Title Attack on Titan Creator Hajime Isayama Illustrates The Mandalorian and Grogu as Manga Artists Share Their Love for Star Wars

The Mandalorian and Grogu film is set for simultaneous release in Japan and the United States on May 22, marking the first Star Wars theatrical release in about seven years since The Rise of Skywalker. As anticipation builds, a newly illustrated piece by Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isayama has been unveiled, along with full-length comments from leading Japanese manga artists.

The newly revealed illustration shows the Mandalorian charging into battle while holding Grogu, combining intense action with a strong emotional bond between the two. The Mandalorian’s airborne movement using wires evokes the Omni Directional Mobility Gear seen in Attack on Titan, highlighting Isayama’s signature dynamic style.

The film is set in the galaxy after Return of the Jedi, following the lone bounty hunter Mandalorian and Grogu, who possesses powerful Force abilities, as they take on a new mission to prevent the resurgence of the Empire.

Full Comments from Manga Creators

■Hajime Isayama
My first encounter with Star Wars was during a homestay in Idaho, where I was shown Episodes 6, 5, and 4 in that order. The contrast between the inorganic spacecraft and the biological smell of mold and dust drifting through them gave a sense of real life. That contrast is what Star Wars means to me. Above all, I simply cannot get enough of how adorable Grogu is.

■George Morikawa
The hyperspace in Star Wars gave me the shocking sensation of being pulled into the screen. Since then, I have always gone to the theater expecting to find something new, and every time I receive a great deal of inspiration. Because it is a film series I have been with for so long, the stories of people in a galaxy far away somehow feel very close to me. I am sure the Mandalorian and Grogu will become the same, and I look forward to it.

■Oh Great
Lightsabers, C 3PO, R2 D2, X wings, AT AT, and the Death Star. What captivated me about Star Wars as a child was the dizzying array of innovative and fascinating machines packed into the screen. Could there be anything more luxurious than that. Watching it again now, it feels nothing short of a miraculous work. The impact I experienced as a child still binds me even now as a manga artist, and I can find the influence of this great work in many of my own creations. I envy the children who will first encounter Star Wars and science fiction through The Mandalorian and Grogu. If it were possible, I would erase my memory right now just to experience that shock once again.

■Ken Wakui
The latest Star Wars film. I was captivated by Obi Wan and Luke, moved to tears by Obi Wan and Anakin, and felt my heart burn with Yoda and Luke. And now the Mandalorian and Grogu. The master and apprentice relationship is the royal road of Star Wars. I want to watch it. I am already full of excitement.

■Atsushi Ohkubo
There is no end to talking about the appeal of Star Wars, but above all I simply love lightsabers. I love red lightsabers and green ones too, but I especially adore the blue lightsaber. Thinking back, it might be because of the blue lightsaber that I started to think anything glowing blue looks cool. I am of course rooting for Grogu as he walks the Mandalorian path, but I would also love to see Grogu wield a green lightsaber someday.

Source : ORICON NEWS