The 5 Best Characters in the "Attack on Titan" Anime

Attack on Titan Anime Characters

Hajime Isayama, Kodansha/''ATTACK ON TITAN'' Production Committee

Attack on Titan has taken the anime world by storm. Praised for its originality and creative storyline, one of the series’ strongest points is its variety of characters. Some can be considered the best, and some can be considered the worst. That's open to interpretation.

There’s a high turn-over rate in Attack on Titan, leaving no one safe from the jaws of the man-eating Titans. However, that also means there are plenty of different characters making their way through the cast lineup. If they stay alive long enough for solid character development, there’s more than enough personalities clashing together to keep the story interesting.

Every fan has their personal favorites, so before they get offed in battle, here’s a list of some of the best characters of Attack on Titan.

Mikasa Ackerman

Attack on Titan's Mikasa Ackerman

Hajime Isayama, Kodansha/''ATTACK ON TITAN'' Production Committee

Mikasa Ackerman’s ability to take down a Titan 10 times her size, simply put, makes her a total badass. Regarded as a soldier who is “worth a hundred men” by her superiors, this young lady means business.

Being an untouchable action hero can only get you so far, though. Every significant character needs an equally great backstory. Since Mikasa’s composed attitude means that she doesn’t display a range of emotions, her backstory delves deeper into her psychology and adds greater depth to her character.

With a tragic past that involves witnessing the murder of her parents, her reserved nature helps emphasize other aspects of her personality, such as her protectiveness over main protagonist Eren Yeager. Not to be mistaken for a clingy love interest, Mikasa is devoted to staying by Eren’s side ever since he saved her from being sold into sex slavery when she was young.

It’s hard not to get invested in Mikasa’s unsettling past, and her uncanny abilities as a soldier make her one of Attack on Titan’s stand-out characters.

Connie Springer

Attack on Titan's Springer

Hajime Isayama, ​Kodansha/''ATTACK ON TITAN'' Production Committee

Among an elite group of soldiers and an overwhelming number of Titans, getting lost in the chaos makes you underappreciate the simple things.

Connie Springer isn’t the best soldier around, nor does he share the brooding personality that most of the cast possess. He’s a splash of positivity and doesn’t tone down his surprise or excitement of escaping dicey, Titan-related situations.

He has the demeanor of an average teenager (minus the whole war on Titans thing), acting as though the threat of death isn’t hanging over him and the rest of society.

When he has a snack break with fellow soldier Sasha Blouse or a goofball moment, he takes some of the tension away from the series. Those ordinary traits are what make him great an excellent addition to the cast.

Even as a minor, and often underrated, character, Connie is still one of the best on the show thanks to his enthusiastic manner. With a little more screen time, he could be the ray of sunshine that the gruesome world of Attack on Titan needs.

Jean Kirstein

Attack on Titan's Jean Kirstein

Hajime Isayama, Kodansha/''ATTACK ON TITAN'' Production Committee

Honesty is the best policy. For Jean Kirstein, there isn’t a limit to those words. He doesn’t hold back when it comes to speaking his mind, which has struck a positive chord with audiences.

However, it’s not surprising that Jean’s blunt personality doesn’t always mesh well with others. Early on there’s some friction between him and Eren when he openly states his plans to join the Military Police Brigade, where he can enjoy a peaceful life behind the city walls away from the threat of Titans.

Jean’s aversion to risky situations may not be his best quality, but it leaves room for significant character development.

Perhaps nothing defines him more than his life-or-death decision to command a squad of leaderless soldiers. It’s a step outside of his comfort zone, and it shows his ability to take charge in a tight situation. Leadership is the classic quality that every good guy needs, even if it takes Jean a little while to find it within himself.

Watching his progression throughout the series makes him more and more likable with each passing episode. His say-anything attitude comes off as a strong part of his personality. Most importantly, it makes him memorable without having to force attention toward his character.

Annie Leonhardt

Attack on Titan's Annie Leonhardt

Hajime Isayama, Kodansha/''ATTACK ON TITAN'' Production Committee

When it comes to betrayal and intimidation, Annie Leonhardt takes the cake. They’re not necessarily the kind of qualities someone looks for in a best friend, but they’re perfect for making Annie one of the best characters in a cut-throat series like Attack on Titan.

Betrayal at its best, she slips through the government system as an unsuspecting soldier then turns on the Survey Corps as the Female Titan with about as much grace as a traitor is capable of.

Her ability to deceive is only half of it. What about that intimidation factor?

One look from Annie is enough to send someone to their funeral. Her dead stare is merely a look of warning, and she has no qualms with backing it up.

She is not afraid of a little rough and tumbles. During boot camp, she haphazardly accepts Reiner Braun’s challenge in hand-to-hand combat, only to leave him hesitant to face her after she lays out Eren twice in a row. (She shortly knocks Reiner face-first into the ground afterward).

Annie is hard-hitting and dangerous, which are all of the ingredients needed to make a great character who can stir up some much-needed trouble.

Levi

Attack on Titan's Levi

Hajime Isayama, Kodansha/''ATTACK ON TITAN'' Production Committee

As you can see, there are a lot of great characters in Attack on Titan, but none have quite the same edge as Levi. A Titan-killing machine, Levi is a top-notch soldier and respectable squad leader. His crudeness makes him more anti-hero in nature, but it compliments the dark tone of the series very well.

Acknowledged as the most powerful soldier, there’s nothing more impressive than seeing Levi take down two Titans singlehandedly or having an epic faceoff with the Female Titan. Never breaking a sweat, you’d think he just got finished taking a stroll in the park if it weren’t for the leftover blood stains. (His clean-freak tendency to wipe down his equipment after battle makes sure that doesn’t last very long).

Despite being a master at his trade, any sense of arrogance is absent from his disciplined manner. Levi is purely a get-the-job-done kind of guy, appearing to be far removed from his emotions most of the time. It’s understandable considering the decisions he’s forced to make regularly. Something like dumping the bodies of his dead comrades to escape a pack of Titans would be impossible if he were an emotionally driven person.

In saying that, he genuinely cares for his fellow combatants. This is seen when he reassures a fatally injured soldier that their death will have meaning and promises to use their memory as inspiration. It’s intimate moments such as these that humanize Levi’s taciturn exterior.

While it’s easy to get caught up in Levi’s remarkable abilities as a soldier, it’s his unhesitating confidence and willingness to do what’s necessary that makes him such an invaluable Attack on Titan character.