Could an Attack on Titan movie prevent Hajime Isayama's anime series falling into the same ending trap that swallowed Game of Thrones? Despite enjoying widespread acclaim from fans and critics for so long prior, Game of Thrones' final season has gone down in TV history for all the wrong reasons. The division Game of Thrones season 8 left in its wake can be attributed to a variety of factors - sloppy set mistakes, suspect characterization, and a plot with more holes than a Stark at a wedding - but every fault derives from one single factor, and it's a factor George R.R. Martin himself has pointed out. Games of Thrones simply wasn't given enough episodes to cover everything the source material set up.
Initially known for its clever plotting and measured pacing, Game of Thrones season 7 began skipping over the intricacies and character details HBO's fantasy epic once excelled at, before season 8 descended into an all-out nonsensical dash. To say fans were left disappointed would be an understatement.
Other than protagonists who develop a taste for genocide, the checkered history of Westeros has precious little to do with Attack on Titan, currently airing its own final season. As Attack on Titan's ending draws nearer, however, parallels between the anime series and HBO's fantasy epic become increasingly visible. Is Attack on Titan season 4 destined to attract the same ending criticisms Game of Thrones has become synonymous with? And is the best solution an Attack on Titan movie?
Attack On Titan Is Risking The Game Of Thrones Trap
Attack on Titan's situation certainly isn't identical to the dilemma Game of Thrones' later seasons faced. With George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series still years away from completion, Game of Thrones was forced to switch from adapting novels to developing an ending of its own. Attack on Titan, meanwhile, is still faithfully following Hajime Isayama's original manga, which wrapped up in April 2021, partway through the final season. Isayama might work faster than GRRM, but just like Game of Thrones, Attack on Titan's final season finds itself with only a scant few episodes to tie off a mountain of source material. And although the manga might be finished now, Isayama was still busily drawing comic panels when MAPPA (Attack on Titan animation studio) confirmed season 4 as the finale, which echoes what happened to Game of Thrones. Both endings were decided before the story was even over.
At the time of writing, Attack on Titan has aired a total of 82 episodes. Season 4 is scheduled to end with episode 87, leaving only 5 short installments before the finish line. The amount of chapters Attack on Titan must adapt during that period is around 14, which feels like a tall order - especially considering season 4 has progressed at a rate of approximately one chapter per episode until now. Audiences also expect Attack on Titan's anime to elaborate on the manga's fight scenes, rather than plow through them at breakneck speed. Five episodes feels like an unrealistically short window if Attack on Titan is to explain all its mysteries, do justice to its characters, and deliver a final battle worthy of ending the franchise.
The threat of Attack on Titan emulating Game of Thrones' finale failure isn't as great as it once was. Back in mid-2019 when season 4 was confirmed as Attack on Titan's last, the chances of covering so much narrative ground looked remote - and continued to right up until Attack on Titan season 4, part 2 was unveiled. Alas, even with these extra 12 episodes, the time frame still looks too narrow. Does this mean viewers should brace themselves for the same rushed, mile-a-minute finale that ruined Game of Thrones?
Attack On Titan Movie Rumors Explained
Ever since season 4 was confirmed as Attack on Titan's endpoint, fans have speculated whether Eren Jaeger's story might end with a feature-length movie, rather than episode 87. As one of the most popular active anime properties, Attack on Titan absolutely carries enough interest to warrant spinning the finale into a movie. Anime films are enjoying major growth on the worldwide stage, with Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train both demonstrating a market for anime TV shows on the big screen.
The Attack on Titan movie rumors intensified when episode 87 was mysteriously delayed by one week. Season 4's finale (which is supposed to be Attack on Titan's very last episode) will now air after the AnimeJapan 2022 event, which has a stage dedicated to Attack on Titan. Some fans are theorizing that the delay was made so Attack on Titan could announce a movie finale alongside episode 87 airing. This would mirror how MAPPA made its season 4, part 2 announcement immediately after episode 75 brought part 1 to a close.
Adding further fuel to the "Attack on Titan movie finale" theory is how season 4 is taking its sweet time meandering toward an ending. Were the Colossal Titan to kick season 4 up the backside, it is feasible that Attack on Titan could end within 5 episodes - albeit not ideal. Instead of moving with pace and purpose, however, episodes appear to be deliberately holding back. Attack on Titan episode 82, for example, feels suspiciously transitory, dedicating its entire runtime to side stories involving Annie Leonhart riding a horse and Connie bringing his mother Falco-flavored takeout. Episode 82 does very little to progress Attack on Titan's central storyline which, with so few episodes remaining, is causing viewers great anxiety. Could this be a deliberate ploy because an Attack on Titan movie lies on the horizon?
How An Attack On Titan Movie Avoids Game Of Thrones' Ending Problems
Revealing a surprise Attack on Titan movie on March 27 would represent something of a double-edged sword. For starters, the announcement risks irking fans with yet another rug-pull. In 2019, Attack on Titan season 4 was confirmed as the anime's definitive "final season," only for Attack on Titan season 4, part 2 to follow several years later, which is a cheeky way of saying "Attack on Titan season 5." If lightning strikes twice and Attack on Titan episode 87 finishes on a cliffhanger with chapters still to adapt, audiences would be forgiven for feeling hoodwinked once again. Like an aging rock band going on their third "farewell tour," there's only so many times Attack on Titan can promise resolution and deliver the opposite.
Ending the Attack on Titan manga with a movie would inevitably draw accusations of milking the Isayama cash cow to within an inch of its life too. Fans would be forced to wait another year (or more) before watching the real ending to Eren Jaeger's Rumbling and the war between Eldia and Marley, just so more money can be eked from the property.
On the other hand, an Attack on Titan movie is a pretty good way of avoiding the pitfall that killed Game of Thrones. Five episodes may not be long enough to do justice to Isayama's manga ending, but five episodes and a movie feels much more doable. Those extra minutes should be plenty of time to deliver a visually stunning final battle, cover all of the necessary time-twisting exposition created by Eren's possession of the Founding Titan, and honor each main character's personal arcs. Fans might still accuse Attack on Titan of money-spinning, but they certainly couldn't accuse it of skimping on substance like Game of Thrones did.
Does that mean a HBO movie could've saved Game of Thrones season 8? Likely not. Attack on Titan season 4 needs 5 or 6 additional 20-minute episodes to properly cover the manga. Game of Thrones was probably looking at another two seasons if George R.R. Martin (and viewers) got their way. For Attack on Titan's purposes, a feature-length movie may provide a perfect solution. And, honestly, who doesn't want to see Mikasa swinging around Eren's Founding Titan on a big theater screen?
Attack on Titan streams Sundays on Funimation. Crunchyroll, and Hulu.