Connie Springer

Connie Springer (コニー・スプリンガー), the stock character in the series, was a member of the 104th Trainees Squad. On graduation, he joined the Scouting Legion.

Personality
Connie is very emotional and out going. Even in the worst scenario, he always tries to get everyone pumped. Connie is keen on battle and doesn't shy away for the chance to take on Titans. His weakness: he is not too bright.

Story
Connie is one of the trainees in Trost District when the Colossal Titan breaks down the gate. He is initially unable to escape due to being low on gas, and so joins Armin's plan to break into the supply room and replenish their supply. He is one of the best fighters in the group, and so is one of the seven assigned to take down a Titan in the supply room with one strike. While he fails to kill his target with his first blow, he is rescued by Annie Leonhardt.

Later on Connie is part of a group of Scouting Legion members under investigation by Mike Zakarius under suspicion of being an accomplice to Annie. However, when Titans mysteriously appear within Wall Rose, Mike sends them to warn the surrounding villages. Because Connie's home village of Ragako is in the Titans' wake, he receives permission to join to the group headed in that direction. They find the village seemingly deserted, with no bodies but also no sign that the people fled. In the ruins of his house, Connie finds an immobile Titan that reminds him of his mother. As night falls, Connie and his group take refuge in Castle Utgard, which subsequently comes under siege by Titans.

During the siege, he is attacked by a smaller Titan and rescued by Reiner, who is injured in the process. He expresses frustration that Reiner has always protected him, and promises that someday he will repay him in kind. Like the others, he is shocked when Ymir reveals herself to be a Titan -- though he quickly nicknames her "Ugly" and gives her a hard time. After the squad lead by Hanji rescues them, Connie joins the efforts to continue investigating Wall Rose for damage. When a battle breaks out between the soldiers and the Armored Titan and Colossal Titan, he is assigned to tend to the wounded. He begs one of the officers to save Reiner and Bertholdt, fearing them missing and injured, and unaware that they are the Titans being fought.

In the aftermath of the battle, Connie joins the rescue party. However, he states he cannot believe Reiner and Bertholdt are their enemies, and is determined to hear it from them himself. When the team finally arrives in the forest, he is one of those that encounters Ymir's Titan form and identifies her for the others. When she fails to respond to questions, he kicks her in the head and again calls her "Ugly". He is shocked when Ymir suddenly attacks, kidnapping Christa and fleeing to rejoin Reiner and Bertholdt.

Eventually, he is finally able to catch up to the traitors and uses his gear to climb onto Reiner's shoulder. Together with Jean, he confronts Bertholdt (and Reiner) concerning the friendship they shared in the past and their lies. He mentions that the members of the 104th Trainees Squad had once promised to survive, and grow old together while reminiscing over drinks. This, along with Jean's words, finally reach Bertholdt and cause him to break down. But before the group can react to Bertholdt's confession of their betrayal, as well as their genuine affection for them, Hannes shouts to warn them that Irvin Smith is leading a massive horde of Titans directly towards them.

Abilities
Connie's abilities made him in the top 10 of the graduated trainees. He is said to be "slow on the uptake but makes very sharp turns."

Relationships

 * Sasha Braus - Connie and Sasha are close friends, often getting into mischief together and providing much of the comic relief of the series.
 * Reiner Braun - Connie greatly admires Reiner, and looks up to him as a big brother. The two were often seen together during their trainee days, and Connie notes that Reiner has protected him on multiple occasions. As such, he's shocked when Reiner's true identity is revealed and declares he won't accept that he's an enemy until they can speak face to face.
 * Ymir - She is an antithesis to Connie Springer; Connie is obtuse as Ymir is cunning and wily. Connie has strong comradeship and gets along with most of his buddies as Ymir's social skill has the lowest score (even lower than exclusionary Annie). Connie needless to say has many friends, as Ymir has Christa, Ymir's only true friend. Connie is lively as Ymir is disinterested. Inevitably, their acquaintance is tense and at times, adverse.
 * Eren Yeager - Although Connie is not yet aware of it, he is in same plight as Eren; both lost their hometowns, families and have nowhere to return to.

Trivia

 * Connie's name may have multiple meanings, either from the Celtic name "Connor", meaning "son of the wolf", or "Constantia", meaning "conviction". "Springer" is Danish for "knight", "leaper", and "dolphin".