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Captain Levi Ackerman from Attack On Titan takes the fandom world by storm. With his effortless, stoic demeanor and incomparable martial abilities, Levi stands as one of the most popular characters not only in Attack On Titan, but in all of shonen anime.
While some reasons for Levi's large-scale popularity hail from the blessings bestowed by devoted fangirl divisions, Levi's popularity inarguably flourishes among fans of all kinds due to his story arc and incredible power. Levi's story unfolds layer by layer throughout Attack On Titan, but the reserved juggernaut never fails to bring his no-nonsense appeal to every situation.
10 He's The Classic Cool Type
Love it or hate it, fans love an edgy character. A deadpan stare, a hard-to-approach presence, and a mean side-eye can take a character a long way right off the jump. Sprinkle on an overpowered skill set and it's a recipe for a fan-favorite character. While this attraction translates less appealingly in real life, in the safety of anime, these fictional heartthrobs get a pass.
The Cool Type is generally accompanied by some grand trauma/past reveal that improves their likability and gives fans a new perspective, making them even cooler. The very same indeed happens for Levi when his brutal childhood in the slums is revealed and his past as a thief and a thug begins to inform the understanding of his character.
9 He's An Underdog From The Underground
Levi was half-dead already when his uncle Kenny found and took Levi in, raising him the only way a violent thief knew how: as a violent thief. While this particular style of parenting wasn't ideal for early childhood development, it did ensure Levi's survival in a dangerous world. Levi grew up fighting in the slums of the Underground, doing whatever underhanded deed needed to live.
The OAD two-part spin-off "No Regrets," revealed Levi's difficult life in a band of thieves and his journey to joining the Scout Regiment. Ultimately, he shed his pilfering past to become humanity's strongest soldier — leading his very own squadron within the Scouts. Levi's transition from his dark and dirty origins to his honest and honorable military career was peak glow-up.
8 He's Sincerely Compassionate
Levi's cool and collected demeanor does not equate to emotional indifference. Perhaps one of Levi Ackerman's most appealing traits is his subdued but honest compassion. His moments of compassion are especially highlighted in direct contrast to the no-nonsense, apathetic energy he exudes.
In Episode 22 when Dieter directly disobeys Levi's orders to abandon the body of his friend Ivan, many more lives are lost — as well as the entire collection of the already-retrieved cadavers. Instead of punishing Dieter, he gives him Petra's Scout Regiment badge, passing it off as Ivan's. Rather than exact justifiable consequences, Levi leans into empathy and an innate understanding of human nature and moral complexities.
7 He Operates In A Morally Grey Area
Levi has a penchant for approaching morally complex scenarios and situations from a place of multi-perspective understanding. His life experiences undoubtedly inform him of the futility of black-and-white thinking. He exemplifies this many times in Attack On Titan: he pacifies Armin's guilt when he is forced to murder a woman in order to save Jean in Episode 39, and again in Episode 55 when he contends with the decision to spare Erwin or Amin's life.
This particular decision is one of the most morally harrowing and emotionally contentious decisions Levi has to make in the series. His initial instinct is to save the Commander — a reasonable decision by any stretch. However, he ends up seriously weighing his understanding of both Erwin and Armin and hears Eren's desperate pleas. Levi challenges his own bias in order to make the best decision for humanity.
6 He Pulls No Verbal Punches
Levi tells it like it is. He is radically transparent with his thoughts and opinions about every situation or decision he makes. In Episode 13, Levi stares directly at Eren as he tells Erwin he'll kill Eren on the spot if he loses control. In the same breath, he allows Eren to join the Survey Corps.
Later, after Levi makes the decision to save Armin rather than Erwin, he tells Armin point-blank, "Don't get me wrong, you'll never be Erwin's replacement." He then tells Armin he doesn't regret his decision, and he shouldn't either. While Levi is emotionally measured, he sees no benefit in embellishing the realities of any situation and his comments are brutally honest.
5 Before They Were Besties, Levi Wanted To Kill Erwin Smith
Despite Levi's intense loyalty to Commander Erwin until the end, the two actually began as enemies. Erwin initially sought Levi out in the Underground to recruit him as a Scout — well aware that Levi had been hired to assassinate him by Nicholas Lovof.
Levi's hatred of Erwin came not because of the hired hit, but rather because of the humiliating and demeaning manner in which Erwin extorted Levi and his friends for information during their first meeting. Levi was determined to kill Erwin out of vengeance, and it took a tragedy for Levi to change his perspective on the Commander.
4 He's A Short King
Levi, at the ripe age of 32, stands at approximately 5 feet and 2 inches — a stark contrast to his fellow soldiers around him. Short men in anime generally tend to be quite a bit younger than Levi and eventually grow quite a bit taller by the time they reach adulthood.
No such reality for Levi: He is short, and he is staying short. Levi's stature might very well be a result of his extreme malnourishment as a young child, but he certainly doesn't let it stop him from becoming humanity's strongest soldier. Short adult male representation lacks no more as Levi single-handedly raises the appeal for Short Kings everywhere.
3 He's Related To Mikasa
The revelation that the two strongest soldiers in Attack On Titan were actually related to each other was a morsel of fan service viewers didn't know they wanted, and they ate it up. Both Ackermans learn they come from the same bloodline of overpowered super-humans, bred and raised to protect the Eldian monarchy.
With some observation, it became clear that Levi and Mikasa both also shared some similar family traits outside their super-human strength. Both Mikasa and Levi share similar stoic dispositions, are reserved, and are fiercely loyal to the ones they choose to follow.
2 He Demands Cleanliness
Perhaps Levi's obsession with cleanliness is a result of his childhood spent in the dreary and musty environments of the capital's Underground and all its filth, but audiences get to see just how clean and orderly Levi is in "No Regrets." The home he shares with Isabel and Furlan in the Underground is spotless.
In Episode 15, Levi comments on their headquarters' overgrown weeds and dust — immediately tasking his team with cleaning up the castle. He makes Eren redo his cleaning job, finding it unsatisfactory. Later, in Episode 38, viewers hear Eren panic about the cleanliness of their hideout holding up to Levi's standards.
1 He Has His Own Style For Wielding ODM Gear
Levi did not learn to use ODM gear through any kind of Cadet or Scout Training and was instead self-taught with gear likely stolen from Military Police. For a time, the stolen ODM gear helped Levi and his friends conduct their robberies while living in the Underground.
Because Levi learned to operate the machinery on his own, his techniques and tactics are completely unique to him and stand out against the methods learned by the Scouts. Instead of holding both blades upright, Levi learned to flip one blade behind him. With this form, Levi was able to perform a rapid spiral slicing move — ideal for speed and killing Titans.