Attack on Titan: Chronicle (2020) is a compilation film summarizing the first three seasons of the anime. Although it condenses nearly 60 episodes into a two-hour runtime, it still delivers a cohesive, emotional, and intense recap of humanity’s desperate fight against the Titans. Below is a full, spoiler-filled breakdown with all sections you asked for.
Detailed Summary
The Fall of Shiganshina
The film opens with the catastrophic breach of Wall Maria by the Colossal Titan and Armored Titan, events that change Eren, Mikasa, and Armin’s lives forever. Eren’s mother is killed in the chaos, pushing him into a rage-filled vow to wipe out every Titan. This early tragedy remains one of the most defining motivations in the entire story.
The Training Years and First Battles
The cadets train to become soldiers, forming bonds and rivalries. The Battle of Trost is summarized tightly but effectively: Eren first transforms into a Titan, shocking everyone and establishing the central mystery of the series — Titans can be human.
Female Titan Arc
The pursuit of the Female Titan (Annie Leonhart) is shown in its most crucial moments: the battles in the forest, Annie’s desperate attempt to escape, and her eventual crystallization. These scenes reinforce the growing theme that the real enemies may not be Titans, but other humans.
Clash of the Titans: Reiner, Bertholdt, and Ymir
The shocking reveals of Reiner as the Armored Titan and Bertholdt as the Colossal Titan remain a highlight. Their betrayal shakes the Survey Corps to its core. Ymir’s transformation and her bond with Historia are touched on, giving emotional and political depth to the story.
The Uprising and the Truth of Historia
The political conspiracy inside the walls is summarized swiftly. Historia accepts her role as queen, overthrowing a corrupt monarchy. Levi’s epic fight with Kenny’s squad is present but shortened. These events broaden the story beyond Titan battles into government manipulation.
Return to Shiganshina and the Basement Revelation
This is the emotional backbone of the film. The Survey Corps’ mission to retake Wall Maria leads to:
- Erwin’s suicidal charge
- Armin’s near-death sacrifice
- The duel between Beast Titan and Levi
- The battle between Eren and the Colossal Titan
The Basement Revelation is presented as the turning point of the entire story: humanity is not alone; the world is far larger and more hostile than the people behind the walls ever realized. The identities of Titans, Eldians, and Marleyans finally come into focus.
Movie Ending
The film ends with humanity having reclaimed Wall Maria, but the emotional tone is heavy. The Basement truth unveils a global cycle of hatred and oppression. We see Eren staring across the ocean, realizing that the Titans were never the true endgame — the enemy lies beyond the sea.
The final scene shows Eren wondering whether freedom awaits across the water or another battlefield. This ending sets up Season 4, showing the shift from survival horror to geopolitical conflict. It is a cold, sobering, and transformative finale. The message is unmistakable: even after defeating the Titans, the real war is just beginning.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Attack on Titan: Chronicle does not contain any post-credits scenes.
Type of Movie
A fast-paced summary compilation anime film that condenses multiple seasons into a streamlined narrative while preserving major emotional and thematic moments. It is not a standalone story but a recap for existing fans or newcomers who want a compressed version.
Cast
- Yuki Kaji as Eren Yeager
- Yui Ishikawa as Mikasa Ackerman
- Marina Inoue as Armin Arlert
- Daisuke Ono as Erwin Smith
- Hiroshi Kamiya as Levi Ackerman
- Kishô Taniyama as Jean Kirstein
- Yoshimasa Hosoya as Reiner Braun
- Yuu Kobayashi as Sasha Blouse
- Romi Park as Hange Zoë
Film Music and Composer
Music is composed primarily by Hiroyuki Sawano, whose dynamic style mixes orchestral, rock, and choral elements. Iconic tracks such as “Attack on Titan”, “Call Your Name”, and “Vogel im Käfig” appear throughout the recaps. Sawano’s score remains one of the most defining aspects of the franchise.
Filming Locations
As an animated work, the film was produced at Wit Studio in Japan.
The significance lies in Wit Studio’s visual identity: the hand-drawn textures, dark palettes, and cinematic action sequences became trademarks of the series. Their work heavily influenced the tone and emotional impact of the entire Chronicle compilation.
Awards and Nominations
The film itself did not win major awards, as compilation films rarely do, but the Attack on Titan anime series has received numerous accolades for:
- Best Animation
- Best Action
- Best Soundtrack
- Best Director
Chronicle indirectly inherits the prestige of the original seasons.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Wit Studio had to remaster and re-edit over 50 episodes into a cohesive narrative, which required extensive restructuring.
- Key staff mentioned that trimming scenes while preserving emotional impact was one of the hardest tasks.
- The movie uses minimal new footage, but transitions and narrations were customized to feel seamless.
- Director Masashi Koizuka supervised editing to ensure that the story maintained emotional continuity despite heavy compression.
Inspirations and References
- Based on the manga Shingeki no Kyojin by Hajime Isayama.
- Inspired by themes of oppression, cyclical violence, and moral ambiguity, influenced by real-world history and militaristic politics.
- The storyline draws parallels to walls and segregation in human history.
- The Titan design aesthetic was partially inspired by muscle anatomy studies and horror visuals.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
As a compilation film, Chronicle does not have alternate endings.
However, many scenes from the original series are shortened or omitted entirely, particularly:
- Extended character interactions
- Some training arc comedic scenes
- Side stories involving secondary characters
These were removed to keep the narrative streamlined and focused on major plot developments.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Chronicle adapts the first 22 manga volumes but presents them through edited anime footage.
Differences:
- The manga provides deeper political explanations and more nuanced character moments.
- Several early comedic scenes and slower-paced chapters are excluded.
- Certain violent or gruesome manga moments are toned down in the anime footage.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The Colossal Titan’s first appearance over Shiganshina’s wall
- Eren discovering his Titan power
- Annie’s transformation in the capital
- Reiner and Bertholdt revealing their identities in one of the most shocking anime moments
- Levi’s assault on the Beast Titan
- The basement reveal — arguably the most important scene in the entire series
Iconic Quotes
- “If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don’t fight, you can’t win.” — Eren
- “This world is cruel… and also very beautiful.” — Mikasa
- “Give up on your dreams and die.” — Levi (Erwin’s version echoes heavily in the film)
- “Someone who cannot sacrifice anything cannot change anything.” — Armin
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The film rearranges certain scenes to foreshadow later mysteries more clearly.
- Quick flashes of Eren’s memories hint at Season 4 revelations when rewatched.
- The editing subtly highlights Erwin vs. Armin as the emotional moral conflict.
- Moments that were originally several minutes long are compressed into symbolic imagery.
Trivia
- Chronicle was released to prepare fans for Final Season.
- It is the third recap film following Parts 1 & 2, but covers a significantly larger portion of the story.
- The narrator unifies the film more tightly than the previous compilation movies.
- Some fans use Chronicle as a refresher before starting Season 4.
Why Watch?
Because it’s a fast, dramatic, and visually powerful recap that keeps all the major shocks, emotions, and reveals intact.
It’s ideal for:
- Fans needing a refresher before Season 4
- Newcomers wanting a condensed introduction
- Anyone who appreciates a tight, emotionally charged summary of a complex story
Director’s Other Movies
- Attack on Titan: Roar of Awakening (2018)
- Attack on Titan Season 2 (2017, TV but director credit)
- Attack on Titan Season 3 (2018–2019, TV)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Akira (1988)
- Ghost in the Shell (1995)
- Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)
- Ghost in the Shell 2.0 (2008)
- Bleach: Memories of Nobody (2006)
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Sacred Star of Milos (2011)
- Naruto: The Last (2014)
- Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I (2017)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I (2012)
