Attack on Titan: The Last Attack has stood as the definitive cinematic conclusion to one of the most acclaimed anime franchises in recent history. This omnibus film condensed the final two episodes of the highly praised anime series into an intense, cohesive theatrical experience that marked the closure of an era for both Japanese animation and worldwide fans. Brought to the screen by renowned director Yûichirô Hayashi and animated by MAPPA Studios, the movie delivered a dramatic and philosophical reflection on the consequences of war, loyalty, love, and freedom.
The narrative spotlighted Eren Yeager’s radical choice as he unleashed the apocalyptic “Rumbling,” mobilizing an unfathomable colossus of Titans with the intent to destroy humanity beyond the island of Paradis. Former allies and adversaries, including Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, and Levi Ackerman, united to confront Eren and attempt to avert annihilation. This emotionally charged confrontation delved into the psychological depths of each character, providing a poignant meditation on the costs of violence, the burden of destiny, and the pain of sacrifice.
The film’s release resonated globally, with record-breaking pre-sales in Asian markets and a strong reception in North American and European theaters. Exceptional animation quality, a meticulously composed soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano, and top-tier voice performances were highly acclaimed. Critics and audiences lauded the film’s ability to transition a television epic into a successful feature film, preserving the core themes and dramatic tension that defined the original series.
Attack on Titan: The Last Attack offered fans not only an epic conclusion, but also a rare opportunity to experience the climactic battle and intimate character moments on the big screen. Its closing scenes and post-credits content extended hope, nostalgia, and a sense of emotional closure, cementing the film as a landmark in anime and contemporary animation cinema.
Attack on Titan
Korean 진격의 거인 | English Attack | Japanese 進撃の巨人 |
Genre Animation, Action, Fantasy, Drama
Director Yûichirô Hayashi | Screenplay Hiroshi Seko | Adaptation –
Producer Hajime Isayama (original manga), Wataru Kawagoe (animation producer)
Cast Yûki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, Hiroshi Kamiya, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Takehito Koyasu, Ayane Sakura, Natsuki Hanae, Hiro Shimono, Romi Park, Manami Numakura, Shiori Mikami
Cinematography – | Music Hiroyuki Sawano | Martial Arts –
Production Studio MAPPA | Distributor Crunchyroll, Pony Canyon (Japan), AniPlus (Korea)
Release Date Japan November 8, 2024 | USA February 10, 2025 | Korea March 13, 2025
Running Time 2h 25m (145 min)
Box Office Worldwide approx. $19,791,639 | Korea approx. 930,000 admissions
Rating Korea 15+ | US R (violence, profanity)
Table of Contents
Attack on Titan Ratings
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83% critics, 78% audience
- IMDb: 9.1/10 (18,000+ reviews)
- MyAnimeList: 8.8/10 (17,000+ users)
- Naver Audience: 9.5/10 (Korea, early ratings)
Attack on Titan Series Origins
One day, humanity faces extinction due to the sudden appearance of the Titans. The story follows Eren Yeager, who transforms into a Titan to fight back. Many fans supported the romantic subplot between Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman, though their romance ultimately did not come to fruition.
As for the creation of “Attack on Titan,” author Hajime Isayama was inspired by an encounter with an unruly drunk customer while working at an internet café. The fear and awe for “human dignity” he felt in that moment became the core of the series’ first arc. Isayama reportedly conceived the idea for the Titans by witnessing humans who had lost their reason.
Hajime Isayama debuted at just 23 years old and became a millionaire with over 100 million copies sold. As a side note, he originally aspired to serialize in Shonen Jump, but circumstances at the publisher prevented it from happening.
Attack on Titan Anime Series Order
Attack on Titan Season 1 (2013, Episodes 1–25)
- The collapse of the Wall; Eren, Mikasa, and Armin join the Survey Corps.
- Eren awakens his Titan transformation ability.
- Battle with the Female Titan (Annie Leonhart).
- The endless deadly struggle of humanity vs. Titans begins.
Attack on Titan Season 2 (2017, Episodes 26–37)
- Clues about the true nature of the Titans are presented.
- The true identities of the Armored Titan (Reiner) and Colossal Titan (Bertolt) are revealed.
- The mystery of “Wall Titans” in villages like Connie’s.
- The past of important character Ymir is revealed.
Attack on Titan Season 3 (2018–2019, Episodes 38–59, Part 1 & Part 2)
- The secrets of the monarchy, Historia’s past, political strife within humanity.
- Reaching Eren’s basement and the truths about the world inside and outside the Walls.
- Operation to retake Wall Maria and the final showdown with the Founding Titan (Frieda Reiss).
- Shocking truths about Eldia, Marley, and the established world are uncovered.
Attack on Titan The Final Season (2020–2023, Episodes 60–89)
- Introduction of the outside world “Marley Empire” and warfare between humans.
- Clash of wills among main characters including Eren and Zeke; all-out battle between Titan powers.
- The dissolving distinction between allies and enemies inside and outside the Walls, humanity’s choices and sacrifices.
- The Rumbling is unleashed, leading to the final battle, Eren and his comrades’ ultimate choices, and an apocalyptic catastrophe.
- After numerous sacrifices, the truth and Eren’s fate are revealed, concluding the story.
Attack on Titan Characters & Voice Cast
Core Characters
- Eren Yeager (Voiced by Yuki Kaji): The main character, who vows to exterminate all Titans after his mother’s death at their hands. He inherits both the Attack Titan and Founding Titan, driving the narrative’s heart.
- Mikasa Ackerman (Voiced by Yui Ishikawa): Eren’s childhood friend from the Ackerman clan, possesses exceptional combat abilities, and always prioritizes Eren’s safety.
- Armin Arlert (Voiced by Marina Inoue): Childhood friend of Eren and Mikasa, a resourceful strategist who later inherits the Colossal Titan and plays a vital role with his calm judgment.
Survey Corps & Key Allies
- Levi Ackerman (Voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya): Humanity’s strongest soldier, captain of the Survey Corps, known for his small stature and overwhelming combat skills.
- Erwin Smith (Voiced by Daisuke Ono): The 13th Commander of the Survey Corps, charismatic and strategic, makes tough decisions for the future of humanity.
- Hange Zoë (Voiced by Romi Park): Enthusiastic scientist and the 14th Commander of the Survey Corps, combines intellectual curiosity with field leadership.
104th Cadet Corps & Notable Characters
- Reiner Braun (Voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya): 104th cadet, revealed as the Armored Titan inheritor, struggles between his mission and loyalty to friends.
- Bertolt Hoover (Voiced by Tomohisa Hashizume): Reserved, but becomes the Colossal Titan inheritor and a key player at turning points in the story.
- Annie Leonhart (Voiced by Yu Shimamura): Quiet, solitary inheritor of the Female Titan, skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
- Historia Reiss / Krista Lenz (Voiced by Shiori Mikami): Appears fragile but is the true royal heir to the Reiss family, later becomes queen of humanity.
- Ymir (Voiced by Saki Fujita): 104th cadet with a mysterious past, later inherits the Jaw Titan and chooses to live for herself.
- Sasha Blouse (Voiced by Yu Kobayashi): A gluttonous, down-to-earth master sniper, beloved as a cheerful mood-maker.
- Jean Kirstein (Voiced by Kishō Taniyama): Initially realistic and critical, later grows as a leader.
- Connie Springer (Voiced by Hiro Shimono): Cheerful and good-natured, but suffers due to his family’s involvement in Titan-related tragedy.
- Pieck Finger (Voiced by Manami Numakura): Intelligent, sharp observer, inheritor of the Cart Titan and a crucial Marleyan soldier.
- Zeke Yeager (Voiced by Takehito Koyasu): Marleyan Warrior captain, inheritor of the Beast Titan, is Eren’s half-brother and a key figure.
- Gabi Braun (Voiced by Ayane Sakura): Marleyan Warrior candidate, strong-willed and proactive, prominent new-generation character.
- Falco Grice (Voiced by Natsuki Hanae): Gabi’s peer with a gentle soul, later inherits the Jaw Titan and grows through struggles.
- Porco Galliard (Voiced by Toshiyuki Masuda): Jaw Titan inheritor, fights while grappling with strength and conflicted emotions toward comrades.
- Hannes (Voiced by Keiji Fujiwara): Garrison soldier in Trost District, helped protect Eren and friends.
- Keith Shadis (Voiced by Tsuguo Mogami): Instructor for the 104th Cadet Corps, former Survey Corps commander, quietly watches over Eren and friends’ growth.
Attack on Titan Director: Shinji Higuchi Filmography
Shinji Higuchi is a pioneer in Japan’s VFX industry and a master of live-action tokusatsu and CGI action. He directed major Japanese films such as “Lorelei” and “Japan Sinks,” and “Shin Godzilla” (2016) was highly praised for its dynamic visual style and direction. Higuchi is renowned as a specialist in blending CGI and live-action, as well as conveying a sense of scale. In Attack on Titan, he broke new ground by using cutting-edge VFX for Titans and reinterpreting extreme situations from a Japanese perspective. The production involved challenging location shoots and intensive actor training.
Notable Works: Lorelei (2005), Japan Sinks (2006), Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo (2012, special effects short), Attack on Titan series, Shin Godzilla (2016)
2000 years ago, the Eldian tribe had a slave girl named Ymir. The girl, falsely accused of a crime, ran away and hid inside a mysterious tree, fell into a pool, and merged with a strange spine-like entity there, thus becoming the first Titan.
Having learned of Ymir’s power, the Eldian chief Fritz married her and used her power to invade the rival Marleyan empire. Together, they had three daughters: Rose, Maria, and Sheena. But when the Marleyan kingdom’s assassination squad attempted to kill King Fritz, Ymir sacrificed herself to save him and died.
King Fritz then forced his daughters to eat Ymir’s corpse so the power of the Titans would continue through them. Through this, Eldia unified the world, including Marley, and King Fritz used Titan power to create the Ackerman family, a clan of human warriors.
The Nine Titans and Their Abilities
In “Attack on Titan,” the Nine Titans are powerful entities, each with unique abilities that greatly impact the story. These powers are inherited within the Eldian “Subjects of Ymir.” Both abilities and appearances can vary depending on the inheritor, and special abilities may manifest when possessed by those of royal blood.
1. Founding Titan (Shiso no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Full control over all Titans, alteration of memories and bodies, creation of Titans, and a wide array of other powers. True power can only be wielded by those of royal blood.
- Main inheritors:
- Frieda Reiss
- Grisha Yeager
- Eren Yeager
2. Attack Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Moves forward in pursuit of freedom across all eras, with the unique power to experience the memories of past and future inheritors.
- Main inheritors:
- Eren Kruger
- Grisha Yeager
- Eren Yeager
3. Colossal Titan (Chōōgata Kyojin)
- Abilities: Stands approximately 60 meters tall with overwhelming strength and destructive power, able to generate explosive thermal energy.
- Main inheritors:
- Bertolt Hoover
- Armin Arlert
4. Armored Titan (Yoroi no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Possesses armor-like hardened skin over the entire body, granting high durability and defense.
- Main inheritor:
- Reiner Braun
5. Female Titan (Megata no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Female body type, exceptional agility and mobility, can harden body parts and call Pure Titans to her location.
- Main inheritor:
- Annie Leonhart
6. Beast Titan (Kemono no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Covered in fur, capable of long-distance throws, and can control Pure Titans.
- Main inheritors:
- Tom Ksaver
- Zeke Yeager
7. Cart Titan (Shariki no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Quadrupedal, can remain in Titan form for long periods, able to equip various armaments and excel in supply and tactical support roles.
- Main inheritor:
- Pieck Finger
8. Jaw Titan (Agito no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Outstanding jaw and claws for attacks, extremely high mobility, able to destroy hardened objects.
- Main inheritors:
- Marcel Galliard
- Ymir
- Porco Galliard
9. War Hammer Titan (Sentui no Kyojin)
- Abilities: Manipulates hardening to freely create weapons and structures; the inheritor can control the Titan from outside its body.
- Main inheritor:
- Lara Tybur
Other Types of Titans
Pure Titans (Mindless Titans)
- Created when an Eldian without Titan powers is injected with Titan spinal fluid; these Titans have no will or reasoning, indiscriminately devouring humans.
- Even if they eat humans, they do not return to human form, except in rare cases when eating a current holder of one of the Nine Titans, which can restore their will and human body.
Inheritance & Limitations
- The power of the Nine Titans comes with “Ymir’s Curse,” limiting inheritors’ lifespans to 13 years.
- If an inheritor dies without passing on the power, it is randomly inherited by another Subject of Ymir.
Attack on Titan – Worldview & Lore Key Points
- The first Titan was 2,000 years ago—a slave girl named Ymir from the Eldian tribe.
- She gained the Founding Titan’s power after falling into a well.
- Eldian tribal chief “King Fritz” used Ymir as a weapon of war and fathered three daughters: Rose, Maria, and Sheena.
- Ymir died trying to prevent the king’s assassination; the king fed her corpse to his daughters, passing on the power—resulting in the nine Titans.
- The power was inherited by Ymir’s daughters, and with the Titans’ strength, Eldia came to dominate the world.
- The Ackerman clan was created by the royal Fritz family as a warrior race using Titan blood.
- Pure Titans obey the commands of the Founding Titan.
- The “Attack Titan” can see the memories of its past inheritors.
- Eren Yeager can control the Colossal Titans using “the Coordinate” (the Rumbling).
- The Founding Titan’s power is normally sealed by the “Vow of Renunciation of War,” but can be activated if a royal-blooded person and the Founding Titan holder make contact.
- Titan inheritors have a lifespan limit of 13 years.
- The Titan’s power is said to have originated from a pact with the “Devil of All Earth.”
- In The Final Season, the power Ymir Fritz grants Eren is essentially that of “the Devil of All Earth.”
Attack on Titan plot summary
As time passed, the Eldian Empire unified the world, but Titan power became divided among nine Titans, and a civil war erupted among the families wielding their power. As tragedy unfolded among relatives, King Fritz realized his wrongs and pretended to lose to Marley. He migrated with the Tybur family and followers to Paradis Island.
Those left in the Eldian Empire continued fighting Marley, while the Tybur family joined forces with Marley. The deadly battle between the seven Titans and Marley ended with Marley victorious and ruling the continent. After a brief peace…
King Fritz, to protect his people from Marley’s empire, erected massive walls named after Ymir’s three daughters: Wall Sheena, Wall Rose, and Wall Maria. Through the “Vow of Renunciation of War,” he ensured the Founding Titan could never again be used for battle.
As a result, only the Fritz royal family could utilize the coordinate power to control Titans. To ensure the royal line’s survival, they abandoned the king’s castle and established the Reiss family. Meanwhile, Eldians on the continent cursed King Fritz for abandoning them and labeled the original Titan Ymir as a cursed demon.
The Wandering Ymir Faction and the Rise of Marley
In the year 780, a girl wandering the streets was forced by a secret Ymir-worshipping cult to live as the reincarnation of Ymir. However, in 785, she was discovered by Marley, declared a false Ymir, and sent to “paradise” to become a mindless Titan.
She wandered outside Paradis Island for 60 years…
Grisha Yeager and the Fall of Eldia
In 817, Grisha Yeager and his younger sister, Faye, secretly left their internment zone but were caught by Marley soldiers Eren Kruger and Gross. Grisha wanted to take the punishment, but instead, Faye returned as a corpse, instilling deep hatred of the Marleyan Empire within Grisha, who subsequently sought Eldia’s resurrection.
Grisha married Dina Fritz, royal descendant, and they had a son, Zeke. Desiring Eldia’s revival, Grisha harshly trained Zeke, but Zeke betrayed his parents to Marley. Grisha, Dina, and Eldian restorationists were then condemned to “paradise” as mindless Titans.
Dina became a Titan. As Grisha faced a similar fate, Eren Kruger appeared, transformed into a Titan, and saved him, revealing himself as the holder of the Attack Titan. Kruger explained inheriting a Titan’s power grants only 13 years of life, which he himself was nearing the end of. He ordered Grisha to inherit the Attack Titan and reclaim the Founding Titan.
Grisha reached Paradis Island, arrived at Shiganshina District, married Carla, and birthed Eren Yeager. Meanwhile, in 843, Marley transferred new Warrior candidates: Female Titan (Annie Leonhart), Colossal Titan (Bertolt Hoover), Armored Titan (Reiner Braun), Jaw Titan (Marcel Galliard), and Cart Titan (Pieck Finger). The order was given to reclaim the Founding Titan.
Except for Beast Titan Zeke and Cart Titan Pieck, the four Warriors set out to Paradis. Before the mission began, Marcel was eaten by a Titan, his power stolen. The remaining three acted to continue their mission.
Unexpectedly, the Jaw Titan’s power passed to Ymir, who had been wandering as a mindless Titan.
Season 1 Summary: Attack on Titan
In 845, Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert dreamed of joining the Survey Corps. One day, a Colossal Titan appeared, destroying Wall Maria and bringing disaster to Shiganshina. Eren’s mother Carla was eaten by a Titan—unexpectedly, it was Dina.
With Wall Maria in danger, Grisha went to the secret chapel of the Fritz royal family and met Founding Titan possessor Frieda Reiss. She refused to act, bound by the Vow of Renunciation. In despair, Eren was revealed as the new Attack Titan heir.
Grisha slaughtered the Reiss family (except Historia) and reclaimed the Founding Titan. He later apologized to Zeke and begged him to stop Eren. Grisha then transferred the Attack and Founding Titan powers to Eren, dying soon after.
Eren, Mikasa, and Armin entered the 104th Training Corps, meeting fellow Titan shifters Reiner, Bertolt, Annie, and Ymir, while hiding their powers. All became soldiers…
Suddenly, the Colossal Titan attacked Trost, turning it into hell. Titans invaded, and Armin almost died, but Eren awakened his Attack Titan power, saving him.
Though people distrusted Titan Eren, Armin used Eren’s ability to retake Trost, bringing hope to humanity. Just then, Annie’s Female Titan appeared, and during her capture, it was revealed that Eren possessed the coordinate ability of the Founding Titan.
Season 2 Summary: Attack on Titan
Bertolt and Reiner, with Zeke, schemed to take Eren to Marley. Meanwhile, Eren and the Survey Corps learned the Reiss family was true royalty, and Krista (Historia) had royal blood.
Krista refused Rod Reiss’s request to eat Eren and become the next Founding Titan. Rod transformed into a Titan, and Krista/Historia killed him during the Orvud District operation, becoming queen.
Later, during the mission to reclaim Wall Maria, Eren fell into a trap with the Colossal, Armored, and Beast Titans. A fierce battle led to many sacrifices; Bertolt was eaten by Armin, who became the new Colossal Titan. A shocked Zeke and Reiner returned to Marley…
After Commander Erwin’s memorial service, Historia knighted the heroes, and when she touched Eren, he recovered Grisha’s memories.
Season 3 : Attack on Titan
Four years later, Marley planned again to reclaim the Founding Titan from Eren. Willy Tybur prepared for war against Eldians, and Eren pledged revenge. Zeke, inheriting the Beast Titan from Ksaver, contemplated exterminating the Eldians if he could control the Founding Titan power.
Eren regained his memories and realized he was to bring about humanity’s destruction. Torn, he chose to become a devil to protect Mikasa and Armin. Both Eren and Zeke learned how to bypass the Vow of Renunciation.
Zeke sought to take Founding Titan power from Eren, while Eren needed Zeke’s royal blood. Upon contact, Zeke suggested exterminating the Eldians, but when transported to Ymir’s realm, recognizing Eren’s betrayal, Zeke broke the chains of the vow and, holding royal power, gained all abilities.
Zeke took Eren into Grisha’s memories to show that Eren’s rage was his father’s fault. However, seeing Grisha love his children, Zeke was shaken.
Meanwhile, for 2000 years, the original Titan Ymir watched humanity’s corruption through her power and waited for a true successor. As Eren and Zeke met her, Eren told Ymir she was neither a slave nor god, but only human; he urged her to do as she wished, and Ymir entrusted her power to Eren.
Yearning for love through the ages, Ymir finally learned its meaning by witnessing Eren and Mikasa. She entrusted humanity’s fate to Mikasa. Thus, Ymir’s power passed into Eren, who decided to play the villain and slaughter humanity.
Eren at last began the Rumbling…
Attack on Titan Ending Final
Because of Eren, Marley transformed into hell. Mikasa met Eren again in another world. Eren asked her to forget everything after he vanished. Realizing Eren wished to abandon the burdens of fate, Mikasa set him free, even if it meant killing him.
Three years later, the restored Eldian Empire rearmed, preparing for a final battle with Marley. However, Queen Historia welcomed a delegate from the Allied Nations. Surprisingly, the special envoy turned out to be Armin, Jean, Connie, Annie, Reiner, and Pieck—their powers as former Titans now gone, they appeared as heroes.
With Titans gone from the world, war’s reason disappeared and peace arrived. Mikasa visited the place of her memories with Eren, reminiscing; as she was overwhelmed by longing, a bird—like long ago—approached and wrapped the scarf around her as Eren once had.
Time passed, Mikasa neared death, and in her final moments, she wore Eren’s scarf.
Even as time flows, human greed persists, and wars resurge. Amidst gunfire, a struggling child chanced upon the mysterious tree, just like Ymir 2,000 years ago. Will a new Titan vortex sweep the world once again?
Attack on Titan Ending Explained
Eren chooses to become a devil to bring peace to the world and, with Armin understanding and accepting that purpose, ultimately chooses to die by Mikasa’s hand. The interpretation of why Eren unleashed the Rumbling varies, but a popular consensus is that he knowingly took on the role of the antagonist. Personally, one could argue that Eren became the devil because he could not otherwise suppress the source of all evil—the Devil of the Earth—within himself.
After becoming the host to the Titan power believed to originate from the Devil of the Earth, Eren realizes that sealing that evil within is the only solution. By embracing the role of history’s greatest devil and setting himself against the world, he forces the unification of all nine Titans and superhuman forces. This is essential because the Devil’s power is just that overwhelming.
The slaughter of humanity, then, is portrayed as a demonstration of just how powerful this force is—Eren willingly assumes a role similar to Thanos in the Avengers, presenting himself as a necessary evil. However, a common criticism of the manga’s final arc is the lack of focus on the Devil of the Earth, whose presence was ultimately minimal.
(The narrative choice for humanity’s destruction to affect 80% of the population is often seen as excessive; many feel 50% would have been enough.)
Ymir’s Chains and Love
Ymir, in loving Fritz, ultimately accepts death in his place, but her love becomes her curse as she is bound for 2,000 years. The reason why Ymir loved Fritz is shrouded in mystery—perhaps, as a slave who was falsely accused and abused, the first person to ever need her was Fritz. The premise seems to be that “you are the only one in the world who wants me.”
Mikasa’s Marriage and Eren’s Will
There is some controversy about Mikasa’s eventual marriage to Jean. Eren’s last words to Mikasa were to move on and live her life, and her marrying another man reflects this. However, the ending hints that, in the end, Mikasa returns to Eren’s side in death, wrapping the story in a bittersweet, somewhat happy ending.
From previous dialogue, it’s clear Mikasa accepted Eren’s wishes and that if she had continued to grieve or fixate on him, Eren would never have been able to fully embrace the role of the villain. It’s unfortunate that these emotional beats were expressed so briefly in the story; there were simply limits to the space available.
Attack on Titan Review
The final season of Attack on Titan, especially the animated version, expanded and improved upon the original manga’s conclusion in several ways. The Rumbling and its aftermath, left somewhat unresolved in earlier episodes, were brought to a more open-ended conclusion. Attack on Titan’s anime has been recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the most popular mangas of all time.
Compared to the enormous popularity of Hajime Isayama during the series’ first season, it’s personally disappointing to see the story lose some momentum. Reviewers are divided over the ending, but many agree that expectations were extremely high—perhaps too high—when the series began in 2009.
In the manga’s final chapters, especially chapter 139, the fierce fight among the nine Titans climaxes with Eren—now the host of the Devil of the Earth—dying rather abruptly. The fact that Eren dies but the Devil itself remains alive leaves the ending somewhat open and is viewed as rushed. It feels as if a World Cup final were decided by forfeit—leaving a sense of emptiness for many fans.
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