By Nicole Flores

The long-awaited season four of “Attack on Titan” has ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans with even more questions than when the season began.

Premiering nearly eight years ago, “Attack on Titan” took the anime world by storm. Based on the manga by Hajime Isayama, the series takes place in another world where humans are living behind three gargantuan walls. On the other side of those walls are the titular antagonists — the titans. They eat humans, so the last remnants of humanity are forced to hide behind the walls, their primary source of protection.

However, humanity has one last weapon up its sleeve: the Scout Regimen. Soldiers tasked with venturing beyond the walls to discover any weaknesses the titans may have and perhaps save humanity for good. The series follows Eren Jaeger and his friends Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert as they navigate their way from childhood to the Scout Regimen after a devastating attack lets titans within the walls.

With exciting visuals and a unique premise, the series immediately garnered praise and a veritable army of fans. However, due to production issues with its animation studio, Wit, the second season did not premiere until nearly four years later. This hiatus did not stop the momentum, and “Attack on Titan” has secured its place in the top ten highest-grossing anime of the 2010s.

For its fourth season, production moved from Wit Studio to MAPPA. Producer Kensuke Tateishi had this to say about the move in an issue of “Newtype”: “While season 3 was in production, we consulted with Wit Studio, and it was decided that a different production studio would create the Final Season...As creators, we wanted the anime to escalate even further. Through many talks with Wit Studio, we understood that the continuation would be difficult, so we looked for a new studio.”

The fan response was initially negative; however, after the first trailer dropped, the overwhelming fan reaction was positive. With season four currently airing, the response has remained favorable.

Season four is chock full of political intrigue, war, and of course, titans. The season opens in Marley, the enemy country of Eren Jaeger, where we follow season three antagonist Reiner Braun and the Marleyan Warrior Unit, elite soldiers in the expansive Marleyan army. The first few episodes give insight into Marleyan society and the lives of the Eldian people who are treated as second-class citizens there. True to the manga, episode one opens with large action set pieces as the Marleyans fight their way into enemy territory, eventually conquering the last bastion of their adversary, Fort Brava. During this battle, fans are treated to an incredible spectacle; titans falling from the sky.

MAPPA has certainly exceeded fan expectations and established itself as a contender in the industry. They also boast a roster of other highly successful anime productions, including this season’s shōnen darling Jujutsu Kaisen. The producers of “Attack on Titan” wanted its final season to be bigger than ever, and MAPPA has certainly delivered. The animation is top tier, elevating the series to new heights. As a bonus, the new animation style closely mimics Isayama’s signature art style. Each frame looks like a manga panel come to life.

Another pleasant surprise this season is the humor. Attack on Titan has long been known for its heart-wrenching, ruthless tone but it does have its moments of levity. It is good to see that trend continue especially as we hurdle toward the darker days to come. Speaking of pacing, this season seems to be moving at breakneck speed rapidly condensing many chapters of the manga and yet still remaining true to the major and even minor story beats. The effect leaves viewers feeling equal parts befuddled and horrified but eager to see what happens next.

The last episode of season four aired on March 29th leaving fans anticipating how the show will wrap up. MAPPA has confirmed there will be a part two of season four premiering in early 2022. With many more chapters and plot points to cover, viewers are unsure if the anime will get a proper conclusion. The fandom waits to see if MAPPA and Isayama will be able to stick the landing.