The third installment of the Hajime Isayama's "Attack on Titan" anime series has been confirmed to be released in 2018 with no delays, contrary to what happened to the second season.
The story will pick up from where the second season, which aired from April to June 2017, ended. This was where Eren Yeager, the male protagonist, was shown to have been rescued by his friends who were former Survey Corps members.
The third season's promotional video teaser showed a simple clip of the three main characters Eren, Mikasa and Armin, looking toward the ocean.
This has sparked several discussions among fans on whether the three made it outside the walls. On the other hand, there were also several controversial promotional posters released.
The promotional poster in "Attack on Titan's" official website featured Survey Corps Captain Levi Ackerman on a standoff with the season's new antagonist, Kenny Ackerman. At the bottom of the page, it is indicated that the series will air in July 2018.
Another poster showed Eren, Levi and an unknown figure standing behind the two. However, the uniform, weaponry and gun upholster that are present instead of the usual "vertical maneuver gear" give away spoilers to manga fans.
With all these hints dropped, the third season is said to begin in the "Uprising" arc of the manga, which happens right after surprise antagonists Bertholt Hoover and Reiner Braun revealed their identities as "Titan Shifters."
This also signifies that the entire plot is nearing its end. "It seemed like my editor wasn't going to let the series start to be published unless I had an ending in mind," said Isayama in an official interview with Men's culture magazine Brutus back in 2016.
Avid readers of the manga will catch all the hints dropped by the two promotional posters and teaser video, especially the cavern with crystal walls.
As it stands, all fans can do is to wait for the official airing of the third season.
