What If Attack on Titan Ended Like The Mist? The Dark Truth Behind Isayama’s Original Vision!

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Summary

  • Isayama’s original Attack on Titan ending was inspired by “The Mist” movie.
  • The Mist ending involved Eren possibly allowing the Rumbling to continue.
  • The Mist ending could have resulted in a dark and regretful outcome for the characters.

Imagine if the story of “Attack on Titan” had taken a different turn; this is a question that intrigues many fans, and it significantly affected author Hajime Isayama. It’s common knowledge that Isayama faced challenges when concluding “Attack on Titan,” and many readers were underwhelmed by the final outcome he presented. However, at one point, Isayama contemplated a different path: the so-called Mist ending.

Among the various interpretations, mist might serve as an unofficial alternate conclusion to “Attack on Titan” that surpasses fan-made stories following the series’ conclusion in 2021. Given the information available thus far, there are several plausible scenarios for how it could have unfolded.

Isayama Reveals Original Ending Plans

Back in a 2013 conversation with comedian Natalie, as recounted by her, Hajime Isayama disclosed that the conclusion he initially envisioned for Attack on Titan had undergone alterations. Various translations of his remarks can be found online, summarizing the points like this:

Though I’m moving towards an outcome predetermined earlier, the way I’ve chosen to reach that end point has shifted from my initial strategy due to a sense of accountability I feel towards my readers. Previously, I aimed to depict something reminiscent of the movie “The Mist.

On different occasions, Isayama has expressed his dissatisfaction with the conclusion of “Attack on Titan.” In various interviews, he admitted that he wasn’t fully content with how he wrapped up the series and offered apologies to fans for the ending during an Anime NYC event in 2022.

Another way the story has deviated from its original plan is not unique; it’s well-known that Isayama initially intended to kill off one of Attack on Titan’s most beloved characters, Levi, but was dissuaded from doing so by his editor, Shintaro Kawakubo.

What is The Mist?

The movie titled “The Mist” was a chilling blend of horror and mystery, adapted from a Stephen King novella. It hit the screens back in 2007, which was a year after the initial creation of Attack on Titan’s one-shot manga, but prior to the commencement of its serialization by two years. Notably, this film gained attention for altering the ending to something far grimmer and more violent than its source material originally depicted.

In Stephen King’s “The Mist,” I find myself huddled within a grocery store alongside townsfolk from small-town Maine, ensnared by an eerie fog teeming with bizarre, menacing creatures. Cornered and gripped by fear of the monstrosities lurking beyond our makeshift shelter, the movie primarily explores the tumultuous interpersonal relationships that unfold as people within the supermarket begin to turn against one another.

In the closing scene of the movie “The Mist,” after driving away from the supermarket with a sense of impending doom due to the terrors within the mist, the protagonist, David, feels compelled to end the lives of those with him out of mercy, anticipating his own death at the hands of the monsters. However, mere instants later, the mist dissipates and the US Army arrives for rescue. Overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, David realizes that he had needlessly taken innocent lives just before their potential salvation, causing him to erupt in shock.

Destruction, Shock and Regret: What an Attack on Titan Mist Ending Might Have Looked Like

Back when Isayama initially shared his thoughts on Attack on Titan’s controversial ending, I managed to get my hands on an interview where he shed some light on his original vision. Alas, that interview has since been taken down from its official source, but thanks to dedicated fans, translations continue to circulate throughout the community. For instance, here’s a translation I stumbled upon on Reddit:

As the midpoint of “The Mist” unfolds, it follows the standard plotline of a B-movie. However, by the end, it employs the protagonist’s strong moral compass to distort his character, causing him to act against what viewers might expect. This twist even challenges the audience’s understanding of right and wrong. Initially, I pondered over how to replicate this narrative approach for “Attack on Titan.

The Rumbling is Likely Key to Attack on Titan’s Mist Ending

A significant factor behind the popularity of “Attack on Titan” is its intricate planning since its inception, enabling author Isayama to create the shocking plot developments and hints that have earned it acclaim. This is most evidently demonstrated through the ‘2,000 Years’ mention in the initial chapter and the episodes/chapters preceding the Rumbling, marking the beginning of the series’ conclusion.

From the outset of “Attack on Titan“, Eren’s relentless ambition to annihilate all Titans is a fundamental theme. As a child, his aggressive instincts frequently led to conflicts, which later put Mikasa through numerous difficulties in her attempts to safeguard him during the early stages of the narrative.

If Isayama aimed for his original conclusion to mirror “The Mist” by challenging Eren’s core values and ultimately leading him to act against them, it seems plausible that Eren would realize he needs the Titans alive to achieve his objectives. This is essentially what unfolds during the Rumbling. Consequently, it’s highly probable that the Rumbling was instrumental in the original Mist-inspired ending.

In Isayama’s proposed plot twist, what viewers assumed to be accurate was turned upside down. Similar to how The Mist does this by making it clear that the fog wasn’t going to claim the main characters at the end as initially believed, if the Rumbling serves as the mist in Attack on Titan, there are several ways its conclusion could have been different.

Possible Mist Ending 1: The World Ends

In an alternative conclusion for the story “Attack on Titan,” the unstoppable Rumbling might have led to the demise of all characters involved.

In simpler terms, if Mikasa had slain Eren’s Founder Titan form but the Wall Titans still rampaged across the globe, annihilating everyone, including those on Paradis, you would witness an ending where Mikasa must come to terms with her action being pointless as she meets her own demise.

The initial conclusion Isayamo may have intended might carry a similar impact, yet it seems to be less emotionally entwined with “The Mist” compared to the alternate ending.

Possible Mist Ending 2: Eren’s Hollow Victory

An alternate, possibly more plausible interpretation of the ending of “Mist” might be that the Rumbling takes place, yet fails to fulfill Eren’s desires.

In the hypothetical scenario where Eren’s Founding Titan had defeated the Survey Corps during the Battle of Heaven and Earth, allowing his Rumbling to continue uninterrupted, the story of Attack on Titan could have concluded with Eren as the sole surviving main character. He would have been hailed as a hero by the people of Paradis Island, but he would carry the heavy burden of knowing that his actions led to the deaths of everyone he cared about deeply.

In simpler terms, it’s possible that small resistance groups managed to endure the catastrophic event called the Rumbling, regrouped on the mainland, and were plotting another invasion of Paradis. This is somewhat reminiscent of the post-credits scene in the Attack on Titan anime. If this were true, then the sacrifices made by Mikasa, Armin, and their comrades for peace would have been meaningless, much like in the movie The Mist.

Currently, Isayama hasn’t shared any details about whether or not the ending of Attack on Titan deviated from his initial plans. Hopefully, in time, we’ll receive additional insights from the creator. Even without official clarification, debates about how the story should have concluded are likely to persist for many years to come.

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2025-04-03 04:06