Attack on Titan’s ending remains one of the most debated in anime history, largely due to protagonist Eren Yeager’s genocidal actions. By the series’ ending, Eren has annihilated 80% of humanity to end discrimination against Eldians and establish peace.
This drastic solution raises questions about its necessity and Eren’s fate. Creator Hajime Isayama revealed in an interview that he contemplated changing the ending, despite having it planned from the beginning. While some story elements deviated from his original vision, the finale remained largely intact.
Isayama shared that Eren’s journey mirrors his own experience with creating the manga. Initially, Isayama feared the series would be canceled, as it was his first major work.
Despite these uncertainties, he had a clear ending in mind. As Attack on Titan’s popularity soared, Isayama felt overwhelmed by the power and expectations placed upon him. He confessed that while he recognized the ending as inevitable, he also wished he could have changed it.
Writing a manga should be a liberating experience, Isayama noted, but he felt constrained by his initial decisions. Eren’s story reflects this struggle, as Eren restricts his path by sticking to his predetermined fate.
Similarly, Isayama felt bound by his original plan, making every narrative choice lead to a predetermined ending. This self-imposed limitation left him pondering whether a different ending could have emerged if he had felt freer.
Fans continue to question whether Eren’s actions were justified or if the genocide could have been avoided. These questions linger, awaiting further insights from the author.
