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Even after it officially ended in 2023,Attack on Titanstill continues to enrapture with its complex plot riddled with unexpected twists, as well as its heart-pumping fights andamazing characters. Although the Titans have presented themselves as one of the most threatening forces in the world, there are a family of warriors that have stood out since the beginning of the anime: the Ackermans.
Their numbers had diminished greatly by the time the canon timeline of the anime rolled around, but every time characters like Levi or Mikasa are on-screen, we know they’re going to triumph against any foe. But what is it that makes them so strong, and why are there only two known Ackermans left in the show? In this article, we’ll dive into the origins of the Ackermans, their original purpose, downfall and unique biology.
Who Are The Ackermans?
Origins
The Ackerman clan received their superhuman-like powers due to being byproducts of Eldia’s experiment between the Subjects of Ymir (or Eldians) and Titan science. As a result,they became bodyguards of the Eldian King, and, due to having access to the monarch, were presumably a massively influential family of the time.
The Ackermans continued their duties to the Eldian King after the monarch moved inside the Walls, but things took a downturn for the family when they learned of King Fritz’s plan for a false peace - the Ackermans refused to support Fritz’s proposal. However, the Ackermans, alongside those from Hizumi,were impervious to the memory-altering effects ofthe Founding Titan.Seeing no other way to control them, King Fritz ordered their extermination.
Downfall
Despite their great power putting them above the average soldier, the Ackermans were put in such a desperate situation that the head of the clan had to sacrifice his life to save the clan’s surviving members. Although the Ackermans kept a low profile and even refrained from passing on the truth of King Fritz’s actions and the world outside the Walls,they continued to be hunted to near extinction.
The Ackermans may have stopped letting their descendants know the truth, but some members, like Kenny’s grandfather, seem to have some knowledge of the King and the Power of the Titans, and why the Ackermans and Hizumi were heavily oppressed.
The Ackermans - based on the locations of Levi and Mikasa during their childhoods - appear to have gone their separate ways in the tumult. A branch of the family fled to the Underground City, while the other branch spread to remote areas in Wall Maria. It’s only after Kenny met and befriended Uri Reiss that the persecutions stopped, but at this point,the Ackermans have been whittled down to a single-digit number.
The Awakened Power
Ackermans havesuperhuman abilities through their extreme strength, inhuman reflexes and impressive durability. This is shown through characters like Levi and Mikasa, who are known as Humanity’s Strongest Soldier and ‘the girl worth 100 soldiers’ respectively.
Although all Ackermans are born with these abilities, they are required to ‘awaken’ them to access them. Based on what the anime has shown us,awakening their powers requires an Ackerman to be put through high-stress, life-or-death situations. This is seen when Mikasa has to fight off her kidnappers to save Eren, or when a young Levi killed five human traffickers who planned to sell him.
However,it’s noted that not all Ackermans trigger their powers, as demonstrated by Levi’s mother, Kuchel, and Mikasa’s father.
Since the Ackermans' powers are tied to those of the Titans' through experimentation,their powers ceased to exist upon Eren Jaeger’s death and Ymir’s decision to secede her control of the Founding Titan, which caused the power of the Titans to vanish for good.
Notable Ackermans In The Show
Levi Ackerman
Given the moniker ‘Humanity’s Strongest Soldier’, Levi was not initially revealed to be an Ackerman until he discovered he was one when dealing with Kenny. Raised in the Underground City, Levi became a member of the Survey Corps and, eventually, head of the Special Operations Squad, having defeated the Female Titan and the Beast Titan (eventually killing Zeke) in combat.
By theend of the story, Levi is heavily injured and now lives in Marley, having retired from active duty due to the extensive injuries his body received.
Mikasa Ackerman
Born to an Ackerman father and a Hizumi mother, Mikasa lived in the mountains in Wall Maria until the murder of her parents. Rescued and taken in by the Jaegers, Mikasa joined the Survey Corps alongside Eren and Armin. She quickly established herself as an asset to the Suvery Corps, standing out due to her performance on the field.
Mikasa struck the final blow and killed Eren to stop the Rumbling. Inthe ending, Mikasa is shown to have lived to a ripe, old age, regularly visiting Eren’s grave until her final days.
Kenny Ackerman
Kenny Ackerman appears to have grown up in the Underground City, brother to Kuchel Ackerman and uncle to Levi (though he didn’t reveal this until before he died). He awakened his powers at some point and became a notorious serial killer called Kenny the Ripper. Kenny found Levi and raised him after Kuchel’s death, though he didn’t stay around long.
Kenny befriends Uri Reiss and eventually becomes head of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad in service to the crown. He clashed with the Survey Corps, but when Rod Reiss turned into a Titan, Kenny was caught up in the chaos and was severely burned, dying not long after conversing with Levi for the last time.
