I love your entire breakdown. Going deeper into characters subtle and overt story elements. The scouts representing freedom. I believe its unfair to believe that Armin is a truly free person any more than Eren. Armin like you said being Wisdom. Id take Armin takes the wise route but put him Eren shoes is his Freedom possible when Armin holds the key? Thoughts on this
Thank you! That’s kind of you. Armin is a tremendously written character. He had to come with some physical weaknesses - A perfect character is a boring one.
Eren may be the protagonist but Armin is the hero of Attack on Titan. He doesn't fight for vengeance, he fights for hope. Sure the world is cruel and merciless but it is also very beautiful. He fights because there is still some good in this world and it's worth fighting for.
That's interesting because back in 2014, Isayama told the director of the anime, that Armin is the hero of the story. And the series itself supports this. Especially in season 3.
Crying over here, because ever since AOT, I've desired my own sort of freedom, and I didn't necessarily know what it was more until watching this. Through this show I feel I have reached a deeper state of consciousness
IMPORTANT: Well, tragedy has struck. I got my entire channel deleted, along with all of my videos, because I took the time to thoughtfully respond to every single comment left on my videos. RUclips says that’s spam, and now I’m very limited with who I can respond to. I got my channel back thankfully, and I don’t wanna risk that again. All my replies got deleted, which really, really sucks. Please do know that I read LITERALLY every single comment, I can leave “hearts” to let you know I’ve read it, but I have to be choosy with who I respond to now. Which sucks because I really loved some of the conversations that took place in this comment section. If you’re ever looking to hold a dialogue with me, feel free to reach out on either the Instagram linked on my channel, or my business email. I don’t care at this point, I’m really bummed about having my speech limited here. Any email you take the time to send me, I can guarantee a response to. Thank you all for the incredible support. TATAKE. We roll with the punches here. - Red
This is so good, holy. I didn't expect the amount of references, philosophical questions and analysis of the human condition. I love that you tied all this to Jung, because that's exactly the type of messages Isayama conveyed through the story. The whole story fits so well with the concept of the Collective Subconscious and the Shadow. Amazing work.
One thing I really like about this is that you show proof for what symbols mean. I watch a lot of video essays where they just say “this flower symbolizes innocence” or “this color means xyz.” I wasn’t beliving the “bell” symbol until you actually took the time to explain it, and the reptile brain thing blew my minnddddd. Such a great vid
I watched this video few months before the last episode of AOT. And for this reason I completely understood the the conversation of Armin with both zeke and Eren and the symbol of freedom as a sea shell. You were right, Armin is the answer to eren's idea of freedom.
Something I think many people get wrong about Eren’s character is they don’t understand freedom in the slightest. Most people sum up Eren’s fight for freedom to be like chasing a ring, or some sort of unachievable insanity. Hence why so many see him as this stupid kid, even to this day. Freedom is to be able to choose; to be able to make your own decisions and face the consequences for your own decisions within fair restrictions such as not harming anybody and not trespassing upon anybody. This has been robbed of Eren. Due to the walls, due to the titans, due to Marley, due to the outside world, Eren is not free. He is not allowed to do as pleases. If he wanted to go to another country freely as Eren Jaeger himself, he would be ridiculed and most likely killed. This is not a fair restriction, thus a reduction of freedom, a robbery of it. Others ARE allowed to do what he would like to do as well, thus proving the reduction of freedom. Recall armins first speech in season 1 when he awakens Eren to carry the rock- Armin: “why did you want to go outside when you know it will most likely die a bloody death” Eren: “why? You know why… BECAUSE I WAS BORN INTO THIS WORLD” then he burns away his entire family including Mikasa which represents that nobody comes before freedom. Eren is like the kind of guy who would go camping on a mountain filled with bears and steep cliff edges, and telling him he is not allowed to. This is wrong, and he’d be right to be enraged. It is HIS life. He is allowed to make his own choices, despite the risks, he is open to holding the consequences for whatever choice he makes, even if he dies. He WANTS the responsibility. Eren values his quality of life above living. You cannot have a quality of life without freedom, without the ability to choose freely. I am an Eren fan, but because he so deeply represents something I have never seen another character, or even human represent so well outside of my own self. Freedom is a fucking right. I believe people that have never have their freedom trampled upon/restricted (which can only happen because of another human being as of right now) will never understand the value of it, they’ll never understand the fight necessary to obtain it and hence, never understand Eren. I believe 99% of people in society aren’t truly free, maybe in the physical sense, but not mentally, and should take a note from Eren’s book. (I know the video wasn’t about Eren nor his freedom, rather the overarching themes of this stories interpretations of freedom, but I think it’s necessary to have a dialogue about Eren’s interpretation of freedom here too) Great video btw man, Ik the hard work it takes.
This summation could’ve been a video unto itself. However, I did skip over Eren’s sense of freedom, and that was actually deliberate - There are already PLENTY of other analysis on RUclips that do, or attempt to do it. Freedom to, and freedom from, are core to understanding AoT, I completely agree. I actually had a whole fourth section describing it, but I got rid of it because it was the same shit you’ve heard in 20 video essays already. However, I think Isayama refutes the principle to some degree. How do we know if what we want is actually what we want? Are our desires ours? Or were they imposed upon us by our culture, our walls, by the society around us? That’s a VERY relevant theme to season 4. You’re totally correct in your evaluation, though, I’m with you on that.
Also, I appreciate all the time you took to leave feedback, it was very well organized and communicated. Thanks man. I get so excited seeing comments like this.
Eren’s friends are just as important to him as his is freedom, he stated that they mean more than anyone else to him and that he wants them to live long lives in episode 10 of season 4 when they’re on the small train after they’ve extended the train track, especially Mikasa, if you see his demeanour throughout season 4 you can tell that he’s saddened by the growing separation between him and Mikasa. Eren throughout the series has become more and more consumed by his idea of freedom that he would take away the freedom of others even if they had nothing to do with him, he is willing to take away the freedom of others like Bertholdt and Reiner did to him in order to have his own freedom, that’s why Eren says he’s the same as Reiner in the declaration of war episode. Eren’s freedom is a idealistic and corrupted freedom by nature, everyone choices in AOT has a consequence and affect on other people’s choices and therefore no one is truely free of consequence and free for choice, Eren’s choices are limited by the choices of others and now Eren is limiting the choices of others through his choice, he’s taking away the freedom that others have taken away from him thus continuing the cycle of hatred and revenge. Eren is losing himself and as a result everything else because of his ideal freedom. Armin on the other hand accepts the world for what it is and makes compromises to get what he wants, he’s willing to make compromises on his own choices and freedom so that someone else can have that freedom, he’s a peacemaker and is one thats willing to make sacrifices in order to reach a fair freedom where as many people possible can have fair choice and chance in life. Armin makes the best out of everything that he has.
@@BigJMC Armin’s special ability to compromise is largely what the latter half of the video was about - You’re spot on in your evaluation, I think. Have you seen Bruce Lee’s monologue on “being as water?” m.ruclips.net/video/cJMwBwFj5nQ/видео.html Also, thanks so much for the response. You put an impressive amount of effort into it. 😂
@@BigJMC Eren takes away the freedom of others IF they threaten his and his friends,family, and homeland's freedom. That's what people are missing. Eren is very aware of the consequences and has submitted at times in order to get a long lasting result it's just the times he has stand down from taking action, IE: trusting others to get a job done that he himself was capable of doing; The world ends up betraying him on that end(Levi's squad vs Annie as a key example). Not going to talk about Eren's character post chapters 124-125 because that's when the story becomes blurred with his character namely the endgame.
this is the most sophisticated analysis of freedom in aot that I've seen on RUclips, incredible stuff. seizing the moment and choosing to let go of preconceived dreams like Kenny does as he dies, is what freedom ought to be
"Freedom from one paradigm just submits us to another" "The key to one's shackles usually erect new prisons. New bars but bars all the same" I can't believe that someone finally understands what i was thinking about for the past several months I was sick of seeing people understanding Eren but not surpassing that line, not seeing why the core of his ideology was corrupted Thanks for this video, I haven't seen anyone talk about Eren from this perspective which I think is the point of the whole story
This video is the culmination of about six months of hard work. I pride myself on not being the kind to ask for engagement, but if you feel this video resonated with you in any way, I'd deeply appreciate a like and a subscribe. My next AoT video essay is already well underway! If you wanna do any further reading, I have a small bookshop linked in the description that will bring you right to every resource I referenced in this video, and it's a really great way to help support my channel. TATAKAE.
@AileDiablo I won't bother a refutation on a point by point because it would be pedantic and I simply don't have the time. I will hit you on this one. "We are, humans not animals." Humans ARE animals. This is not debatable. Humans have all the same hallmarks of any other species of creature on the planet and are not and have never been separate from animal nature. In spite of whatever fables humanity might tell themselves. Humans have never been "not animals". The entire notion that a human isn't an animal is hubris on the part of man. Place a human in any environment without civilization, without society, without language and watch what they become. We don't have to guess, we have recorded examples of such a thing stretching back hundreds of years through our modern age of all things. Where humanity is supposedly at it's most advanced, children like Marina Chapman, Kamala and Amala, Saturday Mthiyane, and Dina Sanichar all came to exist in one way or another. They mimicked, they copied, but none contained the spiritual nature you suggest they should have first exhibited. Humans are physical animals before all else, and the thing build on that a pleasantries we tell ourselves and others to ignore our nature and act higher than we are. The rash of children in our history with hearing or learning problems left to the be raised by the pets of their parents and left to act as the animals seen as below Man shows as much. Humans are muddy mirrors of their environments that, at their base, are chiefly interested in the preservation of the self. We can delude ourselves that this "self" hinges on our honor, on our charity, on our nobility, but when you strip all that away those things become convenient falsehoods and all that remains is the drive to consume, seek comfort, seek companionship. This is how any animal, including humans, survive long enough to have children, which is one of, if not the most important of, our most basic instinctual drives. Humanity's base instinct cares not for consequence, culture, god, good, righteousness, spirituality or any other fable man wishes to regale themselves with to aggrandize their lowly position in the cosmos. It is the beast that humanity is built on top of and the beast we try to hide. That thing, that monster, sitting at the core of humanity is not good. It doesn't care about "Good". It doesn't care about "Evil". While to me that would me its indifferent (meaning it could do good by happenstance) to you at least, that does mean it is evil. Since according to you "Evil" is just the absence of "Good". Even in the video, calling the beast, the shadow, evil is just a value judgement. A thing that can act with callous regard to the world at large for its own benefit could very well be called Evil. Most people would declare it such. The thing I would even argue in that instance, is that "Evil" with humans is frequently a matter of sides. However, I've spent more time on this than I intended. I do hope you have a blessed time.
@AileDiablo "We are in a higher position than even the angels" Several well established religions would call that blasphemy. Including most orders of Christianity, including a few of the sects that were cut from the official Church doctrine. "Humans are creatures and they are made of the soul , clay." That's not how muscles, bones, hearts, livers, lungs, brains, intestines, or genitals work. Also if I put you in a pot, boiled you down, and rendered you into your component parts, I wouldn't find any silicates (I wouldn't find any clay). Also the story about man being made of clay isn't even the oldest story about the creation of man. Go farther back, that roughly 3,000 year old religion isn't that impressive with their version of the fictional origin story. They stole it from the Greeks who stole it from the Mesopotamians. It isn't even the most epic story of man's creation. Like the Babylonian one where Man is created out of the blood of a slain God (Qingu). The Norse the origin of humanity were two beings made of the hair (trees) that came from Ymir (the first being born of chaos where primordial heat and cold met) and given boons from a cadre of deities in turn. Those two beings, already possessing wisdom, life, and clothing then birthed humanity. Not created them, birthed them. At least the older world religions were closer to the notion that life is essentially drawn from life, instead of the civilization poisoned notion that humans are some earthenware project of a potter. An idea that didn't come along until well after civilization had settled in and long long after any sort of deity could have had a hand in our creation. Though there being or not being any Gods is a whole different argument.
an absolute brilliance of a video. this insight and connecting of information made a series that was already very deep and thought-provoking, into a masterpiece, and a one of kind life experience. I'll never watch AOT the same again, you unvailed to me the true form of this already great piece of art. so, deeply, THANK YOU.
As someone who finished the manga, not going into spoilers but your explanation of true freedom hits way home to how the story ends - it's what I always thought but could never put into words. Eren will never obtain the freedom he seeks because he is the one who puts the shackles upon himself, but Armin is the most free because he dissociates from all that and simply lives in the moment. It's actually insane that you haven't read the ending, yet your description on freedom holds more true than any video I've seen on Attack on Titan, manga or anime. Good work!
@@Reddrik One thing I'm confused though, what do you mean by internal freedom and external freedom that Eren and Armin have? Is it because Eren shackles himself by his external and physical barriers (the walls, titans, humans) whilst Armin can enjoy himself without actually having to see the sea?
BRO, this video is one of the best when covering aot and its thematic ideas. As a manga reader I fully applaud you for all the points to stated regarding freedom(you will understand more when u finish the series). Really well thought out, and I'm very impressed of how much research you did even before season 4. You got mostly everything!! ranging from Kenny's speech to Armin's perspective of the world, though there is one character you missed but not big deal > Zeke and Armin are one the best character contrasts to develop in the upcoming season. good job man
I really haven’t seen an anime-only as knowledgable as you about Attack on Titan. I really applaud you for your efforts. Those six months of work really shine through, I appreciate it
the idea that our passions and dreams are just delusions, walls to protect us from the reality of death, implies that passions and desires are only a means to this end, and fails to consider that they are worth living for if desire was just something we tell ourselves to cope with death, then anyone who lives forever would have no desire
No you are not guilty of anything. In fact this is by far the best video essay I have ever seen. So many people are trapped in rehashing the story but forget to break it down. This video essay is backed by evidence, references, and primary sources constructed in an organized manner so well, the only negative thing is how come this channel only has 4k subs at this point.
Imo aot is a plot based story In a plot based storythe ending is the message conveyed So to understand the story means understand whats the message the writter is building up to
@@isaidoun I like to imagine that, in mangakas, the more exaggerated the name, the more successful they are. My favorite mangaka is Isayamamamamamamamaamamamamamamamamama.
It's very rare I watch a youtube video about anime and come away thinking "I've gotta read those books they quoted." I'm going to do just that though I am very intrigued. Great video!
Coming back to this video after the finale. You understood Armin's character PERFECTLY. Such a bittersweet day with my favorite story ever ending but this video never fails to get me emotional. It always makes me fall in love with AoT all over again.
I come back and watch this video regularly. The multi disciplinary ties, the metaphorical connections, it's a perfect video. Resonated is too light a word. This video could be used to help people struggling and those who are blissfully ignorant of hardships in the world. I've always thought on this but never seen it so perfectly put togeather in 36 minutes no less. This was beautiful and I hope more people are expose to it. Liked, followed, and ever faithful viewer.
This is beautiful, and has aged incredibly well. You encompass the ending, and the fallout of Eren and Armin’s characters, quite clearly, and that really speaks to the time you’ve spent thinking about this series. Thank you for compiling such a thoughtful, compelling, researched, and truthful exploration of this story! It was a joy to listen to, and I’ll definitely recommend it to others.
I softly cried with a lump in my throat during the whole video. I felt everything you just explained by seeing the anime. Thank you for giving sense to what art's epiphany makes feel.
Lost a loved one earlier this year. Had one of the darkest years of my life. Only after truly accepting his lose… I starting feeling free again. Painfully liberating. I felt everything you said here mate. Thank for you this.
I haven’t gotten to that quote yet since I’m a filthy anime-only, but that sentiment would definitely reinforce the theme of this video. Maybe I’ll make an updated version once the anime wraps up!
Thank you so much for a Buddhist interpretation at the end. Clinging to our illusions, our shackles, won't make us freer, happier, or safer. It will drive you insane in the end. Great video!
I think all that Buddhist stuff is definitely embedded in the story. Either way, whether my interpretation or intention on Isayama’s part, it’s definitely applicable! If the shoe fits, y’know? Thank you so much!
Yeah I am Buddhist and Kennys final words were completely Buddhism Also Erwins saying that till there are atleast 2 people on the world peace wouldnt be achieved
You actually nailed it with Armin. But also in a way that I don't know if you were conscious of. Isayama actually said that Armin is like a childhood friend of his. His friend is not naive but is able to see beauty and joy in the life that oppresses Isayama who always felt shackled. Armin and Eren are opposites of the same question. Eren years for what he lacks and assumes that is freedom while Armin joys of what is there and what ultimately culminates his character is letting go of the expectations that came from his revival, which sets him as the freest of them all.
This was really well made. Everything I’ve been thinking about, already been trying to formulate, you’ve put into one video. I was nodding with joy when you brought up how Armin was truly grounded in reality, while eren was perverted in a sense. It’s all about your own inner state
The philosophy of Attack on Titan is so beautiful. Isayama is one of my favourite people ever for writing this transcendent masterpiece. I wish I could meet him.
Everyone is a slave to something. In Christianity we like to say that everyone has a God-shaped hole in their heart. That everyone worships something whether they know it or not. Freedom doesn't come from having no master, freedom comes from choosing your master and embracing it. That is why one is most free when he is responsible and disciplined. He is in control of his own fate, his own actions and isn't driven purely by instinct or sin. That is true freedom and I believe that Attack on Titan has a great way of exploring how people nowadays have the wrong view of freedom. How many are not free when they believe themselves to be. Great video! I have always known that AOT has a lot of great themes that reflect our era as many great works do. You explained it well!
I agree with your sentiment a hundred percent. The cultural gods and new age prophets our walls send to us HAVE to be rejected, spirit is found very, very, very far away from them. I really appreciate your insight, that’s a great takeaway. Thank you so much!
Live the present, that's what freedom is. If you think about the past or the future, you'll get bound by your own thoughts. Isayama has really created something that explains probably everything which is not possible without actual conversation. Attack On Titan is truly the embodiment of ideas which can liberate the minds of people. When you said Smiling Titan and Eren are the same person, I just got shocked, I mean, you haven't read the manga, have you? but you already know one of the most important events in AOT's ending.
Yeah, I'm a filthy anime-only. I'm looking forward to seeing the resolution. Isayama's work is pretty remarkable. I really appreciate your takeaway, I think it's incredibly astute.
Cannot provide a big enough thumbs-up for this well-thought out video essay. You hit the central theme to this story on its head, and used enough evidence to support your interpretation. I look forward to seeing your interpretation once the show is finished.
I stated this in another comment chain on your video, but I think it's worth reiterating here. Please don't let people's perceptions (positive or negative) of the manga ending color your experience of the anime's ending. As you pointed out in the video, the best approach will be to simply experience the story as it unfolds, free from expectations, and then go from there. I have seen far too many people trying to force their perspectives and feelings onto others regarding the ending. I would encourage not only you but everyone to approach the anime ending with an open mind, free of preconceptions. After all, the anime ending belongs to itself, not the manga. Regardless of how closely (or not) it chooses to follow the manga.
@@nspaulding07 Oh, absolutely. Don’t worry, this story means far too much to me to just adopt someone’s else’s perception of it. I’m going in with an open mind, and I’m excited to see it.
This video brings me back to core realisations I've made during Zen buddhism classes. That my ultimate fear is death, that everything I do is to avoid facing that fear, and that to realise true freedom I need to rid myself of all my preconceived notions of it. I had never approached AOT from this lens. What an incredible analysis. Thank you.
You're absolutely right about Armin. Holy sh1t. He's the freest character in the show, because he already gave up on his dreams in season 3 part 2. He's free from his dreams, desires, ego. He's free.
"Freedom as knowledge" and "Freedom as selfishness" are the greatest analyses I've ever seen regarding AOT. Ngl that conclusion made me tear up Great research.. great video man. Kudos to you 🎉
@@Reddrik And because of Eren's, Erwin's, Zeke's, and Levi's decisions in Part 2 of Season 3, Marlowe, Bert, and Erwin himself (along with hundreds of others) were faced "with mildly inconvenient consequences!!!!" And look at all the "mildly inconvenient consequences" many characters will be facing throughout Season 4, lol!
How the hell do you only have 500 subs? The level of care and effort put into every word in this video is simply amazing I'll look forward to your next works!
Why doesn't this video have 1.3million likes? Bro, what you did was immaculate........ The way you put this together...... Thank you for this. & AOT is the greatest anime of all time.
This is fucking incredible. It’s everything I’ve ever loved about freedom and more, and of everything that goes into the deep symbolism, harshness and raw truth of it. Thank you, this brought tears to my eyes with the effort and candidness you put into this analysis. I feel the same way as Eren; I want the responsibility of freedom and my right to choose. I know I was born with freedom but that while it can be taken from me, I have the right to fight back and retrieve that which was lost, despite that I was born free; my existence alone means I have it. My right to choose, my right to live. To live with making decisions on my own accord and accepting the consequences, but not being oppressed by others.
Finally a video that is deep in its analysis and not only a personal opinion said with fancy words! This is my favorite video about attack on titan until now, and it really helped me forming better my thoughts on the ending and what I like about the story in general. Thanks!
This is one of the most impressive and enlightening videos I've seen. There's a lot of reflect on from here and I'm glad I chose to watch this whole video. Thank you for creating and sharing this!
This was extremely well written and captures the essence of Attack on Titan beatifully. A lot of people take things in AoT with face value, when it actually shines when you think about the philosophy of the show, and how every character is a moving piece in a board, being that the story of the anime is just a culmination of every characters choices, because they all were looking for something whatever that may be. Just like we are looking for something out of our lives, great job on this video, glad i stuck until the end
holy god dayum , that was sooo deep and so ... raw .... Your ideas on the basis of 3 seasons are so strong and correct, your "projections" of what might come in future episodes, what eren is and what he will go through, the entire philosophy of attack on titan is so thoroughly sketched out in this video. I have to watch this 10 times ATLEAST to even begin to absorb and understand the ideas in this video. Would love to hear your thoughts about attack on titan now, be it till where anime has ended or the entire manga( which is now complete) . Make it 3 hours long lecture, i don't care, I will religiously watch it for i have not understood a spec of eren's character from the story and through these video essays i only get hints. Please, Please make another one of this video essay encompassing entire attack on titan's story.
The one thing that throws a wrench in the bit about Eren not being able to appreciate reaching the sea as Armin had is actually explained in Season 4, otherwise you would've been pretty spot-on in your analysis. Basically a BIG realization happened that jaded him for ever.
I dont think I've ever been closer to understanding freedom then after watching this show in conjunction with this video. Well done, i will listen to this essay over and over. I added it to my wisdom playlist. Thank you
“If you can’t let it go, it’s not worth holding onto!” I used to be rather famed in an animation server, but due to irl circumstances I could simply no longer find the time to produce anything. At the beginning, I was absolutely devastated. I felt like a part of me died. Something important that defined me seemed to have ‘died’. The insurmountable level of suffering I tasted every single moment my eyes looked at something that wasn’t my computer broke my mental state so badly I can no longer remember exactly how pained I was during that time. I don’t know what caused me to change, but the present me can truly let go of my artistic pursuits- not just animation, but everything else. It’s not like I don’t care anymore, I still really, really want to come back to animation, but I just don’t feel that mortifying weakness when I first lost the time required to produce animations. Perhaps it’s just that I was shackled. I thought I grinded my way up to the top, that I was the one in control and I was a person who could create great works. But ironically, I, perhaps never really enjoyed the fame and talent. I only thought I enjoyed my fame and talent, but in reality, my fame and talent were literally and figuratively devouring me. As an non-AoT fan that even likes the anti-mainstream mindset, I never thought that AoT would invoke such strong reflections upon myself. I am grateful to you for producing this video.
Sounds like your creative pursuits were covering something up. Taking them away, left with facing whatever existential dread or pondering you were avoiding, seems like it’s helped you in the long run. Very solid insight. :)
I keep coming back to this video. It's just a wonderful analysis. Attack on Titan is my most cherished work of fiction & your video just makes me appreciate it even more. Everytime I watch any of your videos I end up rewatching my favorite episodes. Cheers man. Keep doing your thing.
Honestly I think this video should have a lot more views - I've watched it atleast 10 times now and shit is still so touching that it brings tears to my eyes. No, honestly, this video changed my life - I've been struggling with depressions and adhd for years now and I feel like I was only looking at the part which is our own demise or rather my own and my loved ones demise which was actually killing my drive, I feel like I finally understood why it was so draining and why I had the feeling that nothing would ever change.. eventhough I thought I already had it figured out but now I feel like all of my beliefs and everything that I was holding on to got recontextualized and for the first time in almost 10 years I have a feeling of progression, a feeling that there is still hope left and that I might just need to change my point of view, or that I should atleast consider a change in points of views even when I think I'm right... There is so much going on in my head right now, it's hard for me to put it into words but I mean I'm still here, eventhough I thought I don't have a driving force.. now I know that I just didn't know what my driving force was. If you ever share the feeling of being useless and not having any purpose in life just mark my words, I'm still here, you saved me, you enabled the perspective for me to change my life to the better, so your impact ist undeniable and I cannot be more thankful for that
This is a pretty good analysis not only of what freedom means in the story, what the story means itself. I also love how you articulate your words, your clarity, and descriptions of different ideologies, enfused with sources from others to back up your claims. 10/10
Truthfully, I think deep down, the irony is that he actually wanted to be. He wanted control, he wanted to dominate. “It’s who I’ve been since the time I was born.” The song beautifully showcases his duality. The person he’d like to believe he is versus who he is.
Keep posting, your videos are such high quality I can’t believe you don’t have at least a few hundred thousand subs I’m definitely turning on notifications
Honestly one of the best videos I've ever watched! Such a life lesson hidden in plain sight in one of my favorite anime, thank you so much for taking the time to make this!
this is a really good breakdown, i hope millions more see this after the final season to understand the core concepts of AoT, because honestly, most of them just flew over my head when i was just watching/reading the manga
This is the second time that a RUclips essay about attack on titan and eren's character in particular, has answered a question That has been on my mind for months. Thank you for your insightful life lesson.
Dude you need a fucking award for this video (and I’m not even done watching it 😂) you perfectly describe and illustrate something that society fails to acknowledge and how it correlates to our everyday actions and behaviors the themes you talk about are just profound and amazing to witness because it makes sense to the show. IMO I think Attack on Titan is the greatest story of all time because it tells tales of the human mind body and spirit that we as a society only scratch the surface off Im in awe at the realization and I wanna thank you for putting in the effort with the psychology annotations and quotes because it fits so well THANK YOU!!!!!
A great video! Seems like you know a lot about philosophy or have put a lot of effort into your research. I agree that freedom can also be scary since it comes with a lot of responsibilty. And as you mentioned there are different kinds of freedom. For me personally, being creative and crafting stories is the kind of freedom I seek and yes the freedom that comes with it can sometimes result in fear, which can result in writers block.
Thank you so much!!! I absolutely loved your video. You and I were cut of the same stone. “Unused creativity is not benign” (Brené Brown.) I’m excited to see what you cook up next. :)
beautiful video. I agree with most of what u said, great understanding of the series despite u being an anime only. Such a abstract and difficult concept so great job in making this video. Really loved what u said about Armin, definetely one of the freest charactes and is very idealistic and hopeful. And these ideas are futhur explored and all remain consistent in AoT's conclusion unlike what people say. Hope u enjoy the rest of the series! "we all have a devil inside of us, that is why the world turned out this way" - Niccolo commenting on the dark nature of humanity like u said, our innate desire for violence and conflict. The titans were created due to the mistreatment of a single girl which shows that humanity are the enemy and have always been. Ur correct a lot of freedom is actually found amidst darkness. "the world is cruel yet beautiful" - Mikasa Ackermann. Flowers in AoT are symbolic to freedom to grow while being rooted to ur enviroment. We see flowers near or under titans throughout series which shows that life can grow and freedom is possible even then. The new ED furthur emphasises this as we see the bird being caged up, however it transitions to a beautiful scenary showing us that freedom can be found even caged up in the middle of cruelty Yeah Eren is a slave and is so trapped by his desires hence why hes always in chains. "from the moment i was born, i have always been me" he claims that this innate desire has been with him since birth (nature), this monstrous evil desire for freedom. Which is a contrast to characters like Zeke who are defined by their experiences (nurture) Like u said never stopped to look at around him, and what actually matters, the small trivial moments. He doesn’t realize hes already free
Hey, I really appreciate your feedback! Yeah, I wanted to include that Niccolo quote, but I was avoiding season four spoilers. Great catch! And yes, Eren has certainly put himself in quite the predicament. How can one be free if their only aspiration is an IDEA of freedom? Thank you so much for the comment. :)
Really wanted to say this This video is an actual essay. Most youtube essays on tv shows are appreciations of things those shows did very well and maybe a bit of comparison to real life, a bit of philosophizing. But this video is truly all philosophy: whether the finale of the show corresponds with Reddrik’s perspective or not, this video is one elaborate explanation of the meaning and value of freedom. Even if this isn’t the “ultimate interpretation of what Attack on Titan is about”, it is what stays with us after the story is over, even more, this is what we use for our most important reflections on our lives
to this day I keep wondering who was right, Armin or Eren Armin had always been terrified of Eren's self-endangerment (cf how he looks at ten year old eren vowing to kill al titans) because Armin was able to appreciate every moment despite being a dreamer himself. I haven't read the manga, so the last thing I have seen is Eren about to genocide entire nations, and despite the horror of it I find myself rooting for Eren to get to his probably very ephemeral moment of freedom. But setting aside my bias for Eren, even if Armin had the right answer to figuring out how to live life it is Eren who will give him and his friends more life to spend. I'm not even talking about the new possibilities (because with his inner peace, Armin had no need for that) after the enemies are gone, just the fact that the threat of their lives being ended prematurely will be gone. Maybe you can’t enjoy your life until you let go of your desires, but on the other hand renouncing your ambitions - your passions that you become drunk on- feels like a mistake. This reminds me of Eren’s abhorrence of Zeke’s solution for caged people being a rejection of life. If Armin can appreciate the flame that is the passion for life, how can he not understand someone who wants to stir up his own fire?
this is why i love anime. a simple concept made into a beautiful artform. a story, a lesson that will stay with us for our lives. the scouts will live on, with us.
Crazy I went into your Jean is not a horse video thinking it was going to be full of memelord comedy....got a introspective on my life I didn't even think I hear today, lol been watching all of your videos all day....Sir, you need a team so you can make more videos...well done
24:40-24:56 was a real hit to the heart for me. I’m a very spiritual philosophical person who always tryna decode things like freedom or mortality etc. I hope one day every human becomes philosophical o
Dude… I’ve seen so many analysis videos on Aot, and I’ve seen so many go primarily on the views of just Eren. You’re point on Armin are HELLA ACCURATE especially in the ending of the manga
Such a thoughtful and a wholesome video....Couldnt have thought of such a dimension ... Thanks for this video...( Usually i dont comment but you made me do this thing)
Thanks for watching, everyone! If you'd like to kindly support my content (AND ARE IN A POSITION TO DO SO): ko-fi.com/reddrik
hey man you make the best and most inspirational character analysis videos and just analysis videos in general. Every video i’m inspired. Thank you
I love your entire breakdown. Going deeper into characters subtle and overt story elements. The scouts representing freedom. I believe its unfair to believe that Armin is a truly free person any more than Eren. Armin like you said being Wisdom. Id take Armin takes the wise route but put him Eren shoes is his Freedom possible when Armin holds the key? Thoughts on this
You wwre right after the latest chapter everything u said: u were right ❤
Came for some attack on titan stuff, left with a life lesson.
AoT is a pretty good life lesson tbh. Thank you a bunch!
@@Reddrik the dude literally made an anime out of the lesson that most genius people gave like Carl jung
Isnt the series itself a big friggin lesson
@@saysamnang9851 yeah man
Finally, find someone who really understands Armin's character rather than calling him as useless or a simp.
Thank you! That’s kind of you. Armin is a tremendously written character. He had to come with some physical weaknesses - A perfect character is a boring one.
Yes, Armin's a simp.
Not only has he been simping for the enemy for 4 years, but has been doing it depressed shinji style. Disgusting.
@@evelynalex8787 LOL
@@evelynalex8787 Thanks for your kind information, I never noticed that...
who called him useless ? except himself ?
Eren may be the protagonist but Armin is the hero of Attack on Titan. He doesn't fight for vengeance, he fights for hope. Sure the world is cruel and merciless but it is also very beautiful. He fights because there is still some good in this world and it's worth fighting for.
Totally agreed.
That's interesting because back in 2014, Isayama told the director of the anime, that Armin is the hero of the story. And the series itself supports this. Especially in season 3.
@@1999bazz you mean season 4 right?
And yet, Armin fails and Paradis is destroyed by the outside world.
@@maddeninghustle6919that's Erens fault for choosing such a fucking stupid plan to try and make the world like paradis.
Crying over here, because ever since AOT, I've desired my own sort of freedom, and I didn't necessarily know what it was more until watching this. Through this show I feel I have reached a deeper state of consciousness
I’m glad the video resonated with you! :)
Being a gay furry isn’t freedom
Same dude
Same
+1
I want Eren's freedom😈🤣
IMPORTANT: Well, tragedy has struck. I got my entire channel deleted, along with all of my videos, because I took the time to thoughtfully respond to every single comment left on my videos. RUclips says that’s spam, and now I’m very limited with who I can respond to. I got my channel back thankfully, and I don’t wanna risk that again. All my replies got deleted, which really, really sucks. Please do know that I read LITERALLY every single comment, I can leave “hearts” to let you know I’ve read it, but I have to be choosy with who I respond to now. Which sucks because I really loved some of the conversations that took place in this comment section.
If you’re ever looking to hold a dialogue with me, feel free to reach out on either the Instagram linked on my channel, or my business email. I don’t care at this point, I’m really bummed about having my speech limited here. Any email you take the time to send me, I can guarantee a response to.
Thank you all for the incredible support. TATAKE. We roll with the punches here.
- Red
can you watch japanese version of attack on titan?
ty
That’s alright bro just keep grinding we understand
You are so lovely
lol that is hilarious. Gotta love RUclips 😂😒
Tattakai keep pushing forward
This is so good, holy. I didn't expect the amount of references, philosophical questions and analysis of the human condition. I love that you tied all this to Jung, because that's exactly the type of messages Isayama conveyed through the story. The whole story fits so well with the concept of the Collective Subconscious and the Shadow. Amazing work.
I really appreciate that! Thank you! All of this stuff has been intertwined since the beginning. :)
@@Reddrik 💜💜
Wait til you realize all stories use the shadow
One thing I really like about this is that you show proof for what symbols mean. I watch a lot of video essays where they just say “this flower symbolizes innocence” or “this color means xyz.” I wasn’t beliving the “bell” symbol until you actually took the time to explain it, and the reptile brain thing blew my minnddddd. Such a great vid
Of course! Thank you :)
Jung explaining to you what a symbol means: * the footnotes eclipse the amount of main text on the page for the rest of the chapter *
I watched this video few months before the last episode of AOT.
And for this reason I completely understood the the conversation of Armin with both zeke and Eren and the symbol of freedom as a sea shell. You were right,
Armin is the answer to eren's idea of freedom.
Something I think many people get wrong about Eren’s character is they don’t understand freedom in the slightest. Most people sum up Eren’s fight for freedom to be like chasing a ring, or some sort of unachievable insanity. Hence why so many see him as this stupid kid, even to this day.
Freedom is to be able to choose; to be able to make your own decisions and face the consequences for your own decisions within fair restrictions such as not harming anybody and not trespassing upon anybody.
This has been robbed of Eren.
Due to the walls, due to the titans, due to Marley, due to the outside world, Eren is not free. He is not allowed to do as pleases. If he wanted to go to another country freely as Eren Jaeger himself, he would be ridiculed and most likely killed. This is not a fair restriction, thus a reduction of freedom, a robbery of it.
Others ARE allowed to do what he would like to do as well, thus proving the reduction of freedom.
Recall armins first speech in season 1 when he awakens Eren to carry the rock- Armin: “why did you want to go outside when you know it will most likely die a bloody death” Eren: “why? You know why… BECAUSE I WAS BORN INTO THIS WORLD” then he burns away his entire family including Mikasa which represents that nobody comes before freedom.
Eren is like the kind of guy who would go camping on a mountain filled with bears and steep cliff edges, and telling him he is not allowed to. This is wrong, and he’d be right to be enraged. It is HIS life. He is allowed to make his own choices, despite the risks, he is open to holding the consequences for whatever choice he makes, even if he dies. He WANTS the responsibility. Eren values his quality of life above living. You cannot have a quality of life without freedom, without the ability to choose freely.
I am an Eren fan, but because he so deeply represents something I have never seen another character, or even human represent so well outside of my own self. Freedom is a fucking right. I believe people that have never have their freedom trampled upon/restricted (which can only happen because of another human being as of right now) will never understand the value of it, they’ll never understand the fight necessary to obtain it and hence, never understand Eren.
I believe 99% of people in society aren’t truly free, maybe in the physical sense, but not mentally, and should take a note from Eren’s book.
(I know the video wasn’t about Eren nor his freedom, rather the overarching themes of this stories interpretations of freedom, but I think it’s necessary to have a dialogue about Eren’s interpretation of freedom here too)
Great video btw man, Ik the hard work it takes.
This summation could’ve been a video unto itself. However, I did skip over Eren’s sense of freedom, and that was actually deliberate - There are already PLENTY of other analysis on RUclips that do, or attempt to do it.
Freedom to, and freedom from, are core to understanding AoT, I completely agree. I actually had a whole fourth section describing it, but I got rid of it because it was the same shit you’ve heard in 20 video essays already.
However, I think Isayama refutes the principle to some degree. How do we know if what we want is actually what we want? Are our desires ours? Or were they imposed upon us by our culture, our walls, by the society around us? That’s a VERY relevant theme to season 4. You’re totally correct in your evaluation, though, I’m with you on that.
Also, I appreciate all the time you took to leave feedback, it was very well organized and communicated. Thanks man. I get so excited seeing comments like this.
Eren’s friends are just as important to him as his is freedom, he stated that they mean more than anyone else to him and that he wants them to live long lives in episode 10 of season 4 when they’re on the small train after they’ve extended the train track, especially Mikasa, if you see his demeanour throughout season 4 you can tell that he’s saddened by the growing separation between him and Mikasa.
Eren throughout the series has become more and more consumed by his idea of freedom that he would take away the freedom of others even if they had nothing to do with him, he is willing to take away the freedom of others like Bertholdt and Reiner did to him in order to have his own freedom, that’s why Eren says he’s the same as Reiner in the declaration of war episode. Eren’s freedom is a idealistic and corrupted freedom by nature, everyone choices in AOT has a consequence and affect on other people’s choices and therefore no one is truely free of consequence and free for choice, Eren’s choices are limited by the choices of others and now Eren is limiting the choices of others through his choice, he’s taking away the freedom that others have taken away from him thus continuing the cycle of hatred and revenge. Eren is losing himself and as a result everything else because of his ideal freedom.
Armin on the other hand accepts the world for what it is and makes compromises to get what he wants, he’s willing to make compromises on his own choices and freedom so that someone else can have that freedom, he’s a peacemaker and is one thats willing to make sacrifices in order to reach a fair freedom where as many people possible can have fair choice and chance in life. Armin makes the best out of everything that he has.
@@BigJMC Armin’s special ability to compromise is largely what the latter half of the video was about - You’re spot on in your evaluation, I think. Have you seen Bruce Lee’s monologue on “being as water?” m.ruclips.net/video/cJMwBwFj5nQ/видео.html
Also, thanks so much for the response. You put an impressive amount of effort into it. 😂
@@BigJMC Eren takes away the freedom of others IF they threaten his and his friends,family, and homeland's freedom. That's what people are missing. Eren is very aware of the consequences and has submitted at times in order to get a long lasting result it's just the times he has stand down from taking action, IE: trusting others to get a job done that he himself was capable of doing; The world ends up betraying him on that end(Levi's squad vs Annie as a key example). Not going to talk about Eren's character post chapters 124-125 because that's when the story becomes blurred with his character namely the endgame.
this is the most sophisticated analysis of freedom in aot that I've seen on RUclips, incredible stuff. seizing the moment and choosing to let go of preconceived dreams like Kenny does as he dies, is what freedom ought to be
"Freedom from one paradigm just submits us to another"
"The key to one's shackles usually erect new prisons. New bars but bars all the same"
I can't believe that someone finally understands what i was thinking about for the past several months
I was sick of seeing people understanding Eren but not surpassing that line, not seeing why the core of his ideology was corrupted
Thanks for this video, I haven't seen anyone talk about Eren from this perspective which I think is the point of the whole story
In a sense you could say that freedom is the ability to chose your own shackles.
Absolutely agree.
@@Reddrik Don't get it. Guess I'm just not as good at playing intellectual games as you two.
@@sroth2021 We’re just talking bro lol where’s the game
@@Reddrik He is currently signed to WWE and is the Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development of WWE.
@@sroth2021 *Motörhead starts playing*
This video is the culmination of about six months of hard work. I pride myself on not being the kind to ask for engagement, but if you feel this video resonated with you in any way, I'd deeply appreciate a like and a subscribe. My next AoT video essay is already well underway! If you wanna do any further reading, I have a small bookshop linked in the description that will bring you right to every resource I referenced in this video, and it's a really great way to help support my channel. TATAKAE.
@AileDiablo Oooo. Okay I'll bite.
"Whom non are really true."
Give an example.
You need to put season 4 in here too! So much is in season 4.
@@groaningwolf I plan on it once the season is over!
@AileDiablo I won't bother a refutation on a point by point because it would be pedantic and I simply don't have the time. I will hit you on this one.
"We are, humans not animals."
Humans ARE animals. This is not debatable. Humans have all the same hallmarks of any other species of creature on the planet and are not and have never been separate from animal nature. In spite of whatever fables humanity might tell themselves. Humans have never been "not animals". The entire notion that a human isn't an animal is hubris on the part of man.
Place a human in any environment without civilization, without society, without language and watch what they become. We don't have to guess, we have recorded examples of such a thing stretching back hundreds of years through our modern age of all things. Where humanity is supposedly at it's most advanced, children like Marina Chapman, Kamala and Amala, Saturday Mthiyane, and Dina Sanichar all came to exist in one way or another.
They mimicked, they copied, but none contained the spiritual nature you suggest they should have first exhibited. Humans are physical animals before all else, and the thing build on that a pleasantries we tell ourselves and others to ignore our nature and act higher than we are. The rash of children in our history with hearing or learning problems left to the be raised by the pets of their parents and left to act as the animals seen as below Man shows as much. Humans are muddy mirrors of their environments that, at their base, are chiefly interested in the preservation of the self. We can delude ourselves that this "self" hinges on our honor, on our charity, on our nobility, but when you strip all that away those things become convenient falsehoods and all that remains is the drive to consume, seek comfort, seek companionship. This is how any animal, including humans, survive long enough to have children, which is one of, if not the most important of, our most basic instinctual drives. Humanity's base instinct cares not for consequence, culture, god, good, righteousness, spirituality or any other fable man wishes to regale themselves with to aggrandize their lowly position in the cosmos. It is the beast that humanity is built on top of and the beast we try to hide. That thing, that monster, sitting at the core of humanity is not good. It doesn't care about "Good". It doesn't care about "Evil". While to me that would me its indifferent (meaning it could do good by happenstance) to you at least, that does mean it is evil. Since according to you "Evil" is just the absence of "Good".
Even in the video, calling the beast, the shadow, evil is just a value judgement. A thing that can act with callous regard to the world at large for its own benefit could very well be called Evil. Most people would declare it such. The thing I would even argue in that instance, is that "Evil" with humans is frequently a matter of sides.
However, I've spent more time on this than I intended.
I do hope you have a blessed time.
@AileDiablo "We are in a higher position than even the angels"
Several well established religions would call that blasphemy. Including most orders of Christianity, including a few of the sects that were cut from the official Church doctrine.
"Humans are creatures and they are made of the soul , clay."
That's not how muscles, bones, hearts, livers, lungs, brains, intestines, or genitals work.
Also if I put you in a pot, boiled you down, and rendered you into your component parts, I wouldn't find any silicates (I wouldn't find any clay). Also the story about man being made of clay isn't even the oldest story about the creation of man. Go farther back, that roughly 3,000 year old religion isn't that impressive with their version of the fictional origin story. They stole it from the Greeks who stole it from the Mesopotamians. It isn't even the most epic story of man's creation. Like the Babylonian one where Man is created out of the blood of a slain God (Qingu). The Norse the origin of humanity were two beings made of the hair (trees) that came from Ymir (the first being born of chaos where primordial heat and cold met) and given boons from a cadre of deities in turn. Those two beings, already possessing wisdom, life, and clothing then birthed humanity. Not created them, birthed them.
At least the older world religions were closer to the notion that life is essentially drawn from life, instead of the civilization poisoned notion that humans are some earthenware project of a potter. An idea that didn't come along until well after civilization had settled in and long long after any sort of deity could have had a hand in our creation. Though there being or not being any Gods is a whole different argument.
an absolute brilliance of a video. this insight and connecting of information made a series that was already very deep and thought-provoking, into a masterpiece, and a one of kind life experience.
I'll never watch AOT the same again, you unvailed to me the true form of this already great piece of art. so, deeply, THANK YOU.
It’s my pleasure! Thank you so much for your feedback. Enjoy it. :)
Agreed, thank you for making this. You're awesome, subbed!!
@@TheReturn26 Thank you a bunch! That’s kind of you. :)
As someone who finished the manga, not going into spoilers but your explanation of true freedom hits way home to how the story ends - it's what I always thought but could never put into words. Eren will never obtain the freedom he seeks because he is the one who puts the shackles upon himself, but Armin is the most free because he dissociates from all that and simply lives in the moment.
It's actually insane that you haven't read the ending, yet your description on freedom holds more true than any video I've seen on Attack on Titan, manga or anime. Good work!
Phew, I’m glad I wasn’t too far off the mark! Thanks so much for saying so. :)
@@Reddrik One thing I'm confused though, what do you mean by internal freedom and external freedom that Eren and Armin have? Is it because Eren shackles himself by his external and physical barriers (the walls, titans, humans) whilst Armin can enjoy himself without actually having to see the sea?
BRO, this video is one of the best when covering aot and its thematic ideas. As a manga reader I fully applaud you for all the points to stated regarding freedom(you will understand more when u finish the series). Really well thought out, and I'm very impressed of how much research you did even before season 4. You got mostly everything!! ranging from Kenny's speech to Armin's perspective of the world, though there is one character you missed but not big deal > Zeke and Armin are one the best character contrasts to develop in the upcoming season. good job man
Thank you so much, that’s really kind of you! Maybe I’ll drop a Zeke video once season 4 wraps up. 👀
I really haven’t seen an anime-only as knowledgable as you about Attack on Titan. I really applaud you for your efforts. Those six months of work really shine through, I appreciate it
Thank you so much!! I appreciate it! :)
the idea that our passions and dreams are just delusions, walls to protect us from the reality of death, implies that passions and desires are only a means to this end, and fails to consider that they are worth living for
if desire was just something we tell ourselves to cope with death, then anyone who lives forever would have no desire
No you are not guilty of anything. In fact this is by far the best video essay I have ever seen. So many people are trapped in rehashing the story but forget to break it down. This video essay is backed by evidence, references, and primary sources constructed in an organized manner so well, the only negative thing is how come this channel only has 4k subs at this point.
This comment is a serious accolade. Thank you so much!!
Imo aot is a plot based story
In a plot based storythe ending is the message conveyed
So to understand the story means understand whats the message the writter is building up to
Wow, this is really insightful! I’ve never heard anyone talk about this before, what inspired you to dive into all of this?
Hajime Isayamamama did.
Thank you!!
You’re welcome :)
@@Reddrik bruh that’s so disrespectful that’s not his real name.
You forgot like 5 m’s
@@isaidoun I like to imagine that, in mangakas, the more exaggerated the name, the more successful they are.
My favorite mangaka is Isayamamamamamamamaamamamamamamamamama.
@@Reddrik MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAISAYAMUDAMUDAAAA
It's very rare I watch a youtube video about anime and come away thinking "I've gotta read those books they quoted." I'm going to do just that though I am very intrigued. Great video!
Coming back to this video after the finale.
You understood Armin's character PERFECTLY.
Such a bittersweet day with my favorite story ever ending but this video never fails to get me emotional.
It always makes me fall in love with AoT all over again.
I come back and watch this video regularly. The multi disciplinary ties, the metaphorical connections, it's a perfect video. Resonated is too light a word. This video could be used to help people struggling and those who are blissfully ignorant of hardships in the world. I've always thought on this but never seen it so perfectly put togeather in 36 minutes no less. This was beautiful and I hope more people are expose to it. Liked, followed, and ever faithful viewer.
That is outstandingly kind of you to say, thank you so much!
This is beautiful, and has aged incredibly well. You encompass the ending, and the fallout of Eren and Armin’s characters, quite clearly, and that really speaks to the time you’ve spent thinking about this series. Thank you for compiling such a thoughtful, compelling, researched, and truthful exploration of this story! It was a joy to listen to, and I’ll definitely recommend it to others.
Furret's random facts: there is no actual proof that today is tuesday, we just have to belive it that someone kept the count
YES. THANK YOU BASED FURRET.
I softly cried with a lump in my throat during the whole video. I felt everything you just explained by seeing the anime. Thank you for giving sense to what art's epiphany makes feel.
I’m really glad the video resonated with you so much. Thank you so much for the comment. :)
Lost a loved one earlier this year.
Had one of the darkest years of my life.
Only after truly accepting his lose… I starting feeling free again.
Painfully liberating.
I felt everything you said here mate.
Thank for you this.
AOT is literally so goated I can't see any story surpassing it for a long time, amazing video!!
For ten years at least!
Thank you a bunch. :)
“Maybe the reason I was born was so that the three of us could be racing there”
-Armin
I haven’t gotten to that quote yet since I’m a filthy anime-only, but that sentiment would definitely reinforce the theme of this video. Maybe I’ll make an updated version once the anime wraps up!
Thank you so much for a Buddhist interpretation at the end. Clinging to our illusions, our shackles, won't make us freer, happier, or safer. It will drive you insane in the end. Great video!
I think all that Buddhist stuff is definitely embedded in the story. Either way, whether my interpretation or intention on Isayama’s part, it’s definitely applicable! If the shoe fits, y’know? Thank you so much!
Yeah I am Buddhist and Kennys final words were completely Buddhism
Also Erwins saying that till there are atleast 2 people on the world peace wouldnt be achieved
You actually nailed it with Armin. But also in a way that I don't know if you were conscious of. Isayama actually said that Armin is like a childhood friend of his. His friend is not naive but is able to see beauty and joy in the life that oppresses Isayama who always felt shackled.
Armin and Eren are opposites of the same question. Eren years for what he lacks and assumes that is freedom while Armin joys of what is there and what ultimately culminates his character is letting go of the expectations that came from his revival, which sets him as the freest of them all.
I actually vaguely remember reading that interview a long time ago, maybe it planted a seed that turned into this video.
This was really well made. Everything I’ve been thinking about, already been trying to formulate, you’ve put into one video. I was nodding with joy when you brought up how Armin was truly grounded in reality, while eren was perverted in a sense. It’s all about your own inner state
Exactly! Inner state, and whether or not your inner state is assailable by your environment. Good insight. Thank you a bunch.
_"It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society."_ - Jiddu Krishnamurti
I’d love to hear a conversation between Krishnamurti and Fromm.
The philosophy of Attack on Titan is so beautiful. Isayama is one of my favourite people ever for writing this transcendent masterpiece. I wish I could meet him.
Same. I wanna shake the dude’s hand.
@@Reddrik Who knows, maybe one day it's possible to meet him. Btw your videos, this one especially, are amazing. Subscribed!
@@RaffDGoat Thank you so much!
Everyone is a slave to something. In Christianity we like to say that everyone has a God-shaped hole in their heart. That everyone worships something whether they know it or not.
Freedom doesn't come from having no master, freedom comes from choosing your master and embracing it. That is why one is most free when he is responsible and disciplined. He is in control of his own fate, his own actions and isn't driven purely by instinct or sin. That is true freedom and I believe that Attack on Titan has a great way of exploring how people nowadays have the wrong view of freedom. How many are not free when they believe themselves to be.
Great video! I have always known that AOT has a lot of great themes that reflect our era as many great works do. You explained it well!
I agree with your sentiment a hundred percent. The cultural gods and new age prophets our walls send to us HAVE to be rejected, spirit is found very, very, very far away from them. I really appreciate your insight, that’s a great takeaway. Thank you so much!
Live the present, that's what freedom is. If you think about the past or the future, you'll get bound by your own thoughts. Isayama has really created something that explains probably everything which is not possible without actual conversation. Attack On Titan is truly the embodiment of ideas which can liberate the minds of people. When you said Smiling Titan and Eren are the same person, I just got shocked, I mean, you haven't read the manga, have you? but you already know one of the most important events in AOT's ending.
Yeah, I'm a filthy anime-only. I'm looking forward to seeing the resolution. Isayama's work is pretty remarkable. I really appreciate your takeaway, I think it's incredibly astute.
I get what you meant with Dina!!
Cannot provide a big enough thumbs-up for this well-thought out video essay. You hit the central theme to this story on its head, and used enough evidence to support your interpretation. I look forward to seeing your interpretation once the show is finished.
Thank you so much! I am kinda dreading the end since everyone says it absolutely sucks. We’ll see though, fingers crossed haha.
I stated this in another comment chain on your video, but I think it's worth reiterating here. Please don't let people's perceptions (positive or negative) of the manga ending color your experience of the anime's ending. As you pointed out in the video, the best approach will be to simply experience the story as it unfolds, free from expectations, and then go from there.
I have seen far too many people trying to force their perspectives and feelings onto others regarding the ending. I would encourage not only you but everyone to approach the anime ending with an open mind, free of preconceptions. After all, the anime ending belongs to itself, not the manga. Regardless of how closely (or not) it chooses to follow the manga.
@@nspaulding07 Oh, absolutely. Don’t worry, this story means far too much to me to just adopt someone’s else’s perception of it. I’m going in with an open mind, and I’m excited to see it.
you may not be a manga reader but you might've hit the nail on the head with Armin
I guess we’ll see! Thanks! :)
Yeah, turns out he understood Armin better then Isayama did
@@ReddrikActually right the fuck on like I was watching the ending and when Armin had his monologue all I could think of was your video.
@@The-Big-Boss CALLED THAT SHIT
Going back to this video after the ending of AOT gives me new light on all the information that i learned.
This video brings me back to core realisations I've made during Zen buddhism classes. That my ultimate fear is death, that everything I do is to avoid facing that fear, and that to realise true freedom I need to rid myself of all my preconceived notions of it.
I had never approached AOT from this lens. What an incredible analysis. Thank you.
I just wanna say thank you for how much effort you put in this, AoT is a great show already but you even make it better, like a whole new masterpiece.
Thank you so much, that seriously means a lot. I appreciate your sincerity. I’m glad to have helped out. :)
My favorite youtube video now for sure. Good work man your content is amazing
28:33 Isayama mentioned in an interview "ANSWERS" back in like 2017 ? 2016? that Eren copied Armin by making up a "dream" of his own.
You're absolutely right about Armin. Holy sh1t. He's the freest character in the show, because he already gave up on his dreams in season 3 part 2. He's free from his dreams, desires, ego. He's free.
Armin possesses every mark of what Lao Tzu called the moderate man. 😄
@@drmosaddegh not so free when he literally have the entire world about to kill them and WILL kill them if anyone doesn’t do something
@@f.b.lagent1113 your definition of freedom here isn’t entirely the same as the one being discussed by who you’re replying to.
"Freedom as knowledge" and "Freedom as selfishness" are the greatest analyses I've ever seen regarding AOT.
Ngl that conclusion made me tear up
Great research.. great video man.
Kudos to you 🎉
Thank you so much! That’s very kind of you to say. I’m really glad it resonated with you so much.
"her father is faced with with mildly inconvenient consequences"
*Massive explosions*
We can’t forget Petra either
@@Reddrik And because of Eren's, Erwin's, Zeke's, and Levi's decisions in Part 2 of Season 3, Marlowe, Bert, and Erwin himself (along with hundreds of others) were faced "with mildly inconvenient consequences!!!!"
And look at all the "mildly inconvenient consequences" many characters will be facing throughout Season 4, lol!
@@wanna-be-thinker2377 Inconveniences: The Show
How the hell do you only have 500 subs? The level of care and effort put into every word in this video is simply amazing
I'll look forward to your next works!
I appreciate that so much!
Why doesn't this video have 1.3million likes? Bro, what you did was immaculate........ The way you put this together...... Thank you for this. & AOT is the greatest anime of all time.
I deeply appreciate that, thank you. 1.3 million is a terrifying number, I’ll settle for 35k.
YOU NAILED IT ON THE HEAD!! With the finale we know that freedom for Armin was racing to the tree, reading a book; And for Zeke it was playing catch.
All the things you said about Armin are on point. Hard to believe you haven't read the manga.
Aye, thank you so much for saying so. I’m glad my guesses weren’t too far off the mark lol
the scenes you pulled from in each instance as your words in a sentence shift is amazing and shows your love for the show!!!
This is fucking incredible. It’s everything I’ve ever loved about freedom and more, and of everything that goes into the deep symbolism, harshness and raw truth of it. Thank you, this brought tears to my eyes with the effort and candidness you put into this analysis. I feel the same way as Eren; I want the responsibility of freedom and my right to choose. I know I was born with freedom but that while it can be taken from me, I have the right to fight back and retrieve that which was lost, despite that I was born free; my existence alone means I have it. My right to choose, my right to live. To live with making decisions on my own accord and accepting the consequences, but not being oppressed by others.
I’m glad you were able to connect with the video. Thanks! :)
Finally a video that is deep in its analysis and not only a personal opinion said with fancy words! This is my favorite video about attack on titan until now, and it really helped me forming better my thoughts on the ending and what I like about the story in general. Thanks!
This is one of the most impressive and enlightening videos I've seen. There's a lot of reflect on from here and I'm glad I chose to watch this whole video. Thank you for creating and sharing this!
Thank you so much for saying so! That’s really cool of you.
Phenomenal video and commentary. Please keep this up. Your thinking is rare, and I truly believe that the story's conclusion won't be wasted on you.
You deserve more than 1.1k subs with this quality of an analysis. It was so intellectual
Thank you so much! I’m pleasantly surprised by the 1k anyhow!
This was extremely well written and captures the essence of Attack on Titan beatifully. A lot of people take things in AoT with face value, when it actually shines when you think about the philosophy of the show, and how every character is a moving piece in a board, being that the story of the anime is just a culmination of every characters choices, because they all were looking for something whatever that may be. Just like we are looking for something out of our lives, great job on this video, glad i stuck until the end
So am I!! Thank you so much for the comment.
holy god dayum , that was sooo deep and so ... raw .... Your ideas on the basis of 3 seasons are so strong and correct, your "projections" of what might come in future episodes, what eren is and what he will go through, the entire philosophy of attack on titan is so thoroughly sketched out in this video. I have to watch this 10 times ATLEAST to even begin to absorb and understand the ideas in this video. Would love to hear your thoughts about attack on titan now, be it till where anime has ended or the entire manga( which is now complete) . Make it 3 hours long lecture, i don't care, I will religiously watch it for i have not understood a spec of eren's character from the story and through these video essays i only get hints. Please, Please make another one of this video essay encompassing entire attack on titan's story.
OMG! I cried man. This is the best video I have seen. Love you brother.
Thank you a bunch! All love!
The one thing that throws a wrench in the bit about Eren not being able to appreciate reaching the sea as Armin had is actually explained in Season 4, otherwise you would've been pretty spot-on in your analysis. Basically a BIG realization happened that jaded him for ever.
Gotcha! I’m looking forward to making an update once I’m in the loop on the rest of the story.
@@Reddrik When you do i'll be back!
I dont think I've ever been closer to understanding freedom then after watching this show in conjunction with this video. Well done, i will listen to this essay over and over. I added it to my wisdom playlist. Thank you
What a great, well written and thought-provoking video! Looking forward to the next one
Thank you so much! That means a lot.
This is my new favorite channel, please keep making videos!!
I certainly plan on it!
“If you can’t let it go, it’s not worth holding onto!”
I used to be rather famed in an animation server, but due to irl circumstances I could simply no longer find the time to produce anything.
At the beginning, I was absolutely devastated. I felt like a part of me died. Something important that defined me seemed to have ‘died’. The insurmountable level of suffering I tasted every single moment my eyes looked at something that wasn’t my computer broke my mental state so badly I can no longer remember exactly how pained I was during that time.
I don’t know what caused me to change, but the present me can truly let go of my artistic pursuits- not just animation, but everything else.
It’s not like I don’t care anymore, I still really, really want to come back to animation, but I just don’t feel that mortifying weakness when I first lost the time required to produce animations.
Perhaps it’s just that I was shackled.
I thought I grinded my way up to the top, that I was the one in control and I was a person who could create great works.
But ironically, I, perhaps never really enjoyed the fame and talent.
I only thought I enjoyed my fame and talent, but in reality, my fame and talent were literally and figuratively devouring me.
As an non-AoT fan that even likes the anti-mainstream mindset, I never thought that AoT would invoke such strong reflections upon myself.
I am grateful to you for producing this video.
Sounds like your creative pursuits were covering something up. Taking them away, left with facing whatever existential dread or pondering you were avoiding, seems like it’s helped you in the long run.
Very solid insight. :)
I keep coming back to this video. It's just a wonderful analysis. Attack on Titan is my most cherished work of fiction & your video just makes me appreciate it even more. Everytime I watch any of your videos I end up rewatching my favorite episodes.
Cheers man. Keep doing your thing.
Honestly I think this video should have a lot more views - I've watched it atleast 10 times now and shit is still so touching that it brings tears to my eyes.
No, honestly, this video changed my life - I've been struggling with depressions and adhd for years now and I feel like I was only looking at the part which is our own demise or rather my own and my loved ones demise which was actually killing my drive, I feel like I finally understood why it was so draining and why I had the feeling that nothing would ever change.. eventhough I thought I already had it figured out but now I feel like all of my beliefs and everything that I was holding on to got recontextualized and for the first time in almost 10 years I have a feeling of progression, a feeling that there is still hope left and that I might just need to change my point of view, or that I should atleast consider a change in points of views even when I think I'm right...
There is so much going on in my head right now, it's hard for me to put it into words but I mean I'm still here, eventhough I thought I don't have a driving force.. now I know that I just didn't know what my driving force was.
If you ever share the feeling of being useless and not having any purpose in life just mark my words, I'm still here, you saved me, you enabled the perspective for me to change my life to the better, so your impact ist undeniable and I cannot be more thankful for that
This is a pretty good analysis not only of what freedom means in the story, what the story means itself. I also love how you articulate your words, your clarity, and descriptions of different ideologies, enfused with sources from others to back up your claims. 10/10
Thank you so much for the in depth feedback. That means a lot. :)
I love how there's still so much I missed or couldn't put into words about this show
Always more to discover!
Dear God this video was deeep and rooted in solid information, one of the best essays I've seen on RUclips
Dude, thank you so much. Your comment made my day. I’ve got another video dropping on Jean very soon. 👍🏼
I really am looking forward for your analysis on the end of the final season, your video gave me chills a good amount of times!
Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to it myself.
This video has changed me over time.Genuinely Thank you so much.
“All I ever wanted to do was do right things, never wanted to be the king…I swear”
Truthfully, I think deep down, the irony is that he actually wanted to be. He wanted control, he wanted to dominate. “It’s who I’ve been since the time I was born.” The song beautifully showcases his duality. The person he’d like to believe he is versus who he is.
Keep posting, your videos are such high quality I can’t believe you don’t have at least a few hundred thousand subs I’m definitely turning on notifications
Thank you so much! Notification gang. 🔔 Absolutely based.
Loved it.
Looking forward to more!
Quality > quantity for sure.
Thank you a bunch! The next video should be out relatively soon, all things considered.
@@Reddrik np! ^^
Honestly one of the best videos I've ever watched! Such a life lesson hidden in plain sight in one of my favorite anime, thank you so much for taking the time to make this!
Thank you so much, that’s really kind of you to say. :)
this is a really good breakdown, i hope millions more see this after the final season to understand the core concepts of AoT, because honestly, most of them just flew over my head when i was just watching/reading the manga
Me too! Thank you a bunch.
This is the second time that a RUclips essay about attack on titan and eren's character in particular, has answered a question That has been on my mind for months. Thank you for your insightful life lesson.
Thank you so much for saying so!
Dude you need a fucking award for this video (and I’m not even done watching it 😂) you perfectly describe and illustrate something that society fails to acknowledge and how it correlates to our everyday actions and behaviors the themes you talk about are just profound and amazing to witness because it makes sense to the show. IMO I think Attack on Titan is the greatest story of all time because it tells tales of the human mind body and spirit that we as a society only scratch the surface off Im in awe at the realization and I wanna thank you for putting in the effort with the psychology annotations and quotes because it fits so well THANK YOU!!!!!
Forget an award, this comment is an accolade enough. Thank you so much for the kind words. :)
Honestly so surprised that such a small channel has such great quality for a video. Subscribed.
That seriously means a lot. Thank you a bunch, dude.
A great video! Seems like you know a lot about philosophy or have put a lot of effort into your research. I agree that freedom can also be scary since it comes with a lot of responsibilty. And as you mentioned there are different kinds of freedom. For me personally, being creative and crafting stories is the kind of freedom I seek and yes the freedom that comes with it can sometimes result in fear, which can result in writers block.
Thank you so much!!! I absolutely loved your video. You and I were cut of the same stone. “Unused creativity is not benign” (Brené Brown.) I’m excited to see what you cook up next. :)
@@Reddrik Thank you, too! :) I'm also looking very much forward to your next video!
This really means a lot to me thank you for making this video sir
beautiful video. I agree with most of what u said, great understanding of the series despite u being an anime only. Such a abstract and difficult concept so great job in making this video. Really loved what u said about Armin, definetely one of the freest charactes and is very idealistic and hopeful. And these ideas are futhur explored and all remain consistent in AoT's conclusion unlike what people say. Hope u enjoy the rest of the series!
"we all have a devil inside of us, that is why the world turned out this way" - Niccolo commenting on the dark nature of humanity like u said, our innate desire for violence and conflict. The titans were created due to the mistreatment of a single girl which shows that humanity are the enemy and have always been.
Ur correct a lot of freedom is actually found amidst darkness. "the world is cruel yet beautiful" - Mikasa Ackermann. Flowers in AoT are symbolic to freedom to grow while being rooted to ur enviroment. We see flowers near or under titans throughout series which shows that life can grow and freedom is possible even then. The new ED furthur emphasises this as we see the bird being caged up, however it transitions to a beautiful scenary showing us that freedom can be found even caged up in the middle of cruelty
Yeah Eren is a slave and is so trapped by his desires hence why hes always in chains. "from the moment i was born, i have always been me" he claims that this innate desire has been with him since birth (nature), this monstrous evil desire for freedom. Which is a contrast to characters like Zeke who are defined by their experiences (nurture) Like u said never stopped to look at around him, and what actually matters, the small trivial moments. He doesn’t realize hes already free
Hey, I really appreciate your feedback! Yeah, I wanted to include that Niccolo quote, but I was avoiding season four spoilers. Great catch! And yes, Eren has certainly put himself in quite the predicament. How can one be free if their only aspiration is an IDEA of freedom?
Thank you so much for the comment. :)
Really wanted to say this
This video is an actual essay. Most youtube essays on tv shows are appreciations of things those shows did very well and maybe a bit of comparison to real life, a bit of philosophizing. But this video is truly all philosophy: whether the finale of the show corresponds with Reddrik’s perspective or not, this video is one elaborate explanation of the meaning and value of freedom. Even if this isn’t the “ultimate interpretation of what Attack on Titan is about”, it is what stays with us after the story is over, even more, this is what we use for our most important reflections on our lives
to this day I keep wondering who was right, Armin or Eren
Armin had always been terrified of Eren's self-endangerment (cf how he looks at ten year old eren vowing to kill al titans) because Armin was able to appreciate every moment despite being a dreamer himself. I haven't read the manga, so the last thing I have seen is Eren about to genocide entire nations, and despite the horror of it I find myself rooting for Eren to get to his probably very ephemeral moment of freedom.
But setting aside my bias for Eren, even if Armin had the right answer to figuring out how to live life it is Eren who will give him and his friends more life to spend. I'm not even talking about the new possibilities (because with his inner peace, Armin had no need for that) after the enemies are gone, just the fact that the threat of their lives being ended prematurely will be gone.
Maybe you can’t enjoy your life until you let go of your desires, but on the other hand renouncing your ambitions - your passions that you become drunk on- feels like a mistake. This reminds me of Eren’s abhorrence of Zeke’s solution for caged people being a rejection of life.
If Armin can appreciate the flame that is the passion for life, how can he not understand someone who wants to stir up his own fire?
This is the most philosophical review of AOT I've ever seen 😂 And I'm loving it!
Attack on Titan goes deep! Thanks, Aaron Yogurt 😂
Just found your channel. So excited to take in your content!
Thank you! Enjoy!
Freedom is crushing your enemies or those who did you wrong. That was eren's childhood dream and his idea of freedom.
Our ideas enslave us, friend.
The conclusion to this essay suddenly reminded me of the ending of Pixar's movie Soul. Life is in the little things
This is a gem. I hope you get the attention you deserve.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for the hard work. I enjoyed every word, every cut, every quote
the first three chapters were really interesting, the fourth gave me a really bad anxiety attack, and the fifth was just beautiful. what a ride lol
Sorry about that!
one of the best video essays I've ever watched PLEASE make more videos. you're so on the nose it hurts
My next video is already underway! Thank you so much, that’s so kind of you. Also, I absolutely love your profile picture lmao
Drop a sub if you’d like :P
@@Reddrik already subbed 7min into this video LMAO and thanks she's a good girl
@@Rosie-fd1fn Thank you so much!! And what breed is she? She’s gorgeous!
this is why i love anime.
a simple concept made into a beautiful artform. a story, a lesson that will stay with us for our lives.
the scouts will live on, with us.
Devote your heart my g
Crazy I went into your Jean is not a horse video thinking it was going to be full of memelord comedy....got a introspective on my life I didn't even think I hear today, lol been watching all of your videos all day....Sir, you need a team so you can make more videos...well done
I wish I could afford one! Alllllll me for now, baby.
You just got a new sub my friend thank you for this, honestly had a weird Crisis watching season 4, this helped.
Season four is just one enormous crisis anyway. Glad to have helped, thank you!
@@Reddrik diddo
The 'Freedom' word and Eren's brief head on half-naked woman in your introduction dialogue are so perfect to each other with hilarious balance. Nice.
I’m so glad someone caught it.
@@Reddrik Your welcome.
24:40-24:56 was a real hit to the heart for me. I’m a very spiritual philosophical person who always tryna decode things like freedom or mortality etc. I hope one day every human becomes philosophical o
That was a difficult part to write, truthfully. I’m glad it resonated with you.
Bro, this video made realize a lot of different things, thank you so much
I’m really glad it resonated with you. Thanks for saying so. :)
@@Reddrik sure :)
Dude… I’ve seen so many analysis videos on Aot, and I’ve seen so many go primarily on the views of just Eren. You’re point on Armin are HELLA ACCURATE especially in the ending of the manga
Had to show some love to the deuteragonist! Thank you!
That’s crazy, came to video fully expecting a 10k+ subscriber youtuber. Completely fooled me by the quality of the video! Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much! Quality over quantity!
Such a thoughtful and a wholesome video....Couldnt have thought of such a dimension ...
Thanks for this video...( Usually i dont comment but you made me do this thing)
You have no clue how much that means to me. Thank you so much!