Attack on Titan’s Creator Says He’s Hung Up His Pen for Good
Hajime Isayama, the mind behind Attack on Titan, has opened up about stepping away from manga and why he doesn’t see himself creating anything like his iconic series again.
Hajime Isayama, the bloke responsible for the global phenomenon Attack on Titan, has shared a rare update on his life since wrapping up the manga in 2021. In a message penned for punters at a special screening of the film The Last Attack, Isayama reflected on his current situation and creative outlook.
“Many years have passed since the manga serialisation and anime broadcast ended, but I’m no longer working,”
he wrote.
“I’ve occasionally been asked to draw illustrations and sign autographs, and I’ve helped out with [Yuki Kaji’s] Breeze Project, but I no longer draw on a daily basis.”
He went on to explain that, despite not being tied up with regular work, his days are still packed.
“However, I am by no means living a self-indulgent life; I am busy every day,”
Isayama added.
“However, even if I wasn’t so busy now, I don’t think I could write anything like Attack on Titan. If I try to write something, it will end up being a [copy] of one of the elements I drew in Attack on Titan. I think this first serialisation was like that, where I poured everything out until I was completely empty.”
Life After the Titans
Since the end of his much-loved series, Isayama’s creative output has been minimal. The only new work he’s produced is a one-shot manga for Yuki Kaji, titled The Theory of Ill-Natured Men and AI, which is set for release in 2025. Otherwise, he’s mostly kept out of the spotlight, only popping up for the odd illustration or autograph session.
The anime adaptation of Attack on Titan wrapped up in 2023, after a marathon final season that stretched over several years and included a handful of feature-length specials, collectively called The Final Chapters. These were later bundled into the film The Last Attack, which hit screens in 2024.
The Future of the Franchise
Even though Isayama has stepped back, the world he created isn’t going anywhere just yet. One of the producers has mentioned plans to keep the franchise alive with more films and a range of game tie-ins. The anime has also picked up some serious recognition, snagging the first-ever Global Impact Award at the 2025 Anime Awards.
For now, though, it seems Isayama is content to leave the world of Titans behind, having given it everything he had. Fans may be keen for more, but the creator himself reckons he’s said all he needs to say.