I think there is a reason for this and with what we now know, I think I've figured it out.
It’s been forever since Annie sealed herself within the crystal cocoon after her battle with Eren in the capital and outside of a flashback to the Battle of Trost we’ve not seen her since. As annoying as it has been with her effectivley removed from the story, I think there is a solid reason for it because I don't think Isayama has forgotten about her, as I've red some posts where some people think he has. After reading the latest capter, 91, I think I’ve figured out why Isayama hasn’t brought Annie back into the story yet, and what I hope happens when she does come back.
File:The Female Titan.pngAnnie, along with Reiner, Bertolt and Marcel (the one Ymir ate) were sent to the Walls in 845 and now it is 854 so if they received their abilities in 845 then Annie and Reiner will have 4 years left to live. However Marley’s plan to recruit Eldian warriors for their plans to destroy Paradis that we saw in Grisha’s memories in 832 called for children between 5 and 7. While obviously Zeke, who is 29 by 854, received his power much later, presumably because of he is a descendant of Ymir Fritz; it could still apply to Annie and Reiner. That means Annie who was 16 by 850 would have been recruited so between 839 and 841. If she hadn’t sealed herself away and escaped with Reiner and Zeke in 850 then by 854 she would be dead or close to it. I think that's why Marley is currently searching for a successor for the Armored Titan, because Reiner is going to die soon, and his power needs to be passed on. I think Annie sealing herself within the cocoon has physically stopped her aging so her 13 year “Curse of Ymir” has been halted, and will resume only when she awakens at a later point which means when she does she still has another 4 years left to live. I think Isayama is saving Annie for a later occasion where she needs to have a few more years left to live so we may not see her for another long while yet, but there is not a doubt in my mind that we won't ever see her again. I'm just really hoping it's not so someone can just eat her and inherit her power.
File:Mr. Leonhart.pngI’ve always found Annie’s character interesting because I don’t think she’s pure evil just a victim of Marley’s corruption. True she has killed several people, including Marco and Petra who were two of my favorites, but she also saved Connie and Jean, gave Eren combat advice, aided Marlowe and hesitated to kill Armin multiple times and she does appear to be somewhat remorseful of her past misdeeds. Armin even noted that Annie does appear to care for her fellow comrades more than she lets on. Annie also doesn’t strike me as being completely devoted to Marley’s cause like Reiner, but views it as a means to an end. Since she was presumably raised in the Liberio Internment Zone I think her father believes that her service to Marley is their way of being accepted into Marley as true citizens. I should also note that Annie initially didn't agree with her father's beliefs and even lashed out at him during a training session and crippled him, until she eventually accepted what her father was forcing upon her.
Despite everything shes done I always thought Annie wasn't pure evil, just misguided.
Eren now knows both from Grisha’s books and from memories of Grisha and Kruger what Marley is like especially for Eldian citizens and how most of them have been brainwashed into believing they’re the stain of the Earth, because of the actions of their “dreaded ancestor” Ymir Fritz. I think if Annie is told the truth and is promised amnesty in exchange for her assistace, she could be convinced to turn against Marley and aid the Survey Corps in their impending battle against Marley especially if it means getting back home which I think is all she really wants to do. There is also a possibility that she doesn’t know about the 13 year curse and if all she really wants to do is live, she may be outraged to learn that Marley has significantly reduced her lifespan enough to turn against them. Obviously the Survey Corps would all have their reservations about trusting Annie, especially Mikasa and Jean, I think characters like Armin and Levi who know what's at stake and what needs to be done would be willing to give her a chance. After all if she did betray them again it's not like Eren could't put her down if needed, and with Levi and Mikasa's help Annie would be outmatched.
I think Annie harbors feelings for Armin, so maybe that could be a motive for reforming?
The Survey Corps having Annie on their side could prove useful as they’d have someone who knows Marley firsthand and could have a potential spy within their enemies’ boarders, which could allow them to sneak in and destroy Marley from within. Plus Marley has access to 6 of the Titan shifters and while Armin now possesses the Colossal Titan the Survey Corps need as many shifters on their side as possible. And with Annie on their side they could identify all the enemy Titan shifters within Marley. Maybe she could help lure them out so their power can be taken by other Survey Corps members? I also think Annie may have feelings for Armin as she has been shown to respect him, and in the field had chances to kill Armin and didn't, which she later admitted she wasn't sure why she did. She also said that she was genuinely hurt that Armin used emotional blackmail to lure her into that trap, as Armin himself also admitted that despite suspecting her role in Sonny and Bean's deaths he didn't want to believe he was right and kept quiet. Maybe having a soft spot for Armin could be a motivating factor to reform.
I want Annie to come back as much as most people but I think there is a reason why she hasn't been in it and given the revelations in the more recent issues, I think this is why and what I hope happens when she does come back.
Ok I get what you are saying. I wasn;t aware hat the human clads in titans had a time limit. If so Eren does too, and so does Armin. SO what you say is true and Annie has been in the cacoon, she gets an extra 4 years because of theime skip in the show. That is if she wakes up in the 4 years, SHe may stay longer. Those may have been her orders, if she is caught she has to go into the cacoon. Also the time limit might be why Reiner and Bertholdt were so eager to leave Paradis. Their time was about to end and they needed successors. They possibly confirmed they had to return when Zeke came in his Beast Titan to Paradis. So this is a theory. Marley sent four warrior titans at first-Armored, Collossal, Female, and Jaw. The Jaw Titan(Marcel died) when Ymir ate him. (Though she didn't turn into the Jaw Titan at Utgard Castle). The Female (Annie)ws caught and went into a cacoon. The Colossal and Armored were heading back to Liberio with the Beast Titan. But berthodlt was eaten by Armin and he got the powers. Meaning if Reiner and Zeke escape with the Cart Titan, Marley only has three Warriors. When Bertholdt and Reiner were made they kidnapped Ymir and Eren. Why? One Eren was the coordinate. Two They lost Marcel, so they needed the powers to be passed on. SO they tok Ymir. So this means Marley only has three warriors.
CaptPenguinLord wrote: Ok I get what you are saying. I wasn;t aware hat the human clads in titans had a time limit. If so Eren does too, and so does Armin. SO what you say is true and Annie has been in the cacoon, she gets an extra 4 years because of theime skip in the show. That is if she wakes up in the 4 years, SHe may stay longer. Those may have been her orders, if she is caught she has to go into the cacoon. Also the time limit might be why Reiner and Bertholdt were so eager to leave Paradis. Their time was about to end and they needed successors. They possibly confirmed they had to return when Zeke came in his Beast Titan to Paradis. So this is a theory. Marley sent four warrior titans at first-Armored, Collossal, Female, and Jaw. The Jaw Titan(Marcel died) when Ymir ate him. (Though she didn't turn into the Jaw Titan at Utgard Castle). The Female (Annie)ws caught and went into a cacoon. The Colossal and Armored were heading back to Liberio with the Beast Titan. But berthodlt was eaten by Armin and he got the powers. Meaning if Reiner and Zeke escape with the Cart Titan, Marley only has three Warriors. When Bertholdt and Reiner were made they kidnapped Ymir and Eren. Why? One Eren was the coordinate. Two They lost Marcel, so they needed the powers to be passed on. SO they tok Ymir. So this means Marley only has three warriors.
Marley has the Armour, returned Female, Jaws and Cart Titans. That would make four titans, but for how long. I don't think that Marley will continue having them, especially if Eren Yeager gets them, including Armin at the end.
Jean is right to hate Reiner and Annie.
They are unforgivable for having killed Marco like that.
They could have killed him themselves before having him devoured by a titan.
Annie Leonhardt would no doubt has her redemption. However, I think that Isayama Hajime is planning to have the Survey Corp/Marley Warriors alliance fail in stopping and killing Eren Yeager. He did said that the manga is going to have a bleak ending. It will be about how this alliance is going to fail after been through everything.
CaptPenguinLord wrote: Ok I get what you are saying. I wasn;t aware hat the human clads in titans had a time limit. If so Eren does too, and so does Armin. SO what you say is true and Annie has been in the cacoon, she gets an extra 4 years because of theime skip in the show. That is if she wakes up in the 4 years, SHe may stay longer. Those may have been her orders, if she is caught she has to go into the cacoon. Also the time limit might be why Reiner and Bertholdt were so eager to leave Paradis. Their time was about to end and they needed successors. They possibly confirmed they had to return when Zeke came in his Beast Titan to Paradis. So this is a theory. Marley sent four warrior titans at first-Armored, Collossal, Female, and Jaw. The Jaw Titan(Marcel died) when Ymir ate him. (Though she didn't turn into the Jaw Titan at Utgard Castle). The Female (Annie)ws caught and went into a cacoon. The Colossal and Armored were heading back to Liberio with the Beast Titan. But berthodlt was eaten by Armin and he got the powers. Meaning if Reiner and Zeke escape with the Cart Titan, Marley only has three Warriors. When Bertholdt and Reiner were made they kidnapped Ymir and Eren. Why? One Eren was the coordinate. Two They lost Marcel, so they needed the powers to be passed on. SO they tok Ymir. So this means Marley only has three warriors.
Marley has the Armour, returned Female, Jaws and Cart Titans. That would make four titans, but for how long. I don't think that Marley will continue having them, especially if Eren Yeager gets them, including Armin at the end.
You are right but I meant three active warriors. Armored, Beast, and Cart. Though they still have Annie. SO four. They lost the beast one to ymir and she died. Attack and Collasal is with the Eldians in Armin and Eren.
CaptPenguinLord wrote: Ok I get what you are saying. I wasn;t aware hat the human clads in titans had a time limit. If so Eren does too, and so does Armin. SO what you say is true and Annie has been in the cacoon, she gets an extra 4 years because of theime skip in the show. That is if she wakes up in the 4 years, SHe may stay longer. Those may have been her orders, if she is caught she has to go into the cacoon. Also the time limit might be why Reiner and Bertholdt were so eager to leave Paradis. Their time was about to end and they needed successors. They possibly confirmed they had to return when Zeke came in his Beast Titan to Paradis. So this is a theory. Marley sent four warrior titans at first-Armored, Collossal, Female, and Jaw. The Jaw Titan(Marcel died) when Ymir ate him. (Though she didn't turn into the Jaw Titan at Utgard Castle). The Female (Annie)ws caught and went into a cacoon. The Colossal and Armored were heading back to Liberio with the Beast Titan. But berthodlt was eaten by Armin and he got the powers. Meaning if Reiner and Zeke escape with the Cart Titan, Marley only has three Warriors. When Bertholdt and Reiner were made they kidnapped Ymir and Eren. Why? One Eren was the coordinate. Two They lost Marcel, so they needed the powers to be passed on. SO they tok Ymir. So this means Marley only has three warriors.
Marley has the Armour, returned Female, Jaws and Cart Titans. That would make four titans, but for how long. I don't think that Marley will continue having them, especially if Eren Yeager gets them, including Armin at the end.
You are right but I meant three active warriors. Armored, Beast, and Cart. Though they still have Annie. SO four. They lost the beast one to ymir and she died. Attack and Collasal is with the Eldians in Armin and Eren.
I am only referring to the ones that Marley has now currently.
No, we haven't seen Liberio being destroyed, but as Eren has already reached the southern areas of Marley, it has already been destroyed. But that doesn't mean no one escaped, as we saw in the early Marley arc, there are trains lines, so they might have been used to flee (even if it wouldn't have been enough for all of the citizens to leave, a few thousands possibly did)
