Eren, the iconic protagonist of “Attack of the Titans”, is often considered the central character of the story. However, it’s possible that Armin is a much better protagonist than he is. Hajime Isayama created the hugely popular anime “Attack of the Titans”, which has enjoyed great success in recent years. Eren Jäger is the poster boy for this story and is considered the main character. Despite the presence of other important characters in the series, Eren dominates both the manga and the anime plot. But is this really justified?
Armin Arlert, Eren’s childhood friend and a central character in the story, actually plays the protagonist much better than Eren. Eren is merely the audience’s view of the story world, while Armin is the character who drives the plot forward.
A protagonist isn’t just about being the main character in a story: he or she must be motivated, active and embody the overall theme of the story. Armin meets all these requirements. Whereas Eren is motivated by plot events such as the death of his mother and the disappearance of his father, Armin is motivated by internal reasons. When Eren and Mikasa decide to join the army, they are surprised to see that Armin also makes this choice, despite his physical weakness compared to the other candidates. But Armin shares their dream of contemplating the ocean. It’s this dream that drives him forward, even after the loss of his own parents.
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Armin is also much more active in the plot. During the Battle of Trost District arc, it’s Armin who devises the plan to lure the Titan Assassin into capture. Similarly, it’s Armin who comes up with the idea of using Eren in his Titan form to plug the hole in the wall. Armin is reputed to be one of the smartest characters in the series, and this becomes evident when you examine the story carefully.
Armin constantly plays a central role. He is the link between Annie and the Female Titan. It’s also Armin who suggests looking for hollows in the walls to find Reiner, as he knows the walls can hide people. Eren simply follows Armin’s plans. If Eren were really the main protagonist, these would be his own plans, or at least some of them.
Armin also stands out as a true protagonist thanks to his constant support and motivation for the other central characters, especially Eren. When Eren’s true identity as a Titan Assassin is revealed, Armin defends him to his fellow soldiers, explaining that Eren’s value lies more in his Titan form than in his humanity. This speech saves Eren’s life. There are other moments when Eren loses his own motivation to continue, as on their journey back to Shiganshina. Armin reminds Eren of their shared dream of contemplating the ocean and the outside world, which restores his strength to carry on.
Finally, it’s thanks to the collective effort of all the characters that the story progresses, but Armin Arlert occupies one of the most important roles. Armin certainly accomplishes more as a protagonist than Eren, and he does so subtly, without distracting from the main plot. As the central character of “Attack of the Titans”, Armin plays an essential role in the chain of causality that allows the plot to develop.
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