Eren Jaeger is the main protagonist of the popular anime series Attack on Titan. The show follows Eren’s journey from a young boy to an adult as he seeks to protect humanity from monstrous titans that have pushed mankind to the brink of extinction.
Attack on Titan is broken up into seasons, with season 4 being the final season of the anime series. A central question fans have going into the final season is – how old is Eren now? His age has progressed throughout the previous seasons, so determining his current age provides important context.
Eren’s Age in Season 1
In season 1 of Attack on Titan, which aired in 2013, Eren is introduced as a 10 year old boy. The events of season 1 take place in the year 845 within the show’s timeline. This establishes Eren’s baseline age early on.
Some key events and episodes that showcase Eren as a 10 year old:
– Episode 1 shows Eren’s hometown being attacked by the Colossal Titan. This sets the main conflict in motion when Eren is still 10.
– Episode 2 features a flashback to 844, a year before season 1 starts. In this flashback Eren is 9 years old.
– Episode 5 shows Eren enlisting in the military at age 10 after the attack on his home.
So throughout all of season 1, which spans from Eren’s age 10 to 11, he remains a young child determined to fight back against the titans. His exact age is 10 for the bulk of events in the inaugural season.
Eren’s Age in Season 2
Season 2 picks up shortly after the events of season 1, in the year 850 within the show’s timeline. This puts Eren around 15 years old throughout most of season 2.
Some key events and episodes that highlight a 15 year old Eren:
– Episode 6 features a trial of Eren once his titan powers are revealed. He is referred to as a 15 year old.
– Episode 7 includes a flashback to 849, when Eren was 14 years old. This is a year before season 2’s events.
– Episode 11 shows the military’s interior police capturing Eren in 850 when he is 15.
– Episode 16 revisits Eren’s motivations and backstory at age 15 as he struggles to control his powers.
So while season 1 showed an elementary school aged Eren, season 2 shows him progressing into his mid-teens, which is an important time period for character development in the AOT story.
Eren’s Age in Season 3
Season 3 of Attack on Titan advances the timeline 4 years forward from season 2, with most events taking place in the year 854. This puts Eren around 19 years old throughout season 3.
Some key story points that reference Eren’s age:
– Episode 2 checks back in with Eren in 854, explicitly confirming he is now 19.
– Episode 13 flashes back one year to 853, when Eren was 18 years old.
– Episode 21 also highlights that Eren is 19 in 854 as he starts gaining greater control of his abilities.
Eren is right in the midst of his teenage years in season 3, dealing with the complex powers he possesses and playing a pivotal role in the Eldian Restorationists. His age has noticeably jumped forward compared to the first two seasons.
Eren’s Age at the End of Season 3
The very end of season 3, in episodes 22 and 24, flashes forward another three years, showing events in the year 857. Here Eren is a young adult, approximately 22 years old.
Some references to his age:
– Episode 22 shows soldiers discussing Eren as being 22 now when talking about his master plan.
– Episode 24 takes place as a direct continuation of Eren initiating the Rumbling in 857 at his current age of 22.
Season 3 spans several years, but ends with a time jump to 857 where Eren has reached early adulthood, setting the stage for the final season.
Eren’s Age in Season 4
Season 4 picks up immediately where season 3 left off in 857. Eren is now 22 years old at the start of the final season.
Some episodes that reiterate Eren’s current age:
– Episode 5 checks in on Eren in 857 and confirms he is 22 years old.
– Episode 13 flashes back one year to 856 when Eren was 21.
– Episode 16 discusses Eren’s motivations at age 22 as his friends try to understand his actions.
– Episode 18 examines Eren’s mindset in 857 at age 22 as he tries to protect Paradis.
So season 4 features a consistent Eren at around 22 years old for its present day events. This is the culmination of the previous time jumps that showed Eren aging from a child, to a teenager, and finally into a determined adult.
Conclusion
In summary:
- Season 1 – Eren is 10 years old
- Season 2 – Eren is 15 years old
- Season 3 – Eren begins at 19 years old, ends at 22
- Season 4 – Eren is approximately 22 years old
Starting as a 10 year old child and progressing into an adult role, Eren’s growth in age across the seasons represents his coming of age story as he gains power and responsibility. As season 4 shows Eren in his early 20s, he is no longer an emerging teenager but instead an adult with conviction to match his strength.
When Does Each Season Take Place?
To supplement the overview of Eren’s age, here is a timeline of when each season takes place in relation to the calendar years established in Attack on Titan:
| Season | Year |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | 845 |
| Season 2 | 850 |
| Season 3 (Early) | 854 |
| Season 3 (Late) | 857 |
| Season 4 | 857 onwards |
This table summarizes the timeline and years covered across the full Attack on Titan anime series. With season 4 confirmed to take place in the 857 calendar year within the show, that firmly places Eren at around 22 years old as the final season events unfold.
How Time Progresses in Attack on Titan
Since Eren’s age is directly tied to the timeline of events in Attack on Titan, it is worth summarizing how time functions in the show’s universe:
- Each episode covers events occurring in a linear chronological order
- Some episodes feature flashbacks to past events depicting younger versions of characters
- Large time jumps of several years often occur between seasons
- The series begins in 845 as the anchor starting point
- Time progresses linearly from there at a normal rate into the 800s calendar
- Characters age naturally within that timeline
Keeping this consistent forward progression of time in mind, it allows viewers to accurately calculate character ages based on the years different seasons take place in.
While flashbacks depicting the past are common, the main storyline always progresses forward through the 800s timeline established early on. This is crucial to understanding when Eren ages from a child into an adult over the seasons.
Changes in Art and Design Also Show Progressing Age
In addition to the timeline, changes in Eren’s character art and design also visually indicate his growth into an adult. Some key changes include:
- Season 1 shows Eren with a young boy’s haircut and physique
- Season 2 ages him up slightly into his mid-teens
- Season 3 makes him taller with sharper facial features
- Season 4 shows him fully grown as a soldier in early adulthood
The animation reflects the years that have passed across seasons with noticeable differences in how Eren is drawn. He goes through an authentic aging process onscreen befitting the advancing Attack on Titan timeline.
Voice Actors Also Changed to Match Ages
As a further representation of Eren maturing, in the Japanese voice cast his actor was changed to align with growth:
- Seasons 1-3: Marina Inoue
- Season 4: Yuki Kaji
The new voice actor in season 4 uses a deeper, adult tone. This performance also signals that Eren is no longer voiced as a child or teen.
Together, the altered visual design and voice acting choices sell the legitimacy of an adult Eren compared to his beginnings as a young boy back in season 1 episode 1.
Conclusions
In Attack on Titan, time marches relentlessly forward between seasons, taking characters from youth into adulthood. For Eren specifically:
- He begins as a 10 year old child in season 1
- Ages into his mid-teens in season 2
- Reaches later teens in early season 3
- Jumps to age 22 by season 3 climax
- Remains 22 in season 4 as a resolute adult
This steady onscreen aging process provides greater emotional investment, as viewers witness Eren mature over years of story time. The final season presents a fully grown Eren that continues the coming of age tale told across the entire Attack on Titan anime series.