It should be noted that I wrote this before the manga ended as I wanted to compile my own ideas of how the manga would end.

I looked through many posts to gather ideas of these theories so not everything is my own, though it is difficult to give proper credit as these were found in many websites and have been mixed with my own thoughts.

These are the theories I gathered back in 2021:

• ARMIN IS THE NARRATOR

Many believe this theory because Armin’s voice actor in both Japanese and English are the narrators in the anime itself. Perhaps Armin wrote books about the events and he is now telling the public about it. In a way, he would be able to make the people acknowledge the story and sacrifice of his best friend.

• They will wake up in an alternate universe

In a short spin-off called “School Castle,” average Eren, goth Mikasa, and nerd Armin are in an alternate universe. Eren has a dream of a zombie apocalypse and wishes it was real. Though it could be for fun, Isayama’s editor recently hinted that “it might be a development that was linked to the main story. [Isayama] literally just thought right now that he should just go ahead with it.”

Furthermore, in ch 120 of the manga, when Eren’s head is shot off, we see Eren’s memories in the form of broken glass. Also, in the cover art of “My War” (S4 opening song), there appears to be Ymir Fritz in a modern classroom.

Some information was found in Twitter account @memely and Reddit comments 🙂

• EREN WILL BECOME A MARTYR

Although this is too heart-warming of an ending, Eren’s true purpose could be much like Lelouch Vi Britannia’s. In turn, Eren will become the evil that unites the world.

Based on Eren’s statement to Reiner before killing Willy Tybur:

“[I am] the same as you. It’s something you could even call ‘inevitable’”

And because Jean also makes a similar commentary to Reiner as they are on their way to kill Zeke and stop the rumbling. Reiner then responds with:

“I feel like I understand what Eren was thinking, even if just a little…don’t you think…Eren wants us to stop him? I would probably want to give the power of the founding titan to somebody else. And if not possible, then I’d want someone to put an end to it…someone”

Eren told the gang that he would not stop the rumbling and that he would keep moving forward. Though he did not change their memories to have no interruptions with his plan; but on the other hand, he may as well be planning on having them all remember the sacrifice that was made. This is similar to what happened with Lelouch and Nunnally, she was the one to remember her brother’s sacrifice for the Japanese.

2023 note: this was the closest to the real ending so i’m lowkey proud of having this analysis (>‘o’)>

• THE LAST PANEL OF THE MANGA AND EREN’S CHILD

Ok, so Isayama gave us a preview of the final panel and in the bubble it says “You’re free.” This panel shows adult Eren holding a baby, and as a result of Historia’s pregnancy, many believe that is the child Eren is holding. On that same note, many believe that Eren is the baby’s father, meanwhile others believe that is Eren and Mikasa’s child.

Because there are similarities between Eren as a baby and this unnamed/unknown baby, the chances are high for that being Eren’s child (not to mention that he explicitly mentioned his desire to have children).

If it were Historia and Eren’s baby, people believe that it would be the reincarnation of Ymir as a free child (based on Norse mythology). Also, if we intertwined this theory with the parallel universe theory, the first “family” Eren has could be with Historia, while his “new family” in the alternate world would be with Miaksa (similar to Grisha with Carla and Eren).

A panel in the manga shows Eren telling Historia that he only has four more years left to live and then proceeds to ask her “What do you think…about me having a child?”

The drawing directly after “jumps” to the “present” where Eren is talking to Zeke about his made up theory that Mikasa and the Ackermans’ power made her loyal to him as some sort of “master” who she had to protect. Zeke proceeds to say that he believes Mikasa loves Eren so much “That she would face and kill titans for you [Eren].” Eren denies the fact that Mikasa’s feelings are sincere. and yet he still thinks of her and the rest of the scouts whenever he says he wants them to be “happy and free.”

If we go back to the first chapter, it is called “To You , in 2000 Years From Now” and Mikasa is the one to wake Eren up from his “very long dream.” Hence the time loop/parallel world theory, and the show ending with Mikasa and Eren having a “free” baby because of the efforts of past Attack Titans influenced by Eren’s resolve or past reincarnations of himself.

Some information was found in Twitter account @memely and Amino website comments 🙂

2023 note: The time loop/ parallel theory can be further confirmed since Eren wakes up crying in ch1 and makes a remark about Mikasa’s hair length since in the “future” she has shorter hair. There are further details in the manga, but I think this is enough for now 🙂

-Marcela Bernal （ミ￣ー￣ミ）