Thomas Wagner (Anime)

"Don't be so embarrassed. You're not the only one."

- Thomas decides to join the Scout Regiment

Thomas Wagner (トーマス・ワグナー) was a graduate of the 104th Cadet Corps who fought during the battle for Trost District and was assigned to the middle guard after the Colossal Titan's second attack.

Appearance
Thomas had blond hair with pronounced sideburns, light brown eyes, and was usually seen wearing the standard cadet uniform, or simple casual attire when off-duty.

Personality
Thomas was initially quite pessimistic about defeating the Titans, believing that humanity ultimately stands no chance, but he would later change his way of thinking after hearing an inspiring speech from Eren. As a cadet, Thomas admitted to still being a bit cowardly, as he was too frightened to immediately act upon witnessing the Colossal Titan for the first time. Despite this, Thomas was also somewhat of a leader, rallying his team into turning their first battle into a hunting competition despite the inherent uncertainty.

Humanity's Comeback arc
Thomas Wagner is introduced as hailing from the Trost District. A member of the 104th Cadet Corps, he first meets Eren Jaeger while questioning him about the Colossal Titan. Later, he operates the training equipment for the omni-directional mobility gear during Eren's second attempt at his aptitude test. At Keith Sadies' orders, Thomas exchanges equipment with Eren and it is discovered that Eren's equipment was defective.

Distress
In the year 848, Thomas is placed in charge of a group of cadets on a wilderness hunt to sustain themselves in times of peace. When it is discovered that the group's ODM gear has been stolen by a band of thieves, Thomas suggests returning to the training grounds to alert Sadies, before agreeing to Reiner's plan to speed up their mission in order to alert Marco Bodt's group of the thieves.

The next day, Thomas and his group come upon Marco's group, who have been engaging the kidnappers, and help them disarm the remaining men.

A Sudden Visitor: The Torturous Curse of Adolescence
In the year 849, while the Cadet Corps is performing a mock defense mission in Trost, Thomas takes the opportunity to visit his family.

After graduating, Thomas questions Eren on where he will be applying, arguing that it is pointless to try to fight the Titans as a scout. Eren then asks him if he is going to give up just because he thinks humanity cannot win, stating that the information gained in battle against the Titans will lead to further hope and that humanity has not been truly defeated yet. The following morning, Thomas plans to join the Scout Regiment.

The Struggle for Trost arc
Thomas's squad is assigned to clean out the cannons atop Wall Rose. As they are working, Thomas reveals to Eren that his words the previous night inspired many of his fellow cadets to consider joining the Scout Regiment. Their conversation is interrupted by Sasha Braus, who reveals that she has stolen meat from the officers' lounge. Despite some reservations, Thomas agrees to partake, celebrating the idea of retaking Wall Maria soon.

Their festivities are cut short when the Colossal Titan appears outside Trost District, knocking them off the Wall with a blast of steam. Eren orders them to attack the Colossal Titan, but Thomas and his comrades are too shocked to immediately react.

After the breach, he is assigned to the middle guard along with Eren, Armin Arlelt, Milieus Zeremski, Nack Tierce, and Mina Carolina. He suggests they have a contest on who can kill the most Titans. Noticing an alarming amount of Titans in the middle guard, the squad begins to advance, but are caught off guard by an abnormal Titan which catches Thomas in its mouth and swallows him whole.

Armin would later report his demise to the remaining members of the 104th Cadet Corps, saying he died valiantly in the line of duty.

The Uprising arc
While speaking to Historia Reiss under the Reiss Chapel, Eren mentions Thomas as being among the victims he and Grisha Jaeger are responsible for killing by stealing the Titan's power.