r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • Jan 23 '25

Official Thread Ultimate Guide to AoT: FAQs, Analysis and Discourse

155 Upvotes

This multi-subreddit megathread contains:

• The most frequently brought up Topics & Questions

• Analysis on various story Elements & Characters

• Random interesting meta posts

• Documents and guide on the anime and the Attack on Titan reddit fandom

This megathread covers threads from various subreddits, and platforms. Enjoy exploring!


Guide.

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• Guide on AoT anime content

• Masterlist Of Anime OSTs S1-S4 + Final Episode - YouTube Playlist

• AoT wiki for your fact-checking needs

Frequently Asked Questions.

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Questions that are asked very frequently, mostly by new or one time watchers/readers, to which there is a factual answer or an agreed-upon interpretations in the community.

1.) What is the 50 year plan? Follow up: Why didn’t Zeke and Eren touch earlier?

2.) What were the Azumabito's intentions with Mikasa?

3.) How was Ymir freed? Who freed Ymir? (check analysis section down as well)

4.) How did Eren talk to Mikasa in paths?

5.) What is Historia’s role in how we perceive Ymir through tales and romanticized stories?

6.) What will happen if a man inherits the Female Titan?

7.) How do the Founding Titan abilities work?

8.) What were some of Paradis' options post-timeskip? •Alternative to the Rumbling. •Anti-50-year plan •Euthnasia Plan

9.) Why did Historia choose to get pregnant?

10.) Why did Grisha give his titan to Eren, when he asked Zeke to stop him?

11.) What were Eren’s motivations to choose the path of rumbling?

12.) Are there multiple timelines in AOT?

13.) Why do dinosaurs appear in the opening of AOT’s 2nd season?

• Isayama's Answers to the 15th Anniversary Magazine Q&A

Frequently Brought up Topics.

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These topics are frequently brought up, but there is no clear answer or the topic is deliberately left to speculation. Check out these links for some in-depth posts on the respective topics.

1.) a) Who won the fight between Annie and Mikasa? b) Who would win between Annie and Mikasa?

2.) Opinion on any divisive characters

• Gabi • Mikasa • Eren • Floch

3.) Did you like the ending? a)Anime Ending b)Manga Ending

4.) Do you support the rumbling?

5.) Who should have been saved, Erwin or Armin?

6.) Was Eren justified? Discussion post | Detailed answer

7.) Sub or Dub?

8.) Would Erwin have joined the Yeagerists if he had survived?

9.) Is Attack on Titan fascist? No, it is not | Devil’s Advocate:

10.) Why does Annie get forgiven?


General Analysis On The Story.

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These are high-effort essays or videos analysing the series as a whole. Please note that us listing something here does not mean we endorse or fully agree with every single statement made there - we just think that if you are looking for more analysis, these might be worth a watch.

• A 1-hour retrospective breakdown of AoT as a whole

• How AoT deconstructs heroism and morality

• Idealism in AoT

• Scout Regiment: Paradise’s Idealistic Counterculture

• The importance of nameless soldiers & collateral damage in AoT

• What was it all for? Thoughts on the extra pages of AoT’s ending

• Why I feel Mikasa, Levi and Armin were the perfect choice for Eren’s final moments and the story’s climax - Imgur Backup for future

• Analysis of AoT’s extra ending pages - A brilliant thematic conclusion - Imgur Backup for Future

• To love someone inside the Walls - Imgur Backup for Future

• The Rumbling is indefensible

• A theoretical analysis of its structure

• The highs and lows of AoT’s final arc

• Overanalyzing every single episode of the anime - a youtube playlist

• Titans as Mirrors: How Titan forms reflect the Warriors' Psyche - Imgur Backup for Future

Character Analysis.

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1. Eren Yeager.

• Eren Yeager: The Chained God of Attack On Titan

• The rise and fall of Eren - Imgur Backup for Future

• The perfect duality of Eren - Imgur Backup for Future

• What is freedom in AoT

• Developments vs desires - Everyone and especially Eren

• Nature vs nurture: Eren’s motivations and the Dina twist

• Eren Jaeger and the insanity of circular storytelling

• The ironic development of Eren

• Analyzing antagonists

• Power, freedom, the Founding Titan and Levi

• The Attack Titan’s powers and their effect on Eren

• Why Eren’s actions were very obviously painted bad with the Rumbling - In-depth examination

• The narrative importance of the causal loop on Eren

• Eren and Mikasa’s relationship

• Eren’s characterization throughout the story and his post timeskip conflict

• Eren Yeager is (Not) Special

• Ramzi and Eren: the turning point in Eren’s demeanor

• An observation on the structure of Eren’s characterization post timeskip - Imgur Backup for Future

• The false mask of Eren

• The Jaeger Projection Problem: The Last Supper of Self-Loathing - Imgur Backup for Future

2. Mikasa Ackerman.

• Mikasa's Heroine's Journey Arc

• Mikasa’s Character Arc: What, Where, How, When

• Mikasa's Road of Trials

• Mikasa and the meaning of Pride

• Mikasa and her relationship with authority

• Mikasa and Erwin: The Sacrificial Act of Dreams for the Cause

• Why Mikasa's conclusion not only strengthens her arc but Attack On Titan as a whole - Imgur Backup for Future

• Mikasa’s Destiny and Mikasa’s Choice

• Mikasa: A Person from Two Trope

• A Literary perspective of Mikasa - Imgur Backup for Future

• Mikasa, the symbolism of the praying mantis and butterfly and its development throughout the story - Imgur Backup for Future

• Mikasa's self Imposed Curse

• Why does Mikasa have headaches

• Differences between the Manga and Anime version of Mikasa - Imgur Backup for Future

3. Armin Arlert.

• Armin character analysis, humanity’s reluctant savior

• Armin and Eren’s dynamic - Imgur Backup for Future

• Armin and Zeke’s dynamic - Imgur Backup for Future

• The importance of dialogue and Armin’s character - Imgur Backup for Future

• Armin Arlert: conflicting lessons, dynamics with Erwin and Levi - Imgur Backup for Future

• Armin and Annie’s relationship

4. Levi Ackerman.

• Is Levi bland? A bullet-point counter-argument and his importance in the narrative

• Levi’s character motivations and the promise

• Levi’s ending

• Levi’s violence and compassion

• Serumbowl

• Levi, Falco and Gabi

• Levi vs Zeke foil

• Levi, a slave to being a hero

• Levi vs Kenny’s influence - Imperfect heroics

• Levi’s mistake with Zeke and getting blown up by thunder spears

5. Erwin Smith.

• Erwin Smith - wearing masks

• Erwin Smith - the impossible standard

• Exploring Erwin - For Humanity?

• Erwin Smith - A devil with a dream

• Erwin would not support the Rumbling, you just don’t like Armin

6. Zeke Yeager.

• Zeke Yeager & Personal Connections.

• The contradictions of Zeke - A character study

• The desperate loneliness of Zeke

• Understanding Zeke Yeager

7. Reiner Braun.

• Reiner Braun and “saving the world”

• Reiner character analysis, viewed through psychology and philosophy theory

• Who is Reiner Braun?

• Eren and Reiner’s dynamic - Imgur Backup for Future

8. Annie Leonhart.

• Annie’s search for personhood

• About Annie…(character analysis)

• No one understands Annie

• Understanding Annie

9. Hange Zoe.

• Hange and the role of commander, character analysis

• Hange’s “Genocide is Wrong” Line is Misunderstood

• Hange’s understanding and intellect

10. Jean Kirstein.

• Jean Kirstein embracing survey corps values, a character analysis

• Jean character study through the lens of theory of psychology

11. Bertholdt Hoover.

• Comprehensive analysis of Bertholdt

• The tragedy of Bertholdt Hoover

12. (Freckles) Ymir and Historia Reiss.

• Ymir analysis and religious subtext

• Thoughts on Historia in Uprising - Imgur Backup for Future

• Ymir and Historia’s dynamic analysis - Imgur Backup for Future

13. Sasha Braus and Connie Springer.

• The secondary trio behind EMA

14. Floch Forster.

• Floch - the volunteer Devil, character analysis

• Floch's leadership examination and the comparison with Erwin

15. Gabi and the children of the forest.

• Gabi Braun - A brighter future

16. (Founder) Ymir Fritz.

• The final mystery of AOT - Ymir analysis

17. Grisha Yeager.

• Grisha Yeager: A Deconstruction of the Main Character's Dad Archetype - Imgur Backup for Future

18. Keith Shadis.

• From bystander to hero, a character analysis

19. Kenny/Uri.

• Kenny, Uri and the cycle of hatred

• The Importance of Kenny and Uri (In-depth Thematic Analysis)

20. Dot Pyxis.

• Why Pyxis and Eren’s Conversation was Not Retconned

21. Yelena.

• Yelena: AoT’s puppeteer, a character analysis

22. Theo Magath.

• The lasting impact of Theo Magath, a character analysis.


MISCELLANEOUS.

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Manga (Source Material) vs Anime (Adaptation) differences:

• Megathread of Anime / Manga differences | Vol 1 - 34 | OVAs

• Differences between anime and manga endings

Fandom and Anime Production Misc.

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• Well-written characters, meta discussion of fandom perception

• AOT anime reactions and in depth discussions

• Explaining the ending controversy - a fandom analysis

• Final Attack on Titan Episode - AoTwiki poll

• The Original manga ending - chapter 139 SNK POLL

Behind-the-Scenes.

• All of AoT animation staff for every episode of the series

• Arifumi Imai animator spotlight - the man responsible for animating 70%+ of action animation cuts in S1-S3 and the Levi and Mikasa killing Eren sakuga in the final episode

• TV release vs BLU-RAY differences

• Some design sheets from WIT’s adaptation

• Some design sheets from MAPPA’s adaptation

• WIT staff interview from 2014 on AOT

• 100Cams - Behind the scenes footage of AOT s4 part3 production

• Final episode VA recording - Behind the scenes

• AoT S4 part 2 staff interview, series director Hayashi and CG producer Tannawa

• Excerpts from roundtable final episode interview with staff

• Interview with S4 director Hayashi before its airing

• Global TV demands interview of Hayashi

• Hayashi comments on episode 4x28 Rumbling scene and Isayama’s request

Subreddits of AoT Reddit-Fandom.

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General.

Subreddit Description Date of Creation
r/ShingekiNoKyojin Main discussion subreddit nr1. Feburary 18, 2013
r/attackontitan Main discussion subreddit nr2. November 28, 2012
r/titanfolk The Folk subreddit for AoT. May 1, 2018
r/okbuddyreiner Shitposting subreddit. April 28, 2019
r/AttackOnRetards A space dedicated to calling out negativity. April 27, 2021
r/AttackOnShipping A subreddit for any and all shippers. April 27, 2022
r/ANRime Subreddit dedicated to theorizing about an Alternative-Original Ending (AOE). June 29, 2021

Character dedicated subreddits.

• r/LeviCult

• r/Ereh

• r/Mikasa

• r/ErwinSmith

• r/potatogirl

• r/ArminCult

• r/GabiCult

• r/ReinerCult

• r/ZekeCult

• r/JeanTheStallion


It has been in the works for a long time. A big Thank You to everyone who created the content featured here, as well as to those who helped us gather it all together.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 2h ago

Discussion Sometimes I wonder what Marley and Zeke thought of Levi after he humiliated their War Chief 😭

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244 Upvotes

Imagine being Marley, investing so much in the power of the Titans, only to watch a single human being dismantle one of your most powerful weapons like it was nothing.

And imagine being Zeke, possessing royal blood and the Beast Titan, only to get turned into prey by a man without a single Titan power.

The fact that so many soldiers had to sacrifice their lives just to create an opening for Levi makes the whole thing even crazier. But in one vs one fight, levi will win, it's clear.

I can literally imagine Zeke getting flashbacks every time someone mentions the Survey Corps, and having to explain to the Warriors how Levi Ackerman absolutely TOYED with his Beast Titan. 💀

That entire encounter was less of a fight and more of a public execution. 💀


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 3h ago

Discussion The fandom’s greatest myth: “Eren was forced to do rumbling to protect Paradis and didn’t want to do it”

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173 Upvotes

He literally states he wants to do it for his enjoyment, and changes the past so he could accomplish it.

He lies to everyone so they’ll accept what he’s doing, but he confesses to Ramzi and Armin that he did it for his selfish desire to eradicate all life outside the walls so it’ll just be like Armin’s book

Just because Eren is the protagonist, doesn’t mean he’s a good person, I’m fact, he’s a very morally detestable character


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 11h ago

Discussion What were some things you thought were going to happen in the series before reading/watching?

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529 Upvotes

I had managed to watch the anime pretty much completely spoiler free, however there were a few terms and other little things I had known out of context prior to watching that made me have some (very wrong) guesses about the series

-I had heard of Marley but I did not know they were supposed to he a civilization outside the walls, I had assumed the later end of the show would be about some kind of titan civil war and that Marley would be some kind of insurrectionist group in the walls

-I thought the Beast Titan was going to be a nice titan for some reason, man was I way off there

-I didn’t know really anything about titan powers or who would have them, so I had assumed it was something most of the main cast would eventually be able to do

-Because I’d heard of the Rumbling before (not really any details about it just that it’s an event that happens), I assumed that Colossal Titans were simply just an advanced class of pure titan and not just one shifter with tons of similar looking titans in the walls

Overall pretty much none of my guesses ended up being correct and I was very satisfied with how things actually played out in this masterpiece of a story


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 9h ago

Discussion What if mikasa was part of the army that was ordered to go on a suicide charge against the beast?

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148 Upvotes

Would she be willing to sacrifice her life or will she be selfish even knowing that her leaving means other soldiers leave until everyone leaves and the whole plan falls apart knowing retreating without taking care of the beast titan means certain death for everyone and would would erwin or levi be willing to kill her on the spot if so


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 6h ago

Discussion What does these Visuals Signify?

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67 Upvotes

In Akuma no ko ED, we were shown glimpses of Paradis which is Empty and Re-taken by the Nature. But nothing like such ever happened in the Show. Unlike other OPs and EDs which were basically spoilers foreshadowing the future events of the show. But nothing like such happened in the show as we were shown in Akuma no ko.

All I can think of is that this is what would have happened to Paradis had Eren refused to initiate Rumbling. Any other takes?


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Anime Imagine how angry Zeke was when he created the perfect plan and it failed: The armored titan should kill the horses, but for some reason the armored does not the literally unique thing he should do. Then you send the backup that should blast instantly and he just decided that he wasn't in the mood.

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1.8k Upvotes

r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 14h ago

Discussion Why are TikTok fans so concerned with Mikasa staying single for her entire life for Eren?

71 Upvotes

It’s so obvious that she got married to SOMEONE and that “someone” is most likely Jean as well. Why would she be single after losing her… boy that she liked at 19 years old who ALSO massacred 80% of the population. Is it not obvious that Eren always pushed Mikasa away since they are kids while Jean noticed her as soon as he set his eyes on her. It’s so odd for her character too. She HAS to stay a virgin and pure for Eren her whole life and adopts a child from Historia’s orphanage… like come on, bruh.

I don’t know, I can’t see how someone can see AoT has high art and the peak of all fiction if you just need to headcanon something extremely unrealistic for a ship.

I know this is a tired old debate but I just thought about it.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 16h ago

Discussion This might be one of the main reasons Mike thought the Beast Titan was an abnormal Titan — a theory based on the available evidence.

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99 Upvotes

I think this point needs to be considered based on the information Mike actually had at the time, not mixing in knowledge from anime viewers.

From what the Survey Corps had seen, normal Titans would attack those in their Titan forms, like Eren in Trost's form and Annie, who were attacked by Titans after screaming.

Therefore, when Mike saw the Beast Titan surrounded by Titans without any of them attacking, he didn't have enough reason to conclude that it was "a human shapeshifter," because he was unaware of this ability.

From Mike's perspective, it might just be an abnormal Titan behaving differently from the others, and he only had about 30-40 seconds before being attacked. Gathering all the information and jumping to the conclusion that

"it can control Titans" was virtually impossible.

It wasn't until the smaller Titan bit his leg that he clearly realized the situation was different from what he had understood all along.

Therefore, Mike's shock is very reasonable, because he had only just discovered the Beast Titan's ability when it was too late, not something he knew beforehand.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 23m ago

Discussion AOT es de esas series donde digo “todas los openings geniales, ninguno malo”

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• Upvotes

Mi favorita es My War pero sinceramente todas las entradas de esta serie son muy muy iconicas y bastante reconocibles, no he visto ninguna entrada de otros animes que me generen esa sensación como AOT y estoy honesto


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

News Tom Cruise clapping for The Rumbling during his tour of MAPPA's 15th Anniversary exhibition in Japan

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848 Upvotes

r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 9h ago

Discussion Was Marley aware that they lacked the ability to use the founder?

16 Upvotes

Marley spends all their resources and commits several shifters to attempting to topple paradis and seize the founder

but they don't know the founder is useless without royal blood, do they?

nor do they know how the founder is unusable with royal blood (due to the vow).

So really if the Warriors did take Eren, Marley would look strong but would be unable to benefit from the founder. Paradis would be finished tho

(all of this assuming Zeke dies fairly soon w/o children, and historia isn't captures)


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 10h ago

Discussion 20 years after the finale...

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15 Upvotes

How do you think eldians (both his former friends & the general eldian population) will remember Eren as a person? A Necessary evil that was needed to break the 2000 year cycle of violence? An Unforgivable monster? A saviour? Tragic figure? All of the above? etc... what do you think the general eldian sentiment about him will be


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Discussion I wish they nailed this expression of eren in the anime..

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593 Upvotes

The smile he gives here is probably him realising , "oh yes the future doesn't change and if I don't go ahead with my plan , they will fucking anhilate my people and my friends" , also him closing his eyes after hearing the cheering and clapping for LITERALLY GENOCIDE is so so tragic and hits even harder after completing the series

He does smile in the anime and it is subtle but in the manga u can catch that he is realising that "yep I have to do this" , I wish they lingered a little bit and showed his smiling face a little bit more , same with his reaction to hearing "because I was born into this world"


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Manga A difference between the anime and manga that I noticed after re-reading the manga

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745 Upvotes

​

After I finished watching the anime, I went back and read the manga again. I noticed that some things were changed in the anime. One example is Mike's death scene. Actually, I should say the moments leading up to his death.

In the anime, after the Beast Titan takes his ODM gear and starts walking away, Mike suddenly fights back and shouts at him, even though he is in a hopeless situation (his leg is broken, he has no horse, and his ODM gear is gone). He has almost no chance of surviving or winning against the Beast Titan.

This makes some anime-only viewers think that Mike is stupid or that he is trying to act like a hero for no reason. In the end, he even cries like a child when Zeke turns around and pays attention to him because of his own shouting. Some people have even come up with strange theories, such as the idea that Mike could have survived against those Titans. I see this kind of thing quite often.

However, if you read the manga, you can clearly see that Mike simply picks up his blades and tries to stay quiet. He doesn't shout or provoke the Beast Titan at all. He just picks up his blades to prepare himself for whatever the other Titans might do.

Yet Zeke turns around and immediately orders the Titans to eat him. There is nothing Mike does that obviously suggests Zeke would turn around and do that. It almost feels as though Zeke had already intended to do it anyway.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Anime She truly is my favourite character

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217 Upvotes

I wish we saw more of her. I wish we knew what her real name was. I wish she and Historia had that wedding she wanted.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 7h ago

Anime Beyond the sea is freedom

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3 Upvotes

r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1h ago

Discussion Opinions on Yelena?

• Upvotes

I feel like people don’t talk about Yelena enough. She was an essential figure in the “Marylean Resistance”, who had no doubt altered the course of Paradis’ history. I understand that Eren said that Yelena’s involvement “did not alter his decision making and overall plan”.

However, I want to hear what you guys have to say about Yelena. I really dislike the way she communicated, but I understood she had her own motives. I feel like if anything, she was the main factor to the tragedy of Onyakopon’s efforts to develop Eldia’s technology.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

News Tom Cruise and Iñárritu visits Studio MAPPA

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273 Upvotes

r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Discussion How do you think the stance on Marley would be worldwide if they never regained the Jaw?

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62 Upvotes

​

They would only have four Titans at that point. If I was an enemy nation I would feel VERY uppity at this.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Humor/Meme Can Titans get buff with proper training and protein intake?

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66 Upvotes

r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 9h ago

Video Games Erwin Smith Edit.

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2 Upvotes

Yesterday, October 14, Colonel Erwin Smith, 13th Commander of the Scout Regiment, was born. He searched for Grisha Yeger's basement, fought with titans and humans, and with his brave death brought Paradise freedom. Eternal Memory and Glory to Colonel Erwin Smith. This video is dedicated to him.


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Humor/Meme Ever saw a real titan?

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164 Upvotes

r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Discussion Title: I finally finished Attack on Titan 💔 Spoiler

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94 Upvotes

For years, I avoided AOT because I was afraid of its emotional ending, especially Mikasa killing Eren. It was my worst nightmare. But 18 days ago, I finally started watching, and today, it's over. Somehow, an anime I was afraid to watch became somethin incredibly special to me. I laughed, suffered, got attached to the characters, and experienced a journey I'll never forget.

I wish I could watch it for the first time again.

I was afraid of the pain this anime would bring me. Now, I'm crying because it's over. 😭❤️‍🩹.

❤️ ATTACK ON TITAN ❤️


r/ShingekiNoKyojin • • 1d ago

Humor/Meme Nobody remembered the commander's birthday :(

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424 Upvotes