The final chapters of *Attack on Titan*, compiled into a feature-length format titled *Attack on Titan The Final Season: The Final Chapters*, stormed the box office, proving the series' colossal appeal is still going strong with fans.
As the film returns to theaters in Japan on the 9th, the official team has released a special interview with the voice actors for the three main characters:
Eren Jaeger (Yuki Kaji), Mikasa Ackermann (Yui Ishikawa), and Armin Arlert (Marina Inoue). They shared their thoughts on the re-release and had a few words for the audience.
Here's what the three voice actors had to say about the series' return to the big screen:
■ Yuki Kaji (Voice of Eren Jaeger) Interview
Q: This re-release feels like it was willed into existence by fans who just can't let the series go. What are your thoughts on that?
Kaji: We all feel the same way! Thanks for the "It's over! Just kidding, it's not!" routine! Keep 'em coming! (laughs)
Q: It's been almost two years since the anime's finale. Has your perspective on Eren and the story's conclusion changed?
Kaji: Not at all. The emotions I felt back then are everything.
Q: *Attack on Titan* has become a global phenomenon. How do you feel about the reaction from overseas fans?
Kaji: I'm just filled with gratitude. This series really showed me the power of manga and anime. I genuinely believe it's a work Japan can be proud of—it's transcended "entertainment" to become something of a universal language.
The central theme of the story is about the "barriers created by walls and the sea," yet it managed to connect with and resonate with audiences worldwide. That's both magical and wonderful. Because of that, I constantly remind myself of the responsibility I carry as the voice of Eren.
Q: How would you introduce *Attack on Titan* to a new generation of viewers who haven't seen it yet?
Kaji: "This world is cruel, and yet... it is also very beautiful."
■ Yui Ishikawa (Voice of Mikasa Ackermann) Interview
Q: What does the character of Mikasa mean to you?
Ishikawa: She's a woman who, through confusion and pain, fought desperately for the people she cared about and struggled to survive. To me, she's like a friend whose life I've watched unfold, but she's also as precious as a daughter. If I could say one thing to her now, I'd want to hug her and say, "You've been through so much."
Q: Looking back, how do you feel about voicing the scene where Mikasa takes Eren's life?
Ishikawa: Even now, I get emotional thinking about having to personally end the life of the Eren I had always hoped would return. It still brings me to tears. And once I finished recording that scene, Eren was really gone, and the story was over... The pain was so intense that I couldn't stop crying during the session. I've played many roles, but I became this deeply invested because Mikasa is a character I've walked with for so many years.
*Attack on Titan* is practically a part of my life as a voice actor. I was so sad to see it end, but looking back now, I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed such an epic story reach its conclusion and to have been a part of it until the very end.
Q: Fans are always discussing what Mikasa's life was like afterward. What are your thoughts?
Ishikawa: Honestly, I can only imagine (laughs). There are certain depictions in the anime that really make you want to ask Isayama-sensei, "Does this mean...?" But I hope everyone can gently imagine that after losing someone so important, she was able to live a peaceful and warm life.
Q: What would you like to say to the fans who have supported the series all this time?
Ishikawa: We might joke about it being "the final finale... for real this time," but deep down, we were all hoping the true end would never come. I'm so happy that we get to see everyone again with this re-release. It's all thanks to your passionate support, so thank you very much. The story may be over, but I hope we can meet again in various forms in the future. Please enjoy this theatrical return of *Attack on Titan*!
■ Marina Inoue (Voice of Armin Arlert) Interview
Q: A word for the fans who still love *Attack on Titan* so deeply?
Inoue: I honestly never thought we'd get to see it in theaters again, so I'm just incredibly happy. This is a series that you absolutely have to see on the big screen. If you haven't had that experience yet, please don't miss this chance.
Q: The candid conversation between Eren and Armin in the final chapter is considered a classic scene. What are your thoughts on it?
Inoue: The dialogue in that scene was actually adjusted from the original manga, but because of that, I felt a sense of salvation. The fact that Eren was willing to show his most pathetic, broken side only to Armin; that he could say "thank you" to him; and that they could promise to see each other again in hell—I found all of that incredibly precious.
Q: What do you find so compelling about Armin?
Inoue: No matter how many times he's rejected, he can firmly believe in the people and the justice he trusts. That's a powerful strength. He always chooses to communicate through "dialogue," which is exactly how an intelligent human being should act. Perhaps he was chosen as Commander not for his strength, but for his mind.
Q: How do you interpret the ending, where the world eventually returns to war?
Inoue: As long as humanity exists, conflict will never disappear. Frictions will inevitably arise from differences in birthplace, culture, and environment. But as long as we don't give up and continue to engage in dialogue, perhaps we can nurture the hope for change.
The point isn't to give up, but to keep fighting and keep thinking. That's how I understand the ending.
In addition to its Dolby Cinema run in Japan starting on the 9th, *Attack on Titan The Final Season: The Final Chapters* is also set for a theatrical return in other regions, including Taiwan on January 23rd. For those who want to re-live the experience or see it for the first time, now's your chance.
via： 《進擊的巨人》官網