Attack on Titan’s anime came to its conclusion after a ten-year run, and some changes were made to the last episode that helps absolve some criticism.
After ten years, one month, and seven days, the anime series for Attack on Titan has officially ended. For ten years at least, Hajime Isayama’s vision was beautifully captured by WIT and MAPPA studios, culminating in an 85-minute episode that brought life to the final chapters of the beloved manga. While the attack on titan manga wrapped up in June (Japan’s original release), it took two years for the complete adaption to come to fruition, covering the final chapters in two episodes and nearly two and a half hours of content. When the dust settled, fans of the franchise were left stunned and in tears, as the credit roll and post-episode sequence left its lasting mark.
Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers for the Attack on Titan finale
For the last two years, fans of Attack on Titan have pondered the idea of a possible anime-only ending and whether Isayama had one last trick up his sleeve. Throughout the years, many subtle changes in the anime left some fans to believe there would be a completely different ending from the one in the manga. While the conclusion of the anime series stayed true to the manga for the most part, there were a few details that did not go unnoticed by those who tuned in to the finale.
Armin and Eren’s Dialogue
Perhaps the most notable change felt the most necessary, which was the dialogue between Eren Yeager and Armin Arlert regarding Eren’s decision and the reality of his actions.
Manga readers of Attack on Titan were severely disappointed with Armin’s appreciation of Eren’s genocide. In a panel that soured most readers, Armin said, “Thank you for turning yourself into a mass murderer for our sake.” Immediately following the release of the final Attack on Titan chapter, Isayama expressed his regret towards this line of dialogue, admitting the intent of those words didn’t come across as he had hoped.
The reaction was sudden and excessively negative, leading to the change in the anime adaptation. While Armin did thank Eren in the final anime episode, it wasn’t for Eren’s descent into mass murder but rather for showing Armin life beyond the walls. Holding the shell he once discovered years ago, Armin was grateful to Eren for showing him this sight. In an unexpected twist, Armin then took some accountability for the rumbling, stating that “we did this” instead of allowing Eren to bear the brunt of the consequences. As the two embraced before Eren’s final send-off, the two agreed that the next time they would see each other would be in hell. For the wiping out of 80 percent of the global population, it seems only fitting that the two friends will meet again in a lake of fire.
Eren and Mikasa’s Farewell in Attack on titan
The final goodbyes between Eren and Mikasa are handled differently in the manga and anime. The manga offers a more detailed approach to the scene, while MAPPA opts for a subtler approach that emphasizes the emotional depth of their farewell.
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End Credits Showcase Futuristic Paradis
The next variation to the anime is a smaller one, but a change many quickly picked up on. During the credit roll, several shots and image rolls showcased the tree where Eren was buried, with Paradis in the background.
As the years go on, onlookers can see the land being rebuilt from the ground up and turned into a beautiful sight with a skyline and bright lights. In the manga, the architecture gave readers the impression that the time skip was perhaps a generation after the events of the rumbling, but such was not the case in the anime. Given the build of the skyscrapers and the futuristic look, it appears that the time skip fast-forwarded through several more generations compared to its manga version.
Unfortunately, what transpired was the same as the manga, with Paradis undergoing a series of attacks and bombings. The result is Paradis facing destruction, with carpet bombs leaving the beautiful structures in rubble and fire. The message, albeit a grim one, depicts that humanity once more reverts to struggle and violence, with two sides that fail to agree with one another.
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River of Blood Paints A Tragic Story
Swerving back to the moment Eren and Armin are embracing in their last discussion before the story’s main character takes to the afterlife, it’s the surrounding environment that receives a morbid change. In the manga, the two friends go through several moments of their lives — from sitting in their hometown as kids to being young adults by the ocean side. After Armin punches Eren to the ground and leaves him sitting in water, the ocean eventually disappears and turns into the titan footprints left behind by the rumbling.
The message is clear as Eren sits on the ground that he destroyed. In the anime, the ground is filled with the blood of those Eren wiped out. At one point, Eren reaches into the blood to pull out a handful of hair and bones, expressing a hint of sadness in his actions. At the same time, Armin pulls the shell out from the blood instead of the bare ground before giving it to Eren. As the final moments show the two embracing in a hug, instead of Eren telling Armin that he will be the one to go beyond the walls and save humanity, it’s Armin who tells Eren that they’ll meet again in hell, where they’ll be together forever. There was also a slight variation to the ending moments, featuring the remaining cast rebuilding the land instead of showing them roaming around the city — and losing the Levi and Onyankopon nod.
Attack on Titan fans did get an adorable moment of Gabi and Falco planting a tree, so it’s safe to see this trade-off, as well as the ones listed, will be accepted by the audience.
Conclusion
In the ongoing debate surrounding the ending of “Attack on Titan,” the comparison between the manga and anime endings raises intriguing questions. While it’s evident that the anime addressed several issues present in the manga ending, opinions on which ending prevails remain subjective. The manga ending’s abrupt pacing and character interactions contrast with the anime’s more deliberate approach. But does this necessarily make the anime ending superior?
The fact that the series creator, Hajime Isayama, played a role in refining the anime ending adds an intriguing layer to the discussion. It suggests that the anime ending might indeed represent Isayama’s ultimate vision. However, the final judgment on which ending was better ultimately rests with the individual viewer.
As the Attack on Titan series ends, one can’t help but wonder about the potential for a sequel, which could offer further insights and perspectives. With the manga and anime both contributing to the legacy of this iconic series, the debate over their respective endings is likely to persist, fueling discussions among fans for years to come.
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