Original Video Animation (OVA) - Attack on Titan
Currently, the Attack on Titan anime series has released two original video animations (OVAs) that provide a side story to the main plot of the anime series.
Ilse's Notebook
Ilse's Notebook: Notes of a Scout Regiment Member was the first OVA of the Attack on Titan anime series. It corresponds to episode 3.5 of the Attack on Titan anime series and was produced by Studio Wit and Production I.G. Although it was originally scheduled to be released on August 9, 2012, alongside the limited edition of volume 11, its release was postponed and was included in a limited edition of volume 12 and released on December 9, 2013 instead.
Ilse's Notebook was included in a subtitled DVD with the limited English version of the 17th volume of the manga, released on December 1, 2015. A second OVA titled "The Sudden Visitor: The Torturous Curse of Youth" was also released on April 9, 2014, which was bundled with the 13th volume of the series. This second OVA focused primarily on the members of the 104th Training Corps .
Summary
In 850, the Survey Corps went on a mission. During this mission, Hange Levi spotted a Titan and decided to chase after it and capture it. When Hange managed to get the Titan's attention, it suddenly retreated into the forest. Hange followed it and found it banging its head against a tree. The Titan became aggressive when Hange tried to approach it, but Levi and the others arrived in time to kill it. While investigating the area, they discovered the decapitated body of Ilse Langnar, a soldier of the 34th Division of the Survey Corps, inside the tree. Lying on the ground, they also found her notebook, which contained details about how she escaped on foot after the death of her squad. At one point, she was cornered by a Titan, but instead of killing her immediately, the Titan began speaking to her in human language and called her "Ymir."
As she prepares to fight the Titan unarmed, she continues to write words in her notebook so as not to lose hope. In her notebook, it is written that after escaping a massacre that her squad was unable to accomplish, she arrives in a clearing and her path unfortunately crosses that of the same Titan. A fight begins between her and the Titan, she quickly finds herself cornered, back to the tree, her notebook still in hand. Her tears flow, but she continues to write in her notebook. She describes her encounter with the Titan as well as all the details of her physical appearance and the fact that the Titan did not devour her immediately. She also writes that at that moment, she believed her time had come. Filled with frustration, she wishes to see her parents before she dies.
Although in the OVA this event takes place in the year 850, according to the Attack on Titan Guide , these events are set in the year 849.
The Sudden Visitor: The Tortured Curse of Youth
A Sudden Visitor: The Tortured Curse of Adolescence is the second OVA of the Attack on Titan anime series, corresponding to episode 3.25 of the Attack on Titan anime. It was also produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. This episode was released in Japan with the special edition of volume 13 of the manga. Afterwards, an English version was released with the special edition of the English translation of volume 20.
Summary
In 849, Jean Kirstein returns home after two years of training. After a falling out with Blousemaker Sasha during a training exercise, a drunken Commander Pyxis proposes settling matters with a cooking competition. While preparing for this competition, an unexpected visitor arrives to meet Jean.
To everyone's surprise, Jean has won. Sasha tells Dot Pixis that she cannot accept the result and demands an explanation. Pyxis asks what meat is; Sasha only replies that meat is meat, and Pixis explains that meat can be nothing more than that, and that is why she lost. Sasha mourns her defeat, but Jean offers her hand to help her up, feeling resentful. Finally, Jean decides to go home the next day.
Unlike usual in Attack on Titan, in this OVA Jean is the main character, with real-life main characters Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackermann placed in a supporting role, and Armin Arlelt as a supporting character.
Additionally, in the scene where Mikasa turns to look at Eren, it is Jean who is looking at Mikasa instead, which would be a reference to his feelings towards Mikasa.
Bonus Information
In addition to the OVA itself, this OVA is accompanied by five of the eight fake volume previews drawn by manga creator Hajime Isayama. The first is for volume 4, where Sasha is cooking. In volume 7, Jean's mother enters his room without knocking. Later, in volume 8, Armin hurts his legs on the stairs. In volume 9, Sasha slaps and elbows Reiner . And finally, in volume 12, a few fake Titan forms for Mikasa, Jean, Armin, Histoire , and Connie appear.
Other additional information that can be seen in this OVA includes Sasha stating that she dislikes her popular nickname "Potato Girl." Additionally, only Mikasa seems to regularly accompany Eren, while Armin seems to be more sociable and interacts more with other characters, such as Annie and Jean. Additionally, another fact that can be observed in this OVA is that, unlike usual Attack on Titan stories, no humans or Titans are killed in this episode.
