Colossal Titan (Anime)

This article is about one of the Nine Titans. For the Abnormals that were used to create the Walls, see Wall Titan (Anime).

	A god of destruction. I feel bad for those island devils. One day, that's gonna show up to kill 'em.
— A Marleyan analysis of Bertholdt's Colossal Titan[3]

The Colossal Titan (超大型巨人 Chō ōgata Kyojin^?) was one of the Nine Titans and served as the primary antagonist of the first three seasons of Attack on Titan series. It was notable for its incredible size and its ability to control both the steam emitted by its Titan body and the amount of energy released during its transformations.

Abilities[]

Explosive transformation[]

Although all Titans generated enormous amounts of heat and energy during transformation, the users of the Colossal Titan could control the energy they produced to create various effects. For instance, when Bertholdt Hoover attacked Trost District his transformation only causes a wind blast that knocked some cadets over the Wall.^[4] However, during the battle of Shiganshina District, Bertholdt released a much larger explosion, creating a mushroom cloud of dust and rubble, ravaging part of the city, and instantly killing a great number of Scout Regiment soldiers.^[5] Armin Arlelt also used this ability to wipe out most of, if not all, of the Marleyan naval fleet present at the Raid on Liberio in a tremendous explosion, sending a massive wave of energy inland and completely destroying the port.^[6]

Size[]

Like its name suggests, the Colossal Titan was known for its incredible size, standing at a previously unseen 60 meters and being tall enough to peer over the top of the Walls. It also possessed incredible physical strength, able to destroy the outer gate of Wall Maria with a single kick, launch entire houses in the air, and send Eren's Attack Titan flying from the ground to the top of Wall Maria.^[7] Armin also used the Colossal Titan's immense strength and size to ensure the destruction of the Marleyan ships and naval port by stepping on them after his transformation.^[6]

Steam emission[]

The unique ability possessed by the Colossal Titan appears to have been significant control over the amounts of steam emitted by its Titan body. In normal circumstances, Titans emitted steam from wounds while regenerating, and their bodies would evaporate completely into steam after receiving a killing blow. However, the Colossal Titan was capable of emitting great amounts of steam at will. This power could be used for a variety of purposes. By emitting great amounts of steam at once, the pressure and force of the steam would burn and repel any individual in close proximity to the Colossal Titan that were not fixed in place;^[8] in addition, if anyone was affixed to it, they would be at the Titan's mercy and constantly roasted by the heat.

However, frequent or constant usage of this ability rendered the Titan's muscles immobile.^[9] Prolonged use of this ability also took a toll on the Titan, decreasing its muscle mass gradually until only the skeletal structure remained. In some cases when it was necessary, the Colossal Titan was capable of evaporating its entire body at once, disappearing instantly. This did put the user in a position of great vulnerability, with no way of preventing a fall from a great height where the Titan form once was.^[10] However, this disadvantage could be alleviated if the user was wearing ODM gear.

History[]

The Colossal Titan, like all the Nine Titans, was brought into the world after the death of Ymir Fritz. In the 1,800 years following her death, the Colossal Titan was held in the possession of one or several of the warring Eldian houses subservient to the Founding Titan. After these seventeen centuries when Karl Fritz, the 145th King of the Fritz family, abandoned the conflicts of Eldia and relocated to Paradis Island, the Colossal Titan was taken by the nation of Marley during the Great Titan War.^[11]

On the year 843, Bertholdt Hoover was chosen to inherit the power of the Colossal Titan. He would later make use of his Titan form in a war between Marley and an enemy nation, using his Colossal Titan to destroy a city containing enemy troops in a sneak attack after the Cart Titan placed him in position.^[3]

In the year 845, the nation of Marley sent out Bertholdt, Reiner Braun, Annie Leonhart, and Marcel Galliard across the sea to Paradis Island as the start of the Paradis Island Operation.^[3]

Story[]

The Fall of Shiganshina arc[]

The Colossal Titan makes its first appearance outside Wall Maria when Bertholdt transformed outside the southern gate, terrorizing the population of Shiganshina and kicking a hole in the southern gate. Its actions allow the Pure Titans wandering outside to enter Shiganshina, where they begin to feast on its many inhabitants, including Carla Jaeger.^[2] Bertholdt joined his fellow surviving Warriors in entering the walled territory during the chaos.

The Struggle for Trost arc[]

The Colossal Titan reappears five years later in the year 850 after the fall of Wall Maria, breaching Wall Rose after Bertholdt transforms outside the south gate of Trost District so that the Titans can once again devour the humans inside. Before he can escape, his Colossal Titan is confronted by Eren Jaeger seeking vengeance. Eren attempts to strike at the Colossal Titan's nape, but Bertholdt makes use of his steam emission control and prevents Eren from getting close. As Eren fights against Bertholdt's steam and comes in for the killing blow, the Colossal Titan vanishes instantaneously. As Eren attempts to comprehend the situation, Bertholdt escapes under the cover of his Titan's steam using his omni-directional mobility gear. This attack prompts the Garrison to enact the Colossal Titan contingency plan for Trost District.^[4][12]

Clash of the Titans Arc[]

Due to the discovery of Eren's possession of the Attack Titan, the Warriors postpone their plan to destroy the Walls and instead focus on capturing him, whom they believe also possesses the Founding Titan. When Reiner, in a moment of exhaustion and desperation, reveals himself to be the Armored Titan and exposes Bertholdt as the Colossal Titan, the two transform into their Titan forms and battle against the Scout Regiment.^[13]

As Reiner's Armored Titan battles Eren's Titan, Bertholdt fights against the Scouts with a partially transformed Colossal Titan. When the soldiers led by Hange Zoë are ready to land a killing blow, Bertholdt once more uses his steam emission control to keep them all at a distance, and their ODM gear is unable to reach him in the continuous gusts of wind. Bertholdt's Colossal remains in this state of emission for a short time until Reiner faces imminent defeat in his struggle against Eren and calls for help. Hearing Reiner's signal, Bertholdt falls to the ground below.^[8] This causes a destructive explosion below, with the Colossal Titan evaporating into a gush of steam. Bertholdt leaves his Titan and joins up with Reiner, who had managed to capture Eren and Ymir in the chaos.^[10]

Return to Shiganshina arc[]

The Warriors fail in capturing Eren and later flee to the ruins of Shiganshina District.^[14] For some months, Bertholdt presumably does not use his Colossal Titan until the battle of Shiganshina District, where he prepares to transform into his Titan above the district in order to destroy the city. However, his plan is stopped shortly after seeing Reiner alive and in peril, and he transforms at a later time after speaking with his former comrades. The blast from his transformation engulfs nearly all of the Scouts within Shiganshina and levels the central portion of the district, creating a mushroom cloud.

As the Colossal Titan, Bertholdt begins setting fire to the houses of Shiganshina with his Titan's heat and sends the structures soaring through the air, bringing great devastation to the town.^[5] Eren attempts to attack the Colossal, but his attempt is short-lived when he is kicked to the top of Wall Maria. Squad Levi attempts to attack Bertholdt with their Thunder Spears, but the Colossal's steam emission keeps them away.^[7] However, at this time Armin Arlelt notices the loss of muscle mass brought on by each steam blast and formulates a plan to defeat Bertholdt.^[9]

Armin brings Eren back into consciousness and informs him of his plan to defeat Bertholdt. Knowing his ODM gear will not stay attached to the Colossal's evaporating flesh, Armin grapples to the teeth of the Titan as Eren collapses to the ground below.

Wanting to kill Armin quickly, Bertholdt emits a huge amount of burning steam at Armin, scorching him alive until he can no longer remain grappled to his Titan. Armin collapses to the ground below, and Bertholdt turns his attention to Eren. He notices too late that Eren's Titan on the ground below is in fact merely its hardened shell, and in the moment of vulnerability, Eren, in his human form, strikes at the Colossal Titan, pulling Bertholdt from the nape as the Colossal Titan collapses in defeat.^[9]

On the rooftops of Shiganshina, the surviving members of the Scout Regiment are left with the choice of using a Titan injection in their possession to save either Armin or Commander Erwin Smith from the brink of death. The choice is left to Captain Levi, and after some hesitation, he chooses to save Armin's life. As a Pure Titan, Armin grabs Bertholdt as he comes back into consciousness and begs for his life. His cries go unheard, and Bertholdt is eaten alive by Armin's Titan, which inherits the Colossal Titan power.^[15]

Marley arc[]

Through the years 851 to 854, the nation of Marley sent a total of 32 scouting ships to Paradis Island, all of which ended up missing.^[16] The Colossal Titan, along with the Attack Titan, assists in this by capturing ships by transforming near or directly above them and forcing their crews to jump overboard, after they had been lured into close proximity by Yelena and Onyankopon.^[17]

During the Raid on Liberio, Armin Arlelt awaits at the shore of Marley in a fishing boat. As Marley's naval forces rally to provide reinforcements to the city's internment zone who are taking heavy losses due to the Scout Regiment's attacks, they quickly spot Armin and order him back to shore, only to realize his true identity when he removes his hood. He stares at them and then transforms into his Colossal Titan. The blast destroys the Marleyan warships and sends devastating explosive energy surging inland into the streets of Liberio.^[6]

After destroying the harbor, the Colossal Titan steps on all the ships to ensure that they have been completely destroyed. Armin then emerges from the Titan's nape and looks down at the carnage caused by the transformation, and flies up using his anti-personnel omni-directional mobility gear to a nearby Scout Regiment airship.^[6]

War for Paradis Arc[]

Having been saved from the okapi-shaped Titan, Armin transforms into the Colossal Titan in an attempt to destroy Eren's Founding Titan's body using his explosive transformation ability. After doing this, the Colossal Titan emerges from the newly formed crater and prepares to head for the nearby Fort Salta. Eren generates a new body bearing similarity to the Colossal Titan, however, and the two Titans engage each other in hand-to-hand combat. Eren gains the upper hand, but Armin manages to hold Eren's Titan in place, giving Mikasa Ackermann the opportunity to head inside the Titan's mouth and sever Eren's exposed head.

After Eren's death, the Colossal Titan power ceased to exist along with the power of the Titans. ^[18]

Former inheritors[]

Armin Arlelt

Bertholdt Hoover †

Trivia[]

• In the game Age of Gunslingers Online, a special Titan Mode was made as a tribute to the series. The final boss is heavily based upon the Colossal Titan and is fought atop a massive structure. A trailer of this mode can be viewed here.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda has a baseball glove designed after the Colossal Titan.^[19]
• Since its first appearance, the Colossal Titan has become one of the most recognizable iconic images of the entire Attack on Titan series.
• In the game Ragnarok X: Next Generation during its first anniversary and its second anime collaboration, a chibi or a miniature version of the Colossal Titan will serve as the player's new limited pet.

References[]

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