Attack On Titan's Anime Made The Perfect Choice By Not Changing The Manga's Ending (2024)

Before the Attack on Titan finale aired in 2023, there was much talk of a potential “anime-only” ending that would differ from the manga finale for the series. Most importantly, the biggest difference fans hoped this anime-only ending would include was the survival of Eren Yeager, the series’ main character, rather than him dying at the end of the series. However, I personally am immensely grateful that the series did not go for an anime-only ending and honored the original manga.

I am glad, not only because the story ended the way Hajime Isayama intended but for another crucial reason. Isayama has discussed in multiple interviews that one of the biggest points he hoped to make with Attack on Titan was a strong anti-war message.

Eren dying in the finale is devastating but properly showcases the unfortunate and gruesome consequences war and fighting bring, including death and pain. If the series had portrayed a “happier” ending, Isayama’s anti-war sentiment would not have gotten across as well, so for this reason, Attack on Titan's canon ending is the perfect finale for the series.

The Cooperation of the Eldians and Marleyans Showcases the Series’ Theme

Peaceful Communication Works More Effectively Than Fighting, as the Two Groups Reach a Resolution

I was surprised by how violent and gruesome Attack on Titan gets at times. Regular occurrences in the series include soldiers being trampled underfoot by Titans, humans being eaten alive, and even people killing one another. These atrocities are often difficult to stomach but paint an accurate picture of the very real consequences of war and what really occurs on battlefields. Another topic in the series that I felt does an excellent job portraying the importance of avoiding unnecessary conflict, is the tension between the Eldians and the Marleyans, which is a massive point of contention for most of the series.

Both the Eldians and Marleyans hate the other group, seeing them as evil and corrupt without ever really knowing one another. In season four, once the two groups are finally introduced to one another and faced with the humanity of the people they grew up senselessly hating, they realize they have more in common than previously realized. Both the Eldians and Marleyans want to keep their loved ones safe from Titans and lead peaceful lives, so they come together beautifully in cooperation and agree to fight the Titans alongside one another. This moment shows the beauty of clear communication, as opposed to fighting.

Eren’s Gradual Shift To Drastic, Inhumane Actions Reveals the Toll War Can Take

His Character Arc Paints a Picture of How This Kind of Environment Negatively Affects a Once Rational Person

Attack on Titan is undoubtedly a very depressing series most of the time. It follows the story of a war-torn world, ravaged by man-eating Titans who thoughtlessly kill thousands of innocent humans. The series is not for the faint of heart, and features many gory death sequences and bloody battles. Eren Yeager, the main character of the story, hoped to make a change and create a better, safer world for himself and his loved ones, where the bloodthirsty Titans would not pose a constant threat anymore. Although he started out with the best of intentions, his plans quickly spiraled.

Eren quickly went from simply wanting to kill all the Titans, to attempting to wipe out humanity entirely, as he felt that was the only way to secure lasting peace and safety. The gradual shift in his demeanor and goals, with his actions continually becoming more and more outlandish, dangerous, and inhumane, showcases perfectly how war can corrupt and change even the most rational of people. Eren did not set out to commit mass genocide when he expressed his childhood dream of freedom to his friends Armin and Mikasa, but he reached that point as the horrors of war took a toll on him.

I Agree With the Fandom That Eren’s Final Scene Is Devastating, but It Is Necessary

His Death Hammers Home Isayama’s Overarching Message About War’s Unavoidable Consequences

Since he unfortunately refused to listen to peaceful alternatives or give up on his genocidal plan, the Survey Corps members unfortunately had to end Eren's life. His death is one of the most controversial parts of Attack on Titan, and I do agree that it was incredibly heartbreaking that his life ended at the hands of Mikasa, arguably the person who loved him the most. However, I do not think the series' ending would have had the strong impact it did if Eren had changed his mind at the last minute, since that would have seemed quite unrealistic considering his strong-willed personality.

Times of war often cause people to make decisions that would seem irrational, and it is hard to say whether Eren would have responded similarly in a less dire situation. I feel Eren's story does a phenomenal job showcasing the desperate actions people turn to during tragic situations, and although the story does not at all end on a lighthearted or happy note, that is not how these situations conclude in real life either. An upbeat, picture-perfect ending would have been far too unrealistic and thus, Isayama's anti-war sentiment is expressed more clearly through the events of the current finale.

I Appreciate How Conflict Does Not Fully Disappear With the End of the Final Battle

Fighting Between People Will Never Fully End, but the Finale of Attack on Titan Highlights Peaceful Alternatives

I love how Attack on Titan does not end neatly. As in real life, there is uncertainty present in the aftermath, even though the main battle is over. There is hope in the ending, as the Eldians and Marleyans continue to engage in peace talks with other nations, attempting to handle conflicts in a healthier manner. The threat of future war does loom in the distance though, but the characters are eager to pursue more beneficial avenues for change. This is the perfect ending for Attack on Titan, not downplaying the devastating effects of the war but also revealing potential better ways of conflict resolution.

Attack On Titan

TV-MA

Animation

Adventure

Action

Based on the manga, Attack on Titan is a dark-action fantasy series set in a world where humanity has been corralled into walled cities from fear of monstrous human-eating Titans that exist outside of them. When protagonist Eren Yeager's mother is killed in front of his eyes at a young age, his thirst for vengeance leads him to join an elite group of soldiers created to fight back against the Titan menace.

Cast

Matthew Mercer , Josh Grelle , Hiroshi Kamiya , Shiori Mikami , Jerry Jewell , Kishô Taniyama , Jessica Calvello , Masahiko Tanaka , Yui Ishikawa , Romi Park , Robert McCollum , Tomohisa Hashizume , Hiro Shimono , Trina Nishimura

Release Date

April 7, 2013

Seasons

4

Main Genre

Action

Franchise

Attack on Titan

Production Company

Wit Studio, MAPPA