Attack on Titan’s anime-original ending, or AOE, as the majority prefers to call it, has been the subject of much debate for quite some time now. With the MAPPA anime now over, did Attack on Titan’s ending change in the anime?
Spoiler Warning: There are major spoilers for the Attack on Titan manga ahead!
RELATED: All the Inspirations Behind Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan Ending: What Happened in Chapter 139?
By the end of the Attack on Titan manga, we see Mikasa carrying Eren's head as she prepares to meet Armin to discuss what happened. The titans' power has also vanished, returning those who have transformed into human form.
Mikasa chose to bring Eren's head to the tree where he usually takes a nap for his final resting place, as agreed upon with Armin.
The next event was a confrontation in which Armin informed Secretary Muller that they were now humans without titan powers.
We also see a three-year time jump in which the alliance members become peace ambassadors as they travel to Paradis to negotiate with Queen Historia.
Meanwhile, Mikasa is resting beneath the tree next to Eren's memorial tablet, crying as she says she misses him.
A bird swooped down on Mikasa and wrapped her scarf around her neck.
Mikasa dies of old age before the final chapter ends, and a new civilization begins as Eren's tree grows in size.
There was also war, and we see a young boy and his dog discover Eren's tree, which is similar to the tree Ymir saw when she first transformed into a titan.
Will this manga ending lead to another sequel, or perhaps a spinoff series? For now, Hajime Isayama has yet to reveal his plans after the anime ends.
ALSO READ: Did Eren Kill His Mother?
The Many Reasons to Change Attack on Titan's Anime Ending
Fans of the Attack on Titan anime don't necessarily dislike the manga's ending, which is why they want it changed in the anime.
It's just that there have been a lot of hints in the Attack on Titan anime that there will be an anime-original ending (AOE).
There has been enough evidence over the years, dating back to the beginning of both the manga and the anime, to prompt fans to develop AOE theories.
It also does not imply that AOE fans would prefer a new ending because they want Eren to be happy and prosperous.
Obviously, it will not work because Eren cannot have a happy ending in Attack on Titan. After all, that is not the point of Hajime Isayama's writing.
Imagine seeing Eren survive the Rumbling. What good would it do him to know that he has committed mass genocide, including against his friends who tried to stop him?
If Eren survives the Rumbling, his life will be even more tragic and devastating.
Some inconsistencies and differences also show that there might be multiple timelines in Attack on Titan that are part of a bigger narrative.
ALSO READ: Just How Tall Is Eren’s Founding Titan?
Attack on Titan Anime – Original Ending Theories
According to the timeline theory, there are three timelines in the series.
The first is known as the "See You Later Timeline," and it depicts Eren and Mikasa living a normal life as seen in Chapter 138.
Eren died in that timeline as a result of Ymir's curse, not because he initiated the Rumbling.
For AOE fans, this so-called "See You Later Timeline" is the start of Attack on Titan.
The second is the "Manga Timeline," in which we see memories from other timelines converge.
In the first chapter of the manga, we see Eren waking up and noticing Mikasa's hair growing longer in the first chapter of the manga, which is a direct continuation of the See You Later timeline per se.
The third is the "Anime Timeline," in which Eren is fully aware of his memories from the manga, as shown in the flashback scene done by MAPPA, where many of Eren's memories occurred in the manga and not in the anime.
For instance, Eren's reaction to the paths in the anime differs greatly from the manga because he has probably seen them twice.
To avoid further confusion, AOE suggests that the MAPPA anime will not adapt to the manga's ending because the manga's ending is the anime's beginning story.
This only means that everything is predetermined to be different from the start.
There are also theories about the color inconsistencies in Mikasa's scarf and Eren's jacket, which fans believe are related to the manga timeline overlapping with the anime timeline.
We all know Hajime Isayama is a master of plot twists, and it doesn't help that he was heavily involved in the final season of Attack on Titan with MAPPA.
This is just one of the many reasons AOE fans believe the Attack on Titan anime is a direct sequel to the original manga.
READ MORE: Did Eren Time Travel?
So, Does Attack on Titan’s Ending Change in the Anime?
In a recent tweet posted on Attack on Titan’s official X (Twitter) account, Hajime Isayama confirmed he was doing a little bit of a rough draft for the ending of the Attack on Titan anime.
But after the final episode of the Attack on Titan anime, we can confirm that there are only minor changes between the anime and the manga's endings.
The anime added some dialogue and scenes to further intensify the emotions of the characters as well as to resonate with the viewers, contrary to the belief that Hajime Isayama prepared something major at the end of the anime that would shock the world for the very last time.
Some of the changes include the modernization of Paradis years after Eren and Mikasa died, as well as the last scene where we see a young boy and his dog wandering in front of the tree, whereas in the manga, they went inside it. These are all minor changes that everyone should not be worried about.
Overall, the ending of Attack on Titan's anime stayed true to the source material, despite some major theories fans came up with.
READ NEXT: What Is Eren’s TRUE Plan?
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!