The end of Attack on Titan and the debate over its legacy

This article contains spoilers for the entire series. 

The hit anime series Attack on Titan officially came to an end in November 2023, marking the tenth anniversary of this generation-defining show. However, last year, it was confirmed that a compilation film would edit the two-part finale into a theatrical release. As the end credits roll for Attack on Titan: The Last Attack, showing the tree that Eren, Armin, and Mikasa run toward growing over the course of generations, what is the legacy of a story—and an author—that is both beloved and controversial?

Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan began as a manga in 2009, and what stood out initially was its rough artwork. From awkward character designs to scratchy action sequences, even Isayama acknowledged his artistic limitations. After multiple rejections, he finally found a publisher in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, where Attack on Titan debuted. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the remnants of humanity fight for survival against giant humanoid Titans, the series quickly gained traction in Japan. Despite its early artistic flaws, Isayama’s style improved significantly, and positive word-of-mouth helped turn the manga into a sensation, paving the way for an anime adaptation.

When Wit Studio produced the first season of Attack on Titan, the series became an international phenomenon. At a time when Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead captivated audiences with their shocking fantasy and horror elements, AoT did the same for anime.

As Isayama would continue the manga at his own pace, the anime would have an interesting journey over its ten-year run, from the complicated scheduling for each season to the transition from one animation studio to another. Following Wit Studio’s handling of the first three seasons, MAPPA would animate the fourth and final season that would air between December 2020 and November 2023, with a total of twenty-eight episodes and two one-hour specials. From the season’s unusual schedule to the controversies surrounding the studio itself, the fanbase was divisive over MAPPA’s handling of Attack on Titan, which had moved beyond its simple premise of Man versus Titan. However, much like Isayama’s own artistic evolution, MAPPA was able to escape from its own limitations, especially during the two-part finale that was grand and rivaled the quality that Wit Studio achieved with its run. 

For as much love there is towards Attack on Titan, it is not without its detractors. While there has been some controversy surrounding the author’s political beliefs regarding Japan’s own war history during the early 20^th century, which has never been officially confirmed, there has always been this assumption that AoT is a pro-imperialist, pro-fascist text. Whereas Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers was satirical to tell an anti-propaganda narrative, AoT used its real-world allusions in its fantasy setting to tell one of the great anti-war stories in fiction. It may not be subtle in those real-world allusions, like the armbands worn by Eldians evoke the armbands worn by Jewish people in Nazi Germany, the story is not a simple black-and-white narrative of good versus evil. The Eldians are seen by the world as devils, and yet there is a devil in every one of us, as every character are wrestling with every choice they make in a world that seems to be constantly at war. 

And then… there is Eren Yeager. Unlike many popular Shonen protagonists who go on their journey with such positivity, whether it is One Piece’s Luffy wanting to be the King of the Pirates or Dragon Ball’s Goku wanting to become the strongest fighter in the whole universe, Eren is driven by vengeance. Having witnessed tragedy at the hands of a Titan, he is determined to kill all Titans as he enlists in the military along with his childhood friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert. Another differentiation from those Shonen heroes is how much Eren stumbles and falls but keeps moving forward, to the point he becomes the thing he hates most to achieve victory. As the world continues to expand with more answers unveiled out of the mystery box that drove the entire series, Eren’s path to freedom ultimately leads him to become the main antagonist that his dear friends have to fight. 

As a deconstruction of shonen tropes, Attack on Titan shares thematic similarities with Neon Genesis Evangelion, arguably the most influential anime of the 1990s. Hideaki Anno’s mecha series redefined its genre by exploring psychological trauma and depression. While Evangelion is often interpreted as Anno’s personal reflection on mental health, it’s harder to pinpoint Attack on Titan’s deeper personal meaning for Isayama. However, like Evangelion, AoT has a divisive ending—one that Isayama himself has expressed regret over.

The manga’s final chapter, published in April 2021, left many fans feeling betrayed. The conclusion, which rushed through major revelations and attempted to justify Eren’s global genocide, led to outrage. With 80% of humanity wiped out, the story closed on a bleak and controversial note. This raised the question: Would the anime remain faithful to the manga’s ending or forge a new path? Ultimately, it stuck to the original, with one notable addition that reinforced Attack on Titan’s central message. Eren’s story was never meant to be a power fantasy—it was a cautionary tale about wielding power beyond one’s control. Even Ymir, the young slave girl who started it all, was never meant to hold the power of the Founding Titan.

While long-running shonen series like One Piece and newer works like Chainsaw Man continue evolving the genre, Attack on Titan stands as an anomaly. Its influence has already left a mark on the anime and manga industries, inspiring series such as Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and Kaiju No. 8. As Isayama moves forward—with a new one-shot manga on the horizon—it remains to be seen whether he will escape the long shadow of his defining work.

Attack on Titan: The Last Attack’s Post-Credits Scene

Returning to The Last Attack, the film serves as a theatrical victory lap for fans who have followed the series for over a decade. While it doesn’t alter the story, it offers a lighthearted surprise in its post-credits scene. Drawing inspiration from the comedic Attack on School Castes spin-off, the scene features an alternate Eren, Armin, and Mikasa sharing their thoughts on the movie, as if they were a new generation introduced to Attack on Titan as their first anime. They experienced the story’s highs and lows together—just as fans did in real life.

Attack on Titan has left an undeniable impact on anime and manga, sparking debates about its themes, characters, and conclusion. Whether seen as a bold anti-war statement or a cautionary tale of power, its legacy will continue to be discussed for years.

Wow, it turns out Attack on Titan really was the friends we made along the way!