Hannes (Anime)

"Eren... The reason you couldn't save your mother is that you lacked the strength. The reason... The reason I didn't fight the Titan was that I lacked the courage!"

- Hannes to Eren

Hannes (ハンネス) was a Captain (隊長) of the Garrison. He was also a lifelong friend to the Jaeger family and was responsible for saving Mikasa and Eren from the Smiling Titan.

Appearance
Hannes was a tall, well-built man with short blond hair, a thin dark mustache, and golden hazel eyes. He wore the typical uniform of the Garrison Regiment along with a gray v-neck shirt underneath.

Personality
Hannes was a very kind, good-natured man, but he always drank irresponsibly. Although somewhat cowardly, he was determined to die if it meant freeing Eren from his captors. He was greatly ashamed of lack of courage five years ago, and waited to encounter the Titan who killed Eren's mother, Carla Jaeger, again, in order to slay it and make up for his past mistakes.

Hannes cared deeply for Eren and Mikasa and looked out for them after Carla was eaten. He ultimately gave his life to protect them.

The Fall of Shiganshina arc
Hannes is first introduced as being drunk while on duty, in the Shiganshina District shortly before Wall Maria fell. He and a fellow Garrison member, Hugo, are chided by Eren, who thinks they are being reckless by drinking as the Walls could fall any day. Hannes however is relaxed, saying that the Walls have stood for a century without a breach.

During the fall of Wall Maria and subsequent Titan invasion, Hannes arrives at the scene with Eren, Mikasa and Carla Jaeger as she is trapped underneath her house that was hit by the rubble caused by the Colossal Titan's attack. She begs him to take the children and run but he wishes to instead kill the approaching Titan and rescue Carla as well. Horrified by the distinct wide, grinning face of this Titan, Hannes saves Mikasa and Eren from certain death, despite the fact that he does not have the courage to fight the Titan that devours Carla.

Moments after the traumatizing event, Eren punches Hannes repeatedly, crying out why he could not save Carla, and Hannes throws him to the ground. Eren continues his blind efforts of attacking Hannes, with Hannes tearfully explaining that the reason Eren could not save his mother was because he lacked the strength, further infuriating Eren, but Hannes says that the reason he himself could not save Carla was because he lacked the courage. He escorts the two away from the chaos.

Hannes escorts Eren and Mikasa on the boat escaping the district and shortly after participates in the evacuation of Shiganshina. He tries to reason with the other Garrison members, saying that if they close the gate the people outside the Walls will be devoured, however the other argues that the Titans will invade the entirety of Wall Maria if they do not. Hannes attempts to stop the command, but the conflict is short-lived as an Armored Titan breaks through the Shiganshina gate, and Hannes watches in horror of the aftermath of the blow.

Humanity's Comeback arc
Eren meets Hannes again five years later in Trost District and compliments Hannes for earning the rank of Captain. Hannes reveals that he owes a debt to Grisha Jaeger for saving his wife and many others who were ill with a disease by bringing in an antibody, and he regrets that he was never able to repay the favor.