The ending of Attack on Titan was everything. It was sad, beautiful, and tragic. The saddest part of being an anime fan is having to watch another great anime come to an end. While there might be countless animes out there, Attack on Titan is no doubt one of the animes that are painful to bid goodbye to. Its epic finale rewarded fans with an emotional and fulfilling ending. While some still remain to disagree, Eren Yeager, the boy who sought freedom, did achieve his goal.
The action and suspense that his story brought along with the other characters were layered with intense emotions that touched the hearts of all fans! Read on to find out how Hajime Isayama gave Attack on Titan the perfect ending.
Finally, the time has come to say goodbye to one of the best anime of all time, Attack on Titan. As well as express the sincerest gratitude to the brilliant individual with a complex mind Hajime Isayama. Isayama has massively influenced the anime experience of fans by bringing this masterpiece to the world.
About Attack on Titan
The final episode of Attack on Titan might have been filled with epic twists and thrilling moments. But the most obvious feeling that stood above all the heart-racing moments is none other than love. Attack on Titan is a heaven-and-hell masterpiece brought by the brilliant Hajime Isayama. The anime adaptation of the series was first produced by Wit Studio and then was taken over by MAPPA. While both studios gave the series justice, MAPPA taking over was truly the rightful choice. It successfully adapted the dark and complex story that this series carries and aims to convey.
After a decade and a little bit of delay, this award-winning action, suspense, and drama anime has come to an end. The anime adaptation of the series started to air in April 2013. After years of tears and exhilarating moments, it finally reached its anticipated conclusion last November 05, 2023. The series has a total of four seasons and 89 episodes that have entertained the fans for years. It was indeed a long ride for all AOT fans, especially with the Battle of Heaven and Earth that rattled and shook the hearts of fans.
The Heaven and Earth Battle – Review
Shinzo wo Sasageyo is the famous quote that has stuck with all the Attack on Titan fans. From the heroic Erwin, who has now passed, this phrase from him has been engraved in the heart of all the Survey Corps, as well as the fans. It is heartbreaking and emotional to witness the final episode against the Founding Titan was the final sasageyo of the beloved characters.
The final episode, titled The Battle of Heaven and Earth, was a roller coaster of emotion. The gang was finally back after all the misunderstanding, hate, and revenge. They had finally reached a common ground that brought them all together. Reiner, Jean, Connie, Annie, Levi, Armin, and Mikasa have thrilled the fans with their awaited comeback along with the new members of the team, namely Pieck, Gabi, and Falco.
The Battle of Heaven and Earth was the continuation of The Rumbling that Eren had brought to the world. This hour-long episode was delayed for not more than 8 months. The unexpected delay has tested the patience and passion of AOT fans for the series. Instead of consistent hype moments, the delay with the final episode momentarily stopped the Attack on Titan fever that fans have waited for years. However, all this patience was insanely rewarded for the series came back and gave fans a blasting conclusion.
The ending of Attack on Titan has always been controversial, even when it was yet to be animated. Well, despite all the controversies, it was a good thing that the anime almost did not change a thing from its source material.
The Survey Corps and Marley’s Eldian Soldiers Courageously and Exhaustingly Fights the Founding Titan
The episode starts with Mikasa and the rest of the gang finally arriving where the Founding Titan, a.k.a Eren Yeager, is. However, while they are determined to stop the rumbling and hopefully save Eren, it isn’t that easy. The Founding Titan’s powers enabled Eren to not only control thousands of Titans but also somehow revive the previous Nine Titans. Therefore, their plan to bomb the Founding Titan’s nape becomes more impossible.
The plan that Armin laid out for them didn’t go smoothly. This comes as no surprise because, in the world of AOT, there are always unforeseen events that test the character’s courage. Instead of just bombing the Founding Titan’s nape, the gang must now fight all previous awakened Titans and, at the same time, save Armin from the Titan that ate him.
When Pieck (the Cart Titan) almost blew up the Founding Titan, fear of losing Eren was evident in the eyes of Mikasa. Like most audiences during that time, they were not ready to see their hero-turned-villain protagonist die.
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There were so many heart-racing moments, but seeing the characters fight the Titans was thrilling yet nostalgic. Although they are basically fighting Eren, seeing Reiner, Jean, Mikasa, Connie, and Levi, working together once more brings out the fact that their memories as friends weren’t washed away by the hate that has long divided them. Jean and Reiner’s scenes were too heart-wrenching to witness. It was beautiful of Jean to still consider Reiner as part of the Survey Corps even after all the things that happened. This scene shows how valuable the few moments they had when they were still together as part of the Survey Corps.
The feelings become more exciting when Annie comes in right on time together with Gabi and Falco to save the rest from failing. While it seemed impossible for them to win, all of them had the heart of warriors and went back to fight and save Armin knowing that the chances of surviving were very slim. The action sequence, specifically the ODM gear scenes of Jean, Mikasa, and Levi, proved that MAPPA truly outdid itself one last time for Attack on Titan.
Armin and Zeke’s Touching Realization
Being stuck inside the Titan’s mouth drove Armin’s consciousness to desperately cry out. This is because he knew that while he was being kept imprisoned, his friends, as well as the rest of humanity, were currently fighting for their lives. As Armin began to think rationally, he found himself inside the world of paths.
While Levi and the rest continue their desperate fight and search to find Zeke, whom they must end to stop the rumbling, little do they know that Zeke is helplessly stuck in the world of paths where Armin accidentally finds him. The two had a brief reunion, and Zeke expressed what he knew. There were no screams for revenge or hate. It was a quiet moment where two opposing individuals tried their best to find a common ground. There, Zeke told Armin about all he knew about life and Ymir Fritz.
Zeke’s eyes were dull, and the way he spoke conveyed that he had lost all hope for himself and humanity. It was almost impossible for them both to go back to the real world, but Armin realized his own definition of freedom. To run freely with Mikasa and Eren while feeling the fresh breeze during the sunset. Feeding the squirrel. Reading his book on a rainy day. All of the things that Armin told made Zeke realize that if there was one thing he wanted, it would be playing catch with his father like they used to.
This touching talk between Armin and Zeke wasn’t meaningless. The previous titans, such as Grisha, Ymir, Bertholdt, Porco, and Marcel, appeared before their eyes in the world of paths. Both of them revealed their deepest emotions that they had covered up. For instance, Armin expressed to Bertholdt his sincere apology for almost stealing everything away from him.
Read More: Heavenly Delusion: Is This the Next Attack on Titan of Anime?
Despite all the odds, by admitting their true feelings and acknowledging their vulnerability, Armin and Zeke were able to lend the people fighting outside a helping hand. The previous titans whom they saw in the worlds of paths ended up miraculously helping Mikasa and the rest of the group.
Indeed, it was moving to witness the previous titans who had fallen helping their friends who were fighting for their lives. However, there’s nothing more heart-stopping than seeing Levi aggressively slicing Zeke’s neck. This moment no doubt hyped up all the Levi fans out there, not only because of smoothly killing Zeke but because he had finally fulfilled his promise to Erwin.
This is the End For Us Scene of Jean and Connie
Jean and Connie were not Ackermans nor part of the Nine Titans. Hence, when the centipede-like creature that caused all Eldians to turn into Titan emitted smoke, Levi, Mikasa, Pieck, and Falco left their family and friends. For non-manga readers, this scene was painful to watch as two of their favorite Survey Corp Members, Connie, and Jean, have presumably reached their end.
All of the Eldians left in the mountain were affected by the smoke, thus, turning them into Titans.
We entrust our friends to the rest … that must be what its means to die as a member of the Survey Corps.
Jean Kirstein (Season 4: Final Episode)
The Survey Corps Members were built to have unimaginable bravery. When the centipede emitted a smoke that would turn the Eldians into titans, everyone knew what they had to do. The Ackermans, as well as Pieck (The Cart Titan) and Falco (The Jaw Titan), flew away from the mountain despite how difficult it was. On the other hand, Jean and Connie emotionally faced what they thought was their end as they were about to become titans together with the other Eldians.
If there’s one thing that the finale episode has done perfectly, it’s the fact that all of the scenes were layered with so many emotions. It was heartbreaking for Reiner to fight his mother and friends who have become Titans, but in a war, there isn’t much option. Whether in the world of AOT or in reality, the battlefield only consists of the do-or-die options.
The Confession
The confession scene of Eren Yeager showed that he is still human. Turning your friends into Titans and making them engage in battle they almost had no chance of winning is already cruel. Eren was a villain in the eyes of all. His complex anti-hero character has also resulted in numerous debates to rise among fans. Some believed that his intentions were still good, while some firmly believed that he was a heartless human being.
All of these arguments may now rest because Eren’s true intentions and feelings have been revealed. It turns out that Eren did these horrible actions for the right reasons. During the battle between Armin and Eren in their titan forms, a crucial and poignant flashback entered. Before facing each other on the battlefield, Eren visited Armin’s consciousness. There he explained his side, as well as Ymir Fritz’s situation.
The final episode might have been filled with action scenes, but the peaceful moments that Eren shared with the others were wholesome. Armin and Eren have always longed to travel the world, and they did this one last time. As Eren uses his powers to communicate and connect with Armin, their genuine and deep friendship is felt by the audience. Eren didn’t forget about his friends. In fact, he always thought of them that’s why he did what he had done. Eradicating humanity or committing genocide was the only option for his friends to continue living and enjoying life until they grew old.
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Armin might not have agreed with his friend’s choices, but he understood him more than anyone. Armin found out that his friend never left them. Eren was just lost from his strong desire to achieve freedom. This is because he even confessed that he was afraid to die. Eren wants to be with his friends and to be happy with Mikasa. However, what’s done is done. He has annihilated 80 percent of humanity through The Rumbling, and he remains a slave to freedom. It is aggravating to find out that Eren did all of it for his friends to appear as heroes. It was a selfish action for the most selfless reasons. The voice actor of Eren, Yuki Kaji, did this scene justice and more. The pain in his voice immaculately brought how heartbreaking Eren’s situation was.
Lastly, Armin told Eren that it was he who made him dream about freedom and that the two of them should feel responsible for it. Eren wasn’t alone. He might have erased Armin’s memories for a moment, but at least he felt that his friends would still be there, be it in hell. Armin helping Eren carry the weight of the world’s problems and all the sins he has committed showed that Armin’s intelligence is not only reliable on the battlefield. Before becoming part of the Survey Corps, Armin didn’t forget that he was Eren’s friend first.
See You Later, Eren
Armin and Eren’s scenes were already agonizing, but Eren and Mikasa’s hit differently. Mikasa has always been a strong and independent woman, but when it comes to Eren, she is still a woman like most. She wanted him in her life; however, not to the point that she would abandon humanity and her morals.
The cabin scene of Eren and Mikasa was advertised and anticipated by plenty of fans, mainly the EreMika shippers. Eren showed Mikasa, through the cabin scene, the possible end for them both if things were simpler and more peaceful. It is said that Eren made Mikasa feel the two of them living without any worry for four years. He didn’t confess to Mikasa, but their feelings for each other were screaming so loud. It was obvious and full of hope. Since Eren decided to continue his cruel aspiration to achieve freedom, there were no longer wholesome Mikasa and Eren moments. Hence, their cabin scene perfectly puts their love for each other in the spotlight.
Eren asked Mikasa to throw the scarf which she had carried with her from the beginning. He might have told Armin that he wanted Mikasa to never forget her, but when he was with her, he didn’t say this. Eren could have been an ideal man if he had not only killed 80 percent of humanity. Instead of imprisoning Mikasa with the love she had for him, Eren wanted her to throw the scarf and forget about it.
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Did she throw away the scarf? Of course not! As mentioned above, Mikasa is a strong and independent woman whose actions are not dictated by anybody, including Eren. All throughout The Rumbling, Eren’s eyes were closed, but when Mikasa came to end him, he opened them for the first and last time. The fact that Mikasa was always drawn prettier l in his point of view made their scene more tragically beautiful. She wanted and needed Eren but was still willing to lose him.
This was also why Mikasa is the reason why Ymir Fritz has achieved her own peaceful freedom. Mikasa made Ymir realize that love can never limit or bind someone for the rest of their lives. It was never up to the people they loved, such as Eren or King Fritz. How their lives will end up is all dependent on the actions they take and the decisions that they make.
A fan shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) his/her feelings about Mikasa and Eren’s bittersweet moment:
History Repeats Itself, and Eren Yeager Knew That
For everyone who is still insisting that Eren did everything to achieve peace forever needs to stop. People who were disappointed with the ending failed to understand the story and Eren’s purpose. Eren only did it for Ymir to realize through Mikasa what she needed to realize and break the Titan Curse. He did it so that his friends would live a long life and experience old age, something he knew he didn’t deserve.
He did achieve his goal because all of his friends moved on to a better life. The Eldians and Marleyans no longer suffer from the harm of the Titan Curse. However, history repeats itself, as seen after the end credits. Even with the absence of the Titan Curse, humans are naturally cursed in their own wicked and mundane ways.
The continued war is not rooted in the Titan’s Curse, it was buried deep within the hearts of humans. Eren didn’t change humanity, he briefly changed the world for his friends to savor the good of humanity. He didn’t erase hatred, war, or pain. He doesn’t have the power to do that.
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In addition, the finale showed love being unconditional, beautiful, painful, tragic, sad, and desperate was the root of all.
The selfish and selfless love that Eren had for Mikasa and their friends. The brave and admiring love that Mikasa feels for Eren. The desperate love that Armin had for his friendship with Eren. The painful love that made Zeke long for the simpler times with his father. Lastly, the tragic love that Ymir had for King Fritz. It was these feelings and experiences that were born out of the different phases of love that made the final episode epic.
Hajime Isayama ending the story with a future that showed the possibility of history repeating itself elevated the series’ storyline. It wasn’t a peaceful ending. It was the reality that the final episode showed, making it everything. Therefore, arigato gozaimasu, Hajime Isayama, and shinzou wo sasageyo to all. It was indeed a wonderful experience.