Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan is one of the most popular anime and manga of recent times, which had hooked its audience and made them wait impatiently for the finale of the series, as they were eager to know how the story would come to an end. The mangaka had given his all to build the grim world, showcasing nothing but tragedy and despair.
The universe had mixed tragic and world-altering events that had made its fans rethink everything, but there were no plot inconsistencies that made the fans binge-watch the series. Additionally, it was the ending that established the series as the greatest work of Isayama-San.
However, in an interview, the mangaka got candid about how he decided to abandon one idea from the main plot that could have added another star to the title, just because he wanted to please the fans.
Hajime Isayama Abandoned His Original Ideas To Please The Fans
There are very few anime series that have managed to capture the attention of its viewers from the very first episode itself. Hajime Isayama’s Shingeki no Kyojin, popularly known as Attack on Titan, became renowned because, more than the aesthetic of the series, it explored the harsh and unforgivable realities of life.
The mangaka did not hesitate to showcase the vices of the world in its face. Though the show can be graphic most of the time, it does not compromise the tone of the mystery with a plot twist that nobody had seen coming or even thought of. Hence, fans were so hooked on the series, making it one of those series that they just can’t get enough of.
Despite many believing the storyline of the series can’t get any better, Isayama-San opened up about how he had planned an episode that he had to discard because he could not afford to affect the main plot.
During an exclusive interview with Hajime Isayama, translated and shared by a fan page (@AttackonFans) on X, the mangaka was asked about Bad Boy, a spin-off volume of the title. He shared that initially, he had planned to do a story “that took place 100 years before the main story,” but he had to pull the plug on the notion because he did not want a “single discrepancy” with the original storyline. He said,
In fact, I initially planned to do a story that took place 100 years before the main story. However, to depict such an episode, if there was a single discrepancy with the main story, it would not add up. So the writing didn’t progress at all, partly because I had a hard time drawing it.
The mangaka added that he wanted to please the fans; therefore, he decided to turn this idea into a “reading piece,” which became infectiously popular among the readers.
However, the events of Angoulême International Comics Festival made me realize that the first thing I wanted to do was to please the fans. So, instead of the original idea, I decided to turn it into a reading piece that reveals why Levi holds teacups in a strange way, which was one thing I always wanted to draw but never could.
The comments of Isayama-San spread like wildfire among the fans on social media as they left their opinion on the post and recalled the mangaka’s comment on drawing his characters.
Fans React To Hajime Isayama Abandoning His Original Idea For a Safer Path
There’s no denying that Hajime Isayama decided to have a narrative integrity that has made the series so gripping from the very beginning to its conclusion. Each character in the show underwent immense development that kept fans on the edges of their seats. As a result, when the fans watched the finale, all they could do was sing praises for the creator.
However, the notion of taking the safe path led him to abandon his original plans and did not please the fans, as they were ridiculing the mangaka and how he struggled to draw his characters.
I feel the same as Yams 😂 Armin is the easiest to draw out of all the trio ✨️ https://t.co/kXjqFfg7Sz
— JMangga (@mangga_j) May 10, 2024
Damn not only Tomohiro Kishi said Armin's design was the easiest to design and draw but also Isayama himself also says the same🤔 https://t.co/9sYQOvgxfk
— rodolfo | #SOS 🇻🇪 (@manjichariot) May 9, 2024
it's so interesting isayama says rounder characters are easier to draw because to me it's the exact opposite. i struggle to not make them look like the michelin guy https://t.co/4p1r6onahL
— cid ♡ (@cidsideral) May 9, 2024
i haven't tried drawing digitally and since i'm out of practice i prefer to stick with the traditional way of drawing. https://t.co/Az0rCF14QH
— Thank you my 🐐 (@rejayn) May 16, 2024
"The first thing I wanted to do was please the fans"
— Beeg Yushja (@beegyushja) May 9, 2024
Mans used to boast about wanting to betray the audience 😔 https://t.co/K5KFk40REF
Nevertheless, despite the several delays that surrounded the series, it did not affect the storyline because fans were too emotionally invested in the dream of Eren Yeager and how he would do everything in the world to give his friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, a happy life.
Attack on Titan can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
