Exploring the Variances Between Anime and Manga Endings in Attack on Titan

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Attack on Titan's final episode releases after its run of ten year, one month and seven days.

Mangaka Hideo Isayama urged fans to stay tuned till the very end to witness the anime's transformative elements, and indeed, significant modifications were made.

The concluding episode of Attack on Titan honored the manga's finale while incorporating certain adjustments and extra details to achieve a more comprehensive and well-rounded conclusion.

After a decade, the anime series for Attack on Titan has come to an official end. Throughout those ten years, WIT and MAPPA studios beautifully captured Hajime Isayama's vision, culminating in an 85-minute episode that brought the beloved manga's final chapters to life. Although the manga wrapped up in June, it took two years for the complete adaptation to be realized, spanning two episodes and nearly two and a half hours. As the credits rolled and the post-episode sequence played, fans of the franchise were left stunned and moved to tears by the lasting impact.

In the past two years, fans of Attack on Titan have been curious about the possibility of an anime-exclusive ending and wondered if Isayama had a surprise in store. Over the years, subtle changes in the anime sparked speculation that the ending might diverge from the manga. While the anime series largely stayed true to the manga's conclusion, keen-eyed viewers noticed a few noteworthy details in the final episode.

Armin and Eren's Dialogue Got Needed Fix

The most important change that stood out and was deemed necessary was the conversation between Eren Yeager and Armin Arlert about Eren's decision and the reality of his actions. Manga readers of Attack on Titan were extremely disappointed by Armin's approval of Eren's mass murder. In a panel that greatly upset the readers, Armin expressed gratitude to Eren for becoming a mass murderer for their sake. As soon as the final chapter of Attack on Titan was released, Isayama publicly expressed his regret for this dialogue, acknowledging that the intended meaning of those words did not effectively come across. The reaction was swift and overwhelmingly negative, resulting in alterations in the anime adaptation.

In the final episode of the anime, Armin did express gratitude to Eren, but not for his descent into mass murder. Instead, Armin thanked Eren for showing him a life beyond the walls, referencing a shell that he had discovered years ago. Armin took some responsibility for the destruction caused by the rumbling, stating it as a collective action by saying "we did this" rather than placing the blame solely on Eren. As the two friends embraced before Eren's farewell, they agreed that they would next see each other in hell. It seems fitting that after eradicating 80 percent of the global population, these two friends will reunite in a metaphorical lake of fire.

End Credits Showcases Futuristic Paradis

In the anime, a noticeable change was made during the credit roll. Multiple shots and image rolls showcased the tree where Eren was buried, with Paradis in the background. Over the years, spectators witnessed the rebuilding of the land from scratch, transforming it into a breathtaking sight adorned with a skyline and vibrant lights. Unlike the manga, where the architecture hinted at a time skip of possibly one generation after the rumbling, the anime presented a more advanced and futuristic look. Judging by the skyscrapers' construction and futuristic aesthetics, it is evident that the time skip in the anime encompassed several more generations compared to its manga counterpart.

Regrettably, like in the manga, Paradis experienced a series of attacks and bombings. As a result, destruction befell Paradis, with carpet bombs reducing the once-beautiful structures to rubble and engulfing them in flames. The grim message conveyed is that humanity has once again regressed into a cycle of struggle and violence, with two opposing sides failing to find common ground.

End Credits Showcases Futuristic Paradis

Turning to the moment when Eren and Armin share their last heartfelt conversation before the protagonist moves on to the afterlife, the atmosphere undergoes a chilling transformation. In the manga, the lifelong friends journey through various snapshots of their lives, from their childhood in their hometown to their youth by the seaside. After Armin forcefully strikes Eren to the ground and leaves him seated in water, the ocean gradually vanishes, replaced by the colossal footprints of the rampaging titans. The symbolism is evident as Eren sits on the ground he has devastated.

In the anime adaptation, the ground is drenched in the blood of those eradicated by Eren. At a poignant moment, Eren reaches into the blood and retrieves a handful of hair and bones, revealing a trace of sorrow in his actions. Simultaneously, Armin retrieves a seashell from the blood-soaked ground instead of the bare earth before presenting it to Eren. As the final moments unfold with the two friends embracing in an affectionate hug, it is Armin, not Eren, who confides that they will reunite in hell, where they will remain together for eternity.

Additionally, the ending moments of the show saw a slight change as the remaining cast was depicted rebuilding the land instead of simply wandering the city. This alteration resulted in the omission of the Levi and Onyankopon nod. Nevertheless, fans of Attack on Titan were treated to an endearing scene where Gabi and Falco planted a tree. Therefore, it is likely that the audience will accept these trade-offs, along with the ones previously mentioned. Attack on Titan can be streamed on Amazon Prime.

Editor's P/S

Attack on Titan's anime ending was a more satisfying conclusion to the story than the manga ending. The anime-exclusive dialogue between Eren and Armin addressed the criticism that the manga ending was too rushed and did not give enough time for the characters to process the events of the story. The anime also featured a more visually captivating showcase of the futuristic Paradis in the end credits, which gave fans a sense of hope for the future of the world.

Overall, I think the anime ending of Attack on Titan was a more fitting and satisfying conclusion to the story than the manga ending. The anime-exclusive dialogue between Eren and Armin helped to resolve some of the lingering questions about Eren's motivations and the morality of his actions. The anime also featured a more visually captivating showcase of the futuristic Paradis in the end credits, which gave fans a sense of hope for the future of the world.