“On that day, mankind received a grim reminder. We lived in fear of the Titans and were disgraced to live in these cages we called walls.”

This is the unforgettable opening line of the anime series Attack on Titan, which exploded onto the scene in the spring season of 2013, bringing with it many new anime fans while thrusting the anime community into the spotlight. The series quickly grabbed the attention of viewers with its shocking visuals and simple conflict. The last of humanity, trapped within three concentric walls, began to fight back against the man-eating Titans that forced them to hide. After almost seven years, the Attack on Titan anime will soon reach its conclusion.

Attack on Titan follows the life of protagonist Eren Yeager and his two friends, Armin and Mikasa. Throughout its first three seasons, the series showed astonishing growth and reached amazing heights. Throughout each season, the world the characters inhabited slowly became more complex, as each new season added new layers to the world.

The first season firmly established the rules the world adhered to, the second expanded upon them and created a mystery, and the third layered political conspiracies upon the world and delivered a satisfying answer to the mystery. The fourth season—and the parts of the manga that haven’t been adapted yet—further expand upon the world and unveil the true nature of the world and antagonists.

The characters of the world have undergone a lot of growth as well, complicating the narrative. The first season did an excellent job of introducing the main characters, while the second season helps flesh out the side characters. For example, Jean, a fellow member of the Survey Corps, got very little development in the first season, which showcased a small portion of his personality and did little else. However, it was the second season that added a layer of complexity to his personality. Jean went from an annoying, cowardly main side character meant to serve as Eren’s foil to a complex person who acted the way he did because he valued the lives of those around him.

The third season added another layer of complexity to the personalities of the characters, putting them in moral dilemmas where they would have to kill or be killed. Finally, the fourth season blurs the moral line further, which will eventually unveil the series’ true antagonist’s motives, and the dilemmas that pushed them to their limit.

Thanks to its ever developing lore and the popularity it has had since its first episode, Attack on Titan has managed to ride the hype to its conclusion. The fourth and final season of the anime will conclude soon and a movie is expected to cover what remains of the manga. The manga will be concluding soon as well, as it will end on chapter 139, signifying the 13 years the wielders of the Nine Titans have to live. Hopefully, the series’ author, Hajime Isayama, will be able to deliver a satisfying conclusion to his masterpiece.

Graphic courtesy of NEWSWEEK.COM