Attack on Titan: Whose Side is Annie Leonhart On?
Published on February 24, 2022
After three seasons in the real world and four years in the universe, Annie Leonhart has finally awoken! Even though Annie has been in crystallized form for most of the series, her role in Season 1 was considerably memorable. Although Annie was one of the top graduates of the 104th cadet corps on Paradis Island, her real skills were developed in Marley, where she was trained as a warrior candidate who inherited the Female Titan.
Unlike her fellow warriors, Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover, Annie's secret was discovered by the Scout Regiment in Season 1. The warrior candidates' mission was to bring the founding titan back to Marley. While Annie was unaware that Eren Yeager had the Founder at the time, he still had been revealed as one of the "Nine Titans." Hoping that bringing the Attack Titan back would be enough to please her superiors, Annie tried to kidnap Eren.
While Annie failed in her mission, thanks to Mikasa and Levi Ackerman, she also avoided interrogation and death by crystallizing herself. She then remained in that preserved state for four whole years while the world outside went to hell. However, all of that ended when Eren Yeager decided to use the Founding Titan's power and undo the Wall Titans' hardening. Now, Annie is free and on her way out of Trost with Hitch Dreyse, but the real question is: whose side is Annie on? Is she still fighting as a warrior candidate or a soldier of Paradis? Let's take a look.
Whose Side Is Annie On? Does She Still Want To Fight For Marley?
Once out of the crystal, Annie meets Hitch Dreyse, who eventually gives in to her demands and provides her with a horse and supplies to leave Trost. During their conversation, Annie reveals an unexpected piece of information, surprising even Hitch. It seems that for the four years she stayed in her crystal, Annie could hear everyone talking to her! This means that Annie is aware of everything that is going on, thanks to all of the updates that Hitch and Armin gave her from time to time.
When Annie crystallized herself, the world around her was different. The Survey Corps had no idea who their true enemy was, while the Marleyan Warriors were still aiming to acquire the Founding Titan. However, everything has changed now. The Rumbling has begun, Marley has retreated to their homelands, abandoning their own Titan shifters, and the world faces the threat of extinction. But what does this mean for Annie Leonhart? Being conscious inside the crystal means Annie had time to consider her options.
While Annie initially threatened Hitch to escape Trost, it doesn't seem like she's running to provide Reiner, Pieck, and Magath with backup either. Not only does she seem to be getting along with Hitch just fine, but she also tells her about her life in Marley. Annie describes how she was raised by an adoptive father, who only wanted a child so he could enjoy the perks of their Marleyan Warrior status. However, she also explains how her adopted father's indifference eventually became genuine paternal love.
Getting back to Marley to meet her father is the only thing that motivates Annie to do anything! Since her father was the only one who wanted her to become a warrior candidate, it's pretty clear that she never felt the patriotism that Reiner and the others felt. She also doesn't seem like she cares about Eren or the Yeagerists or whatever Eldian Empire they're fighting for. Annie's flashbacks and the conversation with Hitch make it quite clear that she regrets killing people back in Season 1. However, she isn't the type to suddenly take on the hero's mantle to try to save everyone because of guilt.
The only thing clear to us is that Annie doesn't care about Paradis or Marley. She only wants to go back to her father and will side with whoever she has to fulfill the promise she made to him. Of course, this means that Eren Yeager is the one she has to stop. After all, her father is in Marley, where thousands of Colossal Wall Titans are currently headed. So yes, we believe Annie is on nobody's side but her own. However, that could change anytime.
The latest episode also seems to be leaning in the "both sides coming together to fight a common enemy" direction. The end of episode 82 saw Scout Regiment Commander Hange Zoe meeting up with Marleyan warriors Pieck Finger and Theo Magath. Both sides seem to have the same goal: stop Eren Yeager from destroying the world. If both sides stand together, Annie may have no choice but to join in.
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