Attack on Titan creator admits he isn’t happy with the ending

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Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack on Titan, has expressed some dissatisfaction with how the manga ended. He feels the conclusion to Eren Yeager’s story wasn’t as genuine as he would have liked.

Originally published between 2009 and 2021, Attack on Titan is a hugely popular manga series. With over 140 million copies sold, it became even more well-known thanks to a successful TV adaptation, which concluded in 2023.

Despite receiving a lot of praise, the ending of the story proved quite controversial. While some viewers appreciated the protagonist Eren’s transformation from a troubled hero to a villain, others thought it felt too fast and wasn’t fully explained or developed.

Even after adding extra pages to clarify things, the ending of the series still sparks debate among fans.

Hajime Isayama thinks Attack on Titan ending was ‘insincere’

Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack on Titan, seems to have some second thoughts about how the series concluded. A recent discovery by ‘Anime Updates’ – a plaque at the Attack on Titan Museum in Hita City, Oita Prefecture – reveals the inspiration behind the story and Eren’s character development.

Eren is a main character who caused widespread destruction, something rarely depicted in stories. The author originally envisioned this plot twist—where the character who seemed like the victim ultimately becomes the one causing harm—as a central element of the narrative.

Looking back, my own youthful immaturity and bad decisions played a big role. Those qualities became central to the character of Eren, ultimately leading him to admit his actions weren’t just a result of circumstance, but stemmed from a genuine willingness to cause harm.

The story concludes with a revealing comment from the author about the last chapter. He shares that he still isn’t happy with how the character Eren turned out.

Over time, Attack on Titan grew beyond just my own story, and Eren became a beloved character for many fans. Ultimately, I didn’t fully commit to making him a villain, and instead portrayed him with some sympathy. Because of this, I personally feel the ending lacks a certain sincerity.

It’s probably true for the TV show too, since the ending closely followed the manga. The anime did include a few extra details, though.

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2026-04-29 12:48