Unlock the Secrets of Time Travel in Attack on Titan

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Titled “Attack on Titan,” this series initially appears to be a conventional action anime centered around human combat against monstrous creatures. However, as the story unfolds, it evolves into a complex narrative exploring themes such as destiny, personal choice, and our role within the flow of time.

In the TV series “Attack on Titan,” the intricate foreshadowing makes it so that characters have varying levels of knowledge about events. For example, some characters may know about hidden Titan shifters, or about Historia’s royal heritage, or the ongoing conflict between Marley and Eldia. This difference in knowledge reflects each character’s unique position on the story’s timeline.

The intensity significantly increases in the final season, especially when Eren and Zeke momentarily collaborate, unleashing the full capabilities of the Titans’ powers through the Paths.

Eren and Zeke’s Trip Through Time

In the anime series “Attack on Titan,” the concept of time travel is subtly introduced throughout different points, yet it becomes more prominent towards the end of the narrative, notably in episode 79 titled “Flashes from the Future.

In the given episode, Eren and Zeke seem to traverse through Grisha’s recollections, experiencing his voyage from arriving in Eldia, becoming Eren’s father, to acquiring the Reiss family’s Founding Titan. Throughout this time-travel adventure, numerous peculiar occurrences take place to imply that Eren and Zeke are actually present in these historical instances:

In that specific episode, Eren and Zeke seem to move through Grisha’s memories, observing his story from his arrival in Eldia, fathering Eren, up to obtaining the Reiss family’s Founding Titan. During their temporal expedition, many strange incidents occur to hint at their physical presence within these historical events:

  • Grisha, after falling asleep at his desk, wakes up and appears to notice Zeke for a moment.
  • Grisha, talking to young Eren about the basement, appears to notice the older Eren standing in front of him.

Towards the end of the episode, it appears that Eren successfully persuades a hesitant Grisha to carry out his scheme for acquiring the Founding Titan. After undergoing transformation and gaining the power of the royal family, Grisha acknowledges the influence Eren had on his choice. Furthermore, he spots Zeke again, hugging him as his father while asking him to halt Eren’s plan.

Following this significant occurrence, the narrative briefly jumps through time, focusing on Ymir and the genesis of the Titans for a moment. Eren employs his uncovering of Ymir’s past to persuade her to transfer all her power to him, allowing him to carry out his grand scheme, the Rumbling. This revelation also clarifies the enigmatic “2000 Years from Now” title of the opening episode and chapter.

The Truth of Attack on Titan’s Time Travel

At first glance, this seems like typical time-travel storytelling. The protagonist, endowed with extraordinary abilities, employs them to journey through time and manipulate the past, shaping events to align with their strategy.

In “Attack on Titan,” things aren’t always as simple as they seem. The plot often contains intricate elements that reveal themselves gradually, making the narrative more complex and fascinating.

Attack on Titan’s Predestination Paradox

In stories about traveling through time, there’s often a concept known as the butterfly effect – this refers to how making even a tiny change in the past can set off a chain reaction leading to significant alterations in the present (or the point from where you traveled forward or backward in time).

When trying to understand the events in “Attack on Titan,” one might wonder about the impact of Eren and Zeke’s time travel. However, it seems that not much has been altered, as the crucial event – Grisha obtaining the Founding Titan – remains consistent with our previous understanding.

In essence, the butterfly effect is a single concept related to time travel. On the other hand, what Eren and Zeke perform demonstrates a different idea known as the predestination paradox.

Essentially, the predestination paradox implies a scenario where time travel leads to a situation that is both cause and result. The initial event was already affected by time travel, forming an inescapable loop where the outcome remains consistent. This very concept can be seen played out in Attack on Titan.

Eren and Zeke are Not From the Future?

The 79th episode of Attack on Titan can be described as a skillfully crafted illusion, where viewers are led to focus on one event, while another significant occurrence takes place unnoticed.

Using the abilities of the Founding Titan and Zeke’s royal blood, Eren and Zeke witness Grisha’s memories as if they were spectators. Yet, it’s important to note that the Attack Titan possesses a less-discussed capability: it can delve into the recollections of its future bearers. As such, while it may seem like Zeke and Eren are peeking into Grisha’s past, it’s actually Grisha who is observing events as seen through Eren’s perspective. This is evidenced by the fact that Grisha never detects Eren; instead, he only perceives Zeke via Eren’s eyesight.

“Zeke, please stop Eren.” Grisha

Instead, it’s presented as if Eren and Zeke aren’t altering the past to influence Grisha, but rather, we witness Grisha being influenced by future events through his Attack Titan, observing what Eren will do. Essentially, this means that Grisha, in a sense, only ever took the Founding Titan – one of the significant backstories in Attack on Titan – without engaging in any other actions.

Attack on Titan: A Story of Free Will?

In the latter stages of “Attack on Titan,” the theme of freedom plays a significant role. This freedom encompasses choosing how one lives and even how one dies. Yet, if the show’s portrayal of history jumping hints, freedom has been scarce throughout most of its timeline.

“I’m… a slave to freedom.” Eren

Throughout the series, there are numerous instances where the character Eren experiences glimpses into the future. These include brief flashes as early as the initial episode and chapter, as well as a moment when he tenderly touches Historia’s hand following their return from the Battle of Shiganshina.

Is the future that Eren foresaw an unavoidable destiny or something he considered inevitable? Or could it be a mix of both? These are among the profound ethical dilemmas at the core of Attack on Titan’s conclusion, and they continue to spark intense discussions among fans. The way the story employs time travel, apparently as a restriction and boundary for Eren, might offer some insight into what creator Hajime Isayama intended.

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2025-04-04 04:07