#ateez theories

[onlyoneofyouu]

THE STORYLINE: the timeloop and who are Halateez

Read how the ATEEZ logo is a representation and fundental key element of the Ateez storyline to find out who are Halateez!

Let's look at the Ateez logo from Fever albums...

Universe A ------- > < ------- Universe Z

It's basically a representation of the two Universes converging, perfectly reflecting the events set in the Fever albums: Ateez moving through Universes with the Cromer.

Talking about the Cromer... the converging "TEE" in the logo itself represents the Cromer, the device they use to travel through the Universes, and that connects the two. The Cromer is an hourglass and therefore has an eight shape, which, reversed is the symbol for "infinte" and "loop".

And what else has an "eight shape" and represents an " infinite timeloop"?

The Möebius strip:

The Möebius strip has been used to explain time travel theories. It works like this: we start at a point A (pinpoint your point A of choice in the image above) and walk towards an opposite point Z (draw your finger to your opposide point Z of choice). Since the two ends of the strip are connected, we can then continue from point Z and find ourselves back at point A. This means, we can infinitely walk from one to the other creating a loop. Since time passes while we walk from point A to Z, point A is in the past (where we start our journey) and point Z is in the future (the destination of our journey), making the Möebius strip a timeloop.

Let's apply it to Ateez story!

We start in Universe A and we end in Universe Z, in Universe A we find Ateez, in Universe Z Halateez. This means that Halateez are Ateez in the future, and Ateez are Halateez in the past.

N.B. Ateez were born as Ateez and we, the fandom, gave the Universe Z Ateez the "Hala Ateez" name to differentiate the two. Now, according to the canon provided through the Diary Version of the Fever and The World albums, we know that Ateez call themselves the Black Pirates (instead of Halateez) in the future to hide their identities.

When Halateez fail to protect the future from Z, the leader of Strictland/Universe Z, and are about to be captured, they go back in time to bring past Ateez in the future to take over them. This time Ateez, instead of becoming Halateez/The Black Pirates, become the Guerrillas, and this is how we have two timelines:

the Halateez timeline

the Ateez timeline

or (more correct and less confusing)

the Ateez > Halateez/Black Pirates timeline

the Ateez > Guerrillas timeline

Since the Möebius strip has two sides, we can give one side to Halateez timeline and the other one to Ateez > Guerrillas. And since the strip has a twist in the middle, that's the point where the two coexist and meet (see Say My Name and Dejavu mvs where Ateez and Halateez meet).

Why is this the only point in time where the two coexist though?

In the first timeline Ateez went from their past (when the group was formed) to their future (when they turn into Halateez/Black Pirates) living the time in between them, and not jumping from point to point. When they as Halateez got hold of the Cromer for the first time and used it to travel through the past they changed this: in the second timeline, Ateez do not walk towards their future anymore, they are brought directly to it through time travel.

Halateez changed their own present time, future and past too, bringing their past selves to their present time/Ateez future: since there's no Ateez in the past anymore because they were brought to the future, they can't live to become Halateez like they did before, and that's why Halateez do not exist anymore in the future, why we don't see them outside of Say My Name or Dejavu. Halateez timeline was replaced by Ateez > Guerrillas timeline and they therefore chased to exist.

So yes, r.i.p Halateez 😔

This timeline distinction is *fundamental * to understand which version of Ateez from which timeline we see in each music video and hear about in each song...

> read next : THE STORYLINE 4: ATEEZ or HALATEEZ? Who we see in each music video - COMING SOON!

> MASTERLIST

[canyouhearthevoices]

ATEEZ’s concerts lately seem to be either ‘blockbuster musical’ or ‘strip club’ and I’m very nervous because I really, REALLY want to see them, but my ace self would actually combust if I had to watch the latter. I would die of second hand cringe.

In other news, the former seems to be portraying Seonghwa as a fallen angel… what’s the chance Joong wrote that part of the story? (Probably not that high, but he IS involved in the story).

Lol what if ATEEZ’s whole storyline is just a cover for Seongjoong? As in the group pretends Joong is kind of in charge of and knowledgeable about the story, then the story centres Hwa, so all the platonic soulmate shippers like myself (or even the hard romantic ones) go all giggly, but it was just a front and the producers the whole time…

…am I too invested and skeptical?

[spilltheateeaz]

Random notes + stuff (2)

Just watched the performance video for ‘Paradigm’ and I have a couple of thoughts:

- First, paradigm is a typical example or pattern of something. In the storyline, ATEEZ are breaking the paradigm enforced by the central government, and creating their own, where people are free to choose their life (hence the lyrics ‘whole new paradigm’)

- In the beginning Yeosang says ‘someone calls my name, wake me up’. He also does the eye sign that Hongjoong did in Say My Name, which may be significant (not sure what to make of that yet)

- There’s a theory circulating that Yeosang is a siren, which could be plausible. Sirens are mythical creatures who lure sailors to their deaths by hypnotising them with their singing/beautiful appearances. The intro for this album is called ‘Siren’, which could mean sirens as in alarms ringing everywhere in the dystopian world from the rebellion in action, or could be related to Yeosang, since to me it sounds like him singing in the intro

- Some evidence to support the siren theory: in the storyline Yeosang unknowingly lead his father to the warehouse where ATEEZ met and caused them to separate. When Yeosang was captured by the Android Guardians some of ATEEZ didn’t want to go back for him, but one of his drones flew into the warehouse and changed their minds, which made them go back to the dystopian world to rescue Yeosang

- Yeosang holding the broken Cromer and someone’s hand reaching out towards his (to me it looked like Hongjoong’s hand at the end of ‘Deja Vu’); again calling for their attention towards him. In one of the ‘Paradigm’ teasers he walks into a light, expecting us to follow him

- His character in ATEEZ lore is more influential than we’ve seen so far. There are subtle mysteries and unexplained things

[sunniebirp]

Okay. Let's talk about comeback again because I've noticed something I think is really important, specifically about Seonghwa's most recent teaser.

So I was looking, and I was like, "Wow. This pose looks really familiar."

So I did some digging, and I found where I know it from...

[petrichorpetals]

I'M GONNA SCREAM IF MY CRACKPOYLT YEOSANG IS AN ANDROID GUARDIAN THEORY IS ACTUALLY REAL.

BUT THINK ABOUT IT? THE ANDROID GUARDIAN'S CLOTHING IS WHITE AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE GET YEOSANG DRESSED IN WHITE.

NOT TO MENTION THE SOMEONE CALL MY NAME WAKE ME UP??? WASN'T THAT HALATEEZ'S WHOLE THING IN GUERILLA WAS WAKING PEOPLE UP FROM THE CONTROL OF THE ANDROID GUARDIANS?

THE ANDRIOD GUARDIANS ALREADY KIDNAPPED YEOSANG SO WHAT WAS STOPPING THEM FROM BRAINWASHING HIM AS WELL OR CLONING HIM?

[taemhyuck]

I feel like a lot of people are thinking the movement era takes place after fever. But I think it takes place pre fever and it’s gonna show us how halateez ended up in the glass boxes in ep. 3

[arasokanbina]

Details

[orbitinytheworld]

I've been thinking about putting ateez and loona in meraki academy which is a blog I made but it's still under construction but you can follow here @meraki-academy . I'm referring to them as meraki!loonateez because they're not the actual artists and to avoid some confusion I've also come up for a few characterization ideas for them based on their irl and probably lore counterparts

Meraki!Yunho is a member of a press club where they update the latest news within campus and stuff as one of the newscasters

Meraki!Mingi, Meraki!San, Meraki!Chuu are members of a combat club but Meraki!Chuu is a sub-member of a nature club

Meraki!Yeosang made Meraki!ViVi because Meraki!Yeo was friendless until the rest of Meraki!TEEZ came along which made them drift apart. But Meraki!ViVi doesn't mind, she just wants to see him happy

Meraki!LOOΠ∆ 1/3 are members of a sports club in the track and field branch like they were seen in the Love & Live M/V

Meraki!Haseul and Meraki!Hongjoong are student body co-presidents

Any other ideas? feel free tag any of your moots! @yeobloom @canyouhearthevoices @barb-l @theelderhazelnut

[maxsix]

[takitakidancetillthesunriseyea]

Wonderland and the Rabbit (Theory)

I thought by now my brain would’ve run out of Ateez theories but I was very wrong. Last night I was aimlessly scrolling the internet when I came across all of the rabbit-centric promotional material Ateez used for their latest comeback The World Ep. Fin: Will, that I had somehow missed seeing before their actual comeback.

I also discovered Mito which I had seen before but didn’t realize was also related to the comeback. I guess just I accepted without question that they would carry a little stuffed rabbit around for no reason. (Apparently Mito is short for Michin Tokki or Crazy Rabbit.)

Of course that set the gears in my brain turning. Crazy Form has a few things in common with Wonderland, (mainly the coats) but not enough that I would immediately think they’re connected lore wise.

However, Crazy Form has a lot, and I mean a lot. Of Alice in Wonderland references.

We have Hongjoong doing the Cheshire cat smile.

We got the rabbits everywhere and the little ear motions in the choreography. Personally I think the name “Crazy Form” alone is already pretty in line with the whole Alice in Wonderland “We’re all mad here,” thing. And of course we have whatever these godawful furry things are.

Even Seonghwa’s smile in the MV is rather Mad Hatter-ish

(I also find it interesting that his left eye is covered but that’s a point for a dif theory.)

So. From all that it’s clear they’re trying to make a connection to Alice in Wonderland. But why? What does Alice in Wonderland have to do with their story so much that they’re putting references in everywhere.

At first I assumed it had to do with their alternate universe thing. Is entering the doors to Strictland in the Wonderland MV them ‘going down the rabbit hole’? Is Mito their white rabbit? (Even though it’s black-) Is it just another reference to them being somewhere strange they don’t belong?

As I was thinking of all the things I could remember about Alice in Wonderland, suddenly it hit me. The ending. Alice in Wonderland ends with Alice waking up and realizing it had all been a dream.

(When I realized it I almost lost it)

There have already been a number of people theorizing that the Crazy Form MV is at least partially in a dream due to Hongjoong shooting real bullets out of his finger guns, San flying, etc... Oh yea and the crecent moon at the beginning that seems to instantly change to a full one.

Which just adds it to this list of dream related MV’s like Illusion, Wave, Inception, and Eternal Sunshine. But it really makes me wonder, was the Wonderland MV a dream too? We don’t have diaries for the Treasure series, so pretty much anything goes at this point.

It would make sense if all the weird maze stuff was part of a dream, but feel like the maze is something different entirely… AhhhHHhgh this is all so big brain that I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface of what’s actually going on.

It does makes me wonder though…just how deep does this rabbit hole (dream) go? How long have they been asleep? And when they wake up, where, when, and who will they be?

[onlyoneofyouu]

Strictland or Dimension/Universe Z's leader is called Z, so this is probably a new mark made by Ateez to refuse Z's control (the "z" is crossed out)

BUT that's not all

If you rotate the symbol it makes out an hourglass! And since the line that crosses out the "Z" doesn't close the hourglass, is the latter, the Cromer, broken again? 😧 Or does it symbolize the intersection through Ateez of the two Dimensions/Universes like The World's logo..?

The other Ateez logo is also sliced in the middle🤔

[canyouhearthevoices]

Was Mingi saying 'It's a cold winter' in their MAMA acceptance speech a teaser for the comeback? Has looking into ATEEZ theories and staring at Hongjoong's face made me crazy? Goodness knows...

[spilltheateeaz]

Overall summary of storyline (5/7)

Excited to post the next parts of this series! There might be many posts related to the lore from The World EP.2: Outlaw because I’m trying to make sure each part isn’t too long!

.

- The Prestige Academy was like a fortress, built like a spaceship in order to keep outsiders from entering. There was a very strict entry process which made it hard for outsiders to get inside anyway

- At the main gate, one’s entry ID was checked and numerous inspections followed; it was a system similar to immigration offices used to move between countries in World A (the ‘real world’). The security was so strict because only the most talented persons of World Z were allowed to study at the academy

- In World Z, children underwent state-certified tests within six months of being born. After six months, a child’s natural temperaments and talents became more clear, and it was up to the parents to raise the child in such a way that the child’s talents and innate growth potential were nurtured. The children who were identified as ‘talented’ were allowed to enter the Prestige Academy, and were placed in one of five classes based on their entrance exam results

- Class 1 was raised to work in the government, and would be responsible for researching and implementing new systems to improve the control and efficiency of society in the future

- Class 2 (which included future Guardians), were trained to control and punish those who defied control according to the government’s guidelines

- Class 3 was taught to classify new humans while following the system, and educate them accordingly

- Class 4 learned to handle various tasks necessary for human survival (e.g. changing control chips, overseeing new energy exchanges, the supply and manufacturing of essential energy)

- Class 5 were taught about city management, sanitisation and organisation

- The children enrolled at the Prestige Academy were educated and trained thoroughly before being deployed into society after graduation

-  By targeting the Prestige Academy, ATEEZ would not only be able to help the young boy’s brother, but they could also damage World Z’s ruling class by awakening the children being indoctrinated there and shake the system by its very roots

- Mingi and Wooyoung dressed in security uniforms and led a group of freshmen who had just entered the school. Mixed among the students were ATEEZ in matching school uniforms

- Thanks to Left Eye and the Black Pirates hacking the ID checkers, ATEEZ were able to pass through, and at the inspection points, Mingi and Wooyoung ‘checked’ them before letting them through

- The boy’s brother arrived at the inspection point and appeared in front of Mingi, who they recognised from a photo the boy had shown them. Mingi let him pass, and sent a signal to the rest of ATEEZ through a transmitter on his waist: ‘He just entered the school’

- Wooyoung watched after the boy’s brother after receiving the signal, and it was clear he was feeling uneasy since his emotions were back. Wooyoung sent his own signal through the transmitter at his belt: ‘He’s passing through the hallway on the right’

- They boy’s brother went up the stairs towards the classroom for the eldest students in Grade 2. Wooyoung sent another signal to ATEEZ: ‘He’s going up to the classroom. Confirm contact timing’

- After arriving at the classroom, the boy’s brother sat down and tried to maintain a blank face, acting as stiff as possible. He placed his glass tablet in the centre of his desk and his pen exactly 7.5cm away in a parallel position as usual. He gazed at a blank monitor, and was relieved to note that so far, no one had noticed that he had his emotions back. Unbeknownst to him, Yeosang sat at a desk near him, watching

- ‘Meet me in the restroom on the left side of the first floor’. A low voice filled the ears of the boy’s brother. He turned in surprise, wondering if there was always someone like this in his class. Thinking back, he realised that in the 40 years he had attended the school, he had never once looked closely at his classmates. Without the need to exchange emotions, there was no need to talk to others face-to-face

- For the first time, the boy’s brother made eye contact with someone other than his family or school faculty: he looked at Yeosang. Yeosang’s eyes seemed to say ‘it’s ok’, and the boy’s brother wondered if he had been caught. Noticing the confusion, Yeosang opened a hand to reveal a breaker, and gave him a small smile. That action said it all; Yeosang knew that he could feel emotions

- Yeosang stood up and walked out of the classroom. The boy’s brother, who didn’t know if was friend or foe, watched him with a confused face. He quickly turned around back to his desk and checked to see if anyone had noticed. No one had; the other students were sat at their desks either adjusting their belongings or focused on their own work

- ‘That’s right, no one’s interested in me’, he thought. He stood up and exited the classroom

- In the corner at the end of the first-floor hallway, he could see a restroom with lights turned off. He worried that wandering in the hallway would be seen as suspicious, when a long shadow appeared behind him

- ‘Don’t worry. We’re here to help you’. It was Seonghwa. The boy’s brother seemed slightly relieved by Seonghwa’s smile, and stepped towards the restroom carefully, Seonghwa following him closely to protect him. Seonghwa sent a signal to the other members: ‘I’ve made contact with the boy’s brother’

- When they entered the restroom, Yeosang greeted them and Seonghwa locked the door. The room was quiet, and the boy’s brother felt his heart beating very fast. He didn’t know what to call that feeling since he hadn’t been taught emotions, but thought it could be nervousness

- ‘Your younger brother came to the Black Pirates’ bunker last night. He was worried that you might get sent to the Disposal Site and asked us to come save you. You know the Black Pirates, right?’

- The boy’s brother nodded as if to say he understood the situation, but inside his mind was racing. His only way out of the situation was to follow them, but would that make the last 40 years of his life? What had he been living the whole time? And what if he survived after following the Black Pirates? What would come next? What if following them led to something worse?

- Yeosang and Seonghwa knew that the boy’s brother was feeling conflicted, but because there was no time to waste, they explained their plan to him. The Black Pirates planned to rescue him, and ATEEZ and the Black Pirates’ goal was to awaken as many people at the academy as possible. This would create the opportunity for them to choose their own paths, but it was inevitable that the sudden rush of emotions would cause chaos and confusion

- The boy’s brother was not fully convinced. In his eyes, emotions and confusion were unnecessary, and all it would mean is that a lot of people would have to go through the same thing he was experiencing

- But Yeosang and Seonghwa had a different approach: ‘Chaos. Pain. They’re not necessarily bad things. You need to feel them to move forward, it’s something all people go through. That’s what growth is. What’s clear is that this feeling of growing through pain is a new, precious experience of yours. It was the same for all of us.’ Yeosang stretched his hand towards the boy’s brother, who stared at it

- His heart began to calm down, and he wondered what this new emotion he was feeling was called. He didn’t know, but he could feel warmth flowing through his blood. The boy’s brother cautiously reached out and grabbed Yeosang’s hand

- ‘Class will start soon, let’s just go back for now-’ Sudden bangs shook the bathroom door. The three anxiously looked as someone outside beat the door hard

- ‘Open the door right now. Otherwise, I will refer you to the disciplinary committee immediately.’ The boy’s brother quickly let go of Yeosang’s hand, and with a painful sigh began to recite ‘Thunder...’

- ‘Thunder?’ The boy’s brother’s eyes shook as Seonghwa repeated the name. As the door shook, the boy’s brother sprang up as if by reflex and unlocked the door. Outside was a group of students in neat uniforms, and on each of their chests was a symbol inscribed with the word ‘Thunder’

- A girl’s clear voice came from the group: ‘Why are the three of you all gathered here? With the door locked at that.’ The group parted as a female student walked to the front. Yeosang understood that this was the student group they had been warned about the previous night, and this girl was their leader

- The girl looked like the personification of the word ‘cold’, and stared at Yeosang: ‘You don’t look familiar.’

[hwakakeri]

My theory (not okay spoilers)

first of all, my son wooyo definitely got more lines this time and I'm really happy about that. he slayed like he always does. secondly, I feel like there's a whole lot of underlying message in this one about control, from Jongho on the bed to Hongjoong with the phone stuck to his hand. I think it might be something related to the academy or related to world z, and the callback to inception with the bed and the hallway DEFINITELY means something I'm not smart enough to figure out. I'd have to go back and nitpick through the underlying messages in inception to figure out what this one means. I love the lore in the ateez universe. it's so great it also feels like there's a lot about being trapped? maybe not necessarily spelled out, but it definitely feels like an underlying theme with the wires and even the stage they sing on, and even how San gets chased and hongjoong is surrounded by phones and all of ateez gets surrounded by men (my dream lol) at the end of the video. boy I wish I was smart enough to understand all this and also just yeosang looks so pwetty as always that's why he's in this post

i can't wait for the 1024 and crimsonzia gifsets to come out for this because there's so many cool parts in this I just can't save to my computer as a still image

[yuyu1024]

The song is already one of my favorites songs from the album... or in general with ateez's albums but... 😭 the metaphors in the MV..

brb. crying.

[potatomountain]

I dont know if anyone has sent an ask about that but im one hundred percent sure that black pirates are ateez and the only reason they act like detectives is to protect themselves and their upper gang (iirc the name was white circle)

Also i really liked your characterization, like more than half of them hate the ocs guts but they show it in their own ways and the characters tho have similarities are not superficial nor the same as each other.

And i love how strong-willed and determinded our oc is, love to see a strong character who has morals and isnt afraid to break the rules for the "justice"

Lastly the urge to punch mingi, yunho, jongho, yeo, hwa, joong (i cant ever forgive that scene where he grabed her by the arm and threw her out the door) and chan (transfering someone for such a lame reason deserves a slap at least lol) is so strong and it gets harder to control with each chapter

Nfiaieb FIRST OFF THIS IS THE FIRST ASK IVE GOTTEN ABOUT THEORIES OF CIY AND IM SO HAPPY YOU DID.

Of course I can't spoil anything BUT I adore hearing your theories!!

I will say you are correct in one thing, they are protecting themselves and for different reasons. I try to showcase that in the ways they react to mc and reject her, incorporating their past and current present into the way they act and treat her.

The best example I can give would probably be Yunho. His father was a former cop and is the reason he followed in his father's footsteps, but his "beef" with the mafia world is also the easiest to guess considering how his father died. I really thought so hard about their backstories and the mafia gangs and what they do and I try to incorporate the hints both for you guys and mc as best I can without just giving things away-

And I absolutely adore the MC too she came out even better than I hoped for! A strong moral compass, headstrong and a big heart and she's hella fierce and stubborn too. I wanted to showcase that while she is all that, it does backfire. I can't exactly appease your urge to fight any of them cuz me too fam, but Chan and her previous unit will be making some more appearances and giving insight to what all really happened. Not just for you readers, but also for ATZ. 🥰

And I'm so excited to see how they'll react to these pieces hehe!

I may have also spoiled a little here and there but I don't think anything major. Definitely got too excited about this so thank you do much! I hope this helps your theories but also leaves you with more questions and anticipation!

6 more days and chapter 10 shall drop! Look forward to it!!