Listen, I know nobody cares who my favorite characters are and why but I'm trying to pass the time and also earn badges. Let's count down from ten to make it more exciting.
Number 10[]
Kenny is just funny. When you learn more about him he becomes a legitimate interesting character, but for me that's just a bonus. He's just a funny cowboy man. He loves booze and violence. He invented AP-ODM gear AND killed a bunch of MPs, which is cool because I hate the MPs.
But his relationship with Uri is sweet, how he was so moved at how Uri treated him with kindness that he devoted his life to being able to see the world as Uri does. And, in ways, his relationship with Levi is nice, but it's mostly just sad. Kenny was unironically the smartest character. Plus, he provided the Titan serum that saved Armin. Thanks, Kenny.
Number 9[]
Now this is how you do a side character. AOT is often criticized for how the side characters are just redshirts with little importance to the story. Moblit is not that. He was Hange's assistant, if they were around, he was around. He never got the spotlight, but he was always there, and loyal to the end, when he sacrifices himself to save Hange's life. He's just a nice comfort character for me. Being reminded that he exists makes me smile.
Number 8[]
Jean's the best. His redemption is so good that I forgot that he used to suck. He was an overconfident and spoiled punk, but the Battle of Trost and Marco's death knocked some sense into him, and he became and incredible soldier and an even better leader. He is such a skilled soldier that he was one of two non-superhuman soldiers left during the Battle of Heaven and Earth (unless you count Gabi, which I don't).
He's such a great guy and should probably have been the next Survey Corps commander instead of....
Number 7[]
Yeah, I understand why Hange went with Armin as commander, but I think it should've been Jean. Anyway, Armin rocks! I thought that logistically, Erwin was the right choice to be saved, but I was happy that Armin made it. He's just such a kind and innocent person throughout the series. He freaks out when he kills someone for the first time. He's a coward, but has brilliant, innovative ideas. He hates himself. He's basically an audience surrogate character, because I'd think that we'd all be like Armin. Plus, once he is saved and he has to grapple with his feelings about Bertolt, he becomes super compelling.
Number 6[]
Reiner started out as the big brother of the Cadets, ended up being an Armored Traitor, and now he's one of my favorites. I never would've guessed it.
The way his character works is fascinating. The more you learn about him, the sadder you feel and the more you want to see him succeed. His whole character is a black hole of depression. His suicide attempt was what really made me realize how crazy his transformation is from big brother to anime villain to one of the best characters.
Number 5[]
I love Hange for so many reasons. They're just so excited to have their job. They get to experiment on Titans AND Titan shifters. Dream come true!
Uh oh! They're commander of the Survey Corps now. Oh no. That is too much pressure. How are they gonna take it? Not well.
Hange's downfall is one of the saddest character turns in the series. They go from the happy-go-lucky mad scientist to this tired, depressed person who just has to much on their plate, and doesn't even have Moblit to help anymore. Also enbie representation. Exciting!
Number 4[]
Historia is so badass. Her Krista personality is cute but the real person is so much cooler. When she cheers Ymir on at Utgard, when she stands up to Mikasa, when she fucks Rod's shit UP... she's cool.
She's a great queen too; starting the orphanage, making alliances. This girl's got it all. I just wish she got to be with Ymir. Maybe then she'd keep her smile.
Number 3[]
Pieck is just the perfect character for me to enjoy. She's hot, she's badass, she's hilarious, she's kind. Any interaction she has with a Scout is GOLD. I'm specifically thinking of when Hange asks if she ever brushes the Cart's teeth and Pieck just says, "What a rude thing to say to a lady." I could make a whole post of iconic Pieck quotes.
She's not not interesting, but I don't have a very good reason for liking her. She's just every aspect of a character I like, but in a single character.
Number 2[]
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| Ymir † |
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I often find the "cynical character" annoying. They're often just rude and obnoxious, and nobody would like them in real life. Ymir is a real-life "cynical character". She's just a straight-up bitch and she knows it. Nobody but Historia likes her, Connie almost fucking killed her once. How is she one of my favorites then? Because she's a real person.
Why is she so cynical? Not just because she's too cool to be optimistic; she was raised in a cult and was totally betrayed by them. So when she was given another opportunity to live, she decided to live for herself. And while she was living for herself, she fell in love.
Her relationship with Historia is one of my favorites in all of fiction. I really wish we got more time of them together, because they truly are the cutest. Ymir's death is one of the saddest, not just because she and Historia couldn't be together, but because of how pathetic she looked. I can't think about her anymore, I'm getting sad.
Honorable Mention[]
Morally speaking, Onyankopon is the best character. He doesn't kill people, he's just here to help. He wants to stop Marley from their colonization, and he'll side with who he needs to in order for that to happen. I wish we got more time with him, and I wanted to see his dynamics with the cast more. I'm just glad he survived.
Number 1[]
Comic relief is very important, especially in such a bleak series. Sasha is an extremely good comic relief character, yet she's so much more than that.
The moment where she saves Kaya and any moment of her in the Royal Government arc are such great indicators of how good a soldier she is. Her death is so powerful because nobody expected her to die. She's supposed to keep things light, right? Once she's gone, things keep getting darker and darker. She's the symbolic death of joy.
I developed a legitimate crush on her once. It was embarrassing, but I just connected with her so much. But now I've accepted that she and Niccolo should've married, but the world is a cruel place.