Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
With the manga’s conclusion in April 2021 and the announcement of part 3 of the final season of the anime adaptation, the titan-fighting franchise is nearing its end. Since Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 is now over, there’s no better time than now to binge watch the series again to see if it holds up against the original manga.
1. Hange finds injured Levi
Chapter 115 (left) and episode 76 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 immediately starts off on a despondent note – humanity’s strongest soldier, Levi, has fallen and is heavily injured. In the anime, the speechless Hange holds up Levi’s lifeless body and is visibly shaken. The manga, however, shows her calling Levi’s name to try to get a response.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
MAPPA also opted to add a close-up shot of Hange for maximum impact, showing her distraught state as she stares at her battered comrade.
2. Zeke is reborn
Chapter 115 (left) and episode 76 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
One of the biggest cliffhangers in the first part of the final season was Zeke’s survival. After Zeke activates the Thunder Spear and ends up slowly succumbing to his injuries, a titan that he created tears open her stomach and places him inside.
In episode 76, a regenerated Zeke emerges from the remains of the belly of the unknown titan, who has dissolved into a pile of skeletons.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Though both versions show the back view of Zeke as he rises up and stares into the abyss, MAPPA’s adaptation shows the Beast Titan’s behind in its full glory.
3. Yelena’s face
Chapter 118 (left) and episode 77 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Probably what your nightmare is made of, Yelena’s creepy, rage-filled face was no doubt the highlight of episode 77, Sneak Attack. Though Isayama already made Yelena’s face in the manga incredibly menacing, the animators of MAPPA managed to one up him, distorting Yelena’s face in the most sinister way possible.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
For context, Yelena’s aggression towards Armin is due to a sense of betrayal and disdain after she catches Armin’s bluff. In the first part of Attack on Titan Final Season, she was elated to have found a kindred spirit when Armin pretended to be touched by Zeke’s euthanasia plan.
Yet, in this episode, Yelena realises that Armin was simply paying lip service after he exclaims that “they have no choice but to help the Yeagerist”. In other words, she’s onto Armin’s lies.
4. Rematch between Attack Titan and Armoured Titan
Chapter 117 (left) and episode 77 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
The first part of the final season ended on a major cliffhanger, before the highly anticipated rematch between Eren and Reiner began. Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 jumped straight into Marley’s surprise attack on Paradis Island, picking up right from where the previous season left off.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Though MAPPA has gotten flak from fans for using CGI in the first part of the season, the production team later improved on their techniques to mask the CGI and make fight sequences look more natural.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Besides seamless animation that captures the essence of a bloody warfare, MAPPA also took the creative liberty of switching up the framing and angles to make it more interesting.
In one particular shot, Reiner is framed between Eren’s legs. The manga equivalent had an establishing shot – which would be less dramatic in anime form – featuring a back-facing Eren looking at Reiner, who is emerging from his transformation.
5. Connie rages at Onyankopon
Chapter 118 (left) and episode 76 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Usually the happy-go-lucky one in the group, Connie’s breakdown in the first episode of Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 was especially emotional.
Having had his entire family wiped out by Zeke and now confronted with the possibility of Eren siding with Zeke – implying a personal betrayal – his rage when Onyankopon begs them to help the brothers is understandable.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
In general, the frames in the anime mirrored the manga faithfully, but MAPPA made sure to go heavy on the shading and close-ups to show Connie’s emotional breakdown. Shimono Hiro, the voice actor, also did a splendid job in conveying the character’s frustration via his outburst.
6. Yelena’s airship scene
Chapter 118 (left) and episode 77 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
In the anime version, thanks to the composition and colours, the shot appears to be more poetic and grander. With her jacket and hair flowing, and arms raised dramatically as though she’s both embracing the incoming blimps and bathing in the chaos, Yelena looks more crazed and imposing when animated.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
The original scene took up only two panels in the manga, but MAPPA took the liberty of adding a shot of the blimps flying over Yelena. This helps to convey the severity of the situation Paradis Island is in, as well as a sense of looming doom.
7. Zeke’s scream
Chapter 119 (left) and episode 78 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Titled Two Brothers, episode 78 was no doubt one of the standout episodes of Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 thanks to its thematic directions tying the stories of different pairs of brothers together.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Colt appeals to Zeke to spare Falco, Zeke wishes to build a better world with and for Eren, and Porco finds out that Marcel intercepted his inheritance of the Armoured Titan in order to protect him. Colt’s emotional begging and Zeke’s painful deliberation created tension building up to moments right before the Beast Titan screams.
Additional shot of Eren
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Although the moment in the manga was equally emotional, the anime adaptation has an edge over the former as MAPPA improved the scene by adding a shot of Eren. It fleshes out Zeke’s motivation behind the things he does, since he explicitly refers to Eren as his little brother.
8. Memory shards scene
Eren’s memory shard scene from chapter 120.
Image adapted from: Kodansha
After the majority of the soldiers in Shiganshina District are titanised, Zeke and Eren waste no time in trying to make contact in order to activate the Founding Titan’s power.
Unfortunately, their plans are foiled the second Gabi fires the Anti-Titan rifle, decapitating Eren and sending his head flying towards Zeke’s palm. In doing so, the brothers make contact, connecting Eren to the Path.
Wipe cut used in the flashback sequence
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Due to space constraints, Isayama opted to represent fragments of Eren’s memories as shards in a single panel.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
MAPPA did a surreal job with its adaptation by going above and beyond, utilising wipe cuts liberally and producing a seamless transition of dream-like sequences. The scene was made complete with their signature otherworldly eye close-up – or as fans would joke, “MAPPA spending their entire budget on animating intricate eye design”.
9. Eren’s “Because I was born into this world”
Chapter 120 (left) and episode 78 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Eren started off as a hot-tempered teenager hell-bent on revenge, but the series saw him go through drastic changes, morphing into a calm but disillusioned individual. In episode 78, when Zeke questions the reason for Eren’s betrayal, Eren simply utters his life philosophy stoically, that he makes such choices “because he was born into this world”.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Unlike the original manga, which has the protagonist’s back to us the whole time, the anime adaptation shows Eren’s side profile up close, and we can see his determination as he reiterates his iconic line.
10. Eren manipulates Grisha
Chapter 121 (left) and episode 79 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Despite what Zeke has believed all along, it turns out that his precious little brother isn’t the one who’s being brainwashed by their father. Rather, everything that has culminated so far is on Eren, including interfering with Grisha’s memories and manipulating him to go with his plans.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
When Grisha backs out from killing Frieda and her family, Eren – like in the manga – reminds his father of his purpose for coming here. But compared to the manga, which only has a small panel featuring Grisha’s little sister, MAPPA enhanced the scene by showing flashbacks of Dina, Kruger, and his comrades.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Kitao Masaru, who is most famous for his work on Death Note, was engaged as the chief animation director for this episode, as well as episode 84. Kitao’s influence was evident in this episode, thanks to his signature extreme close-up of Grisha’s face as he breaks down mentally.
11. Eren breaking free of the chains
Chapter 121 (left) and episode 80 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 has no shortage of gory scenes, but Eren ripping his hands out from Zeke’s chains was gruesome enough to make us hit the pause button. After Zeke orders Ymir to commence his enthanasia plan, a panicked Eren struggles to free himself as Ymir walks towards the Coordinate.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
In both the manga and anime, Eren is chained up facing away from the Coordinate. MAPPA corrected Eren’s position by having his hands pulled back by the chains, instead of by his side as shown in the manga, because he’s manoeuvring his way out of the shackles.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Some other nice additional touches include lingering shots on Eren’s severed finger on the sandy ground.
12. Eren declares that he will destroy the world
Chapter 123 (left) and episode 80 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
At the end of episode 80, Eren manages to connect to all Subjects of Ymir through the power of the Founding Titan. Here, he declares his intention to protect the people in his hometown, Paradis Island, and exterminate everything beyond that.
Even though MAPPA opted to keep the original panel in its entirety, Eren’s spine-chilling delivery of his goals definitely ended the episode on a high.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
In the recent Anime Japan 2022, Eren’s voice actor Kaji Yūki chose this as the most memorable Eren scene and shared his experience voicing it.
He was quite torn over the delivery of the line and the word “extermination” (kuchiku, 駆逐) as the idea of annihilating an enemy, be it the titans or people outside of Paradis Island, has been a huge driving force in Eren’s life since he was little.
But ultimately, he decided to go with a tone and delivery that’s unlike the character we’ve seen up until now.
13. Gabi saves Kaya
Chapter 124 (left) and episode 81 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Gabi has garnered a lot of hate from some fans, mostly due to her killing the fan-favourite Sasha, and her extremist views.
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2, however, shows the kid who has been so consumed by Marley’s preaching slowly unlearning propaganda and understanding the complexity of the world that they live in.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Particularly, she redeems herself in episode 81 by risking her life to save Kaya, mending the rift in their relationship. Here, MAPPA truly excels in their craft by improving the facial expressions and character designs.
Kaya sees Gabi as Sasha
Image adapted from: MAPPA
The frames are tinted red, likely due to the effects of the Rumbling – a cool detail that isn’t shown in the manga.
14. Annie wakes up
Chapter 124 (left) and episode 81 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
After more than four years of lying dormant in a crystal, Annie makes a surprise return at the end of episode 81.
The awakening of the Female Titan was hinted at when Reiner was stripped of his armour after Eren activated the Rumbling. But it wasn’t until when Gabi begs Armin to talk to Eren to reach a consensus, that Armin puts two and two together – that all Titan hardening had dissolved, including Annie’s.
15. Armin and Connie’s “betrayal”
Chapter 128 (left) and episode 85 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Episode 85 ended on quite the emotional climax, with Armin and Connie having to confront Daz and Samuel, who were both part of the 104th Training Corps. While tackling each other to gain control of the ship, Connie makes the painful decision to kill Daz and Samuel.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
The manga was adapted faithfully, although the scenes in the anime are much more emotionally charged. Held at gunpoint, Armin is forced to reassess his belief and use of violence, recalling Bertholdt saying that someone has to get their hands dirty. Again, even without dialogue, MAPPA uses extreme close-up shots to convey Armin’s inner turmoil.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Extra cuts that show Connie with a pained expression were also added, notably after he shoots Daz and right before he turns to Samuel. Instead of screaming as he shoots Samuel like he did in the manga, Connie bawls after he kills his comrade.
16. Falco’s Jaw Titan
Chapter 129 (left) and episode 86 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Worried about the two titan shifters, Falco suggests using his new titan powers to lend them a hand. He then transforms into a bird-like creature with a jaw that resembles a beak. Instead of claws, the new Jaw Titan has talons.
MAPPA nailed the character design of Falco’s Jaw Titan by amplifying the features of a bird that are distinctively different from his predecessor.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Though his first transformation almost ended in him going on a rampage and unable to control the Jaw Titan, Magath is able to subdue him by cutting open the titan’s nape and pulling out Falco.
17. Titan shifters fighting the Yeagarists
Chapter 128 (left) and episode 85 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
After years of hiatus, the Armoured Titan and Female Titan are finally back together in action. Unlike the manga panel, which shows the two Marley warriors in powerful stances, the anime adaptation opted to focus on the individual titan by giving them a solo frame each.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
It’s been nine years since anime fans last saw the Female Titan in action, but Annie has definitely not lost her touch – she effortlessly destroys the Yeagarist as if they’re flies.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Special shout-out goes to MAPPA for their fluid yet precise ODM animation and amazing angles, elevating the entire fight sequence.
18. Mikasa annihilates Yeagarists
Chapter 129 (left) and episode 86 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Fans know that Mikasa is one of the series’ strongest fighters, but it wasn’t until scenes like this in episode 86 that we are once again reminded of how skilled she actually is. In the manga, Isayama shows how swift and agile the female protagonist is, dedicating a panel to her massacring a bunch of nameless Yeagerists.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Wanting to show her prowess in close combat, MAPPA added additional shots of Mikasa decapitating a Yeagarist, shoving his lifeless body into another opponent, then stabbing through them. Finally, she detonates the Thunder Spear, blowing their bodies into smithereens.
Mikasa making blood rain
Image adapted from: MAPPA
Standing in a shower of blood, Mikasa turns and stares coldly at us – it’s the perfect demonstration of her unmatched skills and capabilities.
19. Happier times in Marley
Chapter 123 (left) and episode 87 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
The final episode of Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 starts with a flashback to happier times, as Mikasa reminisces about the Survey Corps’ first overseas scouting mission in Marley. In the manga, the flashback scenes took place when the Rumbling was first activated.
Here, MAPPA chose to rearrange the sequences, having Mikasa recall their expedition on board the ship.
Sasha trying ice cream for the first time
Image adapted from: MAPPA
From getting a taste of ice cream to attempting to feed moving vehicles carrots, the anime faithfully follows the first half of chapter 123, with some minor differences in shot framing.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
In the animated version, Eren looks much more blissful as he spends the night partying away with his friends without worries.
20. The Rumbling
Chapter 130 (left) and episode 87 (right).
Image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
Episode 87 shows the Attack Titan in the present, leading his army of Wall Titans on their inevitable path of destruction. The Global Allied Fleets put up a feeble fight against the colossal giants, but are powerless against them and end up being scorched to death.
The final scenes were perhaps one of the most faithful manga-to-anime adaptations in the series, as MAPPA perfected the sequences with their superior animation, visual direction, and soundtrack.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
In particular, Attack on Titan (Wmid) – the OST that first played when the Wall Titans first made its appearance near Marley shores – is one of the original soundtracks from the earlier seasons.
Image adapted from: MAPPA
A throwback to the earlier seasons, the soundtrack choices remind us that the fight against titans is far from over, but has evolved to become much more complex and multifaceted.
Iconic Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 scenes
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed anime-only fan or a true-blue connoisseur who’s caught up on every chapter of the manga, there’s no denying that both mediums are spectacular in their own right. What is your favourite scene out of the entire Attack On Titan series?
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Cover image adapted from: Kodansha and MAPPA
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