Eren is 170cm tall (5'7”), while Levi is a mere 160 cm (5'3") tall. Levi's height has always been a fandom joke, so it's fun to see exactly how tall he is in person. Unfortunately, it's hard to convey his relative height with photos that lack a frame of comparison.
As for the café, that's located on the Tembo Deck, complete with a menu featuring items related to the show in clever ways. For example, there's a “Creme Brûlée of Destruction,” which you eat by breaking through a wall of caramel and nuts with an Armored Titan cookie, as well as the “Extermination Bread Bowl Stew,” where you literally have to stab the titan's neck in order to eat the beef stew inside.
Finally, visitors to the Skytree can round off their trip with a stamp rally. You download an app, press the digital stamps to your smartphone at each stamp station around the tower, and when you've finished, you're rewarded with a sheet of stickers at the Skytree Shop on the first floor.
All in all, there's plenty to do at the Tokyo Skytree, whether you're an Attack on Titan fan or just a tourist drinking in the sights. There's even a Colossal Titan below the Skytree itself too, in the third basement floor of Oshiage Station. The collaboration event ends on July the 14th, so make sure to check it out while you still can.
