A Year Later, Attack on Titan's Ending Doesn't Just Hold Up. It Is One of Anime's Greatest to Date.

Attack on Titan's manga ended in 2021, and the anime ended in 2023. Although it has been nearly a year since the last installment in the franchise, fans cannot stop thinking about the genius of the series' ending, myself included. So much controversy surrounded Attack on Titan's finale, with some fans even begging creator, Hajime Isayama, to write an entirely different ending for the anime than the one depicted in the manga.

I am a fan of Attack on Titan's ending as it was written, and I believe changing it significantly would have been a grave error, so I am glad that the anime honored the original manga's conclusion. A lot of anime finales are memorable and well-written, bringing their series to a close beautifully, but few are as profound, bittersweet, and poignant as Attack on Titan's. Because of the ending's sobering commentary on the world and refusal to resolve every issue presented in the series with a happy ending, Attack on Titan's final episode stands out in a remarkable way, even years later.

Attack on Titan’s Ending Was Bold in an Unprecedented Way by Choosing To Kill off the Series’ Protagonist

Eren’s Death, Although Heartbreaking, Was Necessary in the Context of the Story as the Only Way To Stop His Plan

One of the most significant complaints fans have made regarding Attack on Titan's conclusion is the fact that Eren Yeager, the main character, died. Although I understand why many viewers were hopeful that Eren would be redeemed, stop the Rumbling, and survive, this finale would have been an unrealistic and unsatisfying end to Eren's character arc. By the time Eren had started the Rumbling, there was no convincing him otherwise, as evidenced by his frank conversation with Armin in which he told his best friend there was no other way to save humanity than to wipe out everyone who was not Eldian.

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Someone who had already made up his mind to commit genocide could not be easily swayed simply by his friends' words, as tragic as that may be. Eren spent his entire life fighting for freedom and his plan to kill the vast majority of the population was not the right choice, but Eren was certain he had no other option.Attack on Titan is a devastating series filled with death, since it occurs during the greatest war humanity has ever faced, so it does not feel out of the realm of possibility that the series' main character would be another casualty in that conflict.

The Ending Contains Necessary Reflections on the Realities of War in Real Life, While Still Weaving in Hope

War is unfortunately an inevitable part of human nature, and where humans exist, conflict will follow. This sobering reflection on the state of the world, not just in anime, but in real life, is reflected in Attack on Titan's ending intentionally. Isayama has confirmed that the only right way for the series to end was the way that it did, because any other alternative would have been "hokey" and unbelievable. The conclusion does contain a lot of hope, proven by the Marleyans and Eldians finally working together and the continual fight for long-lasting peace after the Rumbling ended.

Good people like Armin Arlert and the other Alliance members continued their work even after the events of the final episode because the war did not end with Eren's death. In a lot of animes, the main conflict is over by the series' conclusion, but Attack on Titan changes things. Even the final manga panel, featuring a young boy and dog approaching the same tree Ymir fell into that gave her her Titan powers, seems to suggest that the cycle of violence is not over and will not be for a long time, as difficult as that reality may be to stomach.

Attack on Titan Proved That Not Every Anime Needs a Happy “Everyone Wins” Ending

The Finale Is Important, Unforgettable, and Unlike Any Other Anime Ending in Recent Years

Attack on Titan's ending is devastating and does not leave viewers with the warm, fuzzy feeling that some more optimistic anime conclusions do. However, by leaning into the sadness and uncomfortable realities of war, Attack on Titan does not just make a bold statement about the harm these kinds of conflicts cause, it also proves that more than one type of anime ending is possible. Considering how serious, gory, and saddening of a series Attack on Titan is, a peppy, joyful ending where everything is resolved neatly would not have fit the tone of the story at all.

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I was devastated by Eren's death, the sorrowful reactions of his friends, and the overall somber tone of Attack on Titan's final moments, like every fan was. But over time, l grew to love the conclusion because of how different it is compared to other anime endings, the important messages it conveys, and the glimmer of hope embedded in it that suggests non-violent conflict resolution is necessary. Other anime finales can be forgotten easily with time, but Attack on Titan's ending was so hard-hitting that a year later I still know I will never forget it and countless fans agree.

Viewers Will Not Soon Forget Attack on Titan’s Ending and the Messages It Conveys

Attack on Titan’s Conclusion Holds up After a Year, and Will Be Appreciated for Years To Come

Isayama took a lot of risks with Attack on Titan's ending, especially by killing the protagonist and not creating a typical "happy ending" that a lot of viewers have come to expect from anime series. The discomfort and misery this conclusion causes is necessary, and can lead to larger conversations about war and human conflict that are necessary. Eren's death at the hands of his friends was distressing to watch, no doubt, but it was not just written into the story for mere shock value, it provided a believable representation of war and its consequences that makes the Attack on Titan ending unforgettable.

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

Franchise Attack on Titan

Production Company Wit Studio, MAPPA