What Happened to the Wall Titans After the Rumbling in Attack on Titan?

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Over the past two years, it’s captivating to see how Attack on Titan enthusiasts remain engrossed in analyzing the complex layers of its storytelling. Hajime Isayama skillfully constructed an entire universe and filled it with intricate details for each character. Each season, despite concluding with jaw-dropping cliffhangers, resonated profoundly with viewers. Consequently, this nuanced narrative has sparked numerous discussions on Reddit as fans grapple with the many mysteries still unresolved; one of which is the ultimate fate of the Wall Titans following the Rumbling event.

Initially portrayed as the foundation of the Walls, these colossal beings known as Wall Titans, once activated by Eren’s Rumbling, wreaked havoc across the globe, annihilating around 80% of humanity to safeguard Paradis. Though they appeared unstoppable and akin to natural catastrophes, the end for these Wall Titans remained uncertain. With all Eldians losing their titan transformation ability, fans pondered if these titans would retain their titan form or revert back to humans. In an AMA for Attack on Titan‘s 15th anniversary, translated by @AttackOnFans on X, Isayama finally shed light on this enigma, delivering a chilling conclusion to their storyline and generating even more heated debates among fans.

A Transformation and a Tragic End

During the interview, Isayama openly responded to a fan’s query about whether the Giant Titans involved in the Rumbling transformation returned to humans. He stated, “Had there been room for more drawings, I would have shown it. However, they would transform back into humans and be completely unclothed; these people would then be attacked by those who were moments away from being crushed by the Titans.” This statement presents a rather bleak scenario. Following the conclusion of the Rumbling, which ended with Eren’s demise in Episode 87, the power of the Titans dissipated. This implies that the Wall Titans returned to their original human forms – the Eldians were transformed into Titans centuries ago by King Karl Fritz.

In the world created by Isayama, it’s intriguing to notice that when humans transform into Titans and then revert back, they’re usually fully clothed. However, there are exceptions like Ymir who was once completely bare after being turned into a Pure Titan for an extended period of time by Marley. Both instances share the commonality that the characters had spent considerable time in their Titan forms.

In Season 2, Episode 10 of Attack on Titan, a flashback reveals that Ymir, a Pure Titan for sixty years, emerged naked after consuming Marcel, a friend of Reiner, Bertholdt, and other humans, gaining the ability to shift. This is unusual because typical Titan Shifters keep their clothing after transforming. One explanation offered by Reddit user u/kemorsky is that Pure Titans don’t have a full human body; they only possess a nervous system or minimal remains. According to this theory, when Ymir gained shifter powers, her entire body likely regenerated, which might explain her nudity since her original clothes would have decayed in the harsh and hot environment of the Titans.

Additionally, this matches the long-standing method of the Scouts defeating Titans for decades without finding a single human in the nape area. Furthermore, when Titans perish and their bodies dissolve completely, no human corpses or skeletons are found. This might be due to the humans within Pure Titans sharing the same ability to disintegrate upon death, but it seems more plausible that this disintegration occurred earlier, resulting in only remaining nervous systems or difficult-to-detect human remains concealing the truth about the Titan’s true composition.

A Reflection of Attack on Titan’s Themes

In the series “Attack on Titan,” themes of dehumanization, retribution, and atonement are deeply examined through the story of Wall Titans. It’s uncertain whether King Fritz obtained clear consent from the Eldians he transformed into Wall Titans, but it seems extremely improbable that they comprehended the full implications of being turned into massive Titans meant to safeguard Paradis for centuries and obey the Founder’s orders to kill. What makes this situation even more tragic is the possibility that these beings were never given a choice in their transformation, making them unwilling pieces in a struggle they didn’t opt into, much like Annie and Reiner, who were compelled to serve.

Another possibility is that the Eldians who transformed into Wall Titans willingly took on this role, driven either by hatred towards Marley or an intense love for their own people. However, with numerous theories suggesting various scenarios, viewers are left to ponder and speculate. For example, some fans find the grim conclusion satisfying, while others believe it overlooks a chance for redemption.

User u/ToceanZ brings attention to the “sad eyes” of a Wall Titan in a scene where they observe a baby being passed among people. This detail implies that these Titans may have been aware of their actions, experienced regret for them, but were powerless to act otherwise due to following Eren’s commands. This underscores the Titans’ tragic humanity, confined within grotesque bodies. Although Isayama does not explicitly show this in the manga or anime, the fate of the Wall Titans offers insight into a complex post-Rumbling world.

Approximately 500,000 colossal Titans resided outside the walls, vastly exceeding the number of inhabitants within Paradis. It’s not hard to imagine that managing the integration of such a massive population could prove challenging. Faced with their greatest fear in human form, the survivors of the Rumbling reacted instinctively, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion – a human catastrophe that left behind deep-seated sorrow and unresolved anguish.

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2025-07-07 16:11