Highlights
- Levi Ackerman’s backstory reveals a troubled past in the underground world, shaping him into the formidable warrior he becomes.
- Levi’s growth throughout Attack on Titan shows a shift from stoic to compassionate as he faces personal demons and emotional challenges.
- In the finale, Levi loses friends and battles Eren, ultimately finding peace and a new role as a guardian in a post-war world.
Attack on Titan drew its closing chapters and scenes one year ago, but some of its strongest characters live on in the anime space to this day. Mangaka Hajime Isayama manages to capture depth and profound personalities in every character introduced in Attack on Titan, giving each of them time to blossom and earn their moments. Though some may fall back in line and feel less important, their impact on the story affects the decisions made by the leading characters. With some extra development through a handful of OVAs, short movies designed to provide backstory to certain personalities, Attack on Titan‘s deep lore is beloved by anime fans around the world.
When it comes to an enriched backstory and larger-than-life fan following, Levi Ackerman fits the bill many times over. Born in the underground world of Marley on Christmas Day, Levi led a life of struggle and pain before his recruitment into the Survey Corps. As part of the Ackerman bloodline, Levi’s combat skills are second to none, and his reflexes and agility keep him alive when most would meet their end. His introduction to Attack on Titan comes in Episode 4, “The Night of the Closing Ceremony: Humanity’s Comeback, Part 2”, where Levi stands alongside Commanders Erwin Smith and Hange Zoe, representing the Survey Corps as a Captain. Though he is quite stoic and seemingly cold, there’s a lot more going on deep inside the character of Levi Ackerman.
Levi Ackerman’s Introduction In Season One
What Was Levi Like In Season One?
During the first season of Attack on Titan, Levi shows off an unintentionally hilarious side to himself when he refuses to leave the smallest speck of dust in his dwelling. Levi is a neat freak, as a result of his upbringing in the underground section of Marley. While he comes off as cold and calculative, Levi is understanding of those he looks over, and attempts to help build up their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses, albeit in a harsh style. On the other hand, Levi can be very hard to approach as he rarely shows emotions and can come off as abrasive when talking with those underneath his rank. Levi’s confidence in his own abilities and experience in the field leads him to be on the vulgar side, sometimes even insulting those who oppose his plans, knowing they lack exposure to life outside the walls.
In his days before joining the Survey Corps, Levi lived in the Underground City as an impoverished young boy, scouring the city for food and shelter. Through this lifestyle, Levi disregarded the law and grew a disdain for any authorative figure, but that changed when he encountered Erwin Smith. Despite holding his own as an untrained young man, Erwin bested him in battle and offered Levi to join the Survey Corps in order to harness his abilities. Levi grew a deep respect for Erwin as he spent time with the Survey Corps, eventually earning a rank as Captain for his skills and combat prowess against Titans.
Levi Ackerman’s Character Arc Analyzed
When Did Levi Start Growing?
During many of the opening instances with Levi’s character, it’s hard to break through his outer shell and convince him to welcome in new allies. To Levi, he works better with as few people following him, and he typically can do any job by himself. The audience learns of his former Levi Squad, which consisted of Levi, Erwin, and a few lower-ranking soldiers. During an expedition, Levi discovers the limbs of his fallen comrades before coming face-to-face with the titan that devoured them. In an awakening moment akin to the Ackerman bloodline, Levi unleashes a furious assault on the titan, slashing every last inch of its body before severing the head from its body.
Erwin delivers a life lesson to Levi that he maintains throughout the story of Attack on Titan. He tells Levi that if he begins to regret, it’ll dull future decisions and allow others to make those decisions for him. Each decision that Levi makes going forward holds meaning only by affecting his next decision. It’s a realization Levi is forced to meet, and one he holds close to his heart with each choice he makes with his new squad. Unfortunately, his method of bottling up his emotions has led to moments where they explode, including his assault on the Female Titan following the deaths of his second squad. Just as his trust was becoming something that could be earned, Levi was reminded of Erwin’s wise words.
Assessing Levi Ackerman’s Growth And Development
Levi’s Growth And Impact On Attack On Titan
As Levi continued to work with the likes of Eren Yaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, the latter being a relative of his, he began to trust once again and show a more compassionate side to his personality. It’s during the battle with Kenny Ackerman, a long-lost uncle who once raised and then abandoned him, that Levi showcases true character development. Levi is explosive in his attacks, almost unbecoming of his naturally calm demeanor, yet he manages to keep a head cool enough to strategize and get the upper hand on his uncle. In one instance, Levi is able to retreat from a dangerous situation where he is outnumbered, and uses his ODM gear mastery to flee the area. Later rejoining his uncle, he learns of the truth about Kenny’s betrayal, receiving a dose of Titan serum in a syringe.
From the beginning of Attack on Titan, Levi’s bond with Erwin was unlike any other friendship. He was loyal to a fault, and would do anything to ensure his safety, even if it meant the cost of his own. Yet, when Erwin and Armin Arlert were both in need of saving, Levi had just one syringe to turn someone into a titan and save them from death’s doors. While Levi’s initial thought was to save Erwin, his commander’s last words convinced him otherwise, leading to the decision to turn Armin into the Colossal Titan. This growth also freed up Levi from the clutches of loyalty, allowing him to make decisions for himself and the survival of his crew. It was a decision he held painfully close to his heart, never regretting the choice but feeling the agony of loss.
What Happened To Levi Ackerman?
What Was Levi’s Conclusion In Attack On Titan?
During the final chapters, Levi suffers more losses in the battle against the rumbling event. Commander Hange sacrifices her life in order for the rest of the crew to escape, in turn changing Levi’s role from Captain to Commander. The death of his friend weighs on his consciousness, but the advice given by Erwin many years ago leads him to cast aside his sorrows and think forward towards taking down Eren and stopping the rumbling. Together with Mikasa, Armin, and the remainder of the Survey Corps, they put their best efforts forward and ultimately take down Eren and save the world from future disaster. While Levi loses a few fingers, an eye, and has half of his face stitched together, Levi still manages to be the warrior that everyone can rely upon, helping Mikasa reach Eren for the final blow.
In his final moments before returning to peace, Levi sees his fallen comrades in the mist, who are all smiling down on him. Saluting his lost friends, it’s one of Attack on Titan‘s saddest moments in Levi’s runtime, with a single teardrop and a fist to his chest. Though he is wheelchair bound in the leading chapters, Levi takes a guardianship role over Gabi Braun and Falco Grice. Teaching them the wonders of drinking tea, Levi leads a peaceful life following the war, while remembering those he lost along the way.
Leave a Reply