Attack on Titan Season 4: What happened to Mikasa?
CrunchyrollDiscover Mikasa’s fate in Season 4 and beyond as we explore the final chapter of the Attack On Titan manga and anime, from an unbreakable bond to her unthinkable choice.
Attack On Titan‘s highly anticipated conclusion aired on November 5, 2023, and fans discovered the fates of their beloved characters. A lot has happened throughout the series. But since the anime‘s first episode aired back in 2014, one character has consistently stood out as a fan favorite: Mikasa Ackerman.
Mikasa’s unwavering determination and fierce loyalty have been her defining traits throughout the series. Now Eren, Armin, and Mikasa’s journey has completed, fans have taken to X/Twitter to discuss the best (and the most heart-wrenching) series conclusion of all time.
So, now the bittersweet conclusion of Attack On Titan has aired, there’s one burning question on everyone’s mind. What really happens to Mikasa? We look at the manga and the anime to find out. Spoilers to follow…
Attack On Titan Season 4: What happened to Mikasa in the manga?
The manga ends with Mikasa forced to confront Eren in a fight to the death, ending the Titans’ tyranny once and for all. Mikasa says goodbye to the person Eren once was, defeats the Titans, and moves on with her new life in a safer world.
The anime adaptation has proven mostly faithful to the original manga, although with a few key differences. For example, in the manga, Armin (instead of Mikasa, as shown in the anime) is the one to pull Eren out of his first Titan form. This is why the manga is the perfect starting point to speculate the fate of the characters we’ve loved for years.
Mikasa Ackerman (portrayed by Yui Ishikawa) is stoic, loyal, and undoubtedly fierce. We’re introduced to her in Season 1 after having pledged her life to protect her foster brother and closest friend, Eren Yeager (voiced by Yuki Kaji), since Eren rescued her from human traffickers when she was only nine years old. Over the seasons we watched as their bond became unbreakable, with Mikasa’s unwavering devotion to her childhood pledge to protect Eren driving her every action.
However, in the fourth season of the series, their relationship takes an unexpected and dramatic turn. This shift forces Mikasa to confront her lifelong beliefs and take a stand against the very person she vowed to protect.
Attack On Titan: The Final Chapters Special 1 introduces us to the beginning of the end. And most importantly, how to finally end the Titans’ reign of terror: the Rumbling. But what happens to the story when our beloved hero becomes the villain?
After Eren triggers the Rumbling (essentially a cataclysmic event that involves an army of Titans marching across the world and trampling everything in their path), resulting in the deaths of 80% of the world’s population, Mikasa and Armin have no choice but to kill their friend.
In the penultimate chapter, Mikasa, Armin, Levi, and the surviving remnants of the Scout Regiment engage in an epic clash, a life-and-death struggle against Eren and the formidable Shining Centipede, the source of all Titans.
Attack On Titan: The manga and Season 4
Hajime Isayama officially released the final chapter of his Attack On Titan manga in April 2021, evoking mixed responses from fans. But it didn’t end there. Isayama shocked fans when it was revealed in October 2023 on Twitter that he isn’t done with the universe yet! He will release a new 18-page chapter and illustration artbook in April 2024. Could this offer a new ending for Mikasa?
Regardless of what these final pages will reveal, let’s take a closer look at what Attack On Titan season 4, part 3 holds for Mikasa as the fate of the world hangs in the balance:
The manga divulges that while Armin harnesses the might of the Colossal Titan to combat Eren’s fearsome Founding Titan, it is Mikasa ultimately infiltrates Eren’s Titan form, severs his connection to the Titans, and ends the darkness engulfing their world once and for all.
After making it inside Eren’s Titan mouth with assistance from Levi, Mikasa decapitated Eren’s human body and kissed him for the first and last time. The final chapter confirmed Eren’s death – for good this time. As the dust settled, Mikasa brought his head to Armin, who tearfully mourned his loss with her.
The final manga chapter is particularly heartbreaking. In the aftermath of the battle, Mikasa is one of the few to emerge unscathed. However, she remains bitterly affected by the death of her childhood friend and continues to visit Eren’s grave, clinging to the scarf he gifted her before the events of Season 1. This bittersweet ending signifies the enduring bond between the two, a connection that transcends even death.
The new pages illustrated by Isayama reveal an older Mikasa visiting Eren’s grave, accompanied by a child and a mysterious, unnamed companion. However, her partner’s identity remains a well-guarded secret, sparking countless speculations. But it is possible that the answer could be revealed in 2024.
Mikasa’s life in the manga after the rumbling
The final pages of the manga hint at a future beyond the apocalypse, and Isayama leaves room for speculation. The fate of Paradis Island and its inhabitants is offered as a fleeting glimpse into a world still in flux, suggesting that the story may continue in unexpected ways.
With the grand finale of Attack On Titan on the horizon, fans will remember Mikasa Ackerman as a testament to loyalty, resilience, and the complexities of friendship over time.
Her journey, marked by triumphs and sacrifice, has left a significant mark on the anime world. And we’re waiting for the series final episode with bated breath, knowing that Mikasa’s legacy will last for generations to come – and that it could continue in 2024 with the long-awaited release of a new chapter.
How does the anime differ from the manga?
After Attack on Titan’s anime came to its epic 85-minute conclusion, some changes – sanctioned by Hajime Isayama himself – between the anime and manga’s endings were evident.
From Isayama’s statement, fans were led to believe that the anime’s ending could be significantly changed from the one in the manga. However, after the dust settled, the credits rolled, and the post-episode sequence streamed, fans of the franchise were left stunned.
For the most part, the conclusion of the anime stayed faithful to the manga and therefore, Mikasa’s final fate also remained unchanged. The final episode of Attack on Titan not only ended the war but revealed that Mikasa was able to live a peaceful life while mourning the loss of her childhood friend.
As the years pass, the anime shows that she marries and has a family and is eventually buried at the same site Eren is buried, bringing the story to a bittersweet end that Eren always hoped for her.
How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2023
Crunchyroll is the world’s best hub for streaming anime, whether it’s One Piece, Attack on Titan, or Jujutsu Kaisen – and thanks to ExpressVPN, you can access the platform’s full library even if you’re outside the US.
If you’re abroad, here’s what you need to do to access Crunchyroll’s full selection – and it really is this simple:
- Sign up for ExpressVPN, which has ultra-fast servers and offers a secure, private connection wherever you are in the world.
- Connect to a location anywhere in the US; Express VPN allows you to choose from 24 different spots, from New Jersey to Santa Monica.
- Visit Crunchyroll online and start streaming all of your favorite animes – and perhaps some you’ve never watched.
Accessing Crunchyroll’s US roster makes a difference. For example, Hong Kong users only have access to less than 100 titles, while the US has nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows.
You can also stream anime on Crunchyroll for free with an ad-supported plan. Or you can pay for a subscription – there’s even a 14-day free trial if you can’t quite make up your mind.
You can check out our other Attack on Titan coverage here and more anime content here.
If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.