Mikasa Au Interview

Awesome Sculpture! baby cyborg by Tomàs Barceló Castelà

Akşam üstleri, gün batımları neden hem güzel hem kederlidir usta?”

Murathan Mungan...

進撃の巨人 The Final Season Pt. 2 Preview

9th January 2022

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SnK Interviews: Isayama Hajime’s Q&A from Febri Vol. 42 (July 2017 Issue)

Translations by @suniuz & @fuku-shuu - Please give credit/link back if used!

- What is your most essential drawing tool? 9mm 2B pencil lead. As it’s both thick yet soft, it’s easy to erase cleanly, so I enjoy using it the most. I don’t really understand the differences between all the manufacturers, so as long as the lead is this exact type, I’m fine with whichever.

- What do you do when you’re not working? I play video games. My nephews have been visiting me recently, so I have them bring their controllers and play Splatoon with them.

- Who is your favorite character in Shingeki no Kyojin? Reiner. As time progresses, my favorite character keeps shifting. My favorite is Reiner at the moment - I want to draw more and more of Reiner.

- Favorite music as of late? Kiyoshi Ryuuji. Even though my all-time favorite is Shinsei Kamattechan, who sang the SnK S2 ED, my favorites as of late are Creepy Nuts and Kiyoshi Ryuuji. For Kiyoshi, every single one of his songs has been a hit - even those he produced for others - which is an incredible success rate. I feel like he’s like Hyadain-san (T/N: Famous Japanese composer and lyricist), only he can also sing and dance.

- Favorite manga as of late? Boku-tachi ga Yarimashita (T/N: We Did It). The author, Kaneshiro Muneyuki (T/N: The artist for the title is Araki Hikaru), is my contemporary at Bessatsu Shonen. It’s just such an incredible piece of work. Initially I already had good feelings toward him because we started out together, and when I reached the middle of the story I suddenly went, “Eh? This manga is a masterpiece…?” I even got goosebumps. He created an unbelievable story, so I’m thrilled as his contemporary.

- Favorite video game as of late? Wii U’s Splatoon. Even though the game has been on sale for two years already, I’m still playing it consistently. It has been a long while since I started, but I still feel like I’m terrible at the game. Nonetheless, through my personal efforts, I experienced what it means to “achieve” different degrees of success for the first time. I can’t get enough of it!

- When did you start drawing manga? 2nd year of high school (T/N: That’s equivalent to junior year). But if you count just single illustrations, I already started when I was in daycare. But I remember that it wasn’t until 2nd year of high school when I actually organized drafts and began to create manga.

- How much do you sleep on average? About 8 hours. When I first started serialization, I had a little less sleep. But lately if I don’t get enough sleep I can’t do anything else.

- Recent interests? Watching foreign drama series. I’m currently anticipating the 7th season of Game of Thrones, which will start in July. Other than that, I’m hesitating on whether or not I should watch House of Cards (T/N: YES YOU SHOULD). When I watch something exciting, the amount of energy I use up is similar to if I read all of One Piece in just a week. Hence, I’m actually becoming a little scared about doing this (T/N: Committing to another show) [Laughs].

- If you lived within the Walls? I would be a farmer. Because I want to avoid all responsibilities [Laughs], so I want to live on the border and just plant crops. Though I can imagine that this kind of lifestyle has its own hardships, I would never be a soldier.

- What’s the best thing about being a mangaka? Everything. If I didn’t become a mangaka, I feel like I would’ve descended into poor health - to the extent where I couldn’t even go to the convenience store. I am totally serious [Laughs].

- Favorite movie as of late? It Follows. It was probably my first time watching such a scary film. Of course, the storyline is exciting, but on top of that, the actual elements of horror were fantastic. Because this movie describes something that happens at your own household, I felt jumpy and scared in my apartment for two weeks after I watched it.

- If you weren’t drawing manga? I would become an average member of society. But if possible, I would probably become a craftsman. Before when I worked at an internet cafe, no matter how dirty the cubicles became, I always bet my entire life on making it spotless again. It was almost like Nietzsche’s “Sublimation” psychology [Laughs]. Thinking back, I guess that could just be part of an artisan’s personality, too.

- What do you do when you experience writer’s block? I dive into other creative works. Basically other films, drama series, and manga - and I search for elements I enjoy. But because this world is filled with so many incredible works that I’ll never fully experience - even if I spend my entire life trying - as long as I commit to the ones I enjoy the most, my life can progress with inspiration. Sometimes, I almost feel like there is no actual need for me to draw manga [Laughs].

- The best thing about your hometown (Oita prefecture)? Delicious plum wine. When I think of what’s most appealing about my hometown, plum wine immediately comes to mind. My family back home are plum farmers, so even though I sound like I’m self-promoting my relatives’ business, please do give our Yumehibiki plum wine a taste! [Laughs]

- Your first impression of Tokyo? Surprisingly warm/familiar. At the railroad crossing of Egota, my head somehow got knocked by the crossing gate there, and I thought, “So Tokyo isn’t just all about tall buildings…” My memory contains moments of calm like this [Laughs].

We’re working on the highlights/new information from the main interview between Isayama and editor Kawakubo as well - stay tuned!

@leapingtitan titan this was 100% inspired by all of your Zeke memes lmfao, you’re honestly a blessing Nick.

because i was born into this world

This is an aspect of the Marley arc that I really loved. Throughout the arc there was a constant opposition between fighting to defeat the enemy or for some grand goal and fighting for the sake of protecting what you already have. I first noticed it with Reiner, his aspirations and the mentality of constantly moving forward with a single minded focus, land him in a depressed and suicidal state upon finally fulfilling it. He moved forward expecting to find a "hope beyond the hell" and what awaited him was yet another hell.

Eren has been through something similar, but unlike Reiner who has given up on that mentality and is now moving forward for the sake of his loved ones, Eren continues to advance for the sake of freedom and destroying the enemy, because that's all he has. He's no longer sure of the worth of the advance but the only way he knows how to bring about a change is through this attitude. There's even his talk with his grandfather where Dr Jäger says, "If you are of good heart and mind, return to your family, you don't want to be left full of regrets." Eren hears this and he's aware of the possible fruitlessness of his endeavour but he continues to press on. I wish the aspect of Eren finally getting beyond the hell and the mental gravity of what he had achieved was more focused upon. Did he regret it? How does he feel? Was it inevitable? I wish these questions were explored more in the finale.

Even with Gabi and Falco we see this attitude. Gabi is driven by revenge and the need to be accepted, she's going down the destructive path Eren and Reiner took before, but what saves her is Falco, who moves forward for the sake of protecting her.

As you said these opposing qualities are also embodied in Zeke vs Levi, but I'm happy Zeke was finally able to overcome it and act for the sake of Humanity in his final moments. Zeke is a lot like Reiner in this aspect, he relentlessly moves forward to achieve a goal, the goal collapses, he becomes depressed and questions the worth of striving in the first place, then he finally learns the worth and beauty to be protected in the lives other than himself.

The change in attitude is reflected in Isayama as well, in an interview when questioned about Reiner he talks about how he used to think that as long as he drew SnK he wouldn't have to worry about perfecting other aspects of his life such as social skills, but upon getting married he had to take responsibility for his family, chores and other things. He had to broaden his horizon and that change in perspective is very evident in the Marley arc, that's why it's one of my favourites.

Edit: Actually Eren was fighting for Historia's sake as well, so can we really say Eren was in the wrong? Maybe Eren is just peculiar in that manner. Even if he's fighting for someone, his super destructive side will manifest, it probably even manifests before his desire to protect. It's quite telling that he was prepared to do a full Rumbling even before Historia's life was at stake. But it's also interesting that he almost gave up that desire because it could put Historia's life in danger. He only picks it up again when it not only stops Historia from broodmaring, but is the only way he sees of protecting her at all.

I really love how the last two pages of chapter 102 of SnK really sets up how diametrically opposed Levi is to Zeke, not juts in the context of them apparently going to battle with one another, but philosophically in terms of how the characters view what’s going on around them.

We see each of them facing off, surrounded by their comrades, and while Zeke tells his fellow soldiers “Don’t let them escape.  Wipe them out.”, Levi tells his fellows soldiers “Don’t you die.  You have to survive.”  

This really sums up in the most eloquent, economical way just what makes these two characters so vastly different from one another.  

Zeke, as we know, is in truth, in this moment, betraying his own comrades, and is himself largely responsible for the current situation, having planned all of it out with Eren, and because of that, is the direct cause of so many of his fellow comrades and Eldian’s being killed.  He shows no concern for Pieck’s or Porco’s well being here, only tasks them with killing the enemy, all while secretly planning on letting himself be captured.  We have to remember that Zeke is seen as the leader of the Warrior Unit.  He’s their captain, someone they rely on to guide them and have their backs.

On the other side, we have Levi, who’s been dragged into this fight, along with every other member of the SC, against their express will, by Eren’s independent actions, forcing them into this position of having to invade Marley in order to regain their one and only real defense against invasion.  And Levi’s instructions to his squad here are the exact opposite of Zeke’s.  He tells them, above all, and more important than anything, to stay alive.  His number one priority is keeping his comrades safe.  He orders them to survive, just like he did back in Shinganshina.  

I think this is such a brilliant moment that really encapsulates why these two character’s are so powerfully opposed to one another within the narrative.

Zeke doesn’t really care about his comrades, not enough to prioritize their safety over his goals, and not enough to be honest with or trust them.  He sees them as tools.  They trust him implicitly, and he uses that trust to manipulate them into achieving his ultimate ends, not caring who among them pays for that with their lives.

Levi is the exact opposite, prioritizing the lives of his soldiers above wiping out the enemy, instructing them to survive, no matter what, telling them they HAVE to survive.  More than anything, he wants them all to get out of there alive.  His soldiers also trust him implicitly, and Levi does anything but betray that, instead going out of his way to remind them that their lives matter, and being himself with them 100% of the way, putting trust in them, and showing they can trust him in turn.

It’s a really great and important moment, I think, really defining the opposition of these two characters.

Ymir’s joint interview with Historia is out “Together with Krista, I’m willing to come”

具体的に告白などされた事はあるのかって質問あったは ユミ「私を通じて手紙を渡そうとしてた連中なら、その場で破り捨ててやった」 クリ「えぇ！？そんな可哀想なこと…」 ユミル「自分から話しかける勇気もないようなハンパな野郎にゃ、私のクリスタは渡さねえよ」 When asked if they have got confessed to before Ymir: If you’re talking about those guys trying to pass her a love letter via me, I tore them up, and threw them away on the spot. Krista: Eh?! Those poor thing… Ymir: I’m not gonna hand my Krista over to spineless losers who lack the courage to even speak to her.

ユミ 私を好きになる物好きはいないと思う 『男の方に興味があるようには見えない』なんて言われてた

Ymir: I don’t think there’s anyone who’d like me. Someone even told me “You don’t seem like a person who’d be interested in guys”

Thank you! I'm glad I was able to help. What you've said about never seeing Eren as a bad person really resonated with me, the best way I can describe him and his story is that of a boy born a monster. I really like how you talked about those ideas, it felt like you were expressing something I struggled to, so thanks for that as well!

“They were just there wherever I looked from the day I was born. Those miserable walls.”

I think this is the most important line we need for understanding Eren. From the moment he was born Eren felt caged no matter what he did and he longed for release.

This desire was unconscious at first, but seeing Armin dream so passionately brought about the realization that Armin was seeing and believing in something that Eren couldn’t, and this brings about the realization in him that he’s restrained/caged from doing something.

He initially believes that this indignation from a sense of being caged is because of the Titans or oppressors but as time goes on and the circumstances change, Eren realises that this is something internal and the fact that it’s something that no one else experiences is one of the sources of his tragedy: he can’t communicate/share this desire.

(There’s probably some symbolism in the fact that Eren confessed his truest desires to a child that didn’t speak the same language)

At first, Eren associated release with the “sight” of the things in Armin’s book. He believed that seeing those things will give him the release and liberty he’s been longing for, though it should be noted that Eren says he doesn’t care what the particular sights *are* just that he sees them so I think he cares much more about the feeling of liberation that those things stand for than the sights themselves.

So I think that even though Eren might say that he’s disappointed that the world wasn’t what was in Armin’s book I think what he’s really sad about is that he didn’t feel liberated by the world beyond the walls, but because he associated those feelings with the sights in Armin’s book he uses them interchangeably(I think this is supported by the fact that Eren still feels caged and empty when actually seeing those sights in 139).

The reason Eren slaughters humanity beyond the walls is because from his perspective, *they* are walls/barriers obstructing his freedom. “That Scenery” is one of the most important motifs with Eren, it’s the liberty that comes with transcending or breaking a wall, but one of the ironies in 131 is that Eren is deluding himself to think that it’s freedom. Eren’s very nature demands that he cannot see beyond the “walls” and this is testified to by Eren looking unfulfilled immediately after the freedom panel and the fact that he still needs Armin’s approval. Besides Isayama deliberately contrasts Eren and Armin by saying that Armin still believes in a world beyond the walls, with a panel of Eren’s eyes closed.

Eren’s tragedy is that of a man born with the inability to look past the repression of life(or you could say he was born with the ability to see restraints everywhere). I think this solves all the contradictions I thought I saw in Eren’s character and addresses the “Problem of being a Slave” that Isayama once brought up.

Before I go there’s one last thing I have to say about the final chapter and this motif, Eren can’t see the dream Armin enjoys and he can’t see the future that lies ahead, but his love for his friend(s) let’s him transcend that nature by putting his hopes in them at the end. He won’t ever be able to see beyond the walls, that’s just how he is, but he can be at peace with the fact that his friends will.

Edit: I made this post mainly because I was tired of people rooting Eren’s actions in trauma or an ideological mistake or lack of development. Eren has developed enough as a protagonist, especially by chapter 100, his “mistakes” in the Final Arc are a result of his nature, I think that’s what Isayama wanted to convey.