Attack on Titan Creator Says He's Done Writing After Emptying Everything
Hajime Isayama opens up about his creative drought following the conclusion of his legendary manga series, admitting he poured everything into his masterpiece and can't replicate that magic.
Hajime Isayama has broken his silence about why he's barely touched pen to paper since wrapping up Attack on Titan in 2021. The manga creator shared candid thoughts during a special screening of The Last Attack movie, revealing a creative well that's run completely dry.
"Many years have passed since the manga serialization and anime broadcast ended, but I'm no longer working," Isayama wrote in a message to attendees. "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."
Creative Burnout After Pouring Everything Out
The artist didn't sugarcoat his situation. While he stays busy with daily life, Isayama admitted that even with more free time, recreating something like Attack on Titan feels impossible now.
"Even if I wasn't so busy now, I don't think I could write anything like Attack on Titan," he explained. "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 serialization was like that, where I poured everything out until I was completely empty."
Minimal Output Since the Series Ended
Since Attack on Titan concluded, Isayama has produced just one piece of new work. He created a 2025 one-shot called The Theory of Ill-Natured Men and AI for voice actor Yuki Kaji. That's it.
The anime adaptation wrapped up in 2023 after an extended final season that stretched across multiple years. The conclusion came through several feature-length specials called The Final Chapters, which were later packaged into The Last Attack movie in 2024.
The Franchise Continues Without Its Creator
Even with Isayama stepping back, Attack on Titan isn't disappearing. Producers have openly stated they "plan to continue" developing films and "various game collaborations." The anime recently earned recognition as the first recipient of the Global Impact Award at Crunchyroll's 2025 Anime Awards.
Isayama's honesty about creative exhaustion offers a rare glimpse into what happens when creators give everything to a single work. His admission that he's "completely empty" after Attack on Titan speaks to the intensity he brought to the project that captivated millions worldwide.