Attack on Titan Episode 1: To You, 2000 Years in the Future: The Fall of Zhiganshina (1)

Eren wakes from a nightmare in a field outside the walls, where his adopted sister Mikasa urges him to head home as the sun sets. They carry firewood back to Shiganshina District in the year 845, passing a priest extolling the sanctity of the three enormous walls that protect humanity from Titans—gigantic humanoid creatures that devour people without reason.

In town, Eren confronts a group of off-duty soldiers, including the drunken Garrison member Hannes, ranting about their complacency despite no Titan attacks in over 100 years. He insists the 50-meter-high Wall Maria makes them safe like caged livestock and declares his dream to join the Scout Regiment to explore beyond the walls and see the outside world. Mikasa warns him against this suicidal path, and Hannes reassures Eren that the walls are impenetrable.

Eren reunites with his friend Armin near the riverbank, where Armin shares a forbidden book about the outside world and agrees humanity cannot remain confined forever. Eren questions why Mikasa told his parents about his Scout Regiment ambitions. Their debate is interrupted by tolling bells announcing the Scout Regiment's return from an expedition beyond the walls—bloodied and decimated, with far fewer survivors than departed.

Suddenly, the ground quakes violently with a thunderous boom. Civilians rush into the streets as Armin spots a massive hand gripping Wall Maria from above, followed by the head of a **60-meter Colossal Titan** peering over the top—its skinless, muscular face and steamy breath horrifying the crowd.

The Colossal Titan smashes its foot through the wall in a cataclysmic explosion of stone and debris, breaching Wall Maria and allowing smaller Titans—ranging from 3 to 15 meters tall, with vacant grins and eerie gaits—to pour into Shiganshina. Panic erupts as Titans lumber through the district, casually devouring fleeing residents amid screams and collapsing buildings. Soldiers fire cannons futilely at the Colossal Titan, which vanishes as mysteriously as it appeared.

Eren and Mikasa race home through the chaos, finding their house collapsed and Eren's mother, Carla, pinned helplessly beneath a massive beam, unable to move her legs. Eren and Armin desperately try to lift it, but fail. Carla urges them to flee to the inner boats evacuating to Wall Rose, refusing Eren's pleas to save her. A smiling Titan approaches their position.

Hannes arrives, boasting he'll slay the Titan to repay the family's kindness. He charges but freezes in terror at the Titan's grotesque face, then abandons his swords and grabs Eren and Mikasa, sprinting toward safety despite Eren's frantic struggles and screams to rescue his mother. Carla tearfully bids them goodbye, grateful they're saved.

As Hannes flees, Eren watches in horror from afar: the Titan lifts the helpless Carla from the debris, bites her in half at the midsection amid sprays of blood, and chews her remains before her body drops in a mangled heap. Eren screams in anguish as the episode fades on his devastated face.