Attack on Titan has tons of popular characters like Levi god mode, Titan Eren, Captain Erwin,
that bread chick, blonde girl Annie, captain Levi but how did these guys first come about?
You'll definitely be super surprised at how Isayama came up with their early designs!
I mean some of the stuff about the two Ackerman and Erwin surprised me so today let's look
at the birth and creation for every Attack on Titan scouts.
Definitely do your own smashing on that LIKE just like Annie did and let's dive into this
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Eren freaking Yeager Starting off with him.
So first off Eren's name even though this sounds like a female name at least according
to Isayama he admitted that he chose us since it sounded out of place and hopefully that
would make it easier to remember.
Ichigo says hi.
In general for series I do think that an easy or quick to pronounce protagonists name would
be the best especially if we're trying to get international appeal.
And then Jaeger this comes from German for hunter.
Eren Yeager was supposed to be the opposite of that chosen talented protagonist.
As the look for Eren was being finalized he paid extra attention to his eyes.
Isayama really wanted Eren's eyes to feel different compared to the other characters.
Notably Eren does have a change in I color from manga to anime.
Oh and this is a fun one.
Isayama was actually really skeptical of Eren being related to some important bloodline
when he was creating him which is why Eren ultimately became someone who was not
blessed with natural talent.
By the way fun fact Isayama has actually drawn Eren as a female quite a few times too.
hmm she looks angry!
Mikasa Ackerman.
Isayama actually chose her name since he had this little belief that a title would succeed
if he named her female after a battleship.
Mikasa actually named after the Japanese battleship of the same name and who knows maybe he was
right.
Then the Ackerman part.
Ackerman is supposed to be German for someone who works in the fields hmm.
Design-wise Mikasa is actually based on this customer that Isayama once saw from this shop
he used to work at part time.
Oh Isayama.
At the time he was multitasking trying to think of a character’s look while serving
frappuccinos.
One day it was like Fate.
He had that aha moment when he saw her.
He quickly jotted down her key features on some receipt.
That included her hairstyle her thick booty, I mean thick eyebrows, and yup even a scarf.
Before this event even happened the image he had a Mikasa in his mine was actually a
more Western looking character.
This Destined cafe event cemented Mikasa as an Asian character.
On top of his and equally influential character is Casca from Berserk
Isayama does feel that parts of Mikasa were influenced from her.
Another interesting aspect from the early days of Mikasa is that Isayama hadn't fully
committed as to whether Attack on Titan would have one or two main characters.
Eventually that ended up with a trio.
He want to each character to embody a different trait: intelligence, bravery, and power.
It sure feels like that power trait is what eventually led into the Ackerman family.
Armin Arlert first our blond boys design Armin was given this round nose to make him seen
mild mannered and weak.
At the same time Isayama hope that this would give Armin a unique trait.
When designing characters it's always important to have some important trait that makes them
recognizable.
Something easy to notice like a hat or an accessory.
Anyway getting into Armin's name, Armin Arlert.
Isayama claims he chose it since it sounds like the word ‘aluminum’.
He thought it'd be easier to remember if both of the names started with the same letter.
At first I was like how the hell does Armin Arlert sound anything like aluminum.
Could it be aluminum?
But keep in mind one key thing.
For Isayama it would actually be the Japanese way.
Arumin Arureto vs Aluminum.
If anything is more like a tongue twister.
Anyway there's always been this mystery about Armin’s parents.
He confirm his parents created that hot air balloon in the anime.
Think back to the attack on Titan Season three anime.
Post Levi tenderizing Sannes he mentioned taking out this balloon couple in the past
in other words similar to Erwin the military police got to his parents.
Poor Armin.
You could actually see that little Armin got his hair, nose and eyebrows from his mama.
Only his nose from Papa.
Reiner Braun.
Reiner’s thick ass was actually the result of combining some traits from a former soccer
player David Beckham along with traits from head Damon specifically matt damon in Saving
Private Ryan.
To top off the delicious plate of suffering Reiner also included some elements of one
of Isayama’s buddies from his hometown.
Could that have been someone he didn't like?
Reiner is described as his muscular scary dude but actually deep down inside he's the
kind sports dude with the great personality hmm really?
At least that's what Isayama was scheming for Reiner Initially.
By the way Isayama is known to have this rotating spot first favorite attack on titan character.
As of 2017 Reiner got that lucky spot.
Reiner you lucky boy.
Annie Leonhart one of the top 10 graduating Scouts.
It feels like Isayama was trolling a little bit with Annie’s name.
He mentions part of the inspiration for her name comes from the Japanese
word “Ani”.
This meaning brother or bro.
When hearing the word Annie from attack on Titan perhaps some people would imagine this
bro figure except you got this blonde with girly parts.
Then leonhart was meant to show a nice inner strength altogether her name was supposed
to come off as this cool name one that this junior high kid might come up with.
Design-wise blonde girl Annie was meant to be small.
Her hairstyle is actually based on Avril Lavigne specifically a certain paparazzi shot.
Bertolt Hoover.
Poor Bert has been the least develop from the warrior trio but that's always been the
case.
The Colossal Titan was born first.
This is actually the first character where he first designed the face of the Colossal
Titan.
Then he thought what type of character would you get if this almighty Titan turned into
a weak docile person?
Him also having that long head and height or knots to his Titan form.
Erwin Smith the survey corps commander.
Funny enough has a connection to Paris Hilton.
Erwin wasactually modern after one of the Secret Service guys.
In one of her music videos Paris for president.
I mean I could definitely see it right away.
Why not get this guy or Captain America for the role.
You know if the live-action attack on Titan ever does happen.
Please don’t.
Isayama actually did even have Captain America or Superman in mind just that image of fighting
for freedom and fairness.
That symbolic figure was the most appropriate for someone leading the
survey Corps but despite all the thought put into Erwin’s creation it actually took a
while for Isayama to fully wrap his head around this character.
Post manga appearance it wasn't until the attack on Titan season two events that sparks
went flying.
All of the survey Corps including Levi were feeling down after realizing they had been
killing humans the whole time but not him.
Erwin was smiling.
Partly says he had moved one step forward in his lifelong goal.
This is what really made Erwin’s character come alive for him
Levi Ackerman or captain Levi.
So get this.
Isayama got the inspiration for the name of Levi from this little boy in this documentary
: Jesus camp.
I really do wonder what series of events happened before this that got Isayama to even watch
this.
I couldn't even make it past a trailer.
By the way according to him Levi is Hebrew for contradiction but he mostly picked the
name Levi since it sounded nice.
I don't know about that Hebrew part.
A quick Google search says Levi mean something else.
Hebrew speakers feel free to chime in.
Anyways switching to Levi being sculpted by the Titan gods.
From the beginning Levi was pictured as being a small but powerful character because why
not?
The Japanese people love these type of characters.
Think someone like Astro Boy and do notice Isayama actually two for two
at the Ackerman part.
Some of the other Levi traits come from Rorschach from The Watchmen movie although despite both
of them being fun sized guys ultimately Levi's appearance was made to be the opposite.
Gotta make him up pretty boy.
This is also where Levi's clean-freak part comes from too.
Personality-wise this was something decided on as the face for Levi's was being sketched
together.
His sharp eyes and pale complexion resulted in a sour and difficult personality for Levi
but come on who doesn't just love the guy
Hange Zoe also known as that crazy Titan scientist.
Isayama settled on her name since he thought it sounded a little bit odd.
Perfect for Hange.
Also good chunk of the Attack on Titan characters had already been given actual german names.
Since Isayama is all about the little things that make characters unique got it give Hange
some glasses.
That's right this was Hange's starting point.
The glasses came first.
Although regular glasses would be too difficult when flying around or battling hangry Titans
which is why Hange got the goggles instead.
Oh looks like Hange didn't get inspiration from Digimon.
As for Hange becoming the commander every now and then someone does question why Levi
didn't take that spot.
Isayama explains that Hange became the commander due to the Survey Corps needing someone to
stand at the top and become the face.
Someone needed to be at the table to take responsibility so the other Survey Corps members
can move around freely.
This would allow Levi to continue being like a soccer team sweeper but for the
survey corps.
Historia Reiss formerly known as Christa Lenz.
The birth of Historia came with Isayama having this vague idea somebody from the noble family
has to make it into the top 10 scouts.
Historia is actually the only early character put together completely before their background
was decided which might explain her very early role in the story.
Which was meant to be this perfect but empty character who really only had her cute factor
to fall back on.
Isayama had the feeling oh Attack on Titan readers might like this moe or super cute
trope character however as Historia’s design was being finalized to him it felt like he
was being obligated to make this character which ultimately just frustrated him.
This led into Historia gaining the trait of wishing she was never born the way that she
was.
An emptiness became her true personality in other words a cute character with a hollow
heart.
Ultimately Historia was able to overcome this gradually growing away from simply fulfilling
a role assigned to her.
Funny how his story is now one of Isayama's favorite characters
Sasha Blouse more like potato girl.
comedy really was the name of the game when it came to Sasha.
She was always meant to be this comedy relief character which is why her name comes from
the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
IsayamaI also just like the way that Sasha sounded.
I'm seeing a running theme here Sasha initially started as this droopy character
with expressive eyebrows.
She was also meant to have slightly different hair.
It was supposed to be long on the right side but also in a way that if you looked at her
from the left side Sasha will look like she had a short cut
I'm just picturing a brunette Spidey Gwen.
This later evolved into that full head of hair you seen in the early attack on Titan
draft and later became a potato girl Sasha's current ponytail look.
Over the years I’ve heard a lot of you mentioned the Sasha looks so much like Hange without
her goggles or even pretty similar to Ymir.
Connie Springer.
Connie was thought as being this kid that was on summer break.
Isayama picked up in the name Connie since it has a friendly and familiar ring to it
The last name Springer comes from the word spring which is something that Isayama associated
with the trait of being quick or spry.
Connie originally was designed as just this character to fill a spot from the top ten
graduating Scouts.
Eventually he grew into being that silly goof ball character.
He's supposed to be like this young innocent kid.
Jean Kirstein but come on more like Mr. horse the stallion later.
T The name is Jean is supposed to give the sense
that he represents the people.
This was surprising Jean actually originally appeared in Attack on Titan chapter zero also
known as that very early draft of the attack on Titan story.
You didn't have walls but great magical trees.
No Scouts but more like ninja samurai warriors.
Yeah weird times.
In this early draft you had a character fearful of titans one that butted heads with the main
character Isayama later decided to split the guy into
two characters.
Hell yeah Armin and horseface were born.
Isayama envisioned this character is someone who liked provoked the main cast.
The type of person who would call them out on their crap.
This is where that mean looking face came from.
What later further influenced Jean's character was actually Isyama’s favorite voice actor
agreeing to voice Jean for the attack on Titan anime.
In all Isayama does feel like Jean is one of the characters who’s growing the most
since the attack on Titan start.
Despite Jean being hated at first he's become a very true character one that he does find
easy to use and fun to draw.
By the way fun fact in the early attack on Titan that Jean inspired character became
Titan lunch watch out horse boy
Ymir.
Ymir was one of the original characters that did exist in the Attack on Titan rough-draft.
Isayama point sound how she had a different name back then something not mentioned in
the actual rough draft.
Design-wise get this Ymir was drawn with freckles since he thought it would make her look more
like a commoner something that would help contrast to Historia.
It is also worth noting that Ymir never appeared to have a different shade of skin color in
the manga.
She was given a more tan look for her anime debut.
Isayama really wanted to make this story where a normal person like Ymir just happen to stumble
into this important position by chance.
Whether that situation was a blessing or curse would be left up to interpretation.
I’ll just given nod to manga readers right here.
Funny enough Ymir has been said to be similar to Jean in that she's supposed to be a character
who says exactly what's on her mind hashtag no filter.
Marco.
Despite this guy being in the top 10 Scouts it almost feels like it's a joke character
for Isayama I mean look at his birthday June 16th.
I'll let you figure that out.
You know Marco’s unfortunate fate.
Thanks Reiner! but as Isayama was drawing Marco's leftovers Isayama admitted to just
stopping when he got tired hence Marco being half-eaten.
At the end of the day Isayama has given you all these fun lovable characters born into
this Titan filled world hopefully they make it to the end in one piece.
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Anyway for hardcore fans definitely like this have you enjoyed.
That will let me know if you want more videos like this one in the future.
I do have more ideas not just for attack on Titan but perhaps other anime too.
Anyway a fun bonus question of the day.
so many character origins here but what is your favorite character?
And if you can't pick one top three.
Anyway definitely subscribe for more juicy anime videos like this one check
out my super in-depth video on the truth of the Ackerman and i'll see you guys
later!