I recently watched the GDC video, which is full of amazing artwork, and during this presentation I had a change in my understanding of Titans. After going through what little is available in terms of material on the Titans, and viewing some of the concept art, I had originally viewed the Titans in the light of the Medieval Knight. During the GDC presentation, however, they showed a concept art for the Titan with a Rising Sun behind him. Once seeing that, I cannot help but to view the Titan in the light of the Samurai, not of the Medieval Knight. The description for the Titan is this: [i]"The first Titans built the Wall, and gave their lives to defend it. Now, you stand in the same high place, steadfast and sure, protecting all who shelter in your shadow. You hail from a long line of heroes, forged from strength and sacrifice. Our enemies may be deadly and merciless, but so are you."[/i] The Samurai had a long history of serving with great honour. They followed the strict code of Bushido (translated as [i]"Way of the Warrior"[/i]), which I can easily see being adopted by the Titans who stand guard on the Wall. The Samurai were born out of necessity for a warrior who could defend his emperor, shogun, and land. The Samurai, in true warrior spirit, did not seek war or battle out of joy of death or bloodshed, but to [i]stop[/i] war. In the same way, Titans are necessary for the defense of the City. They don't battle and are merciless because they desire it, it is necessary for their and their family's survival, for their race's survival. In the same way as Samurai, they also come from a long ancestry of Wall defenders, taking pride and honour in what they do and what their ultimate purpose is. For the Samurai, and perhaps in a way for the Titans as well, Bushido was necessary for them to walk in the Way of the Warrior. Bushido has roughly seven tenets that were emphasized: 1. Rectitude (also translated as Righteousness) 2. Courage 3. Benevolence 4. Respect 5. Honesty 6. Honour 7. Loyalty Achieving Bushido was not possible, however, until the Samurai could gain an understanding of his death and the world. A big part of this came from Taoism, which emphasizes that the Tao is not something we can understand, but just is. In this way, Samurai could accept that they were already dead, therefore unleashing themselves from the chains of fear. Due to this spiritual part of their being a warrior, they have repeatedly been seen as some of the most fierce-some warriors to ever walk the planet. After contemplating these things, I really cannot view the Titans in any other light than the light of the Samurai. I could see them carrying on the principles of Bushido, living the Way of the Warrior, being honed in both body and mind in the art of war, unafraid of death, not to relish in bloodshed, but to protect the City and Wall that they love so dearly.