Attack on Titan has exploded onto the scene and remained one of the most popular and captivating anime in the modern era of the medium. It offers plenty of mystery, but at the same time provides the audience with meaningful and layered characters in a world full of horror and politics.
As with most popular shows, the focus often surrounds a core group of protagonists, but Attack on Titan manages to showcase a collection of personalities all navigating interpersonal relationships. The anime mixes fantasy, science fiction, and action elements that culminate in a story with often more questions than answers.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
8 Hange
Every good science fiction story has a scientist whose desire for discovery often comes in conflict with the realities that surround them. That's where Hange Zoe came in, as the always fascinated member of the Survey Corps who simply wanted to study Titans and their behavior.
It was her curiosity that led to many of the narrative reveals, and in hindsight, she was much closer to groundbreaking realizations than she thought she was. What makes Hange so interesting is that she toed the line between scientist and warrior, and in the same breath in which she could piece together biological mysteries, she could hold her own in a moment of conflict.
7 Jeager
Despite being the father to Grisha Jeager and the grandfather of both Eren and Zeke Jeager, Dr. Jeager's full name is never given. Viewers of the anime witness his mental breakdown at the hands of Eren, when the show's protagonist invades Marley under a false alias.
It's clear the man has many regrets about how he handled and betrayed his family. The slow reveal of him initially being presented as a capable and intelligent man, but then the truth of his mental state and living situation coming to light makes his brief appearance in the anime superbly impactful. It's unclear whether or not he survived the attack on Marley by Eren and company.
6 Pyxis
Military leaders in fiction tend to follow the misogynistic drops often associated with the profession. In Attack on Titan General Dot Pyxis bucks this trend in many ways, but still manages to present himself as an intelligent and strategic leader of people.
What allowed him to lead in a meaningful way is that he was always even-keeled and understood that there were bigger pieces at play that were out of his control. Audiences will never get to see what Paradis Island could have looked like under his direction. There's a sense of mystery regarding his personal life as the identities of his wife and children are never revealed.
5 Sasha Braus
Sasha Braus, mostly known as the girl who was always hungry, had a lot more to her than her never-ending appetite. When it's revealed that most of her childhood was spent hunting for food, it makes sense that when she obtained access to it she became glutenous. She was arguably the friendliest and most fun-loving member of the 104th Cadet Corps, which made her untimely death so emotionally draining.
Her father inspired her to leave their village, as he hoped she could find purpose and stability in life beyond what he could provide her. She was too good for the world into which she was born and fans of Attack on Titan are left wondering what else she could have accomplished if not for her life being cut short.
4 Ymir
Despite Ymir playing a pivotal role in what would become of both Paradis Island and Titans, she's never really considered when discussing characters from Attack on Titan. Her personal journey prior to her being turned into a Pure Titan is awful considering she became the object of desire for an entire cult.
She would eventually find herself eating a Marleyan warrior and as a result, becoming the Jaw Titan. In a world full of characters who overcome numerous obstacles and see both their worldview and physical bodies change before them, she happens to have one of the more compelling and wild journeys.
3 Willy Tybur
The general belief is that time in front of an audience is needed for a character to become more interesting, but Willy Tybur may be a perfect example of why less time results in the same fascination. He was an Eldian noble with dreams of his people continuing on, but his time was cut short by violent means he didn't anticipate.
Willy is referred to as both the "Kin of our savior" and "Lord Tybur," but despite those titles, he presents as a well-meaning and honorable individual. In some ways, he's meant to represent the direct opposite approach of what Eren Jeager feels must happen. Eren is fueled by revenge and anger and isn't afraid to implement inhumane savagery as long as it results in his victory.
2 Erwin Smith
To be a leader of men in times of peace is one thing, it's another to inspire a group of soldiers to charge head-on into what appears to be their inevitable death. Erwin Smith wasn't a perfect person, but he believed in his cause and was loyal to it to a fault. Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack on Titan, has gone as far as to say his physical appearance is meant to convey Superman or Captain America, as Erwin is the "embodiment of American justice."
It's always interesting when a creator can showcase their representation of a foreign society from an outside perspective. Erwin isn't a morally good or just individual, but he happens to be the type of person willing to commit and follow through on tough decisions, and for better or worse those are the types of people who ascend to leadership positions in times of war and conflict.
1 Kenny Ackerman
Nicknames can go a long way in making certain characters immediately interesting. This has to do with audiences wanting to know the context and story behind how said character got their nickname. That's where Kenny Ackerman and the title of "Kenny the Ripper" comes in when talking about the most interesting side characters in Attack on Titan.
Serving as the man who helped his nephew Levi Ackerman grow up and survive as a child endears him to viewers since Levi is one of the anime's most beloved characters. Kenny isn't inherently evil, but he serves as a thematic showcase of how the human psyche can be manipulated by environmental factors outside of the individual's control.