To You, in 2000 Years: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 1

To You Two Thousand Years Later is the first episode and the beginning of the Attack on Titan anime adaption. It, along with the rest of the series, is produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. The episode introduces the Attack on Titan world and tells the viewer of how humanity needed a grim reminder of the fact they lived in fear of Titans.

Summary
The story opens with the Survey Corps assaulting a Titan in an effort to establish humanity's first base outside their own walls. Closing in, they break into five groups and start using their 3D Maneuver Gear. Just as they are about to attack, what appeared to be a dream sequence ends. As his eyes open, we are introduced to Eren Yeager, who is crying for an unknown reason, and Mikasa Ackerman, two of the central characters of the anime.

Walking through the Shiganshina District city, Eren and Mikasa encounter Hannes and a couple of soldiers guarding the gates while also laughing and drinking on the job. Eren, voicing his concerns that the soldiers won't be ready in the event of an emergency, is reassured that the Walls are 50 meters high (taller than any known Titan at this point in the story) and there hasn't been an incident in the past 100 years. After speaking his mind on the situation, Eren and Mikasa continue on their way. Just as Mikasa starts to discourage Eren from joining the Survey Corps in the future, bells begin to ring, signalling the latter's return from a mission.

Their parade through town leaves Eren commenting on how so few have returned. Soon after, a mother starts to look for her son among the survivors only to find that his arm was all that was recovered. Trying to rationalize the sacrifice, she asks if his death contributed to humanity, even if in a small way. Sadly, the commanding officer says that their expedition accomplished nothing. As bystanders start to give their opinions about the deaths and the waste of tax money, Eren retaliates by jabbing one of his firewood sticks at one of the complaining citizens. Mikasa quickly drags him away from the crowd and throws him against a wall, causing the firewood he had bundled on his back to scatter across the floor. Continuing the conversation she started earlier, she asks Eren if he still intends to join the Survey Corps after what they witnessed today. After a brief pause, Eren asks Mikasa to help him pick up the wood.

Now at home, we are introduced to Eren's family; his father Dr. Yeager and his mother Kalura. Not long after their return, Dr. Yeager announces that he has to leave for a couple of days to see a few patients. Against Eren's wishes, Mikasa tells the family about his plans to join the Survey Corps, leading to an enraged objection from his mother. With his father asking why he wants to go outside, Eren tells them he wants to know what's going on and to pick up where others left off so their sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. At this, Dr. Yeager says he must go. Eren's mother asks him to talk some sense into him, to which he replies that "human curiosity is not something [one] can restrain with a lecture". He then tells Eren that, upon his return, he will finally show him the room in the basement which he has kept secret. With his father gone, Eren's mother insists that he must not join the Survey Corps and that only a fool would do so. Eren replies that to buy one's safety at the cost of living like cattle is even more foolish. With this, he runs off and Kalura asks Mikasa to watch out for him.

Now we are introduced to Armin Arlert, who is being bullied by a group of boys. The more Armin uses reason, the angrier the boys get. Finally, Eren shows up which seems to draw their attention off of Armin until they catch sight of Mikasa, which causes a full retreat. As the three sit by the river, Armin explains the source of his assailant's anger: Believing, as Eren does, that humans eventually need to explore beyond the wall, effectively renders him a heretic in the eyes of the public as the government has declared any interest in the outside world a taboo. The conversation then circles back to Eren asking Mikasa why she told his parents about his intentions to join the Survey Corps. Armin concurs with Eren, wondering if humanity is truly safe with the walls. As soon as the words leave his mouth, the ground starts to shake, leaving the three worried about what happened. Running out into the open streets, Armin is the first to see it. The hand of a 60 Meter Tall Titan appears above the city's wall.

People are watching shocked and curious, and just at that moment, the Titan begins to lift its leg, plunging it through the Wall. The onlookers are thrown back, and the remnants of the crushed Wall plummet into the city, crushing houses and squashing people. As an entire horde of Titans forcibly enter the breach, the city turns into a panic-stricken area. Eren and Mikasa hurry through an already severely damaged residential area, hoping that their home is still intact.

Turning the corner, he sees that a boulder has landed on his house with his mother still inside. Finding her pinned under the rubble, he and Mikasa try to pull her out. A roar from a nearby Titan adds more stress to the situation. Eren looks beyond the houses, seeing gigantic Titans prancing through the city, and attempts to pull the rubble over Kalura. She insists that he take Mikasa and run. Eren, still struggling with debris, objects and continues his efforts. His mother then tells him that her legs were crushed by the rubble, so even if he manages to get her free, she won't be able to walk. Eren yells that he'll carry her, then. In tears, Kalura asks why he never listens to her. The argument is cut short when a Titan is seen moving closer to their position. After more pleading from his mother and the Titan still approaching, Hannes arrives. Kalura begs him to take the children and run. At first Hannes refuses, vowing to repay the debt he owes the family for all they have done for him. As he charges the Titan towering above the family homestead, he suddenly stops, horrified at the frightening appearance of this Titan. He withdraws his blade and runs, grabbing the two children. With Kalura grateful and Eren protesting, Hannes makes a run for it. Kalura covers her mouth, crying, silently begging for her children's return. Eren, looking behind on Hannes' shoulder, gasps as he sees the Titan move debris of the house away, eyeing Kalura. The Titan grabs her and Eren screams for it to stop. It breaks her back with its hands and devours her, blood spewing from its mouth. Eren can only look back in despair as the Titan gulps in satisfaction, blood splattered over itself and the ground as well. The episode ends with the narrator explaining that humanity that day received a grim reminder, and the humiliation of being kept in a cage.

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