Rarely has an anime made such an impact in the west, with Death Note perhaps coming close. It evades the usual stereotypes and appeals to essentially everyone. When I worked in Specsavers, my forty-year old boss told me she had seen the first season, and it blew my mind. The reasons are clear: it’s a zombie mecha kaiju story set in a dystopic fantasy medieval world, lacking fanservice to instead deal out compelling characters and a twisting narrative. And oh boy, those characters are good. They’re deep, complex, and mostly lack plot armor meaning they’re always susceptible to tragedy in the way that made Game of Thrones so appealing. Wrap that up in some of the best animation the medium has to offer, and one of the greatest soundtracks crafted, and you know you’ve got an important franchise on your plate. Full spoilers for seasons one, two, and three ahead!
15. Annie Leonhart
When we first meet Annie, she’s a stoic badass and part of our main squad of Military Police. Skilled in mixed combat and driven by a strong, though solitary, desire to survive. We’re led to believe she will become a key combatant asset. That is, until she transforms into a Titan and murders many of the strongest humankind have to offer against the mysterious creatures. She’s fast, capable of generating her skin into a crystalline substance that can deflect almost anything, and retains her fighting skills, making her a ruthless enemy.
14. Connie Springer
You’d be understood for assuming Connie is a supporting character with little significance at first. What with his unassumingly short stature, childish buzzcut, and immature personality, we would all think this. But he really starts to develop throughout the series into a strong confident ally. All he wants is to make his family and hometown proud of him. And so he joins the survey corps to better himself as a man. What makes Connie such an endearing character is his flaws. Connie is not a Titan. He is not an overly strong combatant. He doesn’t harbor great ambitions or goals. He really is a run-of-the-mill soldier, riddled with survivor’s guilt, mixed in something greater than him. Connie wants to develop, grow, make those around him proud, and protect humanity. Poor precious Connie.
13. Grisha Yeager
Grisha is one of the most important characters in the franchise: awell-regarded doctor and father to Eren (as well as adoptive father to Mikasa). At the very beginning, he leaves before the Titans invade and murder his wife, prompting Eren to seek out the truth of the study he always kept locked up. He’s a mysterious man with an elusive & dark past that proves key to understanding the true nature of Titans. Without Grisha, the whole story would be radically different – and we still don’t fully know him.
12. Hange Zoe
Hange is one of the cornerstone members of the 14th Survey Corps due to her intelligence, scientific intrigue, and strategic capabilities. Due to her studying of Titans up-close and personal, she has an intimate understanding of the species. And has developed many weapons to counter them. Her stellar wit and inquisitive mind are hampered by an angry, temperamental personality that won’t stand for timewasters. But that’s why I love her: she doesn’t care about appearances or anything like that, always brashly looking deeper for answers not evident based on face value.
11. Zeke Yeager
Zeke is the half-brother of Eren and son of Grisha, driven by a complex eugenic ambition that shatters the unity of Eldia and Marley. He possesses the ability of the Beast Titan, an apelike monolith with incredible intelligence and ingenuity, and is often referred to as the strongest warrior. I love his design, taking Grisha’s appearance more than Eren (who resembles his mother) and creating a rift in the Yeager family that calls its entire nature into question. His full act to play in Attack on Titan hasn’t been revealed yet. But he’s already building up to be a compelling, well-written counterpart to Eren and Levi.
10. Ymir
Despite enlisting and performing admirably as a member of the Scouting Legion, she doesn’t seem to care about her teammates or the overall state of humanity. She’s cynical, sometimes immature, and always secretive. When she reveals herself as the Jaw Titan, her character really gets going, displaying a complex character with a shadowed past. When in Titan form, she is small but fast and capable of biting down without insurmountable strength. Her allegiance to a person over anything or anybody else is what makes Ymir an engaging character to me.
9. Bertolt Hoover
Bertolt is way more important than his unassuming design and personality may make you think, acting as the driving reason for Eren’s Titanic bloodlust. Because he possesses the ability of the Colossal Titan. When he kicks a hole through the wall of Eren, Mikasa, and Armin’s home – promptly cementing himself into their lives – he forces humanity to reconsider their tactics and finally go on the offensive. But he’s not quite an antagonist; though his methods may be inhumane, his reasons become clearer and more understandable as the series progresses.
8. Reiner Braun
Reiner is the inheritor of the Armored Titan, a medium sized hardened-skin Titan that acts like a tank, crashing into any opponent with brute force. Born in the Liberio zone to Marleyan and Eldian parents, he acts as both a major antagonist and mirror protagonist of the series. He graduated 2nd in the 104th Training Corps, proving himself a capable warrior. This makes it all more shocking when it’s revealed that Reiner, Bertolt, and Annie are all secret agents infiltrating Paradis Island & the military to achieve something greater than anybody could imagine. He’s a twisting, constantly developing character that never stops impressing and surprising.
7. Krista Lenz / Historia Reiss
For the first season, Krista was just a member of the Survey Corps, usually left in the background. But once we discovered she was secretly Historia Reiss, the legitimate and estranged Queen of the Walls, she quickly became a main character and a lot of people’s favorite. Meek, petite, and adorable is how she starts out. However, her story is one of growth and self-assertion, needing to evolve into a leader with a strong will that can demand the confidence of her subject. Nobody expected much from Krista. Which made her change into Historia all the more compelling.
6. Jean Kirstein
Jean ranks 6th best in the 104th Training Corps, during which he developed a rivalry with Eren. He’s boisterous, egotistical, and desired nothing more than a simple life as a member of the Military Police Brigade. However after losing friends and teammates, he decides to join Eren and the rest in the Survey Corps to fight for humanity’s future. He’s another charismatic character lacking any major skills yet proving himself a valuable asset to the cause against Titans. And I honestly love him.
5. Mikasa Ackerman
Mikasa has followed Eren and his family ever since he saved her from traffickers that butchered her family. They developed an intense connection that has sustained into their adult years. Even as a child, she was seen as a strong and intimidating figure, warning off bullies in Armin and Eren’s stead. So when she joined them both in becoming a member of the Survey Corps, she immediately blossomed into one of humanity’s strongest defenders. She even graduated 1st in the 104th Training Corps. Whether it be human or Titan, nothing can really stand in her way. Especially when it comes to Eren. Her design is also one of, if not my favorite in the franchise, with the unisex outfit of the Survey Corps perfectly complimenting the special red scarf she wears wrapped around her neck.
4. Eren Yeager
After witnessing the brutal devouring of his mother and destruction of his home, Eren vowed to wipe out the Titans at any cost. His intense hatred and bloodlust are both his greatest weapon and flaw, which is why he gets eaten rather quickly. Luckily, he possesses the Attack Titan courtesy of his respected father. And so becomes a quintessential weapon for humanity in their fight against oppression. Many fans considered him annoying at the beginning due to his temper and arrogance. But this soon changes as Eren adapts to his role as protagonist and antagonist.
3. Erwin Smith
Erwin is the 13th Commander of the Survey Corps, respected by all his peers and subordinates for his strategic mind and willingness to die for the sake of humanity’s future. His design and personality demand you pay attention, with piercing blue eyes and a neat blonde cut that fosters strength and determination in any squad he leads. He trusts in his teammates but doesn’t let that disillusion him, always aware of any spies or governmental issues that might threaten the integrity of their survival. He’s an inspiring, mature character that really exemplifies the risk-it-all attitude of the Survey Corps.
2. Levi Ackerman
Captain Levi is unquestionably the strongest human combatant there is. With only Mikasa as a close second in proficiency. His ruthless demeanor, along with vicious agility and strength inspire fear in those who cross him. Even his teammates feel threatened by him, despite his short stature, but respect him nonetheless because of his determination to protect the species. With a short black cut and young face surrounding a nihilistic set of narrow eyes, Levi is possibly the most popular character for a reason. He’s a badass with endless resolve. Only keeping people at bay due to the nature of his job as the captain of the Special Operations Squad.
1. Armin Arlert
As unpopular an opinion this may be, Armin is my favorite Attack on Titan character. When we first meet the weak, timid boy, he’s being bullied as a child and needs to be rescued by Mikasa and Eren. But while in their company, he becomes animatedly enthusiastic about the world, politics, society, and strategy. This is our first valuable insight into one of the most important fighters of the 104th Training Corps. There have been countless times where humanity may have fallen were it not for his unique insight. He may not be the most capable fighter. But he more than makes up for it with his earnest compassion towards both his allies and enemies, and his resolve to develop as a warrior and a thinker. So when he claims the power of the Colossus Titan from Bertolt, he’s given a form that matches his importance in the story. Armin is an endearing character that’s also quite relatable and riddled with flaws, but always eager to fight. And that’s why he’s my favorite.
