Attack on Titanis one of thebest anime series, especially when it comes to character development, but unfortunately, not everyone in the story was given equal attention. Now that the anime has concluded as of November 2023, fans are speculating further about the characters who received less screen time than others.
Characters like Armin, Mikasa, and Levi received no shortage of time onscreen since they are main characters who played major roles. However, other members of the Survey Corps and beyond, like Annie Leonhart and Marco Bodt, are surrounded by mystery becausemany aspects of their character arcs were never explored, although they are some of the most intriguing heroes inAttack on Titan.
8Marco Bodt
Marco Was Killed by the People He Considered Friends, Taking Him Out of the Story Early
Marco Bodt, a member of the Survey Corps,was killed before he could even be properly explored as a character.He was a squad commander and high-ranking in the Survey Corps, as well as being best friends with Jean. Unfortunately,Marco’s death at the hands of Titansoccurred early on in season one, leaving little time for fans to get to know him. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and eavesdropped on Reiner and Bertholdt admitting that they were Titans and traitors.
They had to cover their tracks by removing his ODM gear and leaving him to be consumed by a Titan, as he begged who he thought were his friends not to abandon him. His death did not go unnoticed though, and was mourned deeply by Eren and Jean specifically.Jean even joined the Scout Regiment in Marco’s honor,even though he was initially planning to take the easy route and join the Military Police instead. A character like Marco who caused such a positive impact on the lives of those around him definitely deserved more time onscreen than he received.
7Jean Kirstein
Jean’s Transformation from Lazy and Unmotivated to a Courageous Hero Could Have Been Explored Further
Jean Kirstein is one of the fan-favorite characters ofAttack on Titan,but he really was not given much screen time, especially when compared to other Survey Corps comrades like Armin Arlert and Mikasa Ackerman.His character arc had great potential,because when he was first introduced, he was unlikable, arrogant, and lazy, intent on living a cushy life of protection rather than fighting Titans like his friends.
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After his best friend Marco’s death, his mindset shifted, and he became muchbraver to uphold Marco’s legacy and ensure he lived a life he could be proud of. By the end of the story, he accomplished his goal, fighting valiantly for humanity’s sake with no regard for his own life. A lot of details of Jean’s life have been left up to speculation, and although he did state that his past and family life were very fortunate compared to his comrades, it would still be intriguing to learn more about this popularAttack on Titanhero’s life and past outside of combat.
6Porco Galliard
Porco’s Use of the Jaw Titan, Complex Family Relationships, and Cocky Personality Make Him One to Watch
Porco Galliard was one of the most compelling of the Marleyan citizens introduced in season four, but he only appeared for a brief time. As the Jaw Titan,he was gifted with one of the most powerful and terrifying of the Nine Titans, capable of mass destruction with its mighty jaws. Although he was technically an Eldian, Porco was awarded honorary Marleyan status for fighting alongside the Warriors.
Some ofPorco’s coolest scenes occurred during the Raid on Liberio arc,when he scaled buildings and battled against the Eldians who ambushed Willy Tybur’s declaration of war speech. He was severely injured fighting Eren’s Attack Titan, andPorco allowed the younger Falco to transforminto his Jaw Titan and continue fighting in his stead. Porco had some complex family dynamics, especially with his older brother Marcel, who intervened so Porco would not be able to take on the Armored Titan and endanger his life. Porco’s cocky demeanor, masterful use of his Titan, and family dynamics make him an enthralling hero who deserves much more attention.
5Mike Zacharias
Mike Zacharias Was Humanity’s Second-Strongest Soldier, so He Should Have Received a Larger Role
Mike Zacharias is one of the most mysterious characters inAttack on Titan,who is too often forgotten despite his impressive contributions in humanity’s battle against the Titans.He was second only to Levi and known as humanity’s second-strongest soldier, but he often kept to himself and was not very outspoken, so it was all too easy for him to fade into the background around more outgoing personalities.
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He died during the Clash of the Titans arc, during the Survey Corps' mission to find and capture Annie Leonhart’s Female Titan. During this mission, he was brutally attacked by the Beast Titan and then consumed by another horde of approaching Titans. Mike had a lot of unique traits, including an advanced sense of smell that allowed him to detect nearby Titans with nearly perfect accuracy.Mike was one of the greatest Titan killers in history, and had he survived longer, he would have made a phenomenal addition to the team that saved humanity in the final moments ofAttack on Titan.
4Pieck Finger
Pieck Needed a More Fleshed Out Character Arc, Delving Into Her Relationships and Life Apart From the War
Pieck Finger is one of the kindest, most helpful members of the Warriors, but her soft-spoken, calm personality coupled with her infrequent appearances inAttack on Titanand the fact that she was not introduced until season four make her less memorable than other heroes. She has a tragic origin story, losing her mother at a young age and becoming the Cart Titan to support her sick father.This heartbreaking backstory was glossed over pretty quickly, as were most character arcs involving Pieck.
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Although most people appreciate Pieck’s inventive uses of her Cart Titan, her willingness to work with the Eldians, and, of course, the iconic scene of her and Gabi on the roof with Yelena, it is clear thatPieck could have been fleshed out more as a character.Aside from a brief explanation of her past, little is known about her life, relationships with other characters, and other aspects of who she is that would further increase fans' appreciation for her. Of all the Warriors, she received the least satisfying character arc, which is a shame.
3Hitch Dreyse
Hitch’s Appearances inAttack on TitanAre Few, and She Gradually Disappeared From The Story
As cool of a character as Hitch Dreyse is, she is rather one-dimensional and often absent from key story lines.Hitch had close friendships with Marlowe and Annie, other members of the Military Police, and became heartbroken when he died, which, similarly to Jean when Marco died, helpedchange her attitude from one of apathy to a genuine interest inprotecting others from Marlowe’s fate.
Other than this aspect of Hitch’s character arc though, her last major role in the story waswatching over Annie’s crystal and helping her escape and reunite with her former Survey Corpscomrades. Hitch’s efforts in the story do not go unnoticed because she was a valuable member of the Military Police, but there was potential to give her more scenes, a detailed backstory, and a more multidimensional personality than the one she received.
2Ymir
Ymir’s Time inAttack on TitanWas Brief, Considering the Complexity of Her Character and Relationships
Ymir is one ofAttack on Titan’smost well-written and complex characters, but her time in the series felt very short. Her life was filled with difficulty, as she grew up on the streets andwas manipulated into joining a cult during the most vulnerable momentsof her life. When the cult was caught and punished, she was transformed into a Pure Titan and abandoned in Eldia, where she would later eat Marcel and become the Jaw Titan.
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She shared a complicated relationship with “Krista Lenz,” better known as Historia, that had heavy romantic undertones, asHistoria was Ymir’s reason for joining the Survey Corpsat all. Ymir wound up sacrificing herself and letting Porco take her power, dying just as quickly as she was first introduced. Her complex relationship with Historia and fascinating history before joining the Survey Corps should have earned her much more screen time.
1Annie Leonhart
Annie Was Trapped in a Crystal for Many Episodes, Leaving Large Gaps in Her Story
Annie Leonhart is one of the best characters inAttack on Titan,but a twist regarding her arc meant she was not featured in the story for massive chunks of time. Annie was working with Reiner and Bertholdt as Marleyan traitors, spying on the Eldians. Unfortunately for her,her Female Titan identity was quickly discovered by the intuitive Armin Arlert,and she was forced to flee, sealing herself in a crystal for protection and thus, removing herself from the series for a while. Armin visited her while she was trapped in crystal, but since she could not speak back, her character went unused.
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She is naturally a quiet and reclusive person, so more screen time to get to know her, her past history, and her tumultuous relationship with her adoptive father and other characters would have been very helpful. Annie also became involved romantically with Armin after the Rumbling, but because she was absent from the story for so long,Annie’s romance with Armin felt rushed,and they could have benefited from moreAttack on Titanscenes together to allow their love to develop naturally.
Attack On Titan
Cast
Based on the manga, Attack on Titan is a dark-action fantasy series set in a world where humanity has been corralled into walled cities from fear of monstrous human-eating Titans that exist outside of them. When protagonist Eren Yeager’s mother is killed in front of his eyes at a young age, his thirst for vengeance leads him to join an elite group of soldiers created to fight back against the Titan menace.
