I Caved And Read The Attack On Titan Manga Before The Finale, But The English Dub Actors Just Revealed Something Crazy To Me About Spoilers That Blew My Mind

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Spoilers for Attack on Titan are down below – beware if you’re not caught up on the dark anime!

In 2023, when the final episode of “Attack on Titan” came out, I realized that avoiding spoilers for several months would be quite challenging for me, given my constant internet presence. It seemed unlikely that I could avoid them on social media, so I eventually gave in and read the ending via the manga. Interestingly, the English voice actors shared something about spoiler prevention, and frankly, I can hardly believe they managed to pull it off.

To celebrate the temporary cinema release of the compilation film “Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK“, I got an exclusive interview with Bryce Papenbrook and Trina Nishimura, voice actors for Eren and Mikasa in the English dub. I was curious if they knew the story beforehand, and Papenbrook shared that he and Nishimura agreed not to be spoiled for the entire series:

Trina and I decided to abstain from spoilers. We opted not to read the manga ahead of time, choosing instead to experience the journey alongside our characters. This approach, I believe, allowed us to truly feel the emotion in each moment, making the experiences seem genuine and unadulterated when they eventually came across.

It seems unfathomable not to have read “Attack on Titan” while working on the show, a scenario that feels more like a personal horror for me. Yet, Papenbrook shared that this was something he and Trina yearned to explore personally. Remarkably, the voice actor had an opportunity to meet Hajime Isayama, the creator of the manga, and admitted his ignorance about the future plot developments. The creator’s reaction was simply priceless.

It was a privilege to secure a 15-minute slot on his calendar for our conversation, but we ended up chatting for an extended 45 minutes, which turned out to be absolutely amazing. I admitted that I had no idea what would transpire given we were in the midst of recording Season 4 at the time. However, his reaction was nothing short of fantastic. He simply stated, “Eren knows more than you,” which is the most motivating thing someone could say to me during that part of our narrative.

Trina Nishimura (the actor portraying Mikasa, one of the toughest characters not using Titan power) consistently adhered to the “no-spoiling” policy. She added that a significant factor behind this, besides their agreement, was the advice given by their English director, Mike McFarland, who encouraged them to experience the character’s journey instead of learning about it prematurely.

Prior to our collaboration on multiple ventures, he suggested, “Hey, let’s embark on this adventure together, without peeking ahead or reading ahead…”, and I can tell you, the thrill of discovering Mikasa’s world alongside her, unaware of what lay ahead, was truly breathtaking. It wasn’t easy; I had to steer clear of Twitter. People would inquire at conventions or we’d meet others who’d ask, “Have you reached the end? Do you know how it ends?” To which I’d respond, “Please don’t share that with me!” Evading spoilers for a decade was challenging, but we managed, and looking back, it was quite an extraordinary experience.

Ten years have passed… Wow! The series “Attack on Titan” is fantastic and truly one of the best anime for beginners. It’s impressive to me that someone could manage to stay away from spoilers for so long, especially when it comes to the voice actors. I mean, avoiding the bittersweet finale? Eren’s supposed death? That’s something I find hard to imagine.

As an ardent anime fan, let me tell you, it wasn’t just the lengthy voice acting that got to me; there was a four-year hiatus in the series from 2013 to 2017. During this time, I had to be extra cautious about spoilers, and honestly, the thought of potentially stumbling upon one still gives me the chills.

As a movie enthusiast who’s recently dived into the captivating realm of “Attack on Titan”, I can attest that it’s a must-watch for newcomers. Yet, rest assured, voice actors like Bryce Papenbrook and Yuji Nishimura are well-versed in the series’ conclusion, ensuring that we all can breathe a unified sigh of relief as we journey through this epic tale together.

In the upcoming movie “Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK”, the two actors will once again take on their roles in a post-credit scene. So, don’t miss it when it hits theaters for its limited run. Afterward, prepare yourself to feel the heartache all over again as you revisit some of the emotionally charged deaths from “AOT”. Let’s join together in this shared experience without giving away any spoilers for those who haven’t watched the series yet!

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2025-02-08 06:37