The colossal giants known as Titans threaten humanity’s survival in Attack on Titan. But how come some Titans can talk, while others are quiet and mindless? Let’s delve a bit deeper into the lore of these gigantic beings from Attack on Titan and learn more about the talking Titans.
This seemingly inconspicuous detail may have far-reaching implications for the storyline, shedding light on the mysteries of the Titans and the underlying secrets of this dystopian universe.
The Attack on Titan anime is based on the manga written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Attack on Titan manga and anime!
RELATED: All Attack on Titan Arcs: In Order and Ranked
What Are the Titans in Attack on Titan?
In Attack on Titan, Titans are massive humanoid beings who eat humans. Their existence is the primary driving force behind the events in the series.
Titans bear a striking resemblance to naked humans and they usually exhibit a bipedal stance.
Some Titans look quadrupedal, as they have bodily proportions akin to humans but are distorted in some manner, such as having enlarged heads or tiny limbs.
The Titans were initially humans known as the Subjects of Ymir, who share distant ancestry with Ymir Fritz, the first Titan.
Ymir became a Titan by merging with a peculiar spine-like creature within a tree, and this connection to her through their lineage enables the Subjects of Ymir to transform into Titans through the Paths.
Which Titans Can Speak?
The Titans who can talk are Ymir, Pieck Finger (the Cart Titan), Lara Tybur (the War Hammer Titan), and Zeke Yaeger (the Beast Titan).
Apart from these Titans, an Abnormal Titan called the Talking Titan could also speak. This Titan was able to communicate meaningfully with Ilse Langnar by speaking words.
It also showed emotions that normal Titans do not possess, including anguish, fear, and reverence.
DISCOVER: All Titans Ranked: Which Is the Strongest Titan?
Why Can Some Titans Talk But Others Can’t?
Titans are primarily made to fight and destroy, but there are a few who are intelligent and possess the ability to speak.
Meanwhile, others lack the ability to talk due to physical limitations, like the Attack Titan's restricted mouth.
The mouth anatomy plays a key role in speech. For example, the Colossal Titan is extremely deformed and is thus unable to produce speech.
Titans like the Colossal, Armored, and Attack Titans lack conventional lips, and some have teeth extending to the sides of their heads.
While it's conceivable that they could attempt to articulate words, they do not appear to make the effort.
Ymir's Jaw Titan did manage to speak, albeit slowly and with difficulty. In contrast, Porco's Jaw Titan does not seem suited for speech, likely due to its anatomical limitations.
Discover more of our insights and the latest anime news by following us on X (formerly Twitter) @epicstreamanime.
READ NEXT: How to Stop the Rumbling in Attack on Titan
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!