Attack On Titan Meets Jujutsu Kaisen In A Wildly Underrated 17-Part Series

A 17-part series, which is wildly entertaining throughout its run, seems to combine some of the best ingredients from both Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen. The series in question never earned the same level of acclaim and mainstream popularity as the two anime. However, it is hard to ignore its potential and how it could have grown into something truly special had it been given more time to expand.

Although it has been quite some time since Attack on Titan ended its run, the anime remains one of the most popular offerings in the medium. It still serves as the gateway anime for many viewers who are only dipping their feet in the world of manga and their animated Japanese adaptations. Jujutsu Kaisen, too, has had a similar effect, drawing in newcomers with its accessible shōnen storytelling and gripping action scenes.

Shōnen manga, Iron Knight, seemed to hold as much potential as Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen when it was first published. It could have grown into something truly remarkable. Unfortunately, things did not exactly go in its favor, and it fell short of becoming the next big battle shōnen phenomenon.

Iron Knight Had Huge Potential & Ended Way Too Soon

Iron Knight manga’s cover art featuring the main hero

Iron Knight almost felt reminiscent of some of the best shōnen anime, like Fullmetal Alchemist, Attack on Titan, and Jujutsu Kaisen when it introduced a protagonist who can turn into an iron monster goblin. The show’s parallels with other well-written anime of the genre became even more evident when it explored its protagonist’s moral struggles as he found it hard to hold on to his humanity with his newfound power.

The original manga was further elevated by Tomohiro Yagi’s incredible artwork, which gave it a bleak touch while making it seem far more detailed than more contemporary battle manga. Even its early thematic explorations of identity, sacrifice, and one’s gradual transformation into becoming a monster seemed to have larger narrative implications.

Even the early lore in the manga left enough room for immense expansion in future arcs. Like Attack on Titan, it seemed to be telling a story that could have unfolded its true scope and vision in the latter arcs. And similar to Jujutsu Kaisen, it could also have heavily benefited from many chapters of character development.

Unfortunately, despite its early promise, Iron Knight struggled to last as long as Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen. It garnered more of a cult following, which just was not enough for it to return after a few chapters. It is now among some of the biggest “what ifs” in shōnen manga history, making many fans wonder how it would have potentially performed if it had lasted a little longer.

Iron Knight Could Have Taken Off If It Had An Anime Adaptation

Jujutsu Kaisen Yuji I'm a Cog speech season 3

An Iron Knight anime adaptation was rumored to be in the works. However, there have been major announcements surrounding its development, it seems unlikely it will see the light of day. Even from a commercial standpoint, it makes little sense that a canceled manga will get an anime adaptation.

On the contrary, though, an anime adaptation could have potentially saved the manga. Just like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen became significantly more popular after their anime adaptations premiered, Iron Knight also could have risen in the ranks after being adapted.

Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen were major bestsellers even before their anime adaptations saw the light of day. However, one cannot deny that their anime releases dramatically expanded their reach. Had Iron Knight received a similarly high-quality adaptation, it could have enjoyed a comparable surge in visibility.

At the same time, though, Iron Knight, unlike Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan, would have been a risky adaption after its early cancellation. It seems unlikely that Iron Knight will get an anime adaptation anytime in the near future, but shōnen fans can still check out the available chapters of its manga to see its potential.