Levi Ackerman is a central character in Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin), the dark fantasy manga and anime series created by Hajime Isayama. Known as Humanity's Strongest Soldier, Levi is the captain of the Special Operations Squad within the Survey Corps, the military branch that ventures beyond the walls to fight the man-eating Titans. Despite standing only 5 feet 3 inches tall, his combat skills with ODM (Omni-Directional Mobility) gear are unmatched, and he is widely considered the most popular character in one of the most popular anime series of all time.
Levi was born in the Underground City beneath the capital, the son of Kuchel Ackerman, a woman forced into difficult circumstances. After Kuchel's death, Levi was raised by his uncle, Kenny Ackerman (Kenny the Ripper), a ruthless assassin who taught him to fight before abandoning him. Levi survived in the Underground's criminal world until he was recruited — essentially coerced — into the Survey Corps by Commander Erwin Smith, who saw his extraordinary combat potential.
As a member of the Ackerman clan, Levi possesses an innate physical power that allows him to tap into the battle experience of all previous Ackerman warriors — a genetic ability that makes him far stronger, faster, and more resilient than normal humans. Combined with his masterful skill with ODM gear and his signature reverse-grip sword technique, Levi can single-handedly take down Titans that would overwhelm entire squads. He is responsible for the highest Titan kill count among all soldiers.
Levi's character is defined by loss. He lost his mother as a child, his Underground comrades Furlan and Isabel after joining the Survey Corps, his entire original Special Operations Squad (including Petra Ral), and ultimately his closest friend and commander, Erwin Smith. Despite these devastating losses, Levi continued to fight, driven by his promise to Erwin and his determination to give meaning to the sacrifices of the fallen.
In the series' final arc, Levi sustained severe injuries from a Thunder Spear explosion triggered by Zeke Yeager, losing two fingers and receiving permanent facial scarring. Despite his injuries, he participated in the final battle against Eren Yeager's Founding Titan. After the war's end, Levi survived but was left in a wheelchair, finally at peace. Levi consistently tops popularity polls for Attack on Titan and anime characters in general, voted the most popular anime character in multiple global surveys.
