Attack on Titan Requiem: A Canon Conundrum

The release of Attack on Titan Requiem has generated a lot of discussion, particularly after the anime series concluded. Many people who were unfamiliar with the term were puzzled by its connection to the original series. Essentially, Requiem offers fans an alternative ending that diverges from Eren's death.

This has sparked a debate among fans about whether Attack on Titan Requiem is considered canon. The answer is no, as Attack on Titan Requiem does not align with the original storyline created by Hajime Isayama.

What is Attack on Titan Requiem, and how does it vary from the original ending?

Attack on Titan Requiem is a fan-created series that presents a different take on the ending of the manga by Hajime Isayama. The manga's ending was met with mixed reactions from the community, prompting fans to propose alternative endings.

In the original manga, the Rumbling resulted in the destruction of 80 percent of the world's population, and Eren met his demise at the hands of Mikasa Ackerman. Additionally, there were hints of a potential continuation of the cycle as a human discovered the tree that bestowed Ymir with Titan-shifting powers.

Three years ago, a music video titled Akatsuki no Requiem was released, featuring elements that resembled the original show and hinting at an alternative ending to the series, which inspired Attack on Titan Requiem.

The fan-made project is still in progress, with only three parts released so far. The team is currently seeking crowdfunding to produce parts 4 and 5 of the series. However, fans are already aware of the possible conclusion or the direction the Requiem series will take.

The music video, upon which the Requiem series is based, heavily relies on the viewer's interpretation. According to the video, Eren did not die at the hands of Mikasa Ackerman. Instead, he emerged victorious against the Allies, proceeded with the Rumbling, and eradicated the entire population outside Paradis Island.

A panel from the fan-made project (Image via Hajime Isayama and AoT Requiem)

The music video features the main character sitting next to a tree, potentially alluding to Eren's burial site. Additionally, the video depicts multiple graves instead of a single one, as seen in the original series.

The video provides a haunting glimpse of the desolate wastelands and the horrifying aftermath of the Rumbling. It is evident that Eren Jaeger emerged victorious, resulting in the tragic deaths of Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Pieck, and countless others who bravely fought against him.

Even though it's a fan-made project, Attack on Titan Requiem impresses with its high-quality art style that stays true to the original manga series. It's exciting to see how the project will explore all the small details in the alternate ending.

Fans can access it on the official website, which currently features three parts. According to updates from X (formerly Twitter), parts 4 and 5 are in progress and awaiting funding.

Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2023 progresses.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I'm excited about the release of Attack on Titan Requiem. I'm a big fan of the original series, and I'm curious to see how the story will be different in this alternate ending. I'm also impressed by the high-quality art style of the fan-made project. It's clear that a lot of time and effort has gone into creating this new ending.

However, I'm also aware that Attack on Titan Requiem is not canon. It's a fan-made project, and it doesn't align with the original storyline created by Hajime Isayama. I'm still excited to see how the story unfolds, but I'm also aware that it's not the same as the official ending of the series.