Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan is a bold anime that highlights violence and unrest amongst humans in the most naked manner possible. It stripped humans of their benign facade and revealed the terror that lay beneath. Above all, it showed the fragility of peace. But the achievements of Attack on Titan are hard to mirror and duplicate. While some fans may want a sequel series to quench their never-ending thirst for more content, an AOT sequel might just be one of the worst ideas.
Attack on Titan should never receive a sequel. The series’ ending was complex and final, showing the conclusion of a story that spanned centuries, not just Eren’s life. The discrimination and violence against Eldians, the oppressive Marleyan government, and everyone else in between whose lives were butchered are all part of the narrative. Through the anime/manga, Hajime Isayama shows the endless cycle of war. The message was clear: the hatred within humanity was exposed. The high price for peace was paid. Everything felt settled by the end. Peace was fragmented, but it was achieved after a long, long time and too many sacrifices. The impact that the finale had would be diluted if Attack on Titan received a sequel. Because the only way it could receive a sequel was if the world went to war again. But this time, there’s nothing left to sacrifice. The world in AOT is still healing, and another human might never survive another conflict of the same level. An Attack on Titan sequel would disrupt the hard-earned peace.
Hajime Isayama made it clear that peace cannot be attained easily. The dismantling of ingrained hatred and prejudice amongst humans is tougher than anything. In Attack on Titan, it took the mass genocide of millions of people to unite the small percentage of the population who were left. The author created a brutally honest story that reflected the reality of human nature. The bleak ending of AOT showed the same. There is no happily ever after, and even if there was, it would not have suited the story in the first place. There is no easy resolution to war, and Isayama understood that perfectly. That is exactly why the ending of AOT was so horrifying and full of more sacrifices than one could count. While it is fine for the series to receive a prequel that might show the backgrounds of the main characters, a sequel would go against everything that Isayama wanted to achieve.
Nothing is more rewarding and pleasurable than looking back on a character’s journey and seeing how much they have grown. While Attack on Titan fans have experienced this moment of pride multiple times with numerous characters, the same can’t be said about Boruto. The Boruto manga started its run in 2016, and almost a decade later, the story is still quite underwhelming in terms of character growth.
The only character who undergoes some development in the entire story is the protagonist, Boruto Uzumaki. Even the worst-rated episode of Attack on Titan is a better example of how to do character development right. The third episode of Attack on Titan, titled "A Dim Light Amid Despair: Humanity’s Comeback, Part 1," introduced Keith Shadis, the stern instructor of the 104th Training Corps. Many new characters were introduced during that episode, including Jean, Reiner, Bertholdt, Connie, and Sasha. Hajime Isayama established these characters, and by the end, he had already tweaked fans’ perceptions.
For instance, Eren was an impulsive, weak, and somewhat annoying character for the majority of that episode. By the end, we saw a glimpse of his potential when it was revealed that he had been training with a broken belt. Similarly, Jean was introduced as someone superficial, but his small interaction with Mikasa prepared us that there’s more to this character. And that ‘more’ evolved into something endearing. Achieving that with multiple characters within a single episode is extraordinary. We saw a glimpse of the softer side of Keith Shadis, a more relaxed side of Mikasa, and there was something valuable hidden in every second of the episode. This episode has a rating of 8.1 on IMDb, which is the lowest rating out of all canon episodes. This particular episode had more rewarding character interactions and development than the entirety of Boruto.
Before we delve into that conversation, it’s quite evident that most characters have been sidelined at this point in the manga, except for Boruto and Kawaki. There’s Sarada and many other characters, but they are clearly not the mangaka’s priority. Boruto has undergone substantial character development. He started out as this troublesome kid, who detested his father (Naruto) for neglecting their family. Moreover, seeing the entire village worship Naruto rubbed him the wrong way. During the first part of the manga, he came to terms with all of that and grew more understanding of Naruto, his responsibilities, and his position as the village head.
In Two Blue Vortex, he has lost everything and grown more responsible. So, how does the character development still feel lacking? Boruto is trying to shoulder everything by himself, and we barely see any reflection of his thoughts beyond the fights and some flashbacks. Whether it’s his interaction with Sarada or Sasuke’s tree, everything feels devoid of emotion. It’s true that Boruto has never been as expressive, but his character development would make much more sense if there was a better exploration of his circumstances. The best expression of his growth is his power-ups, but that’s about it. And, Boruto’s character development is the best we’ve gotten out of the manga so far.
New York City's 4th Annual Japan Parade & Street Fair announced on Tuesday that the event will feature Attack on Titan: The Musical show, the musical based on Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan manga, on May 10. The Japan Parade also revealed the new Japan Night Reception & Concert, which will be on the night before on May 9. Cast members Takuro Ohno (Erwin Smith), Ryo Matsuda (Levi), Riona Tatemichi (Hange Zoë), and Blade Attackers (Hiroaki Shimoo, Ryūma Hashido, Yukiko Matsumoto, and Takahiko Kato) will appear at the parade. The concert will open with a performance by the cast of the musical, followed by performances from the other musicians including the MIYABI Koto and Shamisen Ensemble.
The title sponsor ASP Group will share a visual presentation of traditional Japanese crafts, and the show will close with former NMB48 member Sayaka Yamamoto's performance. The Japan Parade and Street Fair 2025 will take place on May 10 on 72nd Street in New York City. The Japan Night Reception & Concert will take place on May 9 at the Edison Ballroom. Attack on Titan: The Musical held its first international performance at the New York City Center in New York from October 11 to October 13. Gō Ueki directed the play with a script by Masafumi Hata. Hip hop artist KEN THE 390 was the music director, with lyrics by Kaori Miura. The play combined traditional staging and music with technology to recreate the Attack on Titan world.
The original Attack on Titan manga was launched in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine in 2009 and ended in April 2021. The first television anime season premiered in April 2013, and the finale premiered in November 2023. Attack on Titan The Movie: THE LAST ATTACK, a compilation of Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS, began screening in North American theaters on February 10. With 94 episodes and 4 seasons, Attack on Titan has become a landmark in anime storytelling.
