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Émile Durkheim

Armin Arlelt

Armin Arlelt(アルミン・アルレルト Arumin Arureruto) is the 15th and current commander (団長 Danchō) of theScout RegimentinAttack on TitanEren Jaeger. He is also one of the two deuteragonists of the series, alongside Mikasa Ackermann, and is a childhood friend of both andMikasa Ackermann. Although Armin is physically the weakest member of the104th Cadet Corps, his extraordinary intelligence, strategic mind, and tactical brilliance make him one of the most valuable assets to humanity’s survival.

Émile Durkheim
Born
David Émile Durkheim

(1858-04-15)15 April 1858

Épinal, France
Died 15 November 1917(1917-11-15)(aged 59)

Paris,France
Nationality French
Alma mater École Normale Supérieure
Known for Sacred–profane dichotomy
Collective consciousness
Social fact
Social integration
Anomie
Collective effervescence
Scientific career
Fields Philosophy, sociology, education, anthropology, religious studies
Institutions University of Paris, University of Bordeaux
Influences Immanuel Kant, René Descartes,Plato, Herbert Spencer,Aristotle, Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Auguste Comte. William James, John Dewey, Fustel de Coulanges, Jean-Marie Guyau, Charles Bernard Renouvier, John Stuart Mill
Influenced Marcel Mauss,Claude Lévi-Strauss, Talcott Parsons, Maurice Halbwachs, Jonathan Haidt, Lucien Lévy-Bruhl,Bronisław Malinowski, Fernand Braudel, Pierre Bourdieu, Charles Taylor, Henri Bergson, Emmanuel Levinas, Steven Lukes, Alfred Radcliffe-Brown, E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Mary Douglas, Paul Fauconnet, Robert N. Bellah, Ziya Gökalp, David Bloor, Randall Collins, Neil Smelser[1]

Appearance

Early Appearance

Armin is somewhat shorter than average for his age and possesses a relatively small, slender frame. Despite his initial lack of physical strength, years of military training have given him a more defined and muscular build. His appearance is characterized by his youthful and somewhat feminine face, which features large, expressive blue eyes and a slightly upturned nose that often appears red. His blond hair is styled in a bob cut, which is a signature look that he has maintained throughout much of the series.

Eren was first seen wearing casual townsfolk attire, including brown trousers, a green shirt with string tassels, a maroon coat, and simple brown shoes. Before the fall of Wall Maria, he often wore a red scarf, which he gave to Mikasa when they first met. During his time in the Scout Regiment, Eren wore the standard uniform and kept his father’s key around his neck. His casual attire later included a long beige shirt, a maroon sash, and brown trousers.

By the year 854, Eren’s appearance had changed significantly. He had grown taller, and his hair was shoulder-length. He had a slight mustache and goatee, and bandages covered his forehead and left eye. During his infiltration of Marley, he wore an Eldian armband. After being imprisoned, he tied his hair into a man-bun, with small fringes on each side, and was clean-shaven.

Cadet Corps Days

During his time in the 104th Cadet Corps, Armin wore the standard brown jacket and white pants that every cadet was issued. While he wasn’t physically imposing, the uniform made him look more determined. His signature bob haircut remained, but his experiences began to add a seriousness to his expressions. Underneath the uniform, Armin wore a white button-up shirt, hinting at his scholarly background.

Scout Regiment Uniform

A collection of Durkheim's courses on the origins of socialism (1896), edited and published by his nephew, Marcel Mauss, in 1928

Armin Arlert, transformed into the Colossal Titan, embodies the burden of immense power and the struggle to protect his friends and humanity

As a soldier in the Scout Regiment, Armin adopted the regiment’s traditional gear: the brown jacket with the Scout Regiment insignia, white pants, and knee-high brown boots. His green cape, worn during expeditions, became a symbol of his dedication to exploring the outside world. Though still not physically the strongest, his growing confidence and determination became more visible in how he carried himself.

Eren’s Founding Titan moved using its ribcage, with the ribs undulating like the legs of a millipede. Despite its grotesque appearance, it was fast enough to keep up with the advancing Rumbling.

Personality

Armin Arlelt is a deeply curious and empathetic individual with a brilliant strategic mind, who struggles with self-worth despite his undeniable intelligence and loyalty. From a young age, Armin exhibited a fascination with the world beyond the Walls, a trait that set him apart from his peers and branded him as a “heretic.” His discovery of a forbidden book about the outside world inspired him and Eren Jaeger to dream of exploring it together, solidifying their bond. However, his natural timidity and frail physique made him a target for bullies, and he often had to rely on Eren and Mikasa Ackermann for protection.

Throughout his early years, Armin struggled with low self-esteem, viewing himself as physically weak and a burden on his friends. This feeling persisted through his time in the 104th Cadet Corps, where he consistently doubted his own value, despite excelling in strategic thinking. Armin’s desire to prove his worth was a driving force behind many of his actions, and he longed to contribute to the success of his friends in meaningful ways. His turning point came when he realized that his intellect and strategic mind were as valuable as physical strength, and his plans became crucial to the success of the Scout Regiment.

Armin’s intelligence and ability to think analytically have consistently made him one of the most valuable assets to the Scout Regiment. He excels at formulating creative, effective strategies during battle, even under intense pressure. Despite being physically weaker than his peers, Armin’s tactical brilliance allows him to guide others to victory, as demonstrated when his plans helped bring down the Colossal Titan. His ability to think outside the box has led to many pivotal moments in humanity’s fight for survival, though stepping into leadership roles has often caused him anxiety. Armin is not a natural extrovert or leader by nature, but his deep investment in humanity’s future drives him to overcome these insecurities.

Though Armin is a tactical thinker, he is also highly empathetic, often wrestling with the morality of his decisions. His compassionate nature sometimes clashes with the harsh choices he feels he has to make for the greater good. This inner conflict was exemplified when Armin had to kill a person to save Jean Kirschtein, a necessary action that left him emotionally shaken. Armin has a kind heart, and his struggle to reconcile his humanity with the brutal reality of their world defines much of his character. He admires leaders like Erwin Smith for their ability to sacrifice their humanity for the greater good but has yet to fully embrace that mindset himself.

History

Armin Arlelt originally lived in theShiganshina DistrictofWall Maria. As a child, Armin was often bullied, leaving him feeling like an outcast. One day, after being beaten up by local bullies, he metEren Jaeger, who questioned why Armin never fought back. This sparked a friendship between the two, as they bonded over their feelings of being outsiders.

Armin’s curiosity about the world beyond the Walls came from a book he found, belonging to his grandfather. This book described fantastical places like salty oceans, deserts, and vast landscapes outside the Walls. Inspired by these ideas, Armin shared the book with Eren, and together, they dreamed of one day exploring the outside world. However, Armin’s fascination with the world beyond was considered heretical, and he was often harassed by others for his views.

After his parents were executed for attempting to escape the Walls, Armin was left to live with his grandfather. Despite the hardships, his friendship with Eren and their shared dream of freedom beyond the Walls continued to shape his path.

Alternate Reality

In the year 844, Armin was working alongside Eren to build a hot air balloon, dreaming of using it to escape the Walls and explore the outside world. When the time came to launch the balloon, it failed to gain enough altitude. Eren, in a final act of friendship, pushed Armin to safety before the balloon crashed into the Wall.

Later, Mikasa arrived at the meeting place where Eren had asked her to meet. Instead of Eren, she found Armin alone. Tearfully, Armin broke the devastating news to Mikasa, apologizing as he informed her that Eren had died saving him.

Abilities

Cover of the French edition of The Rules of Sociological Method (1919)

After the transformation, Armin reflects on the heavy cost of power, showcasing both strength and vulnerability in the face of unimaginable challenges.

High Intelligence
Due to his physically weaker build, Armin is rarely positioned on the front lines or in direct combat, instead relying on his intellectual prowess. His true strength lies in his keen abilities of deduction, problem-solving, and strategy formulation. Whether planning in advance or making quick decisions in the heat of battle, Armin’s intelligence sets him apart. His attention to detail and analytical mind have proven invaluable on many occasions, allowing him to devise effective strategies that have saved his comrades. Notably, Armin played a key role in uncovering the identities of Titan spies within the 104th Cadet Corps.

Power of the Titans

Cover of the French edition of The Division of Labour in Society

Armin Arlert demonstrates his tactical brilliance and combat skills, proving that intelligence and strategy are just as crucial as brute strength in the fight for humanity’s survival.

Colossal Titan Transformation

Armin gained the power of the Colossal Titan after being injected with the Titan serum by Levi and subsequently consuming Bertholdt. This ability allows him to transform between his human and Titan forms while retaining his intelligence. Like other Titan inheritors, he has heightened regenerative abilities and can recover from almost any injury unless his weak spot is damaged.

Regeneration

Armin, like all Titan Shifters, possesses the ability to heal from injuries rapidly, including life-threatening wounds.

Explosive Transformation

Upon transforming into his Colossal Titan, Armin can create a massive explosion, as demonstrated during the Raid on Liberio. This explosion wiped out the Marleyan navy and port, sending shockwaves far inland, devastating the area.

Enhanced Strength

Armin’s Colossal Titan is incredibly powerful, using its immense size to crush entire battleships underfoot and overwhelm opponents with brute force.

Steam Emission

Similar to previous Colossal Titan users, it is presumed Armin can emit enormous amounts of hot steam, allowing him to push back enemies or inflict severe burns at close range.

Relationships

Eren Jaeger

Eren was Armin’s closest friend since childhood. Armin admired Eren’s courage and relied on him for protection against bullies. Armin, in turn, introduced Eren to the wonders of the world beyond the Walls, sparking their shared dream of exploring it. However, as they grew older and took different paths in their beliefs, friction developed between them. Despite their disagreements, especially regarding Marley and the loss of Sasha Braus, Armin ultimately remained loyal to Eren, understanding his deeper motivations. Even when Eren joined the Jaegerists, Armin stood by him in the battle against Marley, showing their bond hadn’t been entirely destroyed.

Mikasa Ackermann

Armin and Mikasa share a deep friendship, with Mikasa often stepping in to protect Armin from bullies in their childhood. Armin has always admired Mikasa’s strength and courage, while Mikasa has valued Armin’s intelligence and strategic mind. After Eren’s betrayal, Armin became a source of support for Mikasa, offering comfort as they struggled with Eren’s decisions. Armin’s protective side emerged as he physically defended Mikasa when Eren verbally attacked her.

Jean Kirschtein

Armin and Jean’s relationship has grown from distant to close throughout their time in the Scout Regiment. Though initially not particularly close due to Jean’s rivalry with Eren, they came to respect each other’s strengths—Armin’s intelligence and Jean’s leadership. Armin risked his life to save Jean during Eren’s retrieval mission, and Jean has come to trust Armin’s strategic insights.

Annie Leonhart

Armin and Annie share a complicated relationship. Armin always respected Annie’s hidden qualities, and his kind words towards her surprised her during their training days. When Armin deduced her identity as the Female Titan, he was reluctant to expose her at first. Despite their enmity, Armin continued visiting Annie while she was encased in crystal, speaking to her about the outside world. Their bond deepened over time, as evidenced by Annie’s gratitude towards Armin and his attempt to confess his feelings for her.

Reiner Braun

Reiner showed protectiveness towards Armin during their time in training, helping him through exercises and carrying him to safety in battles. However, Armin later realized Reiner’s betrayal and provided key evidence of his guilt as a spy.

Bertholdt Hoover

Though they were on good terms initially, their relationship turned hostile once Bertholdt’s true identity was revealed. Bertholdt expressed his willingness to kill Armin, but respected his intelligence. Armin ultimately consumed Bertholdt to inherit the Colossal Titan, and was deeply affected by the act, gaining a deeper understanding of his predecessor’s motivations.

Marco Bodt

Armin and Marco were friends during their time in the cadets. Armin later recognized Marco’s stolen gear when Annie used it, which played a role in exposing the truth behind Marco’s death.

Erwin Smith

Armin held Erwin in high regard, admiring his intelligence and willingness to make sacrifices for humanity. After the Battle of Shiganshina, Armin believed that the Titan serum should have been used to save Erwin, highlighting how much he respected him.

Onyankopon

Armin and Onyankopon bonded over their discussions about the world and the mysteries of creation. Armin believed in Onyankopon’s innocence when he professed his disagreement with Zeke’s euthanasia plan.

Hange Zoë

Armin respected Hange as his superior and shared a close working relationship. Before their death, Hange appointed Armin as the 15th commander of the Scout Regiment, recognizing his potential as a leader. Armin was devastated by Hange’s death, mourning the loss of another mentor.

Hannes

Before the fall of Wall Maria, Eren was often frustrated by Hannes’ laid-back attitude. However, after Hannes sacrificed himself to protect Eren and Mikasa, Eren’s respect for him grew. His death deeply affected Eren, who viewed him as a close family friend.

Trivia

  • Hajime Isayama designed Armin with a rounded nose to give him a “mild-mannered and weak” appearance, making him stand out among the cast.
  • The name “Armin” can be interpreted from an old German word meaning “whole” or “Herman,” meaning “soldier.”
  • Isayama chose the name “Armin Arlelt” because it sounds similar to “aluminum” and the alliteration makes it easier to remember.
  • Armin shares the same voice actors as the narrator of the anime: Marina Inoue (Japanese) and Josh Grelle (English).
  • In a 2014 issue ofBessatsu Shōnen Magazine, Hajime Isayama mistakenly joked that Mikasa got along best with a girl named Armin, later clarifying that Armin is indeed male.
  • Armin has his own character song,Far Away, joining the ranks of Eren, Levi, Jean, Erwin, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Mikasa.
  • Armin is the only member of Squad Levi who did not graduate in the top 10 of the Cadet Corps.
  • In a 2013 blog post, Isayama revealed he selected “K.U.F.U.” by Rhymester as a character song for Armin.