More than
five years after the conclusion of the manga, the outcome of Attack on
Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is still present in the memory of
its followers, but this time it is the author himself who has put the cards on
the table. During a recent exhibition at a museum dedicated to the
franchise, Hajime Isayama reflected on the closing of his
masterpiece, admitting that he feels a certain "dishonesty" in
the way he handled the conclusion of his protagonist.
Immaturity
and sympathy for Eren Jaeger
Isayama
explained that one of his goals from the beginning was to show a dramatic turn
where the victim becomes the perpetrator. Eren Jaeger committed
a large-scale massacre, an unusual result in most works of fiction. However,
the author confessed that his own immaturity and foolishness when
he was in his early twenties became a fundamental part of Eren. The character
was not portrayed simply as someone compelled by circumstances to do evil, but
as a person who carried within him a genuine inclination to harm others.
As the work
progressed, Isayama felt that the manga ceased to be exclusively his to belong
to the readers as well, evolving Eren into a character loved by fans. In the
end, the author discovered that he had gotten too close to the
character, developing a deep sympathy for him. By not fully committing to
portraying Eren as a truly despicable figure, Isayama feels that the story's
closure carries a degree of dishonesty from his personal perspective.
The
readers' verdict years later
The mangaka's statements
prompted new discussions among readers who have analyzed the work since its
completion in 2021 and the closure of its anime in 2023. Several of them
appreciated Isayama's maturity as he looked back and recognized how his
feelings influenced the writing. Others took this statement as a validation of
their own conflicting opinions on Eren's resolve, highlighting the difficulty
of balancing the character as a tragic figure while also being responsible for
his own decisions.
Among the
highlighted reactions, some users pointed out: "Even the author
knows that the ending had flaws," valuing his willingness to
publicly review and criticize his own work. With more than 100 million
copies in circulation worldwide, Attack on Titan remains
relevant. While these comments don't change the posted ending, they do offer
the community an honest look at the emotional and personal growth challenges
involved in writing a narrative of such magnitude.
