After 11 years and 7 months of chapters, Attack on Titan came to a close in April of last year. The bleak, emotional story of the world’s struggle against the Titans and the moral quandaries residing within the battle captured readers’ hearts everywhere—but now that the beloved manga (and soon, the anime) are coming to a close. So what exactly does the ending mean for all the characters? Bear in mind that the explanation that follows will contain spoilers.
Strap in, because not every aspect of the ending might be neatly wrapped up. The manga’s final chapter, Toward the Tree on That Hill, sets the span of events for the world of Attack on Titan far into the future. Here’s every important event that comes as a result of this ending.
Eren and the Titans
In the end of the manga, Eren attempts to destroy the world by reviving Ymir and invoking the power of the Founding Titan. However, Mikasa ultimately kills him, which results in Titans and their powers vanishing from the world. In addition, the power of the Founding Titan had erased memories that Eren’s friends had of him, which were ultimately recalled in Chapter 139. Prior to this chapter, it is revealed that Eren had invoked the Rumbling and purposefully set himself on the path to the Rumbling because he had sent memories to his past self (from a timeline where his home of Eldia had been destroyed). Though Eldia ultimately survived the Rumbling, more than 80 percent of the world perished and the Titans permanently disappeared from the world. Eren’s wish to stop the wars and save his home were fulfilled.
Armin and Mikasa
Eren’s two closest allies, Armin and Mikasa, both went their own paths after Eren’s death. They made him a makeshift grave at the tree he used to sleep at—the very same one he slept under when the manga first began. As time passes, Mikasa raises a family of her own, though she never lets go of Eren’s scarf. When she ultimately passes away, the scarf is buried with her. Even to the very end, Eren’s friends never let go of his ideals and hopes. Further, they both managed to live long, peaceful lives and were able to rest after all the war they’d endured at the hands of Marley and Paradis.
The World
While the rest of the world reeled from the Rumbling, Paradis was saved from the threat of the outside world and was able to successfully negotiate with Marley. However, much later on, it is revealed that Shiganshiana, the main district where Eren, Mikasa, and Armin lived, has been destroyed by war and is instead in ruins, becoming a great forest. Eren’s tree where he used to sleep has since grown to a colossal size and towers over the forest, meaning that even without him being there, his legacy continues to live on. A boy discovers this tree alongside his dog, and the manga ends there, with the world (hopefully) healing from the Rumbling.
(featured image: Wit)
Published: Jul 25, 2022 04:16 pm