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Throughout its run, Hajime Isayama’sAttack on Titandefined success at every turn. Every new chapter and episode would send a wave of enthusiasm among fans, leaving them awestruck as the plot became more complex with new developments. While there were many twists in the series that were sensational, Eren’s awakening as an antagonist was easily the best one.
Nobody expected the aspirational young boy to become the harbinger of doom. Eren’s character underwent a massive change, skyrocketing his popularity among fans. Even though Eren was in the wrong for many, others still debated about the intricacies of his thought process. Isayama opened up about his characterization during an interview, and it highlights how the mangaka managed to pull an extraordinary feat with Eren.
Hajime Isayama explains Eren’s characterization
There was a stark mismatch between Eren Yeager’s words, confidence, and his capabilities at the beginning. He went from a weak and loud boy to someone who has the power to determine the fate of humanity. His evil tendencies started to surface till he became an anti-hero, and then an outright villain by the end.
This massive change in his personality was shocking and exciting, it should have been unnerving too, but it wasn’t, simply because of howHajime Isayamafleshed out Eren’s character. The mangaka was once asked about Eren’s conversation with Ramzi in the final chapters, and what it said about his motivationsduring an interview.
Attack on Titan: Hajime Isayama Would Never Have Created the Titans Without Steven Spielberg’s Help
He explained how Eren’s perception of the world beyond the wall was of a clean slate. A world where the evils he had witnessed on Paradis Island didn’t exist. However, he was met with major disappointment when he transcended those walls.
I don’t really know whether that’s a good or a bad thing, and I don’t really know why that was the ideal that I set up for Eren as a part of this story. But what I can say is that, when he does get across the wall at that point, he says he sees that the world is really not that different from what’s within the walls in the world that he already knows.
Like Paradis Island, where politics categorized the world into different factions even in an apocalyptic crisis, Marley and the world beyond the walls were no different. It was a wake-up call for Eren that the world wasn’t the problem but those who inhabited it couldn’t let go of their selfish instincts. Up until the rumbling, he was a morally grey character, but in the end, he was villainized for killing millions of people.
Even though its out in the open that Eren was clearly in the wrong, fans still debate about his actions in an attempt to defend him. While his actions can’t be justified under any circumstances, they can surely be explained. But, the extraordinary feat is how Isayama managed to make Eren a subject of empathy for fans.
Eren is easily one of the best anime characters
Isayama’s approach toEren’s character development worked extremely welland we witnessed his descent into evil in great detail. Eren’s circumstances were truly dire and there was no one who could guide him, and he had boundless powers. Whatever he believed in could become the truth, there was no force that could keep his powers in check.
So, a part of Eren’s actions was a result of the lack of choice and no limitations as to what he could achieve. Moreover, the disappointment and complete distrust in the world is something that can easily be understood. All these aspects made his choices understandable, but horrible nonetheless.
Attack on Titanis available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Laveena Joshi
Anime Writer
Articles Published :926
Laveena is an anime content writer at FandomWire. Having written more than 800 articles, she’s an expert in mainstream shonen series, ranging from the bizarre world of JoJo’s to the expansive worldbuilding of One Piece.With her formal education in Journalism and Mass Communication, she explores entertainment journalism through the lens of anime and manga, from mainstream and classic titles to niche and obscure ones.
