Hajime Isayama Reveals TRUE MEANING Behind Attack on Titan's Ending

[@SeaTactics]

*Check out my other channels:* My Weekly Seasonal Anime Podcast 👉👉 www.youtube.com/@KingOfAnimePodcast My Chainsaw Man Channel 👉👉 www.youtube.com/@BentoYT Merch: seatactics-storefront.creator-spring.com New York Times Interview: www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/arts/television/attack-on-titan.html?smid=tw-nytimesarts&smtyp=cur

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Attack on Titan was amazing.

[@tachi5408]

​@@stormbringer2840It's kind of implied that it took place 20,000 years after, which I think would be nice personally.

[@ErenRaven]

@@r3gret2079 I remember that character can't transform into colossal was mentioned only once by Armin when they were held captive in the basement by Yeagerists, which makes sense because he will destroy building and surroundings. So I think that is not because of explosion, but because of colossal titan's size. Character controlling whether there is an explosion or not is the best and most natural answer, because anime showed multiple times that titan shifters can even control what part of a titan is summoned. In OVA Annie summoned only one hand, Bertholdt half of a body on top of the wall in season 2 and Eren also only a fragment of a body when he blocked a cannonball in season 1.

[@MODREXTm]

Pieck becomes his wife ok bro

[@manhdepzai2k3]

when you said anime is realistic

[@raidenle1068]

The scene where the colossal Titans pushes the masses of people towards the cliff, and the women desperately trying to save her baby by passing it from one person to the next, while everyone faces imminent death, gave me goosebumps.

[@keifuchan7265]

You see that same woman walking with her husband many episodes earlier in the show when Eren is walking through the town. She's pregnant with that same baby. She even has the same shawl with the checkered pattern. The tiny details connecting everything in AOT is just mindblowing.

[@MattGarcyaDC]

@keifuchan7265 bruh you just got me more sad

[@rasengan124]

@@keifuchan7265holy crap! I remember that panel you’re talking about!!! That’s insane!

[@uwza.]

one of the many scenes in the end that made me cry

[@sasamilosevic2576]

Actually she wasn't the one who tried passing it, she fell down and dropped her baby but the man after her caught the baby and started passing her, and i think it's better, they did on their own

[@GetOverH3re]

The fact that his man has never written or worked in anything other than Attack on Titan blows my mind Absolute Genius

[@hotspotbarlow5060]

Bro said "let me try something." and than creates one of the best stories ever.

[@dragomegaman3711]

​@@hotspotbarlow5060lol true

[@aaronmelnek8753]

YET!

[@simunator]

called a one hit wonder for a reason

[@yoyomama99]

@@simunator one hit wonder is IF everything you've produced afterwards fails. So it doesn't apply to him

[@jonalee5262]

Very interesting and cool how Isayama felt like he couldn't/shouldn't change the ending that he set in stone from the beginning, because he realized that he in a sense was like Eren who was unable to change the future he already foresaw. I like that parallel between them

[@aaron-gz]

Like a self insert story without making it about the author

[@moeski17]

Exactly, he was unable since he chose to go along with what he saw

[@Youllneverknow-u2b]

@@LuisSierra42 damn. I think about this a lot

[@Youllneverknow-u2b]

@@LuisSierra42 but I couldn't really put it into words

[@bhogarajusrikar4543]

Why couldn't he change the ending?

[@SzeiVT]

The AOT Anime is the finalized version of his story, I'm so glad that the last talk between Armin and Eren was fleshed out/refined and making it more sense in the anime compared to the manga

[@saeszestydemon]

Facts..

[@Kingdom850]

It really wasn't that intricately fleshed out, they just swapped the mass murder line with "let's go to hell together".

[@ssaiyan4m]

​@Kingdom850 go re watch that scene bc u clearly r not understanding that scene and the conversation

[@Kingdom850]

@@ssaiyan4m I've watched it multiple times and reread the chapter, it's not as majorly changed apart from Armin wanting to share the blame. Hop off me.

[@LSB44446]

@@ssaiyan4m They did not change it much. Music and tone of speech does a lot for nonsense dialogue, but it's still nonsense dialogue. After the Rumbling began, Eren's motivations fell apart.

[@ohno_da_idiot3230]

I have no words to describe how much I'll miss this anime, and how amazing it is. What a masterpiece

[@ohno_da_idiot3230]

@LuisSierra42 I know right 😭

[@valerieanimagus6230]

Don’t worry *just watch the series all over again 🤪*

[@RonniV2]

​@@LuisSierra42 same. What am I gonna do with my life now? AOT was my most hype anime. 😭

[@obscurifyed]

@@RonniV2 Steel ball run

[@staziasell6400]

Same!!! This was a masterpiece 😢 I'm going to miss this so much

[@arcturionblade1077]

Armin doesn't just blame himself for the attack on Liberio's harbor. In his conversation with Eren, Armin specifically points out that had he not (when they were both kids) shown Eren his books and told him stories from his grandfather about the world beyond the walls, Eren would never have gotten into his head to pursue his dream of ultimate freedom, thus setting him on the path of the Rumbling. By his own internal logic, Armin sees himself as being just as responsible for the Rumbling as Eren.

[@sefatsilverlake3816]

Yes, he evens it out by saying that, but he does blames himself for that, he specifically mentions that he has killed innocent children

[@hassentrh2118]

he isnt responsible for eren's actions but i can understand why he blames himself.

[@TheGreatestSpy4life]

I mean Armin even blatantly says that he’s had thoughts about being disappointed with the outside world itself as well

[@asasas9146]

I interpreted it as Armin trying to comfort Eren, saying that they will be together again in the afterlife... And since Eren is going to hell, Armin wants to go with him.

[@movi91]

Yes and he also specifically says that he put the idea on Eren imaginary of this empty world out there, and therefore being responsible for Eren's disappointment

[@davidharner2481]

One thing I do like (that the anime did better than the manga). Is that it shows more time passing in between the end of the war and when paradis gets destroyed. It still shows the message. That war perpetuates. But it makes it seem a little more hopeful. That eren at least bought a few hundred years of peace (up for debate how long it was)

[@giygas9305]

Supposedly the final scene is 20,000 years later

[@Blacklla]

Thats cause Paradise got bombed 100 years later not 1000 or whatever. Lmao it was wise to change that

[@davidharner2481]

@@Blacklla Imo it’s at LEAST 150 year. But maybe more like 400 or 500. Maybe even push 1000 if you really want to

[@ChristianVillamil]

Centuries, even several millenia passed before Paradis got attacked. Eren fulfilled his purpose of leaving Paradis free of conflict from the ouside world to secure the survival of his people and everyone he loved.

[@accelerator5422]

​@giygas9305 I also think it's at least 20,000 years into the future. The reason I think it is, is because the final song that started when Mikasa is already at Eren's grave and playing during the end credit is called "To you 2,000... or... 20,000 years from now".

[@Eren_Rivai]

Attack on titan still hurts inside my soul. But its beautiful and worth it. The emotional rollercoaster that the show takes you on is unparalleled. The complex characters and their struggles resonate deeply with viewers. The breathtaking animation and epic battle scenes leave you in awe. The thought provoking themes and intricate plot keep you engaged till the very end.

[@thickone6261]

There is no way you have a hasanabi pfp

[@snoopyyy_23]

we dont care about ur feelings commie ☭☭☭☭

[@Hollow_Theorist]

@@thickone6261 Hasan was single handededly responsible for the death of all Middle Easterns in AOT.

[@Tw0Quick]

@@thickone6261big yikes 🤮

[@thickone6261]

what?@@Tw0Quick

[@ks-jk3lr]

Even with all the power in the world, the only thing Eren could guarantee was a peacefull life for his friends nothing more. He couldn't change human nature. Hate and war will always be a part of humanity. Enjoy the small things in life

[@ehouaiscestdwiouaiscestbie2528]

actually there's way for that 😂😂, flatten the rest of the world and with the founder power, alter Eldians behaving, making them as peaceful as possible (just like the royal family was forbidden to release the wall titans)

[@kennethhernandez9243]

But then would anyone truly be free? Freedom comes with responsibility and just like the real world, humans continue to use it to just start wars over anything. I mean, it’s the height of irony that this anime finished when the things in the world that are happening in the world are. Humans as a species should be better. We should embrace the small things- just playing catch, taking in the enormity and beauty of the ocean, the beauty of a sea shell, but we don’t. We stay stuck in the past or just gaze into the future. Aot is just incredibly poignant. It really is something that can be broken down, studied and analyzed as a very real commentary on ethics, morality, fate, war, the list goes on. What a journey this has been.

[@lubululu3232]

@@ehouaiscestdwiouaiscestbie2528 that's insanely fd up 😭

[@zekrom9586]

@@ehouaiscestdwiouaiscestbie2528 The Eldian’s will fight amongst each other. And Eren flattening the entire world would glorify genocide. Terrible message.

[@Krackdown9]

@@ehouaiscestdwiouaiscestbie2528 There was already infighting among the Eldians with the Scouts vs the Yeagerists. Hell, even while the royal family was keeping everything secret human trafficking and banditry were occurring inside the walls.

[@samhandy_]

A lot of authors start with the endings. Normally starts as a short story of an event that the author is inspired by and wants to get it on the page. Then, they start at the beginning and think ‘how do I get there?’ Thus begins the process.

[@art4anj]

I RESPECT & LOVE how Isayama lived & ended that phase of his life with AoT throughout. The fact that he says “when I was younger” shows that he knows that he’s changed through the years as a mangaka BUT he didn’t want to betray his young self that started out as a mangaka that was creating AoT & hope that people will enjoy it from how he originally planned it to be ❤ A very genuine feeling from anyone that starts their journey of creating 😌 This gives him a literal NEW ARC as a mangaka & storyteller. I look forward to see what he does next! 😄

[@Jack-b2u5d]

The line "Eren Lives and gets the girl, Armin gets the Annie, "And Pieck becomes my Wife". Last One Got Me Dying.

[@itzame9428]

'the' annie got me

[@caimbfswielder2779]

​@@itzame9428whats funny is armin im pretty sure got the annie they're just lowkey about it when they're on the clock

[@itzame9428]

@@caimbfswielder2779 annieussy

[@Odumase]

Forreal 😂

[@BahhBahhBrownSheep]

@@caimbfswielder2779yeah no shit

[@dashxlife]

Man I’m just grateful I got to witness this series man. Change My life man.

[@darkestwolf6640]

As a writer who was inspired by this series…holy fuck. The ability currently to relate to him. Humanizes him and gives hope for my own. Writing is a vent and a way to be free to do what you wish….but when your so minded to what you want. Sometimes you gotta let bad things happen to truly have the freedom. Freedom to do horror or warmth. To relate personally to a character is such a happy feeling.

[@Celeborn93]

I'm a writer as well, and Isayama and AoT has been one of my biggest inspirations for my own fantastical story for years. One thing i've learned is how important it is to also give up a bit of agency, and let the characters express themselves, and therefore write the story on their own. It can definitely be considered as "freedom" for the writer, since it means the characters have become alive enough to do so. But the balance is interesting. What do i change, what do i have the right to change etc. I'm still outlining my story, so i haven't gotte too deep into the nitty gritty of character expression, so that will be interesting.

[@nozopoke1782]

I don’t know what you write about but in my opinion what makes attack on titan so great is all the accurate foreshadowing of things. How things tie perfectly and make sense later on. To me that makes a story so much more amazing. I hate stories where the protagonist can basically do anything to solve any situation.

[@darkestwolf6640]

@@nozopoke1782 dark fantasy x sci fi.

[@darkestwolf6640]

@@Celeborn93 I hope it goes well for you man. I know that’s currently my favorite part having deep emotions shown

[@Celeborn93]

@@darkestwolf6640 It does :) Thanks, and same to you.

[@triczzy9253]

Im so fkn sad that Attack on titan is over, it was sucha good series, probably the best anime and series that I have watched. I really got stuck to it and will always have a place in my hearth. Thank you Isayama for this great adventure and story.

[@RobinDude]

I have so much respect for Isayama. All turn evidence that shows he knew exactly where he was going with the story is absolutely mind blowing.

[@The--Equalizer]

the guy is a fasict

[@RobinDude]

@@The--Equalizer beg your pardon

[@The--Equalizer]

@@RobinDude he made a story where you don't know is good and bad and have fans defending his main character and his comrades for a holocaust

[@missingno88]

@@The--Equalizer cry about it lmao

[@greenlitlleman]

Not really. Like most authors he knew the beginning and the ending, but many ideas obviously changed as he wrote the story. If you're attentive enough or reread the Manga, you can see it clearly.

[@SSJ_EWGF]

I can see why a certain portion of the fanbase dislike the ending, but I can never get behind the narrative a lot of them push where the ending we got wasn't the one Isayama wanted to make and that he was 'forced' to change it. Yams knew exactly what he was going for in the last few chapters, you don't have to like it, or even accept it, but to go so far as to lie to everyone else that it was suppose to be radically different or even worse yet, that he made it 'bad on purpose' is absolutely insane.

[@furiousdestroyah9999]

Well I mean to be fair apparently Isayama did plan to have the end of AoT go Akame Ga Kill but changed his mind later on

[@newesthaplugg]

@@furiousdestroyah9999or even with the Muv luv ending also

[@yagami999913]

weebs can be pretty extreme when it comes to their favorite anime/manga ...

[@furiousdestroyah9999]

@@newesthaplugg Nothing wrong with the Muv Luv ending, it's still possible for a few years or if Isayama says otherwise

[@JuicedOnKids]

​@@furiousdestroyah9999AOT has gone through a few changes/retcons tbf, but it's interesting to know I guess Eren was always going to get the upperhand based on the interview.

[@justadummy8076]

2:45 her ability isn’t to “mimic” other titans, her ability is adaptability to other Titan powers Before season 1, she was experimented on: -given Titan hardening from the warhammer titan -given the ability to call other titans from the Beast Because of her Titan’s adaptability, she was likely able to use these powers with little training

[@esthelleg7037]

Many thanks for covering this! I’m glad we got Isayama’s thoughts so directly in this form, because they match so neatly with the actual ending. You’re right that the interviewer asked excellent questions!

[@malcolmfontenot4560]

Isayama's answer about his story with AoT being similar to Eren's story within AoT gives the "Freedom" panel so much more meaning. Isayama felt the freedom of writing now that he had arrived at a true moment in the story that cemented his original ending.

[@sprtcus1798]

Freedom is a huge part of the series. Our Titan, the ATTACK TITAN is based on freedom. It's the blacksheep of the 9 titans. It's the only titan that "strive and fights for freedom".

[@lonewalkerproductions]

I've let the ending simmer for a few days now and this, this is Cinema. So much to digest, so much thought put behind it. I'll be coming back to it for years to come.

[@emma-m12]

mikasas pain is almost tangible , the ending is perfect imo. thank u isayama for writing this masterpiece! it’s tragic but also an amazing work of art,

[@Nithinreddy-18]

Bro did she got married at the end

[@patflann29]

@@Nithinreddy-18yes. Unconfirmed but it’s theorized to be Jean. You gotta remember they are 19 at the end of the war. Imagine being alone/single for the next who knows how many decades? She had to move on eventually

[@Nithinreddy-18]

@@patflann29 yeah but i read an article and in that it said mikasa adopted that kid i wanna know if its true or not because at the end she died holding the white lily flower which resembles purity/ virginity that’s why

[@Nithinreddy-18]

@@patflann29 and also it is showed in manga that she died without marrying anyone??

[@patflann29]

@@Nithinreddy-18 you can look up the manga panel for free prob but I don’t think she died a virgin lmao she goes back with a new born baby and husband then later as an old woman with her family and grandkids etc. At least that’s how I interpreted it

[@善悪の基準は人それぞれ]

Ymir Fritz died an untimely death after being chased by a dog, but I liked the description of the last boy running alongside the dog and reaching the tree. This scene alone is redeeming.

[@Alternative-Works]

Or damning if you look at it another way =P

[@StriveToday]

@@Alternative-Worksdo you think some years later there could possibly be a modern world sequel to AOT where the story of this boy going to the same tree continues?

[@martyallen3801]

​@@StriveTodayI don't think so

[@jackbutt8774]

​@@StriveTodayyea if the creator needs money or his next project fails .

[@maliktp13]

​@samisultan4931 The outside world should be modern but paridis is probably still in the 1800s.

[@rodrigomendes3327]

Isayama put on Eren exactly what he was feeling about the great power that he had at time of being writing a story that everyone was loving and being a slave just like was to his power is absolutely amazing. It fits really well.

[@d0ug121]

Isayama provided an INCREDIBLE response to the question asked at the 8 min mark. Drawing a parallel to his real world experience as a writer rlis captivating

[@takaishima_24]

So enlightening video. He couldn't escape from the end that he imagined 10 years ago, just like the protagonist. Always art represents the true soul of the artist.

[@__7000rpm]

Brilliant point. Also art is supposed to not 'make sense' always. The ending made me feel things. Felt like reading a Murakami novel, everything felt dreamlike. When Armin and Eren were talking for the final time in Paths, I thought they were about to kiss, when they actually were about to hug. I found myself having an induced daydream watching the final episodes. I think a lot of Japanese art has this aspect of not making sense. The universe doesn't make sense. Maybe I'm convincing myself to put the final chapters in the same league of brilliance as the former chapters by saying this(Maybe I'll never know) : 3.5 seasons of AoT made a lot of sense(even within the imaginary world), there was a lot of sharp strategy and brilliant world building. The finals however, were a daydream, a Murakami novel, a vivid hallucination; art.

[@RainDrop-mi8sq]

I love isayama so much man. His answers and responses in this interview increased my respect for him even more and more. I hope people understands that this was the ending isayama-sensei planned from the beginning. I'm so glad this was the ending of AoT. It really fits the entire story. All scenes for previous seasons just has perfect meanings

[@i3looi2]

Wrong. He did not plan it from the beginning. Nobody knows how a started universe will end. That;s why the ending sucks. Because he lacks experience. He could achieve SAME EXACT ENDING, but add some fucking reasonable and common sense to WHY THAT ENDING. He could arrive to same conclusion in 10 different ways, he chose the most cringe version of them.

[@gespucci4213]

​@@i3looi2 "nobody knows how a universe will end" he's the fucking writer. he knows how the story's gonna end.

[@KingCMan]

My jaw is on the floor right now. Though I was really sad about the ending and I wanted to find an answer as to why it ended the way it did. I stumbled upon this video and let me tell you. You are absolutely freaking awesome. Your evidence and the reasons were on point. Yo are now my favorite explainer of all time. Thank you so much for making this video. You helped me to realize the meaning behind on attack on titan. Now I feel much better. Thank you so much again.

[@kaiksan]

to my understanding, this is also mentioned during his talk with armin when he says “i did it for myself” and that’s where armin says “it’s his fault too for showing him the book” so it ties together quite well this line of thinking

[@We_Love_Eli]

im so glad we got movies for the last two eps imagine waiting weekly to see if everyone is still alive on top of eren 💀💀💀

[@aphreyy]

Right, if it had been One Piece, the fights with the titans on top of Eren would have lasted at least 50 episodes 😂

[@hassentrh2118]

@@aphreyy that's a year's worth of week to week 😂

[@UpturnTheUncool]

Ya know I actually preferred the last chapters be episodes-at least 12 or hopefully 13 of them like in Season 2. This is mostly for me cause I wanted it to go on longer (and hopefully reach 100 episodes) but also to help those that are having a hard time with the ending understand the details better. Both ways are good though and I’m happy with what we got 😁

[@ItSinxity]

W interview can’t wait for isayama new works in the future

[@EvilGrin06]

I find it truly remarkable that Iseyama used Eren’s struggles as a personification of his very own. All the greatest writers do this.

[@megamilkas9969]

So happy to have found you. So far you have given the most unbiased and informative view and explanation to the ending of this amazing series and I really appreciate how well thought out your views are. Can't wait to see what more you put out in future and I'll check out your past videos too!

[@tonythesuperperson]

Thanks for being our companion in this once in a lifetime show

[@PricefieldPunk]

The ending was brilliant in the fact that you don't even know who is attacking Paradis at the end. It's never confirmed whos attacking Paradis thats completely left up to the reader/viewer. It could be a Civil War with Paradis and the leader of the bombing coulda been born inside Paradis. It could be someone on the outside but not in retaliation for the Rumbling maybe its over land, or resources or something else since the fall happened so far into the future after the Rumbling. Isayama is leaving that question to be answered by whatever you'd like the answer to be.

[@xav6649]

do you think that the rest of the world was equally destroyed or only paradis

[@PricefieldPunk]

@@xav6649 Well if its an outside force attacking then i'm assuming the rest of the world was equally destroyed. Eren's rumbling leveled the playing field so Paradis and the 20% that survived likely would have the same tech and develop at the same rate as each other. But like Zeke said humanity will multiply, open land will mean different people want to claim the land the occupy it which leads to conflict.

[@xav6649]

@@PricefieldPunk true

[@enginekun]

"The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart -- and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956

[@Maxisamo1]

Exactly The whole point is Humanity lives in cycles, and war is part of it

[@extra4542]

thank you so much for making this video for this interview, It’s so nice to have more definitive answers so quickly after the finale

[@MatadorM9]

Thanks for getting more information on the ending of AOT. Even when the show is over I hope to keep finding content on it. That show is one of my all time favorites.

[@bun5118]

This was the first anime I ever picked up in 2015. Over the years, I struggled to get through it, mainly because I’d have to rewatch season 1 and 2 quickly to remember everything I forgot, burning out quickly. But 3 weeks ago, I saw the show came to a close and decided to push through the entire show and made it to season 3 which was finally new material for me. I’m so happy I took the time to finally finish this show. Since 2015, I’ve picked up a decent amount of anime but this one left me with so many thought provoking questions to everyday life. It’s also very inspiring what Isayama built here, especially considering it was his first major project. So appreciative for this amazing storytelling!

[@MrAnimeLover1]

I think the interview is the true epilogue of the series to me. I will spend the rest of my life appreciate this series i guess, a truly modern masterpiece. The series wasnt 100% perfect like Eren character but i embrace it. Due to the wars we are seeing in nowadays, the ending will age like a good wine. Finally, after many few year of disappointment with many series that ended up terrible (GoT season 8 for example), something that i go through for a long time finally end in the good note. The change in the anime is the case that the anime can save the manga mistakes and improve it so i hope it will do the same for my current on-going animes because i heard some few spoilers (cant avoid it these days).

[@ehouaiscestdwiouaiscestbie2528]

"and Pieck becomes my wife" 🤣🤣🤣 but seriously the fact that strong link with reality in aot is a part of what makes it so unique. Some people were mocking Eren when he said he didn't want Mikasa to forget, but unless you're not honest with yourself, we've all been there, faking that insensibility while our inner person was whimpering on the floor

[@nobody78681]

Exactly and they forgot Eren is just a 19 year old boy

[@stevenjuber1650]

Idk what I’m going to do without regular videos of AoT from Seatactics. 😢

[@AnnaSa92]

What a gift this story was. When we watched the episode, I paused it to tell my husband that I get it, the whole scene with Eren and Armin was Isiyama's stuggle to end the story in a way that satisfies everyone, but can't. It's the only thing I got right throughout the whole anime/manga.

[@cub-square]

I do hope he creates something new. He deserves to have his beutiful mind run wild

[@Ava02xw]

Wow! Great video! I especially loved the part where Isayama was INTERVIEWED (Sarcasm)

[@racksityentertainment]

Inspiration in any art form is a spiritual experience, he really couldn’t betray the Spirit of this incredible story.

[@sameergafoor-w3m]

Saw it for the 2nd time and still can't believe what a masterpiece I just witnessed, it has so many layers and depth, The writing is simply beyond anything on the.mortal plane. I want to watch it again and pick up on the minor aspects. This is simply EPIC!!!!!!!

[@benjaminchoo3220]

Even if Isayama didn't have it all figured out from the get go, the entire package is nothing short of magnificent. Just happy to be alive during this period of time to enjoy such a story.

[@Adon345]

2:50 annie’s ability is used to summon other titans. that’s an ability she got from zeke it’s just less refined because she doesn’t have the same capacity as zeke. Also great video❤

[@spazzzoutt]

She can’t turn people into titans like zeke she could only call them

[@Adon345]

@@spazzzoutt word, when i said summon i meant make them go to her not like create them🫶🏿

[@sonalibisht9702]

wow..this interview helped me come to terms with the ending so much....great video!

[@ailius1520]

Major speculation: I believe the nine shifters along with the curse of Ymir were two of those things Isayama changed halfway through. I think in the beginning shifters were intended to be a rare elite, but not so few to be utterly irreplaceable. With so few of them, it doesn't make sense for Marley to send 4 shifters, which is 2/3rds of the core of their war machine (not counting the Warhammer), on a four year expedition with no support to look for the Founder. The vast majority of that time was spent attending the enemy's basic training program and during that time the Beast and Cart titans were presumably fighting all of Marley's other wars. When they really could've had anybody cover the infiltration and reconnaissance bit. When they located the Founder and had an actionable plan they could've radioed in a titan airdrop. The plan does make sense if titan shifter abilities were more of something Marley had a larger supply of and gave it to anyone who went through their selection and indoctrination program.

[@Alternative-Works]

The titan serums (such as the armored one Eren takes) were extremely powerful but somehow never mentioned again after Rod Reiss. It could have initially been possible for more modification or even more titans to be present, but was changed later on. I think sending the 4 recruits made some sense but the fact that Grisha just walked in without issue makes it seem like busting the walls was extremely risky and unnecessary. They likely wouldn't want to airdrop since they were trying to run 'stealth' (yeah right lol). Let's be honest there are way too many plotholes in this story, likely as a result of a number of changes to the story - clearly the author was a novice and/or stubborn in this regard.

[@evelynalex8787]

But he mended that nicely if he really retconned it to a plan only made cuz of how lazy the Marley military elite had gotten which actually makes sense to some hairbrained OTL war plans.

[@danzoom]

​@@Alternative-Works They also stated that they destroyed the walls to see the response from the king, which is not a great idea, considering they didn't know about the vow.

[@durg8909]

I fully agree with this. More evidence is that some of the nine’s abilities, like the female Titan being able to mimic other titans, or the cart Titan having the endurance to keep transforming, felt like they were just added later to give reasons for why they were so initially underpowered.

[@Odumase]

@@Alternative-Workswhat were other plotholes ?

[@vertexedits1806]

Man the questions were actually amazing and so were the answers

[@officially_sora]

The Anime did the ending better. Like, it was just a change in what happened when and how in Armins and Erens conversation, but it was a great and perfect change. The ending is perfect. Why did so many people expect a happy ending, in which Eren would stay as cold as ever, I genuinely dont get it. These people didn't understand Eren at all.

[@olivermcgarrity7124]

It was a pretty happy ending ngl

[@officially_sora]

@@olivermcgarrity7124 I mean, it was probably the happiest ending we could've gotten, considering... Attack on Titan

[@olivermcgarrity7124]

@@officially_sora and I’m so glad 😭

[@officially_sora]

@olivermcgarrity7124 Yeah same

[@Walrus5]

People who dont like the ending expected a dark ending. The ending we got literally was the happy ending

[@Nibi534]

You were able to catch critical points in the interview, which people were curious about overall. Good job on the video; it deserves its spotlight.

[@regisphilbin222]

I appreciate how Isayama never hid who Eren was - a rageful, passionate, person who was incompetent and always turned towards others (mostly Armin) to make plans and save the day. One would argue that the only times in S1-3 that he makes decisions by himself, like fighting Annie after Levi squad is killed, still ends in disaster. In the end, I am glad that he finally admits to all the viewers that he killed humanity not because there wasn't necessarily any other way, but because he couldn't let go of his rage and he was just an idiot. It really puts that seemlingly random Keith Shadis episode about how he wasn't special into a different light - so was Eren. He wasn't special either, he just happened to get an insane amount of power. I also like how Reiner discovers that people behind the wall are just like him, and that makes him confused and compassionate. Eren finds that people beyond the wall are just like him and that makes his confused and genocidal. Eren just couldn't let go of his rage.

[@domagoj905]

Man I love Reiners arc. So good.

[@castonyoung7514]

@@domagoj905 I don't. He remained a piece of $#17 right up until Eren started the rumbling, and he had a vested interest in helping the gang take him down. It kept being teased and kept being teased that he would defect. His rebellion against Marley was going to be a pivotal point in the show, the key to getting Gabi to admit that she was wrong, and maybe even get Pieck to turncoat. But no Gabi spontaneously admitted her wrongfulness herself. All the words from the empowering confession he was supposed to give came out Commander what's his jar face, who I guess just finished a long and profound arc offscreen. Annie and Pieck didn't have any hard feelings about working alongside the scout regimen since they never cared who they were killing, to begin with. And Reiner himself, what was he doing right up until Eren announced his plan to wipe out the other nations? Fighting for Marley and the complete destruction of the Eldians. In fact, I don't think he even admitted any wrongdoing until the penultimate episode.

[@KickflipDave]

I glad you can still make AoT content. Your thanks in previous videos was very heartfelt and I’m glad to be a viewer.

[@ze_ev]

That was such a meaningful journey. I really loved and appreciated the conclusion because it reflected reality, and even more so when Isayama's and Eren's feelings of being tied-down to the original ending aligned. Isayama's commitment to the original ending was a wise choice to keep the anime consistent and more immersive. This anime truly is a masterpiece.

[@kingjuice9832]

7:30 that’s why at the end when he was talking to admin he said “this is what I wanted to see” and it was just the rubble left over from the rumbling. Nothing left because that’s what he wanted to see from the outside world from the beginning

[@Somegoy]

I loved every bit of it. The whole tone felt very different when mappa took over, but I think they did a wonderful job with what they were given. Hats off, standing ovation from me.

[@tristan207]

I feel sad to have discovered you at the very end of the journey of the anime i would have followed you for. but thank you for this video and for your commitment on covering this masterpiece. Everything has to come to an end

[@leathersausage]

Really great video and a very interesting interview of Isayama, that really makes me appreciate AoT even more. His description of the power that came with the popularity of the manga just makes the scene between Eren and Armin even better, like a LOT better. Nevertheless, the ending broke me. I just want Mikasa and Eren to have one last, honest conversation. He definitely held back in the mountains with Mikasa. The weight of his knowledge made him look absolutely miserable, unlike with Armin, where he, for the last time, was actually himself again. I just wish, that Mikasa would have seen him like this aswell. Damn... it just makes me sad.

[@fiber2848]

I believe she said she remembered the times Eren went to go see them after everything so they probably did talk but we just didn’t get to see it which I think is fine

[@mrworldwide5811]

​@@fiber2848I think their talk is referring to her dream where they ran off

[@YaniDLC]

I regret not finding you sooner! Love your videos.

[@Ventus277]

Watch his interview in 2015 when he said his initial ending was similar to The Mist movie ending. His initial ending, quoted in 2015 was everyone dying to titans and never discovering what's inside the basement.

[@readbeforeyoureply64]

He never revealed any "initial ending" while the story was on going, stop lying.

[@daniel.m5278]

I hope in his next project he is just as involved and gives us another 11/10 anime to cry over ❤

[@vic3roy]

A Mangaka who wishes he could change the ending to his own story. Absolutely amazing. Even us as the audience wanted a change in the ending.

[@Mathiii_]

thank you for that amazing video!

[@adrenolife1460]

Interviewer should've asked if mikasa actually married someone and if she did, was it jean ? Cause holy fuck I've seen so many arguments on Reddit, insta, KZbin, Twitter trying to explain how she's married/not married lol

[@Tatakhae]

Love you for this!!!

[@thepbjonyoutube7658]

Love your stuff!!

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Fun fact: Hajime Isayama wanted Attack on Titan to end like that 2007 movie the Mist.

[@AkaIceBear]

That movie fucked me up as a kid/teenager. The same kind of conclusion on AoT would have fucked me up as an adult too.

[@iroh2364]

@@AkaIceBearYeah the original idea was like eren killed all his friends becuase they were to many titans. And then he got to know that there were no titans or something like that. So he killed all his friends for nothing

[@pariahlord3540]

​@@iroh2364that makes no sense, I assume you're just dumb and not explaining this correctly

[@amukbir8777]

​​@@iroh2364 better than the actual ending imo It feels something that No author has the balls to pull off and even tho it will give trauma to all the viewers I prefer that rather than the love parallel shit we got with ymir-mikasa. Something more about complicating Eren's deep vision while making him go crazy instead of acting for eldia. Also I dont like that he killed his mom for his friends. A mist type of ending suits aot perfectly. But we all know Isayama changed it because aot became Mainstream and fangirls would cancel him on twitter if he decided a dark ending

[@rainy4354]

but how would that work? eren was a titan himself. we all saw the titans break into Shiganshima. how could there be "no titans" at the end...im curiously asking@@iroh2364

[@icharmprince]

This is all of the closure I needed. Gratitude.🙏🏾💯

[@Dracwahl]

The hate for the ending is honestly sweet to me. Makes liking it that much more rewarding.

[@ShervierJ]

What lol

[@geronimo1595]

Yup expectations were blown the whole episode

[@Maxisamo1]

​@@ShervierJIt makes ya feel smarter/more enlightened for understanding it better

[@Dracwahl]

@@Maxisamo1 Exactly, theres a lot of people who dont have the patience or care to ponder the human psyche.

[@djstylegaming1398]

@@Maxisamo1y’all thinking too much into it. No ones opinion should have an effect on yours. Opinions don’t make you better or worse than anyone

[@sakurangeI]

awesome video!! i loved your take at the end

[@RandomCommentary.]

I think it was the final scene bit that shattered everyone 😢

[@Satoru_Izakii]

Manga readers 👓

[@hashslingingslasher3083]

If it makes you feel any better, Eren ended a 2000 year war of hatred by removing titans and destroying Marley then gave Paradis and his friends peaceful lives of freedom. In fact judging by the buildings that got destroyed in the end and knowing 80% of the world was destroyed, the entire planet probably had peace for a couple hundred years which has literally never occurred in the history of humanity in real life.

[@Kr1egsmesser]

@@hashslingingslasher3083 ...and he also killed 80% of the population xd

[@samuelmutia9608]

@@hashslingingslasher3083thousands of years if you think about it. The buildings we saw were buildings we don't even have in our present time. Meaning Paradis probably even reached a sort of cyberpunk like future. Before war started back again.

[@jeezyyplays6234]

@@samuelmutia9608what I wanna know is what happened when mikasa’s descendant walked into that tree. Is eren’s spirit tied to it? Is he gunna restart the cycle of titan powers? Or was the scene purely symbolic ?

[@bv-im1fg]

Love your recent breakdown videos of the final episode. Reminds me of the anime community and why i love it, at the same time talking about this legendary anime

[@Vulcano7965]

It also really suprised me to hear one last german lyrics at the end and leaves a bitter sweet feel. Because it said "And (the world) laugh down from the tower of Babel. Hate and worry are a double edged sword. The story repeats itself". Right before the futuristic Shiganshina is destroyed in yet another war. With the tower of Babel explicitly being referred to as "skyscraper" in german, alluding to the future skyline being built in the timelapse. So while humanity still strived to unify itself and reach a greater power, it's all (yet) useless and conflict emerges yet again. Speaking to the rhyming of history the world of AoT finds itself in. In Eren words: Some idiot got its hand at too much power again. And the last image of Ymirs tree is just the cherry on top. It's really a timeless story.

[@Excelsior2043]

7:50 The response to that question and the question itself was absolutely genius. Eren is a reflection of the author's own slave to freedom.

[@snick9314]

Everything that happened in this ending was perfect. The dialogue and pacing of certain points in the last 20 min of the episode just werent there with the rest of the series. The main accomplishment of eren was making a time of peace enough for his friends to live out their lives fully. Making time for the small events of everyday life that make everything worth living. Instead of eren inturnally suffering for what he is doing and going more into his internal (tatakai) moments where he keeps being the worst person for his friends and country to survive. he is portrayed as pathetic for not accomplishing more and calling himeself an idiot. He as a character doesnt feel respected for it all. Im sure its been mentioned but code geas deals with internal confluct like this in a perfect way showcasing where this concept fell short in its explanation and character portrayal.

[@drazirac117]

So much YES in this interview w him! A realistic ending

[@cjclark1318]

If I were Isayama, I would put myself through the same pain every time I wrote a story, because you said it yourself in this video, there is little to no plot holes in AOT, the story was strong the whole way through, the ending fit in every way, very few anime’s are as thoughtful as this show… all of this came from the fact that he stuck to what he originally envisioned no matter the pain it caused him, no matter how bad he wanted to deviate, no matter how much he felt the urge make the ending more optimistic he didn’t, he marched through his original vision no matter the cost, this is how stories should be written, he knew what the overall Message of his vision was worth carrying through… his decision is a great reflection of the decisions made by leaders in war, finish the mission, no matter what.

[@JV-oy1zi]

My head: why would you click on the video it’s clearly clickbait. My heart: yes

[@mreverything7056]

2:44 “Annie’s ability to mimic any other Titan” It’s actually more she can “learn” any other ability better. Similar to how when Eren drank armor Titan spinal fluid, and gained Titan hardening powers, Annie did the same. The Female Titan’s ACTUAL ability is the Titan Scream, where she can call pure titans to her location.

[@bilguunganbayar1730]

Annie's ability is the jack of all trades, acquiring abilities by consuming titan parts. There was a whole line from her that was "I ate a lot of things" She probably acquired the titan scream from Zeke.

[@Sx-xy2zi]

This was really helpful thankyou

[@ivanpadilla4479]

5:36 I saw that scene as: yes taking accountability and being an accomplice. Also my interpretation was that Armin won’t let his Bro die with just guilt and madness

[@Nessa1.995]

I thought the same as you did ! Armin wanted to lift some burden on Eren's shoulders. "You are not alone. I'm here with you".

[@erobos111]

Well done!

[@LucyKosaki]

Regarding the ending: Isayama is contradicting himself here, because we also have earlier interviews of him where he said quote: "Until recently, I used to fully take the stance of creating a dark ending. Before, i wished I could shock those who have been following the manga. And all I thought about was to somehow betray the readers who are enthusiastic about the work. But now, as I am turning a little bit older, my mindset has shifted. I am still not sure how the manga will eventually turn out" - June 2016. Also this older one: Q:"Did the story itself started to movie on its own? And the story might have an ending that's different from the one you had previously planned?" A: "That's right." ... "My initial urge was to bestow trauma to the readers. For example like in the movie "The mist", where we are watching how everyone unwillingly had to be killed, and although I had the feeling that I wanna do such a thing, at the present time, wonderful people have given support to the series through the anime, so obviously doing such a thing is criminal, and I'm unable to devote myself to such malice." - December 2013 So yeah, I don't think the story and ending changing is misinformation as Isayama has stated changing stuffs multiple times over the course of the mangas run. Maybe it is a mix of everything, like the general idea of the victim becoming the aggressor stayed since the beginning but everyone killing Eren instead of everyone dying is what changed as the series got more popular and Isayama got older and more experienced.

[@anuragnathyal5889]

Thanks for writing this. Where did you find it ? But as an answer to this , in 2013 he said that initially he wanted to make the ending as traumatic as possible but later chnaged his mind that's true even now , the ending is traumatic but it wasn't as traumatic as it could have been. Mikasa is still alive, Armin is still alive, many are Still alive and are doing good. So there is no contradiction to what he said in 2013. Same goes to what he said in 2016 . There is no contradiction actually. An anime like Attack on Titans will have trauma in it , it's destined to have that but the only question is too much trauma or some trauma. And the ending wasn't too traumatic, it was traumatic but it could have been so much worse. So I don't think there is any contradiction. Yes the ending could have been happier but Isyama took the middle road . Neither extreme traumatic neither happy.

[@RavenL1337]

@@anuragnathyal5889stop D riding garbo writing he IS CONTRADICTING HIMSELF A SHIT TON

[@gespucci4213]

seems like Isayama made a good decision to me. do people honestly like the idea of Isayama all of the sudden killing all the characters just to shock the audience, rather than, you know, telling a good story?

[@matthewrogersmusic]

I wish you would’ve continued your thought at 10:13, I’d love to hear speculation on his next work

[@Chokken97]

The best writers respect the constraints they put into the world they make. You can tell when they make something happen "because they wanted it to" and it feels unnatural. AOT is so freaking good because he worked within the constraints with amazing consistency.

[@TheJohnManga]

You make amazing videos, i just discovered this channel just a few days ago! Greetings from Ecuador! 👋

[@jidartajom1942]

Pieck my wife got me 😂😂.

[@hopebaqshy2116]

Great coverage on both videos. Loved your analysis and the points you raised! Keep it up! 😊

[@berserker7091]

God dang Isayama you're so good with answering those questions, I can't believe at that young age you already have this deep thinking. seriously even I, in that age like your age when you started the manga, I couldn't even think of story like this with deep moral and politics. dang he's genius I'm so pissed to those sending him Death threats just because they have 0 brain cells. Well there's Proverbs of it, Smart people are quiet but Idiots are the loudest.

[@CmpdKnwl]

Man those ending credits really hit the feels.

[@kuaikukia]

This is why I love AOT so much because it is realistic, no fanservice. Probably another anime that I love right now is Vinland Saga

[@Nessa1.995]

Yes, Vinland Saga will probably be at the same lever as AOT, in a few years. Not in the same category though. They are both absolutely excellent, but not in competition with one another.

[@Justanormalperson777]

​@@Nessa1.995i agree. I love Vinland saga and aot

[@yyy8453]

What a way to describe AoT and what I love most about it: "It doesn't insult our inteligence"

[@miguel_ikno]

Damn I love AOT and it is my favorite "story" ever told not just anime/manga but everything as a whole and a major part of that was the realisim it brought to the table and to see something like a fairy tale ending just wouldn't sit right in my eyes so for Isayama to confim that he wanted to make AOT have a realistic ending makes it 100 times better.

[@Nithinreddy-18]

Bro quick question did mikasa married at the end??

[@MoreAbAdA]

​@rockstargamer7384 Seems like it was Jean, iirc he had a dream in final season part two marrying Mikasa. I feel like Isayama didn't confirm it by showing his face coz he didn't want piss off Eren and Mikasa shippers any further.

[@gamefreak2050]

Thank you for this video. Much respect to Isayama for creating a realistic ending. It annoys me to no end when people complain it wasn’t sappy enough or edgey enough, like were we watching the same show?

[@JaiClaire880]

I think Isayama thinking he couldn’t change his ending proves my point about Eren. He did not have the capacity to do so because he put restrictions on himself via the vehicle Manga and the original ending that he wrote which means he had the ability but not the capacity. From creator to creator, you always have the ability to change it UNLESS the client not the fans says otherwise. We are in an era where we think that our work should reflect the world around us not realizing that entertainment and creators have the biggest influence over life itself. Our youth reflects what they watch and listen to. Decisions are made by the ideologies we develop over the years through various vehicles we intake via school, media, faith/nonfaith and history. The writer had the power to show that the ugly doesn’t always have to win or continue but with great leadership and supporters a better ending is always available to us. We just keep blowing it off with the cycle will always continue logic.

[@nonbsp]

All of your complaints had been told through out the series. And nothing is wrong with him being more realistic about the theme he wanted to be told. You shouldn't make the ugly history nicer than it should then it become something like bioshock infinite, it makes the theme of racism on black people way to nicer than it should. Him being realistic about it is what makes it great.

[@JaiClaire880]

@@nonbsp Interesting you received my thoughts as complaints, I have to change my delivery in the future. As a black person who have seen the negative effects of only portraying us as thugs, disposable, and often over sexualize to our youth and has completed a study on this very topic, I have found that research proves this approach only reinforces the negativity instead of simply highlighting it as a reality. Some of the evidence is found with the correlation of gang related arrest and the heavy push for gangster rap as an avenue to “share one’s story.” However, gangster raps use in the 90s only reinforce the lifestyle that eventually shaped the ideologies of the youth of that time and ultimately led them to make poor decisions that landed them in jail. Bizzy Bone said in an interview that he learned the hard way that the ones pushing for that type of music, ex. the record labels, also had their hand in the private prison system that set quotas each year. So yes, I’m well aware of racism, especially when my peers and I were stereotyped. Realism should be used cautiously because in displaying the realism of suicide through music and tv shows such as 13 reasons, there was a spike in deaths by suicide. As a fellow creator and artist with over 10 years of experience, I like to encourage people to be flexible with their work because you never know what the final outcome will be if you remove the restrictions you place on yourself. Part of realism is acknowledging a hope for something better. On another note, I absolutely love Isayama’s work. I actually don’t see my thoughts as complaints but rather responses to his well thought out and authentic reasonings which is a technique known as critical thinking. I can be a fan of his work and his characters but also form my own thoughts in opinions, that’s how people connect with his story. I never once mentioned an insult to him rather I praise this project as a whole and consider it a masterpiece. The end.

[@siswatching]

The smaller aspects 2:24 that changed also include Sasha's death which should've been far earlier, and the Cart titan look, abilities, and shifter.

[@ShockSmile]

I, also like Eren, was disappointed when i knew humanity still exists outside the walls, when i started watching AOT back in 2013, the thing that hooked me to the story was the concept of all of humanity was confined inside those fortified cities because of a species threatening danger. The thing that kept me wanting more is the desire and curiosity to know how it will end up for humanity, will they survive or will they get annihilated, what's the origin/secret of the titans. back then i also loved the combination genre of Horror, Drama (especially with the traitors) and mystery. all of this went in flames after season 4 when we got presented with Marley, the genre shifted to Politics, Military and "Romance". More importantly the thing that killed AOT for me from season 4 and on is the story going on the generic trope of the "Hero" becoming the "Villain". all in all it's good series

[@Saif_-_-_Ali]

Well, in season 4 when we get to know that paradis is just an island in the real world, it is logical that the mystery part is now gone. Also when you think about the segregation of island devils, it is a political topic for the whole world so the switch to politics and military is logical too. Finally, our cast has grown and they are, I believe, teens\young adults now and we can expect some romance between our cast now (The romance part was a build up from the start e.g. between eren and mikasa and so on). So the whole genre shift as you mentioned feels logical and in line with the revelation of the outside world. Which is ultimately disappointing for you but is consistent with how the anime was developed all along especially in s3 with Griesha's book reveal and so on.

[@DFBOC]

I absolutely love the shift in season 4. To go from 3 whole seasons of pitying these poor people to suddenly seeing the lives and perspectives of the people in Marley, it just gives you so much to think about and ponder in terms of humanity and our natural instincts to fight eachother. Not having a clear idea of who is the "good guy" or "bad guy" is incredible. You find yourself deeply considering the needs and wants of everyone involved while just as unclear on the solution as the characters. And to finish with the message that there actually is no solution at all, just absolutely incredible

[@Kiranj33]

Of course this is all preference except I disagree that aot falls into the generic trope of hero to villain. I think the context is much more poignant than that as eren/eldians go from oppressed to oppressor. This is something that has happened countless times in history as well. To call it usage of a generic trope seems a bit reductive to me.

[@Wantedweb2527]

Go watch Demon Slayer then if you want a story like that