A stage greeting celebrating the SCREENX release of Gekijouban “Shingeki no Kyojin” Zenpen ~Guren no Yumiya~ (Attack on Titan: The Movie – Part 1 – Crimson Bow and Arrow) was held on October 25 at TOHOシネマズ Ikebukuro in Tokyo. Attending were Kaji Yuuki, the voice of Eren Yeager; director Araki Tetsuro; and composer Sawano Hiroyuki.
Twelve Years On
The film is a re-edited compilation of all 25 episodes of the TV anime Season 1, which aired from April to September 2013, and is the first part of a two-part theatrical release. It is currently screening in SCREENX (a series first), 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX formats from October 23. All three guests expressed amazement that twelve years had passed. Kaji said he was moved hearing how young his voice sounded back then. Director Araki, a longtime fan of Isayama Hajime‘s original manga, revealed that he used to daydream about how he would adapt it himself — and shared the behind-the-scenes story that multiple production companies had fiercely competed for the rights to animate the series. He spoke passionately about the moment he was chosen as director.
Sawano Initially Turned Down the Job
The panel also discussed the first public preview footage, which was screened at an event where the title was kept secret. It was revealed that while the clip featured the Colossal Titan and the 3D Maneuver Gear, Sawano’s music had not yet been used, and the voice of Eren was taken from Kaji’s audition recording.
When asked about receiving the offer to compose the score, Sawano recalled: “I wasn’t sure about my schedule for other projects, so I thought I couldn’t take it and turned it down once. But then Director Araki and the producer came all the way to my agency in person, and I knew I had to make it work.” He added that without ultimately accepting the job, he doubted he would be where he is today.
On the subject of music direction, Araki said he worked closely with sound director Mima Masafumi and declared that matching Sawano’s tracks to scenes on film was his “hobby in life.” He listened to Sawano’s soundtrack every day, memorizing it so he could find the perfect cue for every moment, and described Sawano as “the person who gives me my toys.” Sawano said he always looked forward to seeing how Araki would use his music, and noted that the biggest surprise was hearing “The Reluctant Heroes” — written as a general battle track — play over Levi’s first appearance. “It wasn’t written for Levi at all, so I was genuinely surprised,” he said.
Kaji: “A Good Person with a Streak of Madness”
Asked about his first impression of Kaji’s voice, Araki described him as “a good person who has a kind of madness inside.” Having already heard Kaji’s work in previous roles, Araki said he knew Kaji would suit Eren. Kaji admitted he was surprised by the offer, as he had mostly played characters closer to the Armin type, but reflected: “The more I played Eren, the more I felt, ‘Oh, this guy exists inside me too.’ The director had sensed that madness in me early on.”
Araki added that in the latter half of the series, he listened to Kaji and Inoue Marina (voice of Armin) as though he were hearing the characters themselves speak. “If Kaji didn’t feel like screaming in a scene, then Eren probably wouldn’t either.” Kaji concluded that the greatest factor behind the production’s success was “the shared passion and direction of everyone on set — all of us wanting to make the best possible work.”
A Work That Leads to Peace
In his closing remarks, Sawano expressed happiness at being on stage with Kaji and Araki together. Araki, who had recently rewatched the film on his computer, said: “It may not be perfect in every way, but I could feel my own determination to deliver something good — because I love the source material and absolutely didn’t want to do it wrong. I hope everyone will watch it.” Kaji reflected on the twelve years with heartfelt words: “Wherever in the world I’ve gone to greet fans, people of different languages, cultures, and religions all gather together because they love the same work. That is something precious. And even though it depicts war, I feel this is a work that carries a message connecting us to peace.”
The event closed with the customary “Shinzou wo Sasageyo!” (Dedicate your hearts!) call-and-response, during which Kaji revealed a surprising trivia fact: Eren himself never actually says that line even once throughout the entire series.
Screening Schedule
- Gekijouban “Shingeki no Kyojin” Zenpen ~Guren no Yumiya~ — Now screening in SCREENX, 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX from October 23, 2026
- Gekijouban “Shingeki no Kyojin” Kanketsuhen: THE LAST ATTACK — Coming in SCREENX, 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX in 2027
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