About the animal part in the OP, it got me thinking. Maybe it could be a reference or symbolism, either of evolution or at least the idea of dominant species, biologically speaking, as in "titans rule now", and all "previous rulers of Earth", dinos, reptiles, big mammals, marching with Beast Titan. Of course it could also be to deliberately confuse the anime-only watcher of thinking titans origin has something to do with other animals (as in, genetic engineering), but i dont think so. Thoughts?
The images that happen just prior to the running of the beasts are almost certainly symbolic. @ghostmartyr screen captured most of them in this post. Each image involved the hunt and the hunted, prey and predator.
This is a long standing theme in the OPs. The first, “Guren no Yumiya”, was all about the distinction between the hunter and the prey. It started by asking “Are you the food? No, we are the hunter!” The refrain repeatedly states “We are the hunter!”. So the connection is there.
But the imagery is also reminiscent of chapter 6 in the manga when Mikasa’s father brings home a bird he’s killed for the family to eat. It’s remembering that scene and recalling her observations of nature that Mikasa has the realization that the world is “cruel but beautiful”. Another common theme.
That’s where my understanding of the OP ends. In showing everything from elephants to dinosaurs to whales, they may be depicting how that situation hasn’t changed, how since the beginning of time the world has always been cruel but beautiful.
My friend @daylelight posted some meta that offers another good explanation, writing in part:
Seems pretty obvious to me that they represent the outside world and all the things the Walled World is ignorant of, which is why they seem to be running with the beast titan. He is also of the outside world. The main characters’ goals include seeing that world and all its wonders (like these wild animals), the ocean in particular (marine animals), and learning about their history (the dinosaurs).
I like this explanation a lot! You should go read the whole post!
I have a few more asks about “the running of the beasts”, I’ll include them here
Anonymous said: Do you think the dinosaurs in the OP may be there to represent the Marleyans? As in a long forgotten enemy and struggle coming back to attack the people in the walls?
Maybe? This ties into what @daylelight said about the outside world.
ask-eren-plush said: Hi momtaku! What are your thoughts on the Beast Titan running with beasts and dinosaurs in the new opening titles? I can’t help but think of “The Animal Fair” rhyme: “I went to the Animal Fair. The birds and the bees were there, The big baboon by the light of the moon, Was combing his aubern hair. The monkey fell out of his bunk. Slid down the elephants trunk; The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees, And what became of the monkey, Monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey.”
I legit laughed at this. I can’t unthink this now :DD
