Eren Yeager

Lore & Background

Eren was created by Hajime Isayama as an ordinary youngster who freezes in terror when seeing a Titan. The author gave him thin eyebrows to avoid making his angry personality seem artificial and chose black hair to facilitate drawing speed lines for his energetic nature. His Titan form's physique was modeled after middleweight MMA fighter Yushin Okami, with Takanori Gomi's southpaw style influencing its combat movements. Initially, Isayama intended for Eren to know he was a Titan from the start, but the character evolved. A pivotal moment in his lore is the fight against the Warhammer Titan, which Isayama cited as one of his favorite scenes. The story reflects Isayama's own childhood desire to go beyond the mountains surrounding his rural town, mirroring Eren's wish to leave the walled city.

In Their Own Story

Eren's journey involves enlisting in the Military to defeat Titans after they destroy Shiganshina and kill his mother. He joins the Survey Corps to study their physiology while gaining the power of the Attack Titan. His characterization shifts from a rage-fueled child to a more complex figure; Isayama noted that early on he made Eren calmer than originally depicted to give Armin more determination during military accusations. As the story advances, Eren realizes his powers were manipulated by his father Grisha and feels guilt over killing him as a child. This realization contributes to his arc where beliefs are destroyed, leading him to act solely for self-preservation. The narrative culminates in Eren becoming an ambiguous figure who is nominated for both 'Best Protagonist' and 'Best Antagonist' at the 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, winning the latter.

Reader's Guide

Voice actors Yūki Kaji (Japanese) and Bryce Papenbrook (English) faced challenges voicing Eren's growth. Kaji noted that Eren never truly changes despite his growth, while Papenbrook utilized three distinct voices: one for his kid persona, a deeper one for young adulthood, and a third unique sound for intense moments. Both actors described the required screams as 'disgusting' and 'nasty.' In the live-action films, Haruma Miura portrayed Eren, aiming to capture his naivety despite the challenging training to move like the character. Critical reception was initially polarized due to Eren's harshness for his age but became more positive in later arcs as he became a more ambiguous antagonist. Fans and critics praised the voice actors' portrayals of this emotional complexity.

Did You Know?

• Hajime Isayama chose the name 'Eren' because it sounds feminine, making it easier to remember.
• Eren's Titan form was modeled after middleweight mixed martial artist Yushin Okami and Takanori Gomi's southpaw fighting style.
• At the 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Eren won 'Best Antagonist' while simultaneously being nominated for 'Best Protagonist'.
• English voice actor Bryce Papenbrook used three different voices for Eren: one for his childhood, a deeper one for young adulthood, and a third unique sound.
• Isayama originally intended for Eren to know he was a Titan shifter from the very beginning of the story.