The final chapter of the TV anime series "Attack on Titan," based on the popular manga by Hajime Isayama, "The Final Season," will be shown again in theaters from January 16th. Kisho Taniyama, who plays Attack on Titan Kirstein, spoke about his thoughts on the series and Jean.
--Jean, along with Connie and the others, has a human side that resonates with viewers. Looking back at it from your perspective, is there anything about Jean that you can empathize with strongly?
The part where the girl you like doesn't like you back, and then she has someone else in her life. I get it, Jan.
--While Jean and Eren clash every time they meet, it's clear throughout the story that the underlying trust between them is by no means shallow. What was your impression of their relationship?
I think they are rivals. For Jean, Eren's existence has helped him grow in many ways. Jealousy, competition, winning, losing, acknowledgment, it feels like he has become a part of himself.
--Do you have a rival with whom you share a relationship of trust that is not visible on the surface, like Jean and Eren?
No, I don't have any. I always lose, but I think it's good if I can win against myself every once in a while (confident).
--Although Jean has weaknesses that make him hesitate to kill people, he develops his leadership qualities on the battlefield. Are there any scenes that show his achievements as a soldier that left an impression on you?
"Thank you for that time." He had once experienced the failure of having the liner he had captured taken away by Kururiki because of his own fault, so I was impressed by this line, as it conveys the various thoughts that must have run through his mind in the years since.
"Attack on Titan" is a manga that depicts humanity's desperate battle against giants with overwhelming power. It is Isayama's debut work, and began serialization in September 2009 as the inaugural title of "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha), with the final episode airing in April 2021. The comic has sold over 140 million copies worldwide.
Season 1 of the TV anime aired from April to September 2013, Season 2 from April to June 2017, and Part 1 of Season 3 from July to October 2018. Part 2 of Season 3 aired from April to June 2019, Part 1 of the final chapter, "The Final Season," aired from December 2020 to March 2021, Part 2 from January to April 2022, the final episode (Part 1) aired in March 2023, and the final episode (Part 2) aired in November 2023.
"Attack on Titan: The Final Chapter - The Last Attack" was released on November 8, 2024, and was a hit, attracting over 1 million viewers.
