Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK – The Future of the Franchise or The End?

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK - The Future of the Franchise or The End?

Key Takeaways

  • Attack on Titan concluded with a movie compiling cour 1 and 2, revised scenes, and a post-credit scene.
  • Isayama was closely involved in the movie’s production, offering insights and details for THE LAST ATTACK.
  • The post-credits scene features Armin, Eren, and Mikasa discussing a historical reenactment of Attack on Titan.

As a long-time fan of Attack on Titan, I must say that the final movie, The Last Attack, was a fitting and emotional conclusion to this epic series. The post-credits scene, featuring Armin, Eren, and Mikasa discussing the events of the film in a theater, was a heartwarming touch that brought a sense of closure to the story.


The following article contains spoilers for Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK. The film is currently playing in cinemas throughout Japan and is planned to be released internationally in 2025.

The popular anime series “Attack on Titan” has come to an end, celebrating its 15th anniversary with a special magazine released on November 6th. Additionally, a movie that combines seasons 1 and 2 is set to release, along with a post-credit sequence to wrap everything up nicely. The final scenes have also been reworked to align more closely with the original vision of Yuichiro Hayashi for the series finale.

On November 8th, the highly-anticipated movie “Attack on Titan: THE FINAL BATTLE” made its premiere in Japanese cinemas. Tickets for this much-awaited event were available for purchase a full two months ahead of time, and could also be bought online just two days before the screening via cinema websites.

Isayama’s Involvement

The story may have ended, but the franchise continues to thrive. For the film’s release, an exclusive booklet was marketed alongside other merchandise, offering glimpses into the film’s production. Cast interviews with Yuichiro Hayashi, Tetsurou Araki, and others provide valuable insights about THE LAST ATTACK and the entire anime series. Special shikishi (illustration boards) were given to attendees as part of their ticket, and a merchandise area in the theater sold items such as a replica of Mikasa’s pink cardigan with white bird embroidery on each sleeve.

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK - The Future of the Franchise or The End?

Back in 2011, when they greenlit “Attack on Titan” for an anime adaptation, Isayama shared with Araki that the story was all about a victim transforming into the aggressor. Guided by this insight, Araki crafted the first three seasons as a foundation to build upon. Fast forward to our current project, I aimed to pay homage to these roots by incorporating elements that echoed the original. Specifically, just like how blue skies in the series symbolized the innocence of the characters (and us viewers), I decided to replicate this for the film as a nod to where it all began.

Furthermore, it’s known that Isayama collaborated closely with the production team, providing suggestions and advice. However, he mainly intervened for major alterations during the “Uprising Arc”, as he himself had mentioned in previous interviews that this was his least favorite part of the story. Notably, he also informed Hitoshi Itou about the existence of humans outside the walls before this revelation appeared in the manga.

In my gaming experience, setting the mood for the anime ahead of that big reveal was something Itou truly nailed. The shift in animation style during season 4 was pretty obvious due to a new studio taking over. But here’s the thing, there were just two dedicated animators from WIT Studio who had the knack for handling the intricate physics and complexity of that 3DMG tool, so the change was inevitable.

A Friendship That Transcends Reality

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK - The Future of the Franchise or The End?

Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, and Marina Inoue were also questioned about the series’ ending. Although they weren’t privy to the ending’s outcome, they hypothesized that it would eventually become a film. Jokingly, Kaji hinted at continuing discussions about Attack on Titan for “at least 10 years” and even “10 years beyond his demise”, ensuring the fandom remains active and cherished by many. Due to its profound influence, he believes that Attack on Titan continues to resonate in the hearts of fans, and if anything, THE LAST ATTACK serves as a prelude for future “attacks”.

Starting Anew

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK - The Future of the Franchise or The End?

In their statement, Kaji, Ishikawa, and Inoue mentioned that they were unexpectedly called upon to film an additional scene after the credits. Hayashi expressed his wish to wrap up the series with a poignant goodbye. At the conclusion of volume 34, there’s an extra sequence showing Armin, Eren, and Mikasa enjoying a movie in the theater. Afterward, they have a debate about the movie’s ending, with Mikasa supporting it and Armin disagreeing. Eventually, Eren shares that he was content just being with his companions – only to discover later that the film they watched was a reenactment of Attack on Titan. The pamphlet’s final pages contain a storyboard version of this scene. Originally, Hayashi intended to feature Historia and Reiner, but opted for a surprise appearance by Levi instead.

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK - The Future of the Franchise or The End?

Hayashi found it to be an added surprise, but realized that a scene from “School Castes” might disrupt the ending of the primary narrative. To preserve consistency, he incorporated a distant tree into the scene instead, signifying that in the future, Paradis achieved tranquility. Interestingly, even though the tree is fully matured, which should suggest it grew after Paradis’ destruction, Eren points out that the movie they watched unfolded 100 years prior.

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK - The Future of the Franchise or The End?

As I ponder over the last melody, it seems the tree has attained its full growth after 20,000 years. Fans like me can’t help but speculate that the young lad who interacted with the tree might have inherited Titan memories a century prior to the School Castes timeline. This theory suggests that the Titan history was chronicled 100 years ago, considering the initial recordings probably perished alongside Paradis. The closing scene of the movie, where the boy and his dog are near the tree, strengthens this idea.

Going Back To The Roots

Additionally to the release of “School Castes”, there were alterations made within the movie itself. Notably, distinct background music tracks were employed, for instance, when Jean detonates Eren’s Titan’s head, the song “ətˈæk 0N tάɪtn” performed by Mika Kobayashi is played in the backdrop.

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2024-11-19 22:35