Attack on Titan May Not Be Over: Ways The Franchise Can Continue (2024)

Despite the overwhelming success of Attack on Titan's finale last November, fans are still wanting more. Seeing how the franchise itself has not concluded, with Shingeki FLY being released earlier this year, many are speculating that there is still more to come. In an interview with Isayama in Shingeki FLY, he states that his original plan for "Volume 35" was a story about the Great Titan War, rather than Levi's childhood. Side stories such as Before the Fall and Attack on Titan: Harsh Mistress of the City, the latter of which tells the story of what happened to the other populated districts after the fall of Wall Maria, have yet to be adapted.

Moreover, Yuki Kaji is releasing a new manga with an original story by Hajime Isayama, Soyogi Fractal, that's centered around AI. Something to note, is that those who pre-ordered the physical copy will receive an Attack on Titan "notice". If the series is truly ended, what else could it be other than a sequel? And perhaps Soyogi Fractal is just that.

Walking Towards The Uncertain Future

Yuki Kaji's new manga, Soyogi Fractal, is centered around AI in a futuristic society. Loyal to their human masters, the main character is content with his position as an asset, rather than an individual. But one day, that all changes and the main character, Soyogi, along with the rest of his colleagues gain self-awareness. All we know so far aside from that, is that there will be a female lead as well. Though we don't know much about the setting, with the assumption that it takes place in the future in the Attack on Titan universe, there is room for a multitude of theories.

First off, let's look at the ending. In a post-credit sequence, we see Paradis being destroyed in the far future. The setting indicates that it's well into a futuristic society with advanced technology. As Eren stated to Armin during their final conversation in Paths, there would be no concern of retaliation from the outside world, as The Rumbling made it so the surviving populace would be on the same infrastructural and technological level as Paradis. As this is so far in the future, some fans speculate that in a show of irony, Paradis had a civil war. And with the inclusion of Soyogi Fractal, the initial attack itself may have had something to do with it.

A Horrifying Self-Made Apocalypse

If this wasn't a civil war, it could be an AI-led attack from the outside world. In this case, humanity didn't need another titan power to cause destruction; and this time, it was human-made. But for there to be a war, it means it must be desired by humans. At the end, a lone boy and his dog companion approach a tree that houses the hallucigenia, similar to how Ymir did. The lyrics that are played at the end are worth mentioning, though.

This implies that obtaining the power that lies within the tree, also allows the holder to see the past. This lets the individual decide how and what they want to use their powers for. Many assume that despite going back to "zero", the memories of past mistakes will encourage the boy to use the power for good. In this specific scenario, however, after he learns the secrets of the tree, perhaps his wish was "freedom" - something the AI were blissfully ignorant of. But as they say, be careful what you wish for.

This "freedom" granted AI the ability to self-consciousness. What was once used as a tool for war, is now acting independently. This time, it's just a matter of how it will be handled. Will the cycle of hatred continue? Or will the boy's wish bring about a brighter future for humanity? A popular theory among the Western fan-base is that Attack on Titan is a time-loop with different outcomes. Applying these theories can still lead to AI, however. This allows for Attack on Titan, should there be additional content, to have a narratively reasonable sequel.

The KFT (The Karl Fritz Theory)

KFT is based off the idea that each character in Attack on Titan played a part in freeing Ymir; more specifically, holders of the Founding Titan. In this theory, Karl Fritz did not merely flee to Paradis, but created a circ*mstance that would force Ymir into a position of her own agency, and thus free herself and attain rebirth. There are an infinite number of timelines that were reset, whenever an event happened that wouldn't lead to the conclusion Karl Fritz wanted. Through Paths, and with characters that retained their memories from previous loops, situations were set in place with a hindsight bias. For example, a rock was placed in Trost, so Eren's titan had something to plug the breach, or Eren knowing where to find Mikasa, when they first met - as he had already been to the area in a previous loop.

Both Mikasa and Eren acted as a key to Ymir's freedom, and the latter pushed the former away to minimize Ymir's interest in her. This theory also incorporates the possibility of Mikasa being of royal blood, as she is likely descended from someone of the Fritz family along with the heir to Hizuru, as a result of their pact; since Eren could still control titans after he made contact with Dina's titan, yet physically held Mikasa. In the end, The Rumbling was a means of "shock therapy" for Ymir, to allow her an opportunity to regain her sense of empathy and stop the slaughter of her own free will.

This would act as an alternative to the 50-year plan, as halting the attack at Marley, would allow the immediate threat to be neutralized; the alliance to look like heroes for "stopping" it, Historia to avoid continuing the cycle, and Ymir to let go of her obligation by empathizing with humanity, especially Marleyans, King Fritz's primary enemy. Frieda's influence on Historia to desire her own family, and Eren's decision to push her to seek out The Farmer, allowed for Ymir to be reborn into a vessel, and given a free life that she desires. In Linked Horizon's newest song, What I really wanted, loosely suggests as such.

The Rise of a Troubling Child Prodigy

Though The Rumbling came at a cost, KFT serves as the "everyone wins" route, and fans of Mikasa and Eren as a couple, would be satisfied as well. Applying this to Soyogi Fractal, hypothetically, Ymir could grow up to invent AI technology to help assist humanity, rather than "enslaving" people through unfair work environments or creating obligations. Because of her good relationship with Eren and his "get it done" attitude, the models of her AI creations were based on Eren. Though, this could be a double-edged blade, as a subconscious desire for independence and "freedom" could be ingrained - and every sentient being always has a desire for free will.

AnR (Akatsuki no Requiem Theory)

In this scenario, Eren achieves his goal of completing The Rumbling, but at a cost to his own happiness and fulfillment. While he sought freedom, the only thing he got from it was emotional scarring, and his message to his past self, was to not give up his own dignity for the sake of a "greater good" - one that only created an environment for a singular ideal, and further oppression within Paradis.

A Mournful and Tragic Scientist

Because of this, Eren's regrets go into the creation of AI - a being that lives peacefully in ignorance of freedom - another version of himself, to live on after he passes. If it never knows it isn't free, it can never develop an obsession. But this inevitably backfires when it suddenly gains intelligence. Trapping someone in ignorance will only lead to obsession, and obsession is inherently destructive. Will this newly sentient AI make the same mistakes? Since a female lead (also AI) is planned for Soyogi Fractal, it can be debated that Eren created one based off of Mikasa - the person he regretted killing the most.

There's always a risk when it comes to expanding a successful franchise, but if done well, it can compliment the original work. In Attack on Titan's case, though the story is set to be over, one quote on the wall of an official exhibit from 2020, is of note.

Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan is a post apocalyptic themed anime where the world is plagued by monstrous creatures called titans. People live in walled cities to avoid the danger of the man eating titans. After they destroy his home, main character Eren Yeager swears to exterminate all titans off the face of the earth.