‘Attack on Titan’ Creator Opens Up About Regret Over the Anime’s Ending
New comments from Hajime Isayama have brought fresh attention back to the ending of Attack on Titan, especially the fate of Eren Yeager. The information comes from a statement displayed at the Attack on Titan Museum in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, as reported in recent fan coverage of the exhibit.
In the statement, Isayama talks openly about how Eren was created and how the story developed over time. He explains that Eren was always meant to be a character shaped by both personal desire and the harsh world around him. Over time, that path leads Eren into committing mass destruction on a massive scale.
Isayama reflects on his original idea for the character and the story shift that happens later. He says, “Eren became a protagonist who committed mass slaughter on a scale rarely seen in other works of fiction. As for why I conceived such a story from the beginning, part of it was my desire to create a narrative with a major twist—where the victim becomes the perpetrator.”
He also admits that his mindset when he was younger played a role in how the story was written. He explains that some of Eren’s darker traits came from his own thinking at the time. According to him, Eren’s actions were not only shaped by outside forces, but also by internal desire, which made the character more extreme and complicated.
As the series grew in popularity, Isayama says Eren stopped being just his own creation. Fans connected strongly with the character, and that changed how the ending was handled. He says this made it harder to fully push Eren into a purely hated role. Instead, the character ended up with more emotional depth and mixed feelings in the final version of the story.
He adds, “However, Attack on Titan had long since ceased to be mine alone, and Eren became a character loved by many readers. In the end, without fully committing to portraying him as a detestable figure, I found myself depicting him with a certain closeness and sympathy. As a result, I feel there remains a sense of insincerity in the story’s conclusion—at least in my own assessment.”
The ending of Attack on Titan has been debated for years. Some fans felt it was rushed, while others accepted or even appreciated how it wrapped up Eren’s story. Extra pages were later added to the final chapter, giving more context and extending certain outcomes, but the discussion around the ending never fully disappeared.
ATTACK ON TITAN creator Hajime Isayama shares thoughts on the series' ending
— Anime Updates (@animeupdates) April 27, 2026
Now on display in the Attack on Titan Museum in his hometown as of April 24, 2026:
"Eren became a protagonist who committed mass slaughter on a scale rarely seen in other works of fiction. As for why I… pic.twitter.com/YGZr4FrNil
Isayama’s recent remarks add another layer to that conversation. They suggest that even the creator himself sees parts of the conclusion as imperfect, especially when it comes to balancing Eren’s role as both a victim and a villain.
Eren’s story has always been about conflict, both inside and outside himself. He starts as someone shaped by loss and anger, but slowly becomes someone capable of extreme destruction. That shift is what made him such a talked-about character, even if it divides opinion.
At its core, this reflection shows how complicated storytelling can become when a character grows beyond the original plan. Eren is still seen as one of anime’s most complex leads, and Isayama’s comments only highlight how difficult it was to bring his journey to an end.
It is interesting to see a creator speak this openly about regret. It shows how stories can change over time, especially when fans connect deeply with characters. Eren’s ending will likely keep dividing people, but that might also be why the story stays so memorable. What do you think about Isayama’s comments and Eren’s ending? Do you agree with his view, or do you think the story ended the right way? Share your thoughts in the comments.