Thread by @D3M0NSAN

I just spent the last hour or so, pouring over ALL of the lyrics that Ateez has and watching all the music videos. I'm not really sure how to explain this new theory I have but I will try my best (fair warning this is going to be a lot of reading)
#ATEEZ #에이티즈 #ateeztheory

I'm gonna pull an ATEEZ and start this journey off by beginning at the end by stating my beliefs first:

It's all a metaphor for growing up, finding yourself, and achieving your goals in life, without letting negative things like fear, idleness, or even greed consume you.

With the idea that it is all basically a metaphor in mind, let me try to explain. In a lot of ateez's lyrics, there seems to be more than one narrator. This goes hand in hand with the clue card from the action to answer album that says +

"there are countless dimensions in this world." With countless dimensions that means there would be a version of ATEEZ for each dimension. This is represented visually with the different versions of ATEEZ we see throughout their music video.

I think that each "dimension" is like a figment of their imagination, or part of their conscience and subconscious mind. I think the different versions we see all represent different ideas like ambition, hope, and determination.

This could explain why it sounds like there are multiple narrators, because each narrator represents a different emotion or idea. Some examples
Wonderland: determination
Mist: fear
Hala Hala: destiny/ambition
Wave: cheerfulness
Precious: greed
Promise: hope

There is another thing that is a huge metaphor from the music videos, concept photos, and the other clue card that I want to explain the meaning of as well: the hourglass. Quite simply it represents time. I know, I know, just bare with me for a moment.

I think it represents not only things like time passing by and getting older, but the idea of starting over. What I mean by that, is when the sand reaches the bottom, you can just flip it over and start the process again.

Now with that in mind I feel like I can start to explain the story line in more detail, including what we see in the music videos. Lets start with everybody's favorite, Halateez. I think they are the key to everything by symbolizing destiny and new beginnings, and

is representative of ATEEZ's ambition and drive. They are the rising sun, they said it themselves. They are fiery, ready to take on anything. They also represent new beginnings, not unlike a phoenix, burning away all the fear and hesitation allowing ATEEZ to take their first step

I don't think we have seen that exact moment yet, where Halateez came to be and influenced ATEEZ to become pirates, as I think that will be in the upcoming album Zero. I the meantime, I think they are going around meeting each of the members to show them their destiny

and to wake them up and have them make the decision to follow their dreams. In SMN, we all see them meeting each other and eventually Seonghwa reveals himself to the other version of himself. This shows they are indeed the same individual. And the mirrors are just symbols of

self reflection and looking internally. I think Wooyoung is the one who free's Yeosang, symbolizing freeing all of them from their past and giving them a second start.

In terms of the other videos, I think that they all follow along this same idea as well. Illusion being the part of them that never wants to grow up, but finally accepting that even as an adult, you can still hold on to that sense of wonder and excitement. I think that is why

"the creative adult is the child who survived" is written on the side of the ship in that mv. They want to be free of the things that are holding them back, like the fear of growing up, or even their surroundings in the real world.

They would prefer to stay young, party all day and night in this fantasy world, hence the name illusion. You cant stay young and live carefree partying all the time. I think hearing "let me free" is them being trapped by this fear of growing up

But what about Hwa flipping the hourglass? Well like I said, I think it represents starting again. The action subconsciously brought Halateez, representative of ambition/action to the Illusion to wake them up. In a lot of the bsides, there is mention of the sun rising on dark

days, and i think this is also Halateez helping them helping them face their subconscious fears. They eventually wake up in wave, showing a more carefree version of themselves. No longer bogged down by fear.

Hongjoong having the compass shows that their journey in life now has direction. And this is shown in wonderland too. They now have purpose to move forward, with clear goals in mind, but not losing their sense of youth. Answer is them celebrating all aspects of themselves

finally coming together as one. Celebrating that they have the answers, and are ready to begin their journey again to become pirate kings. At the ending, but ready for a new beginning. I think this is where the sands of the hourglass moving upward come in.

This represents them finally ACTUALLY starting their full journey. This leads us back to say my name. Them being finally free, their past selves full of fear "burning up now" they are whole, and complete. With the memories and experiences of their past they can look towards

their real future, together as ATEEZ. Others will say their name, call on them, and they will be there to help guide them through their OWN journeys, to show them they aren't alone. That it's ok to be scared sometimes, that the storms of life will pass.

But also, now as pirate kings, they can set forth to find their treasure, that being metaphorical for fame/success as idols/musicians in the real world. That's why they began in the desert where they have nothing but themselves. Despite starting with zero, they have themselves

and each other as friends on this new journey to stardom. We as fans are the stars in the sky that help guide them, and what give them hope for this success on the darkest nights.

And that is all she wrote...for now 😉