Attack on Titan is one of my favorite animes of all time, and, with the new season in the works, I thought it was high time to do a highlight on it.  In particular I wanted to focus on the much loved Survey Corp or the Scout Regiment.

For those of you who are new to anime and don’t know what Attack on Titan is about, here is a quick summary:  this story takes place thousands of years in the future.  The last of mankind has hidden behind three massive walls that protect the human territory.  Those walls are called Rose, Maria and Sheena (Sina), and they protect humans from the titans, giant humanoid creatures that eat humans.  In the year 845, a colossal titan appears and kicks a hole in the wall of the Shiganshina district, which leads to a ripple of events where mankind must now fight for their survival.

In this series, there are three regiments that guard mankind from the titans: the Scout Regiment, the Garrison Regiment and the Military Police.  Each have their own roles to play in the story, but hands down the most loved regiment is the Scout Regiment.

Why do people love the Scout Regiment so much?

Attack on Titan, and, in particular, the Scout Regiment Emblem (Wings of Freedom) has garnered a lot of love from the fans.  I think one of the reasons people love the Scout regiment is because all the main characters belong to it.  It’s hard to dislike a group that has such awesome characters like Levi, Mikasa, Erwin, Eren and so many more.

But I think the main reason people like the Scout regiment is because they are fearless and they propel the story forward with their heroic actions.  The Scout regiment tries to do what is right for all of humanity even if it means they have to do some very reckless or dangerous things.  They are willingly to risk everything including their lives and their humanity if it means they can beat the titans and save what is left of the human race.  They are the vanguard and are the first to face the danger.

I think a lot of people love hearing stories of heroic and selfless people.  The stories about people who are the first to charge an enemies beach or the first to fight in a battle have always resonated with people.  I think people can live vicariously through these characters and share their defeats and triumphs with them.  I think this is the main reason why so many fans have become attached to the Scout regiment.

The members of the Scout regiment

Everybody loves people like Levi and Mikasa.  They are the most heroic and fearless, though they also can have their fair share of doubts.  Levi is, hands down, the most well loved character in this series. His don’t give a crap demeanor and his exceptional skills really garner a lot of fan love.  Being named humanity’s strongest soldier has made him a character you can’t take your eyes off of, and we have all cheered for his victories.  Levi doesn’t have many he is truly loyal to, but the people he is loyal to will never be let down by him.  He’s strong, but also savvy as he can easily adapt his attacks to fluctuating situations.  He does have a dark past, but that only makes his character that more interesting.

Mikasa is a close second as to being people’s most favorite character.  What I really like about her is that she is a strong female character that doesn’t need to depend on anyone for help.  She doesn’t play the role of girlfriend or love interest, but instead plays the role of a strong soldier who fights to save humanity.  Does she have feelings for Eren that may get into the realm of romantic?  Sure.  They are there, and she does do a lot of things to protect Eren, but I wouldn’t say she is defined by them.  I think it will be interesting to see her development, especially with season two on the horizon.

Armin started out as a weaker character and some people didn’t really like him, but as season one progressed, we got to see his strengths grow.  He may not be physically strong, but mentally, he is one of the sharpest characters in the story.  I loved watching him grow especially when he pieced together that Annie was the female titan and how he did it.  Armin’s intelligence will play a big role in the future and I can’t wait to see it.

And how can I not mention Eren.  Eren’s tenacious and fearless attitude has not only driven the story forward, but it has encouraged his fellow cadets.  In fact, many people who had not originally planned to join the Scout Regiment, join it because of Eren.  His need for revenge against the titans can get him into trouble and make him reckless, but it is also a strong driving force for both him and those around him he inspires.

Erwin, Erwin, Erwin.  I love Erwin and when he is working alongside Levi, it seems as if they are the unbeatable duo.  Erwin is the Commander of the Scout Regiment and is a character that people really love.  Erwin is willingly to break some eggs if it means it will save humanity, which means he is willing to sacrifice everything to save everyone.  That makes him heroic, but it also shows that in a war of attrition, there is a dark side: to beat monsters sometimes you have to become one.  Erwin understands this well, and knows he has to do things he may not stomach like trying to apprehend Annie in the Stohess district, which leads to many civilian casualties.  He’s stoic and intelligent and someone you can’t help but root for.

Jean Kirstein is another character that has become a fan favorite even if he didn’t start out that way.  Jean starts out hating Eren and, in truth, he is never really behind all the things Eren does, but he does come to respect him.  I love Jean Kirstein’s development in season one.  He started out as a really unlikeable and arrogant character, who had exceptional skills, but had a bad attitude.  He had no problem telling people that he wanted top scores so he can join the Military Police and stay safe in the interior, but throughout the course of the story, we see a change happen in Jean.  It started when Jean was forced to take command of the survivors as they are racing to the headquarters to refill their tanks in the battle of Trost.  He comes to understand really early on that his decisions can not be reckless as these decisions may lead to his comrades death.  I think the death that hit him the hardest and really turned Jean into a likable character was the death of Marco.  Marco’s death inspired a good and likable Jean to emerge.  Jean definitely has a dynamic character arc which makes him a character that fans love to watch.

Reiner and Bertolt have always been characters that hang out on the fringe of the Scout Regiment (for a reason which we learn of later).  I have to say that I really liked Reiner and found him to be really dependable and strong as well as someone with skills that rival Mikasa and Levi.  Though not much is known about these two in season one, this will change come season two if they follow the manga.

History Reiss or also known as Krista Lenz starts out as seeming to be a minor character.  Krista is kind to everyone and tries to help as many people as she can.  This is not an act as Krista does have a kind heart whereas her friend, Ymir, can be a little more rough around the edges.  Krista joins the Scout Regiment, I think, because she was inspired by Eren, but I also think it is because Krista wants to be where she can help the most.  Later in the story, Krista’s (Historia) story becomes extraordinarily important, but I won’t say much more as it will get into the spoiler realm.

Zoe Hange is probably considered the mad scientist of the Scout Regiment as she loves to experiment on titans.  In a way, she can love the titans as she tries to understand what motivates them and what their weaknesses are.  Hange can be quite quirky and strange, but that is why we fans love her.  Her experiments and the knowledge she collects is invaluable and helps Erwin determine the best course of action against the titans.  I’m interested to see what will happen in season two with her as things take an interesting turn in her development, but I will say no more for spoiler purposes.

And how can I forgot the comedy duo, Sasha Braus a.k.a. potato girl and Connie Springer.  These two characters always bring the small amount of humor in attack on titan.  Sasha’s insatiable need for food, and some of her quirky ways make her so well loved.  She also has keen intuition which makes her an excellent hunter and titan hunter.  Sasha is usually cheerful, but there are times when she doubts her abilities and what she is doing.  Still, she always fights along the rest on the front lines.

And then there is Connie Springer.  Connie is agile and has high level omnidirectional skills, but he is not the sharpest tool in the shed.  Still, when it comes to a fight, Connie is a good person to have next to you.  He carries Armin while Mikasa killed titans as they were trying to lure Eren’s titan to the military headquarters.  Connie is usually used for comedic purposes, but I think we will definitely see more of him in a dramatic way next season.

What’s in store for season 2?

**If you have not read the manga series and have only watched the anime, read no further.  SPOILERS AHEAD!**

Being someone who has read ahead in the manga series, I know that there is quite a bit of good storytelling coming our way for season 2.  Annie, as the female titan, was only the tip of the ice berg when it comes to humans who can turn into titans.  In fact, it seems a large portion of the manga after the events that happened in season 1 in the anime really centers on these other humans who can turn into titans.  We find out who the colossal and armored titan are ( one of which was devastating to me), and we get to see Eren learn that he has other powers and how to control them.  If we add in Historia’s back story and growing role in the story, season two will be epic.  I’m looking forward to those reveals and how they are going to do it in the anime.

I’m also really looking forward to the confrontation that the Scout Regiment has with the Military Police.  It gets really intense as the Military Police actively tries to take out the Scout Regiment.  Levi, on the other hand, is no easy target and we see a dark side come out of Levi and Hange.  If you have read the manga, you know what I am talking about (anyone need a tray).  This part was super exciting in the manga with the Military Police’s altered omnidirectional gear that has guns attached to it. Guns don’t do much damage against a titan, but against a Scout member, they kill.  It gets really bloody and violent as they go head to head.  I am excited to see what they will do  for this part.

And then there is Erwin.  Hopefully we will see more of his back story in season two.  There are some dark moments on the horizon for Erwin, which will be interesting to see how they adapt his part.  I’m hoping they expand on it.

One other thing I am also looking forward to is the soundtrack for this show.  I absolutely loved season one’s soundtrack.  I think it is one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard.  Hiroyuki Sawano’s works are amazing, but I think Attack on Titan is his best.  I’m hoping he will be doing the soundtrack for season two and I can’t wait to hear what new songs and themes he comes up with.

Overall, Attack on Titan is phenomenal and if you have not seen it yet, check it out.  Season two is just on the horizon and for us fans, we just can’t wait to see more!