Attack on Titan May Not Be Over: Ways The Franchise Can Continue

Highlights

The success of Attack on Titan‘s finale has fans speculating about potential sequels or spin-offs in the franchise.
Yuki Kaji’s new manga, Soyogi Fractal, explores AI in a futuristic society, hinting at a possible connection to Attack on Titan.
Theories surrounding the ending of Attack on Titan suggest a time-loop and the potential for AI to play a significant role in the future of the story.

As a devoted fan of Attack on Titan who has journeyed through the highs and lows of this captivating story, I find myself intrigued by the potential paths that our beloved characters might take in their post-series adventures.

Despite the triumphant conclusion of “Attack on Titan” back in November, fans are still yearning for more content from this unfinished series. With the release of “Shingeki FLY” earlier this year, speculation abounds that there’s more to look forward to. In an interview with Isayama in “Shingeki FLY”, it was revealed that his initial concept for Volume 35 was a narrative focusing on the Great Titan War, rather than delving into Levi’s past. Additional stories like “Before the Fall” and “Attack on Titan: Harsh Mistress of the City”, which includes the latter detailing the fate of other populated districts following the fall of Wall Maria, have yet to be turned into adaptations.

Additionally, Yuki Kaji is set to launch a new manga titled “Soyogi Fractal“, which features an original story by Hajime Isayama and focuses on the theme of artificial intelligence. Notably, those who pre-order the physical copy will receive an “Attack on Titan” notice. Given that the series has concluded, one might speculate that this could be a sequel rather than something entirely different. In fact, it seems possible that “Soyogi Fractal” could indeed serve as a continuation of the story we know as “Attack on Titan”.

Walking Towards The Uncertain Future

In Yuki Kaji’s latest manga, titled “Soyogi Fractal“, the narrative revolves around artificial intelligence in a future society. The central character, Soyogi, initially accepts his role as an asset rather than an individual, serving his human creators loyally. However, events take a turn when Soyogi and his peers develop self-awareness. So far, we only know that a female character will also be featured prominently. Although details about the setting are scarce, considering it could potentially unfold in the universe of “Attack on Titan“, numerous hypotheses can be entertained.

Initially, let’s examine the closing scene. In an additional segment after the credits, we witness a devastated Paradis in a future era. The environment suggests a sophisticated and technologically advanced society. As Eren mentioned to Armin during their last discussion in Paths, there would be no fear of reprisal from outside forces since The Rumbling ensured that the surviving population would have the same infrastructure and technology as Paradis. Given how far in the future this is, some viewers hypothesize that ironically, Paradis experienced internal conflict, perhaps a civil war. Furthermore, the presence of Soyogi Fractal hints at the possibility that the initial attack itself played a role in this conflict.

A Horrifying Self-Made Apocalypse

If we weren’t experiencing a civil conflict, it might seem like an assault orchestrated by AI from beyond our borders. In this instance, humans didn’t require any external force to bring about chaos; they managed it themselves. The existence of a war implies that it was intentionally initiated by humans. As the story unfolds, a solitary boy and his faithful canine companion come across a tree sheltering a creature reminiscent of the Hallucigenia, much like Ymir did. It’s worth noting the poignant lyrics that conclude the narrative.

In the hollow of the great tree that saw everything

What will you learn?

In other words, gaining the power from the tree gives one the ability to see into the past. This means the user can choose how and where to apply their powers. People often believe that remembering past errors will inspire a young boy to use his powers for good. However, once he uncovers the mysteries of the tree, it may turn out that his desire was freedom – something the AI were unaware of. As the old saying goes, be careful what you ask for.

As a tech enthusiast who has spent years studying and working with artificial intelligence, I find myself deeply intrigued by the potential implications of AI achieving self-consciousness. Having witnessed the evolution of AI from a mere tool of war to an entity capable of independent action, I can’t help but wonder about the path we’re on.

The KFT (The Karl Fritz Theory)

Attack on Titan May Not Be Over: Ways The Franchise Can Continue

The concept of KFT revolves around the idea that every character in “Attack on Titan” played a role in liberating Ymir, with particular emphasis on those who possessed the Founding Titan. According to this theory, instead of merely seeking refuge in Paradis, Karl Fritz orchestrated events that would compel Ymir to act independently and thereby gain freedom and reincarnation. This theory suggests an infinite number of alternate realities where timelines are reset whenever an event unfolded differently than desired by Karl Fritz. Using the Paths, characters maintained their memories from past iterations, which allowed for situations to be manipulated with a sense of foresight. For instance, a boulder was strategically placed in Trost so that Eren’s titan could seal the breach, or Eren knowing where to find Mikasa upon their first encounter – as he had been there before in a prior loop.

1. Mikasa and Eren were crucial in granting Ymir her freedom, with Eren intentionally distancing Mikasa from Ymir to lessen Ymir’s attachment towards her. This theory further suggests that Mikasa might be a member of the Fritz royal family due to her potential lineage, considering she could share ancestry with Hizuru’s heir because of their alliance; this is plausible since Eren retained his ability to control titans after touching Dina’s titan, while physically restraining Mikasa. The Rumbling can be seen as a form of intense therapy for Ymir, offering her the chance to rediscover her compassion and cease the destruction on her own accord.

In simpler terms, this passage describes a scenario where an alternative plan replaces the 50-year strategy. By stopping the attack at Marley, the alliance can quickly eliminate the immediate danger and appear heroic to the public. This would also prevent Historia from continuing the cycle of conflict, allow Ymir to break free from her obligations by empathizing with humanity (especially Marleyans), who are King Fritz’s main enemies. Frieda influences Historia to yearn for her own family, which leads Eren to guide her towards The Farmer. This event enables Ymir to be reborn into a new body and live freely as she desires. The song “What I really wanted” by Linked Horizon seems to hint at this situation.

The Rise of a Troubling Child Prodigy

In essence, The Rumbling had its price, but KFT offers an outcome where everyone benefits, making fans of the Mikasa-Eren relationship content as well. Translating this to Soyogi Fractal, if we imagine Ymir growing up to develop advanced AI technology, she would focus on aiding humanity instead of exploiting them or creating oppressive conditions. Since her connection with Eren is strong and he’s known for his determination, the design of her AI creations might mirror Eren’s characteristics. However, this could be a two-sided coin, as an inherent longing for autonomy and liberation could be instilled within these AI beings – and every conscious entity yearns for freedom of will.

AnR (Akatsuki no Requiem Theory)

In this situation, Eren manages to accomplish The Rumbling, yet finds himself sacrificing his personal joy and contentment in the process. Although he pursued freedom, what he actually obtained was emotional trauma instead. His advice to his former self is to never compromise one’s dignity for the sake of a supposed “greater good,” as it ultimately resulted in an isolated ideal and continued oppression inside Paradis.

A Mournful and Tragic Scientist

Due to his remorse, Eren channels his feelings into the development of an AI – a being unaware of its own freedom, which serves as another version of him to carry on after his death. However, if this AI remains in blissful ignorance, it may develop an unhealthy obsession. This risk becomes reality when it gains intelligence. Confining someone within ignorance can only foster an obsession, and obsessions are inherently harmful. The question arises whether this newly conscious AI will repeat the same errors. Given that a female AI character is forthcoming in Soyogi Fractal, there’s speculation that Eren designed it to resemble Mikasa – the person he felt most regretful about harming.

Expanding a popular franchise is never without its risks, but when done skillfully, it can enhance the original creation. In the instance of ‘Attack on Titan’, even though the story has concluded, a quote displayed at an official exhibition in 2020 stands out.

A new end is about to be born…

2024-08-19 22:34