Attack on Titan has seen massive success since its release as a manga and later anime adaptation. Fans have praised the show for its high stakes action, engaging story, top-notch animation, and amazing soundtrack. One thing that makes it stand out from other Shounen works is just how brutal the anime can be.
Characters are constantly meeting with grim ends. Like with Game of Thrones, it's impossible to predict who will die next, which makes getting attached to any character a dangerous proposition. This list will look at five characters who died too soon and five who couldn't die soon enough. Be warned that spoilers abound both in plot details and character deaths.
10 DIED TOO SOON: Grisha Jaeger
Grisha Jaeger was the main character, Eren Jaeger's, father. Originally appearing as a doctor with a mysterious basement, as the show progressed it was revealed that he first hailed from outside the island that most of the anime takes place on. What's more, it's also revealed that he had the power to turn into a Titan and was sent from the outside to take the Founding Titan from the Reiss family.
All these huge plot details only reveal themselves after the main cast manages to make it into his basement where he stored his life's accumulated knowledge. If he hadn't been devoured by Eren before sharing his secrets, so much pain and hardship could've been avoided
9 DIDN'T DIE SOON ENOUGH: Rod Reiss
Rod Reiss was the true king of the city, its walls and all of humanity within. He was also the father of Historia and attempted to talk her into devouring Eren and taking his power for the good of humanity. While his goals were noble, things ultimately don't play out well for him, when Historia rejected his plans.
Rod eventually turned into a Titan himself and attacked the Orvud District of Wall Sheena where the Garrison and Survey Corps repelled and killed him. He caused a lot of trouble for everyone and is responsible for numerous deaths and kidnappings, all for a goal that never materialized.
8 DIED TOO SOON: Erwin Smith
Erwin Smith was the 13th commander of the Survey Corps. He was intelligent, forward-facing and widely respected. While he cared for his men he was willing to sacrifice them as needed for the greater good. And it is revealed that he wanted more than anything to know the secrets of Eren's basement to prove his father's theories correct.
He desired this so much that, for the first time, he was reluctant to act on his final mission, not wanting to throw away his life when he was so close to learning the truth. In the end, he sacrificed himself and his soldiers to repel the Beast Titan, tragically never seeing the secrets his actions helped uncover.
7 DIDN'T DIE SOON ENOUGH: Bertolt Hoover
This is another character who caused a lot of chaos and death in his wake. At first, all we know about Bertolt is that he is a member of the 104th Training Corps, along with the rest of the main cast. As the show progressed it was revealed that he was the Colossal Titan and that along with Reiner and Annie he was responsible for breaching Wall Maria and killing an untold number of citizens.
Later on, he continued to fight back against the Survey Corps as they attempted to return to Shiganshina. Eventually, he was defeated and eaten, not a moment too soon.
6 DIED TOO SOON: Hannes
Hannes started out as a lazy drunk who spent all day boozing and hanging out with his fellow Garrison members. Things all changed when Wall Maria fell. He demonstrated his good heart as he rescued Eren and Mikasa, though he was too afraid to take on the Titan that ate their mother.
Years later, after diligently working through the ranks, his mettle was again tested when he joined a rescue operation to take back Eren and was faced with the same Titan. Unfortunately, his skills weren't enough and he was eaten in front of the two children he once saved.
5 DIDN'T DIE SOON ENOUGH: Kenny Ackerman
As yet another character that's more bad trouble than good vibes, Kenny Ackerman bore more in common with Jack The Ripper than Mikasa. He was a brutal killer who first appeared to kidnap Eren and Historia while working for Rod Reiss and the crown. Along the way, he slaughtered a bunch of innocent bystanders, adding to his sizeable body count.
He was also partially responsible for captain Levi's terrible childhood, teaching him nothing but violence and ultimately abandoning him. At least some good came out of his death, as he left behind a Titan serum that would prove handy in later episodes.
4 DIED TOO SOON: Petra Ral
Petra Ral was part of Levi's squad. She was kind, cared deeply for her team, and helped guide Eren when he first joined their squad. She bonded well with Eren and built up a level of trust and friendship with him. As a part of the Special Operations Squad, she was also responsible for protecting Eren from the Titans and she performed her job admirably.
In the Female Titan arc, however, things sadly don't go well for her. Petra was gruesomely killed by Annie's Titan form. She's a character that disappeared too soon, leaving Levi squad-less and fans heartbroken.
3 DIDN'T DIE SOON ENOUGH: Dimo Reeves
Dimo Reeves was a minor character but one whose presence on screen never signaled anything good. During the invasion of Trost District, Dimo blocked the inner gate of Wall Rose with a cart full of merchandise, preventing other citizens from leaving. He only moved it aside when his life was threatened by Mikasa.
Aside from this example of valuing money over human lives he again showed up when he sent his subordinates to kidnap Eren and Historia. Though he worked out a deal with Levi when they came to rescue them, he thankfully didn't get away scot-free as Kenny killed him, effectively putting an end to his wealth-obsessed lifestyle.
2 DIED TOO SOON: Marco Bott
Another member of the 104th Training Corps, Marco Bott was a natural-born leader who was well-liked by his classmates. It was enjoyable to see him interact with Jean, giving him words of encouragement. His calm demeanor also shone through throughout his conversations with others and it wasn't a surprise that he was given command of his own squad to help fend off the attack on Trost District.
Tragically his life came to an abrupt conclusion here as after overhearing a revealing conversation between Reiner and Bertolt, he was attacked and left to die, ending his story before it even began.
1 DIDN'T DIE SOON ENOUGH: Gross
Gross was a character that lived up to his namesake. Though he didn't appear till much later in the story and even then only in flashbacks, his racist personality and murderous tendencies weren't exactly endearing. Hailing from outside Paradis island, he's first introduced when a young Grisha Yeager and his sister Faye are punished by him and his partner, ultimately killing Faye.
He appeared again fifteen years later when Grisha was sent to Paradis as a punishment for treason. Thankfully, before he could turn Grisha into a Titan, his partner Kruger pushed him off and into the grasps of a waiting Titan, ending his sadistic reign of terror.