Attack on Titan is a massive anime, as massive as the Titans that Eren Yeager fought and ultimately sought to destroy. Years after its conclusion, Attack on Titan remains a relevant anime and manga series discussed by fans around the world. Its creator, Hajime Isayama, has told a masterful story filled with moral conflict, tragedy, and pursuit of freedom from start to finish.

However, the ending of Attack on Titan continues to divide the fandom. While some fans easily accept the conclusion of Eren’s relentless pursuit of freedom, others aren’t satisfied. This divide naturally reached Hajime Isayama, who surprisingly revealed a different Attack on Titan ending could have been possible if only it were believable and fitting to the current state of the world.

Attack On Titan: Every Titan And Their Special Ability

The nine titans in Attack on Titan all possess signature abilities that make each of them formidable.

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By Emedo Destiny

Attack on Titan Manga Concluded in 2021

Attack on Titan Anime Ended in 2023

Armin bawling his eyes out while gripping Eren in Attack on Titan

Without a doubt, Attack on Titan and its compelling characters are greatly missed by the anime community. It won’t even be a surprise if, to this day, many fans are still crying over the heartbreaking ending of Eren Yeager’s short but meaningful life. Series creator Hajime Isayama started Attack on Titan on September 9, 2009, and since then, the anime and manga community has never been the same.

11 years and 7 months later, the Attack on Titan manga ended, having released 34 volumes. The Attack on Titan anime, on the other hand, officially began on April 7, 2013, and concluded on November 5, 2023, with over 80 episodes. Throughout its run, Attack on Titan enjoyed worldwide success, thanks to Hajime Isayama’s unparalleled world-building, flawed yet relatable characters, and visionary storytelling.

I Have To Be The One To Do This! I've Got To Settle This!—Eren Yeager

However, the ending of Attack on Titan remains a hot issue among fans, mostly due to the plot holes and missed opportunities that Hajime Isayama could have fixed with a few adjustments. Others even feel that Eren and Mikasa’s love story is incomplete, while there are some who believe the ending ruined the entire series. On the flip side, there are anime fans who defend the conclusion, citing reasons why Attack on Titan has the boldest and most realistic finale that stayed true to its central themes.

Hajime Isayama Gave Up Attack on Titan’s Happy Ending

It Could Have Been Possible But It’s Too Unbelievable

Featured Attack On Titan Author Isayama Confirms He Wanted To Change The Ending Eren

A happy ending for Attack on Titan could have been possible.
Isayama says a happy ending is just unbelievable.

Attack on Titan could have ended differently, with Eren Yeager completing his mission and surviving the Rumbling. Hajime Isayama had countless options and directions he could have taken the story, including endings where Eren and Mikasa formed a family and grew old together. However, fans know that a happy and peaceful ending for Attack on Titan was never truly in line with its themes.

In fact, in an interview with Hajime Isayama in The New York Times, the Japanese manga artist revealed that a happy ending for Attack on Titan, where war and contention are over, is unreal, especially in the current state of the world. While it could have been possible for Isayama to conclude Eren’s journey on a positive note, it’s just not believable given the story’s foundation.

Here’s what Hajime Isayama had to say about the ending of Attack on Titan:

I guess there could have been an ending where it was a happy ending and the war ended, and everything was fine and dandy. I guess that could have been possible. At the same time, the end of fighting and the end of contention itself kind of seems hokey. It kind of seems like it’s not even believable. It’s just not plausible in the world we’re living right now. And so, sadly, I had to give up on that kind of happy ending.

-Hajime Isayama

From this, it can be said that Attack on Titan is deeply rooted in realism, even though it is set in a dangerous world where destructive titans exist. Isayama’s masterpiece mirrors the harsh reality of life, where war is never-ending, peace is hard to achieve, and freedom often comes with a huge sacrifice. As much as fans would love to see Eren, Mikasa, and Armin find happiness, such ideal endings rarely exist in the real world.

Attack on Titan Is Still Worth Watching

It Is a Timeless Masterpiece

Eren and Mikasa at a cabin in Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan remains one of the best action anime and manga series out there, perfect for those who enjoy and appreciate dark yet realistic stories filled with thought-provoking themes and intense action. It is still worth watching and worth reading, thanks to its powerful character arcs, shocking twists and turns, and more.

I Am Free. Whatever I Do. Whatever I Choose. I Do It Out Of My Own Free Will.—Eren Yeager

It is highly recommended to watch the Attack on Titan anime, as the adaptation elevated the manga with Wit Studio and MAPPA’s stunning visuals, turning it into a cinematic experience unlike any other. There’s not a lot of difference between the anime and manga, but for the full experience, anime fans should immerse themselves in both.