The music of the first opening of Shingeki No Kyojin and its relationship with the narrative

Abstract

Shingeki No Kyojin is an anime that presents a complex narrative content which, within its intricacy, develops a communicative and meaningful musical dimension. In order to fully understand it, it is essential to approach it from multiple perspectives. For this reason, the present study outlines a series of guidelines necessary to achieve the objectives of this research. Firstly, it is analyzed and explained that music serves a communicative and discursive purpose; it does not merely aim to entertain, but also to convey a message. Secondly, the first opening theme of Shingeki No Kyojin is taken as a case study, and several elements are identified to facilitate its analysis: the narrative context of the anime, the lyrics of the song, its musical characteristics, the tonalities underlying it, and its melodic development. Thirdly, the study emphasizes the crucial role of music within a story and how each of the aforementioned aspects contributes fundamentally to the realization of its communicative intent. Finally, it is concluded that there is indeed communication, that a message is present, and that music transcends its conventional functionality. There exists an internal communication—a rhetoric that unfolds on both emotional and narrative levels.