November 20, 2023
Attack on Titan Ending Explained: Did Eren Become a Bird in the Final Season of the Series?
Explaining the final chapter of Attack on Titan! Uncover the truth behind the ultimate question: Did Eren Yeager reincarnate and become a bird?
Buy: Attack On Titan Merchandise & Gifts
Buy: Attack On Titan Merchandise & Gifts
Table of Contents +
The conclusion of Attack on Titan hit everyone in the feels. It provided a perfect and emotional ending to the series, answering many of the lingering questions viewers had.
However, to finish off the series, Hajime Isayama left fans with one last mystery, leading to ongoing debates within the community.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
What happened to Eren at the End of Attack on Titan?
In the ultimate showdown in Attack on Titan, we witness Mikasa soaring atop Falco's Jaw Titan to bring an end to Eren's life, becoming both the savior of humanity and Eldia. Despite Eren being the world's antagonist, he remained Mikasa's primary love interest. Thus, Mikasa carries Eren's head back to Paradis Island to give him a proper burial.
In a poignant nod to the series' symbolism, Mikasa chooses to lay Eren to rest beneath the very tree where their childhood moments unfolded—the tree that signified the start of everything.
Eren and Mikasa Meet for The Last Time
Three years after the tragic events of the Rumbling and the conclusion of The Battle of Heaven and Earth, the people of Paradis Island eagerly anticipate the arrival of their Marleyan guests for the first-ever friendly discussion on peace and politics in their shared history. As Annie, Armin, and the others sail to the island, Armin becomes intrigued by a peculiar bird that joins them on their journey.
Simultaneously, in honor of the impending peace, Mikasa visits Eren's grave to share how the world has transformed. During this emotional conversation, Mikasa is surprised by an unexpected visitor—a bird that may be the same one Armin encountered earlier. Astonishingly, the bird flies to Mikasa and tidies her disheveled scarf. Overwhelmed by this gesture, she quickly tears up and expresses gratitude to Eren for his enduring care.
Now, questions arise. Did Eren possibly reincarnate as that bird, or is it just another instance of Attack on Titan's symbolism?
Did Eren Reincarnate as a Bird?
The speculation about Eren being the bird in Attack on Titan's ending is rooted in both Ymir's Founder powers and the interpretation of certain mythologies. Having previously woven Norse mythology into his narrative, Hajime Isayama is familiar with incorporating cultural stories, making a repetition of this theme unsurprising.
Considering this, even after the conclusion of the manga series, fans theorize that the symbolic reincarnation of Eren is linked to the significance of birds in these mythologies. Many tales connect birds with freedom, interpreting them as symbols of rebirth. Throughout the series, numerous scenes featuring birds occurred whenever Eren or other Eldians were present, potentially serving as foreshadowing for this conclusion or simply as another metaphor within the narrative.
A second theory proposes that Ymir Fritz, grateful for her liberation, reincarnated Eren as a gesture of appreciation for his role in setting her free. However, a challenge with this narrative is that, while Ymir is undoubtedly powerful in the Paths, there's no on-screen evidence of her reincarnating a person. Moreover, with the removal of the Titans' curse and Ymir's demise, the existence of her creations becomes seemingly impossible.
But who knows? Attack on Titan’s fictional world is full of surprises and the idea of Eren being the bird that fixed Mikasa’s scarf is not entirely implausible.
Attack on Titan's World After The Final Season of the Anime
The conclusion of Attack on Titan was undeniably epic, skillfully bringing the story to a perfect and highly emotional end. From the intense final battle for humanity to Mikasa's pivotal act of killing Eren and ushering in peace, the series took fans on an emotional rollercoaster that, unfortunately, reached its conclusion.
Yet, true to Attack on Titan's nature, it couldn't end without leaving fans with a lingering question to ponder.
All things considered, unless Hajime Isayama officially discloses whether Eren was reincarnated as a bird or not, fans will be left without a definitive answer. What they will have, however, is a topic for discussion that adds to the many reasons why this anime will remain relevant and in the minds of viewers for years to come.
Buy: Attack On Titan Merchandise & Gifts
Buy:Attack On Titan Merchandise & Gifts
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Eren do at the end of Attack on Titan?
+In pursuit of freedom, Eren started the Rumbling, leading countless Colossal Titans to wipe out his enemies. During this time, both the Survey Corps and Marleyans joined forces to stop him while he defended himself by creating copies of all previous wielders of the Nine Titans.
What do birds symbolize in AOT?
+Attack on Titan often uses birds as a symbol of hope, freedom, and the desire for humanity to break free from oppression. Apart from real birds, the Scout Regiment's emblem is called Wings of Freedom, additionally showing the great significance of birds to the story.
What happens to Eren in the final chapter of the Attack on Titan manga?
+In the series finale, after an epic battle between Eren's Founding Titan and humanity's soldiers, he is finally killed by Mikasa, his love interest. After killing him, Mikasa takes Eren's head and buries it under the tree he often slept under as a child on Paradis Island.
Is Eren actually the bird?
+Until we get Hajime Isayama's official confirmation on the theories, we will never be sure if Eren is actually the bird that fixed Mikasa's scarf. However, he was likely either reincarnated by the power of the Founding Titan or the bird is just a metaphor in the show.
What type of bird does Eren supposedly turn into?
+After the final battle in Attack on Titan, Mikasa ultimately kills Eren and later buries his head under the tree he slept under a lot as a child. Three years later, When Mikasa visits Eren's grave, she is visited by a type of seabird called Parasitic Jaeger.
Did Eren love Mikasa?
+Eren loved Mikasa, but his actions were influenced by his mission for freedom. The love is there (as Eren clearly shows in the final episode), but it's overshadowed by the complexity of Attack on Titan's story. On the other hand, Mikasa's love for Eren is much more obvious.
Is Eren Yeager the villain in Attack on Titan?
+The perception of Eren's role in Attack on Titan is subjective. While some see him as a hero fighting for freedom, others label him a villain due to the consequences of killing 80% of humanity. The series blurs moral lines, leaving fans to see his morality as open to interpretation.
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