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The revelations in Attack on Titan profoundly reshape our understanding of the series and its characters, particularly in the later seasons. One of the most shocking twists is the true identity of the Titans and their connection to the Eldians and Marleyans.
This complexity not only deepens character arcs—especially Eren’s transformation from a determined hero to a more morally ambiguous figure—but also invites audiences to reflect on themes of freedom, oppression, and the consequences of history, making Attack on Titan a profound commentary on the human condition.
1. Titans were Humans
It was revealed that the titans which would eat and destroy human race in Paradis were actually humans transformed by Marley’s to to roam Paradis island aimlessly and destroy human race. These humans were called subjects or Ymir and were transformed into Titans by injecting a Titan Spinal Fluid into them.
This revelation fundamentally changes the understanding of the Titans. Instead of seeing them as mere monsters, the characters realize that Titans are former humans who have been transformed as a result of various conflicts and powers, including those of the Eldian Restorationists and Marley.
2. Reiner And Bertholdt’s Secret About Titans
Betrayal, backstabbing are the things that would happen very often in story of Attack On Titan. But, the reveal of Reiner and Bertholdt’s identity that they were armored and Colossal Titan felt like a stab in the back of fans. This shocking betrayal just came out of nowhere.
The revelation of their true identities is a massive betrayal, as they were undercover agents from Marley sent to infiltrate and destroy humanity’s defenses.
This twist redefines the stakes and intensifies the conflict, shifting the story from a simple battle for survival to a complex struggle involving espionage and hidden agendas.
3. Eren Manipulating His Father (Grisha)
Just when the fans of Attack On Titan thought that nothing could surprise them anymore, Zeke took him to his fathers past memories and there came the most surprising plot twist ever.
They saw the moment when Grisha was about to give up on killing the family because he is not a murderer, Eren interrupts his thoughts and urges him to kill the family and take revenge of his dead sister.
Eren Successfully manipulated his father and took the founding Titan ability from Reiss family. Even Zeke was shocked to see that everything happening now is somehow part of Eren’s plan.
Later Grisha admits to Zeke that everything that will happen will be part of Eren’s plan and he will get what he wants. No one could have ever seen this plot coming, especially considering it fully confirmed Eren to be the real antagonist of the story.
4. Walls Were Made Of Colossal Titans
The story of Attack On Titan revolved around the fact that the humanity inside the walls is the only humanity alive and the rest of the world is full of Titans. The story in start gives a glimpse of how survey corps train and how the mission outside the walls are held.
However, after the brutal fight between Female Titan and Eren’s Titan broke, the story treated viewers with a shocking revelation that the walls which were meant to protect humans from Titans were actually made of Colossal Titans.
When a chunk of the inner wall broke, it revealed a stationary Colossal Titan that just stood there like it was solely made for that purpose. This made viewers to think that the Titans were more related to humans than they actually thought.
5. The Female Titan Reveal
While Eren had been able to take on the form of a Titan in Season 1, many fans believed that this was a one-off scenario and that, in classic shonen fashion, Eren must have some unique ability that enabled him to take control of one. But, later when female Titan was captured and her Titan form was exposed she was none other than Annie leonhart.
Annie’s betrayal and true identity bring personal conflict to the forefront, as her motivations are tied to her own background and her role as a warrior from Marley. This revelation adds depth to her character and highlights the theme of deception and loyalty within the story.
6. Eren Has Titan Abilities
Eren Yeager discovers that he can transform into a Titan specifically the Attack Titan, after he was devoured by a Titan in order to save Armin from getting swallowed. This ability is first demonstrated during his intense emotional moments and critical battles.
Luckily, when Eren was chewed by Titan, he manages to survive the encounter since the Titan only bit off his arm, not his spine where the Titan power was held, but this was definitely still an unnerving moment that suggested for a second that maybe Eren wasn’t going to be the main character after all.
7. People Living Outside The Walls
One of the most reveal came in Attack On Titan that the people living behind walls were not only the people alive, but there was entire civilization living outside walls happily, these people were known as Marleys. All of this was confirmed when we got to know that Eren’s father, Grisha, used to live outside the walls somewhere before coming to Paradis island.
These were the people who fought wars using Titans as their weapon. The people of Paradis Island were manipulated to live behind walls, as the people of Marley were the people who transformed humans into Titans and made them attack Paradis island’s people.
The civilization came in seen in Season 4 and fans were really taken aback by just how much care and attention had gone into building this entirely new area. Learning that there was life outside the walls was surprising enough, but seeing that its people were thriving was even more shocking.
8. Beast Titan Could Speak
One of the twist came when we saw that Beast Titan could actually talk and think like everyone. The Beast Titan first speaks in Attack on Titan during the 12th episode of the second season, titled “Scream.” In this episode, the Beast Titan, who is later revealed to be Zeke Yeager, addresses Reiner Braun and Bertholdt as they are fighting the Survey Corps.
Initially, the Beast Titan, who is later identified as Zeke Yeager, seems to be a mindless creature, but it becomes clear that he possesses a high level of intelligence and communication skills. This revelation highlights that the Titans are not merely monstrous entities but have their own complex motives and agendas.
9. Eren Yeager becoming Central Antagonist
The best plot twist in Attack on Titan is often considered to be the revelation that Eren Yeager, the protagonist, becomes the central antagonist with a plan to initiate the Rumbling.
This catastrophic event involved awakening countless Colossal Titans within the Walls to march across the world and annihilate all life outside, aiming to secure Eldian dominance and ensure the survival of his people.
Eren’s shift from a sympathetic figure to a ruthless force of destruction redefines the narrative, creating a moral conflict as he becomes the very thing he once fought against, challenging both the characters and the audience to confront the complexities of freedom, power, and sacrifice.
10. The Truth About the Founding Titan’s Powers
It’s revealed that the Founding Titan, possessed by various characters throughout the series, has the ability to alter the memories of Eldians and control other Titans. This twist comes to light as the origins of the Titans and their powers are explored more deeply.
The Founding Titan’s powers include the capacity to modify the memories of Eldians to make them forget their pasts, effectively rewriting history
This revelation profoundly affects the characters’ understanding of their world and their own identities, exposing the extent of control exerted by those who possess the Founding Titan and adding a layer of manipulation and deceit to the series’ overarching conflict.