Leonardo Ancel

Leonardo Ancel (レオナルド アンセル Reonarudo Anseru) or more formally known as Sergeant Leon Ancel (レオン アンセル軍曹 Reon Anseru Gunsō) was a Sergeant within the Survey Corps, and the squad leader of the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad (エリートパトロールとナビゲート班, Erītopatorōru to Nabigēto-Han) and amoung the youngest of the veteran members left after the Fall of Wall Maria. 

Hot-headed and commanding, yet incredibly intelligent and conniving, he was respected by his comrades as a capable Sergeant with a natural ability to for navigating - and was well known for being one of the few soldiers born physically disabled in service, and one of the only to hold a high rank within the Corps. He received the alias of The Compass (コンパス, Konpasu) as he became more well known as one of the Scout's senior cartographers and navigators.

Recent Updates

• 02/25/2019 - Leon's Sarciennois heritage was removed from his biography. 
• 03/22/2019 - Leon's pre-canon story was updated.
• 01/14/2021 - Making revisions and updates after 2 years of stasis. 

Table of Contents

• Personal Information 
• Personality 
• Favourites
• Appearance 
• Health
• Statistics
• Abilities 
• Relationships 
• Quotes
• History/Life
• Extra
• Other Canon Universes

Personal Information

Full Title: Sergeant Leonardo Ancel

Primary Nickname: Leon

• Leon: The shortened version of his first name, Leonardo. He is referred to by this nickname more often than Leonardo, and he encourages others to call him by this nickname. 

Other Nicknames:"Cheekbones"

• "Cheekbones"  (頬骨, "Hōbone") : A playful nickname given to Leon by members of the EPN's second generation, they call Leon this because of his prominent cheekbones and angular facial structure, much to the Sergeant's annoyance. 

Alias: The Compass

• "The Compass" (コンパス, Konpasu) : This nickname was given to Leon for the same reason Mike Zacharias is nicknamed for his keen sense of smell. Leon is an excellent navigator, his preexisting knowledge for the practice in addition to having an astounding photographic memory aid him in creating many military plans and maps for the Scouting Legion. The nickname also alludes to the trance-like state he goes into when navigating: straightforward, like the needle of a compass itself. Leon received this nickname from an unnamed squadron who he located on an expedition

Age: Approximately 29

Sex:  Cis-gender Male  

Species: Human

Birthdate: May 5th, 821

Birthplace: Delaciel, Ehrmich District, Wall Sina

• Delaciel (デラシエル, Derashieru): A fairly isolated borough located in the west of the Ehrmich District. Many of the residents in the Delaciel area have been said to speak a very distinct Eldian dialect with notably rougher consonants and softer vowels. Delaciel is full of canals and waterways, used for transport and travel.

Current Residence: Delaciel, Ehrmich District, Wall Sina; Scouting Legion HQ, Wall Rose, Paradis Island

Sexual Orientation: Unconfirmed, both in canon and fanon 

Relationship Status: Canon: Single, Fanon: Varies

Origin: (ancestrally) Unknown Eldian Colony

Nationality: Eldian 

Languages spoken: Eldian Language

Life-Long Dream: N/A

• Leon doesn't have a life-long dream because he is too afraid to make one. He's afraid to live and die with regrets, and to potentially die without achieving his dream makes him uneasy.

Goal: 

• To lead the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad in his father's place. (achieved)

Likes:

• Napping at his desk
• Receiving massages
• Cartography 
• Sina-manufactured cigarettes
• Culture of Wall Sina

Dislikes: 

• Paperwork
• Expeditions (expeditions bring back bad memories),
• Having little/no control over others or situations
• His disability
• Being mistaken

Bad Habits:

• Prone to nervous exhaustion
• Constantly re-fluffing his hair
• Judging people too quickly
• Letting praise get to his head
• Grumbling below his breath.

Hobbies: 

• Napping
• Casual gambling
• Collecting maps
• Playing/Composing cello solos

Biggest Fear: Unknown

Personality

Leon is a man with a rather diverse and explosive personality - he is portrayed as a rather commanding Sergeant with a fiery presence, and various soldiers have their different opinions on Leon's behaviour. Like the other officials and veteran soldiers, Leon is first and foremost rather serious and prioritizes his job over forging relationships with his fellow Scouts. 

When he was younger, Leon had the liberty to be immature and curious. Though talkative, he was rather shy and in his youth as a result of his insecurities and having grown up in the isolation and safety of the Ehrmich District. Through his trainees years, he was rather self-conscious due to failing to be physically on par with his fellow trainees - as of a result of his weight (for the first year) and his handicap adding to his struggle. His struggles during his teen years spurred his need to be more independent and hard-working, traits he retained in his adult life. 

Later hardened by the death of his family and from seeing many soldiers serving the Scouting Legion die over the years, Leon may be for the most part unafraid of the concept of death, though it still makes him uneasy. Having lost several people close to him, he worries deeply for the few people he's grown most attached to in his career.  He doesn't seem overly concerned about a majority of soldiers, dead or alive - which he receives much criticism for. However, come the events in Elsner, he proves he was willing to die in an attempt to protect the Garrison soldiers accompanying him. He claims to be quite lonely and deeply misses his family. He is aware that he has changed personality-wise following his acceptance of Shadis' requests, but believes the change was necessary.

Many of the soldiers believe Leon is a snob, as it is the side that most soldiers and the general public see the most. They are not wrong - for Leon carries himself with such dignity he comes off as a very unpleasant and judgmental individual, known for shamelessly making snide remarks and looking down over his nose at others. He is incredibly stubborn, and wouldn't allow for people to challenge his ideas or beliefs unless they are people of importance or higher-ranking soldiers. 

When stressed or upset, he tends to lose his temper very quickly, and it's not uncommon for him to blow up in people's faces, whether they're friends or strangers to him, before isolating himself to regain control of his emotions. Being a very prideful person, he struggles with apologies and owning up to his mistakes, of which he has made many. 

Among all his negative traits, Leon's is often controlled by his entitledness and ego. A sucker for receiving praise from anyone, he lacks perspective at times. It's very evident that he cares the most highly of himself and can be absurdly self-centred. He looks down upon lower class, whether this was behaviour learned as a child or developed on his own is unknown. Despite this, there are a few exceptions, and Leon does act more modest in front of the higher ranking Scouting Legion officials, humbling himself in their presence. He shows undivided respect to his superiors, and would never question any orders they give.

Those who have become close to Leon argue that he is a very kind man who can be at least sociable. Despite how unintentionally egocentric and short-tempered he is, Leon does have the ability to be quite friendly and proves to be a very reliable individual. He actually enjoys having casual conversations with people he's come to admire and grow comfortable around, but it awhile for him to start opening up. Many of Leon's close friends also know that he can be quite sensitive and is quite prone to getting very emotional over his deceased family members, even after over a decade of them being gone. Having grown up very dependent on all of his family members, he feels quite alone without them and mourns over his loss.

Despite his ego and his seemingly massive bravado, Leon possesses a disabling inferiority complex which further complicates his character. He sees himself as much less skilled and controlled in comparison to the other veterans. He is aware that a majority of the veterans possess more self-control and have better qualities to offer to the military than himself. Being a young man who holds a role that was never meant to be his in the first place and being a physically handicapped soldier - Leon is quite insecure and constantly troubled over the fact that he is not worth his salt, hence why he tries so hard to be more than what he really is, always wanting what he does not have. It's likely that he attempts to hide this part of him behind his conceitedness and is also the reason for his dizzying work ethics. 

Key Positive Traits: hard-working, focused, loyal, somewhat polite (to friends/other members of authority)

Neutral Traits: Somewhat reserved, somewhat dependent, aloof

Key Negative Traits: stubborn, snobbish, egotistical, short-tempered, aggressive, sensitive, insecure, ignorant, vain, somewhat power-hungry, easily overwhelmed

Favourites

Foods:

• Strawberry scones
• Vegetable soups

Drinks:

• Red wine
• Mixed fruit juices

Colour: Beige

Season: Fall

Activities: Sleeping, doing paperwork

Time of Day: Afternoon

Extras: Leon has a preference in canes. He seems to find metal handled canes better to use, and tends to use a cane, crafted of iron bamboo when walking around.

Appearance

General Description:  Leon is a man in his late twenties who possesses a somewhat muscular, yet lean build in comparison to his younger squad members, standing at a height of 6 feet. He has light sandy-blond hair styled into a mohawk, which he wears down over the left side of his head. (Occasionally, his hair is seen on the right side.) Leon's eyes are celestine blue in colour and are framed by dark, sharp-trimmed eyebrows - which he claims to trim and shape himself, as they are naturally much thicker. He possesses deep stress lines under his eyes, making it look like he is much older than he really is. He has a high bridged nose with a slight Grecian dip to it. His skin is lightly tanned, though he is still quite pale. The most notable thing about Leon's appearance is his prominent and hollow cheekbones, which are incredibly dramatic,  give him fairly sunken cheeks and a mildly sickly look. 

He is most often seen wearing his Scouting Legion uniform and dons the standard green cloak when on missions. He wears a button-up white shirt and dons a navy-blue bow tie, as well as a golden engagement ring on his left ring finger. Leon is often seen walking a cane when he's not in service. His only casual outfit seen is a pair of tan Jodhpurs (riding pants) accompanied by an off-brown or black waistcoat over a white button-up shirt along with a pair of dark brown ankle boots with darker soles.

At the end of the Clash of Titans Arc, leading into The Uprising Arc - the prominent lines under his eyes grow more prominent, making him look older and his hair becomes slightly lighter, an indication that his hair is starting to whiten or thin from an increase in stress.

As a child, Leon was rather pudgy in appearance and had not yet shaved his hair. At the time, it was neatly combed back and styled in an undercut. He wore leg and arm braces as a child, and it is possible that Leon still wears leg braces under his boots even as an adult, though its never confirmed in canon.

Height: 6"0 ft (182 cm)

Weight: 79 kg (175 lbs)

Hairstyle: For a soldier in the military, Leon has quite a unique hairstyle, reminiscent of a Mohawk Pompadour. 

Hair Color: Sand-Blond/Champagne Blond

Eye Color: Celestine/Celestite Blue

Skin Tone: Fair tan/pale

Body Shape/Build: Mesomorph with a muscular build and thin, long legs

Birth Marks: N/A

Scars: N/A

Other: Prominent stress lines under eyes, gradually lightening hair.

Health

Memory: Excellent, Photographic

Sight: Requires reading glasses for fine print

Mental Issues: N/A, formerly suffered from mild depression

Physical Issues: Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (unnamed in the series)

• Leon has a cytoskeletal disorder known as Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. The disease impacted Leon quite severely as a child, leaving him unable to walk until age three. In the beginning, he wobbled and teetered dangerously, barely being able to walk in a straight line. His condition was non-progressive and actually began to gradually improved and had a less noticeable effect on his walk upon reaching puberty and after receiving a few years-worth of tedious physical therapy - but it is quite obvious that Leon is physically impaired quite dramatically. As of his early teens, Leon has walked with a cane, and even now, walks with a slight inward gait (toes pointing inwards), and walks with a slightly mechanical jerk to his steps. The way he walks is quite energy-consuming and tiresome, which is why Leon prefers either the use of Omni-Directional Maneuvering Gear or a carriage to get around, as both modes of transportation put far less stress on his lower body. His paraplegia is incredibly mild in comparison to other patients with the same condition, but it causes him a great amount of discomfort. When his muscles tighten in his legs, he finds it very difficult to walk and stand. He attempts to ease the pain when it occurs by icing them. He still goes back to his home borough of Delaciel on his off-days, spending most of his free time (when possible) receiving physical therapy, in order to keep in as best shape as possible. 

Sleep patterns: 5-6 hours a night, typically restless sleep, mumbles while asleep.

Allergies: Allergic to cats and dogs (Dander Allergies)

Habits: Smoking

• Starting between the ages of 13-15, Leon began smoking while he was still in the trainees. Being chubbier than his peers, he felt a need to suppress his appetite as part of getting into shape. After graduating, Leon smoked recreationally and later on, used nicotine as a coping mechanism for handling his stress. 

Statistics

* Realize that Leon has been in service for over 10 years. His stats are only high due to gaining experience over the course of his time as a soldier! Many of Leon's physical combat skills are lower and the man rarely sees the front lines of battle due to his role as a tactician and not a fighter.

3D Maneuvering Gear: 4.5/10

- After years of being in the military, Leon's skill in using 3D Maneuvering Gear is exceptional. Leon uses a very unorthodox and original technique when using his gear, due to his disability - he had to adapt and learn to use it in a way which wouldn't hurt him. His style has components of gymnastics in it - and he relies heavily on power rather than accuracy. He is fairly careless, however, often using far too much of his gas supply in short periods of time to provide him with bursts of power, rather than being smart and conserving his fuel. 

Leadership: 7/10

- Like his father before him, Leon is a good squad leader and a formidable sergeant. He isn't the best when it comes to taking charge, but he puts a great deal of effort to be as good of a leader as he can be. He is able to give orders and lead his squad into battle with a calm head, getting gradually better with every month he's on the job. One crucial thing Leon lacks is patience, and he expects those working with him to do what he asks when he asks.

Intelligence: 9.5/10

- Leon is a relatively clever soldier and has quite a bit of knowledge about the Titan War, mapping, navigating and various other topics. Incredibly gifted in physics and math, Leon's ability to calculate large equations and logically is greatly impressive and helps with his job as a map-maker for the Survey Corps. Despite being book-smart, Leon is not well rounded with other topics that do not relate to knowledge that can be learned from reading - which impinges on his logical thinking at times. Leon is also not very people or street smart, likely because of his sheltered upbringing and aloof, stubborn attitude.

Martial Arts: 2/10

- Leon is physically fit enough to do most forms of martial arts, but he is at a disadvantage. Since Leon can't move as quickly as he should be able to, or fire effective kicks - it's unlikely Leon could win a hand-on-hand spar with someone else. However, Leon has an incredible amount of upper body strength and specializes in attacks which require the use of the upper body. Leon rarely gets into fights, but when people challenge him, he can take them down by using his cane as an extension of his arm without having to lay a finger directly on his opponent. It can be theorized that the fighting style Leon is a form of Bartitsu, a European form of martial art and self-defence which is performed with a cane. Without a cane or handheld weapon, Leon often struggles to protect himself in fights and will inevitably lose. 

Battle Skill/Techniques: 7/10

- Leon is an exceptional soldier who rarely cracks under pressure during the fights against the titans, and therefore can work very efficiently since the stress doesn't get to him too easily. Leon tends to use very powerful attacks and can move relatively quickly when fighting - making his ambushes very effective. His gymnastic style also confuses the less intelligent titans. Like Levi, Leon is exceptional at the spin-dash, able to perform several rotations in the air to increase his momentum for stronger, deeper attacks - though while very powerful, he lacks accuracy as a result of his rushed style. Because he has been in the Scouting Legion for so long - he understands the tactics and techniques used in battle, ensuring things are less of a surprise to him when faced with combat situations.  

Agility: 4/10

- While Leon is evidently quite acrobatic, he is not exactly the definition of nimble. He lacks the grace and an ample amount of control of his lower body required to be considered agile - simply because of his medical issues. He does not have an incredible amount of flexibility below his hips - which further impinges on his ability to be light on his feet and quick. However - the amount of balance and control he has when walking on his hands is quite surprisingly good. 

Physical Stamina: 3/10

- Leon has historically had very poor stamina. His endurance is very low when pushing himself to the limits on foot - and Leon cannot exert himself for long periods of time, and perhaps what slows him down the most as a soldier, quite literally. On several occasions, as both a trainee and as a fully-fledged member of the Scouting Legion - Leon tends to fall behind, and in more severe cases, faint out of exhaustion. This is why Leon is seen more commonly riding on horseback, in carriages or using his gear - rather than walking or running for long distances, given the option for said modes of transportation is accessible.  

Strategy: 8.5/10

- Leon does have a gift in creating maps and plans in advance but is terrible at making decisions on the spot. Leon usually resorts to using brute force (in battle) when faced with problems, instead of actually trying to figure out a logical way to solve the problem. However, when given enough time to think - Leon's calculating mind is among the best in the Survey Corps, rivalled by his superiors and 104th graduate, Armin Arlert. 

Teamwork: 5/10

- Leon knows all about the importance of being able to work well with his team. Since he has been with the EPN for such a long period of time, Leon works incredibly well with his squad and has trained them to the best of his abilities to follow his orders and improve their skills. He works well in teams - but can be very authoritarian when leading soldiers into battle. He likes to have control over situations whenever possible. Despite how well he can handle a scenario - he is quick to anger when people don't comply with his orders quick or efficiently enough. For those working alongside Leon - it can be notoriously stressful and demanding, due to his high expectations. 

Work Ethic: 8.5/10

- Being handicapped and the son of a prominent figure in the Scouting Legion, Leon pushed himself constantly to prove his worth as not only a soldier but as an individual. Though he was slow to develop this upon joining the Trainees, he quickly fostered a regimented work ethic. For everyone who worked hard, Leon worked twice as hard just to keep up. Even after rising into the comfortable high ranks of the Scouting Legion, Leon continued to work as hard as he could and it is part of what makes him as intimidating as he comes off as. His hard work has drawbacks though, for he often burns himself out, physically and/or mentally. 

Dedication/Motivation/Passion: 5/10

- There is no question about Leon being a soldier who is very dedicated to his job as the Scouting Legion's Sergeant. Leon takes his job quite seriously - in the hopes of pleasing his superiors and benefiting the Legion as a whole. Despite his dedication, there are times when Leon's will does waver, and due to not having a clear goal set for the future - his motivation or passion is not equal to those of many of the other characters in the series.

Mapping and Navigation Skills: 9.5/10

- As the leader of the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad, Leon is among one of the best mappers in the Survey Corps, a close second to the higher-ranking officials as a whole and his late father. He is very observant on the out of the wall expeditions and has a mental map out to as far as the farthest known end of the Titan Forest. He knows almost every location within the walls, with the exception of the Underground District. He also always seems to know exactly where he's going and how to get there, hence his nickname as the Survey Corps' "Compass". He has assisted the other veterans in creating the maps and routes for expeditions which will allow for the least casualties - considering the titan populations in certain areas, the geography and the average travel time per group. Despite his hard work, he rarely accepts credit for completing the daunting task of route creation - out of paranoia that his plans will fail. 

Pain Tolerance: 3/10

- Leon may keep the fact that he's a sensitive individual, personality-wise, to himself, but when it comes to getting injured - Leon has an incredibly low pain tolerance that is more than obvious. He can't handle much more than the pain he's in on a daily basis, and anything more can get him on his knees in serious discomfort for half an hour at the least, rendered as an ineffective soldier for some time. 

Abilities

• "Compassing": It goes without saying that Leon has an extraordinarily keen, nearly supernaturally so, sense of direction and understanding of navigation. This ability has allowed for Leon to navigate outside of the Walls  - and he utilizes it subconsciously, more often than he believes or is aware of. Members of the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad have noted that when Leon begins "compassing", his gaze grows sharper and "hyperfocused", almost trance-like. Being pulled into this trance can make him either very vulnerable or blindly strong enough to tear right through whatever dares interfere with him while he's en route. Leon's Compass can be interfered with by the Coordinate, when in use, and cannot be used when the Coordinate is active - though why remains a mystery. Leon's compassing ability has also aided his memorization of landmarks/key areas - and was truly an important player in creating the routes for expeditions. He can recall areas that are best to be avoided and safer areas - and attempts to aid his fellow high ranking soldiers ensuring lower numbers in soldier casualties. 
• Cartography: It isn't too much of a surprise that Leon is a natural when it comes to creating maps. As a member of the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad - it is outlined in his job description that he creates routes and plans due to his detailed understanding of territory inside and outside of the walls. Leon has been known to create incredibly accurate maps of the land and is able to provide information about practically anything he's drawn. 
• Gear Utilization Technique: Due to his disability, Leon utilizes his gear in such a way that shifts the strain that would be applied to his lower body to his upper body and core strength. Leon's roguish and unorthodox style of using his gear is very gymnastic. His way of fighting has been noted as very confusing due to its fast pace - credited as unpredictable and lethal. He has learned various tricks which aid in the titan slaying process and has mastered the spin-dash - a striking move seen used by the more experienced soldiers, including but not limited to Mikasa Ackerman, Levi Ackerman, and Mike Zacharias. While his style of fighting really packs a punch - it requires extensive use of the upper body, which can be quite tiring on him. Even without using the gear, Leon is notably a skilled gymnast - and can perform backflips, aerials, cartwheels and walk on his hands with ease. Lots of training aided him in avoiding getting nauseous or sick when flipping left and right, even on a full stomach. Additionally, and perhaps rather foolishly, Leon uses large amounts of gas as a result of his need for speed and is thus not the best at conserving his gas supply. Additionally, this impinges on his accuracy when attacking. 

Military Information

Affiliation: Survey Corps/Scouting Legion

Occupation: (Veteran)  Soldier

Time In Service: 10+ Years

Rank: Sergeant & Squad Leader 

Squad: The Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad (Second Generation)

• The Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad, also known as the EPN - is a small elite squadron lead by Leon Ancel. The task specializes in circulating the peripheral of the battlefield on missions and are responsible for surveying areas that are to be taken note of. Each of the members is required to have some understanding of navigation (though not necessarily cartography) and are to be familiar with areas both inside and outside the Walls. The EPN was founded in the early 820s, lead by Percy Ancel. Leadership was then passed to Leon Ancel in 839 and once more in 850 to Heron Erdei and Iker before being disbanded in the aftermath of the Battle of Shiganshina. 
• Squad Members of Gen. 2: Sergeant Leon Ancel, Antonio Vega (formerly), Heron, Iker, Carrie Delacroix (formerly), Layla Kovac, Airalin Riabhach, Anneke Black. Total: 8 members
• Previous Notable Members: Percy Ancel, Sergeant Leonardo Ancel, Pierre Ancel, Victoire Ancel, Heron Erdei, Iker, Sé Cassidy, Istvan Herczeg

Stead: Excelsior

• Like several of the other Scouting Legion horses, Excelsior is a chestnut Thoroughbred, with a star marking on her forehead. She is roughly 16 hands from hoofs to withers. Named by Leon, Excelsior translates to "ever higher" from Latin and has been the Sergeant's stead since he was eighteen. Despite not being the kind of guy with a fondness for animals - Leon loves Excelsior with all of his heart. Excelsior seems to be aware of Leon's disability and nudges Leon about when she suspects he's in pain or tired. Proceeding Leon's death, it is unknown what happens to Excelsior - whether she's brought back to the Walls or is killed on the expedition which her rider died on are never explained.

Former Affiliation: 91st Trainees Squad (Year 834-837), Western Division

• Instructor: Reginald Sandweiss (deceased)
  • A retired Garrison Captain, Reginald Sandweiss was one of many well known stationary guards back in his day. He assumes leadership of the Western Division of the 91st Trainees Squad following his retirement between the ages of 40-45. Like instructors preceding and succeeding him, Reginald was a stern and frightening man with no patience for slackers or those unwilling to put forth their best efforts. Though he treated a majority of his cadets like dirt, he cared very much for them. 
• Instructor's Notes: "Leonardo 'Leon' Ancel. He has been able to find a loophole around his physical disability but lacks the ability to perform tasks requiring stamina or the extensive use of his lower body. His grades are steadily improving at a quick rate and he inherited his father's gift of thoroughly understanding mathematics and navigation." 
• Graduating Statistics*: 67% Garrison, 27% Scouting Regiment, 5% Military Police, 1%  Abandoned (*of surviving members)

Grad. Rank: 18th (it was a small squadron)

Grade Level: A- (C+ in the first 6 months of training)

Titan Kills:

• Solo: 5
• Group: At least 8
• Total: At least 13

Human Kills: 2

• 2 Unnamed Military Police Officers: In the Uprising Arc, like the remaining veterans - Leon takes on a role in the coup d'etat against King Fritz. Leon plays a significantly lesser role than members of Hanji's Squadron and the Special Operations Squad. While the two squadrons pursue Rod Reiss with a captured Historia and Eren - Leon works on sparing incarcerated Scouts from the Trost Prison, when the firing squads become antsy to start executing the Scouts in their custody. Leon arrives in the nick of time - managing to save twenty Scouts from death via firing squadron through strategic killing. He resents the idea of murder - but deems it was necessary. Leon kills two officers, in charge of calling off the shooting - and keeps a watchful eye over prisons to ensure the safety of soldiers from above until Erwin Smith is released.

Fighting Style: Offensive & Unorthodox

Status: Deceased

Death Date: Summer, Year 850 

Death Location: Elsner (エルスネル, Erusuneru)

• Elsner: A small lakeshore region within the southern region of Wall Rose, within the Trost Region. Many inhabitants of Elsner fish, and from Elsner alone - produced and caught 18%-20% of freshwater fish within the Walls. Similar to Ragako, many, if not all of the inhabitants of the Elsner settlement were transformed into titans by the Beast Titan in 850. It is unknown exactly how or when Zeke's spinal fluid was administered to the small population of Elsner to transform them, but it's a possibility that their water supply/the lake could have been contaminated. 

Cause of Death: Dismembered and killed during a titan skirmish. 

Site of Burial: Military Cemetery, Wall Rose

Relationships

Family

• Leon claims that his relationship with his immediate family grew more "complicated" when he grew older. This was a result of him having tarnished his good relationship with both his parents and siblings, much to his regret later on in life. 

Parents: Carole Ancel (mother, deceased),  Percy Ancel (father, deceased)

• Carole Ancel: Carole is Leon's biological mother, as well as the third cousin and wife of  Percy Ancel. Carole took the role as Leon's main caregiver up until his early teens, and out of all of her children, Carole was the closest to Leon, as a result of having to keep a closer eye on him through his youth as a result of his disability. A very complex and cold woman - it is apparent that Leon inherited his mannerism and bad temper from his mother, as well as her caring and tender side. Carole was the one who insisted Leon spend his youth pent up within their mansion and was adamant on protecting him from the military life that Percy, Pierre and Tori had embarked on. Her attempts to protect her youngest child end up failing - and she gives in eventually. While the approximate time or cause of Carole's death is never detailed - it is presumed that depression upon believing she lost her whole family either killed her, or she wound up taking her own life out of sadness, ending the Blanc's bloodline. Why Leon did not go back to Delaciel to speak to his mother prior to his mother's passing is unknown, but he regrets not going back to Delaciel after his father, brother and sister were killed, and wonders if he had been there if his mother's own life could have been spared. 
• Percy Ancel (deceased): Leon's father and the third cousin and wife of Carole Blanc. Leon and Percy didn't spend a great deal of their childhood together - due to Percy receiving a promotion and becoming the commanding officer (though his rank is unspecified) in the Scouting Legion while Leon was still an infant. A soft-spoken and rather collected man - Percy did not get along well with Carole, resulting in tension within the family. Despite good intentions, Percy's wished to create a military legacy for his family, convincing them that there would be a great reward, sparing less concern for their lives than something that might outlive them. While Carole believed that Percy was neglecting the family - Percy denied and always claimed it was his long hours. It became apparent that everything he did was for his family - he wanted them to have promising futures, hence why he requested of Keith Shadis to preserve his position as a squad leader for one of his children. Leon had a great deal of respect for his father, despite growing up with him absent for most of his childhood, and is proud to lead the EPN in his father's place. However - Leon often questions as to why the burden was put on him - and part of him hates his father for making him hold such a rank. Many of the older cadets who knew Percy often say Leon is nothing like his father - due to their very different personalities, with Leon being a tyrant and highly critical while Percy was tame and controlled. Leon claims to have dreams about his father, in which his father describes to him that he [Leon] is not his son - and more rather a monster living inside of his son's body. As Leon grows older, he grows bitter when reminiscing over his father as his need for power begins to consume him. 

Siblings: The Ancel Twins, Victoire and Pierre (older siblings, both deceased)

• Victoire "Tori" Ancel: Leon's doting older sister and the older fraternal twin of Pierre, Leon loved his elder sister dearly. Very protective of her physically disabled younger brother, Tori never strayed far from Leon. Tori often slept in Leon's room when they were children, just to keep Leon company if he were to wake up in a fit. It is evident that Leon only wanted the best for his sister, and no less - as seen most prominently when he learns of her relationship with a pauper by the name of Sé Cassidy. When he discovered this relationship and began to express his thoughts, their relationship as siblings grew strained. Because Leon approved of his sister's choice, and Tori was unable to convey to Leon that it was not his decision to decide her love - the bond they shared as children broke. Following the tragedy of Year 839, he retains this undying respect for her, using it as further justification to prey upon Sé and cause him grief.
• Pierre Ancel: Leon's older brother, Pierre's relationship with Leon is one fueled with envy, unlike the loving brother-sister bond Leon and Victoire share. Rather than accepting the fact that Leon was disabled and therefore required a greater deal of attention from their parents - Pierre felt like he was the lesser son. He already got ignored enough - being the middle child, much to his annoyance, during their childhood. Leon thought the world of his older brother growing up, though his feelings of admiration were not reciprocated until Leon reached adolescence and proved his independence. Pierre childishly envied until his death that Leon had grown to be taller than him and is the one responsible for Leon styling his hair the way he does. Additionally, Pierre never understood Leon's hate for Sé and sided with his friend rather than his little brother, ultimately destroying whatever bond the two had.

Love Interest: N/A (canon), Varies (fanon)

• Leon canonically declared abstinence following the death of his father. He believes becoming romantically or sexually involved will bring his attention away from his job, hence why he strives to be single. He wears his father's ring on his ring finger to subtly symbolize that he is not interested - and is quite literally married to his job.
• Popular Fanmade Ships: Reovin (Leon x Erwin), ReoMobu (Leon x Moblit), RivaReo (Leon x Levi), RoeArdo (Leon x Monroe), ReoMira (Leon x Mila)

Canon, Most Trusted Allies: Keith Shadis, Erwin Smith

• Keith Shadis (unknown): The 12th Commander of the Scouting Legion - Keith was Leon's first Commander. He served his first years in the military under Keith's wings. The reason why Leon has his rank as Sergeant is due to Keith's faith in him before they even met. Keith was willing to let Percy Ancel's dream for one of his children to be the heir to his squadron become a reality - and despite being the least qualified and fresh to the Scouts, Keith allowed for the teenager to take his father's rank - believing his knack for navigation and map creation would be pivotal to Erwin Smith's proposal of the long-range Scouting expeditions. While Leon still doesn't understand why Shadis would allow for that when there were plenty of other candidates more qualified for the rank - he is nevertheless thankful that Shadis remembered his father's request, despite his feelings to his position being mixed. 
• Erwin Smith (deceased): The 13th Command of the Scouting Legion, Erwin was the second Commander Leon would serve for. It is evident that Leon thought very highly of Erwin and adored his second Commander, intrigued by his bold style of leadership and his ability to flawlessly convey his ideas and thoughts. Leon often worried about his Commander, caring nearly as much about him as Levi Ackerman - the one Ackerbonded to him. Whenever possible, Leon would proudly defend Erwin's reputation and always honoured the man. Come the time of his death, it was made evident that Erwin cared about Leon as well, as he did for the other veteran Scouts. 

Canon Acquaintances: Hanji Zoe, Levi Ackerman

• Hanji Zoe (alive): Leon's interactions with Hanji Zoe are minimal. The two are both considered to be tactical geniuses and have collaborated on a few occasions to create military maps for operations including the 57th Long Range Scouting Expedition in Year 850 and in Stohess to work to catch Annie Leonhart, the Female Titan. Both are reckless soldiers in their own ways and are very eccentric characters who are notably incredibly intelligent. However, Leon's tremendous ego is difficult for Hanji to tolerate, in theory, and she does not like him too much. Regardless of this, they presumably care about each other as comrades and can work together well when the time calls for it. In 854, Hanji seems to never have lost faith in Leon as a soldier or a person - and she thinks fondly of him while expressing concern for him as well. 
• Levi Ackerman (alive): Levi and Leon do not have much history together - but their histories are not very different. Both losing their loved ones on long-range Scouting expeditions, the two are likely able to sympathize with each other for a shared pain. Leon respects Levi - like many other soldiers in the Scouting Legion, well aware that he is Humanity's Strongest Soldier. He believes Levi's skills are most impressive and on top of that believes Levi is a good and righteous man. Leon and Levi are also shown as two men who, when granted authority in the military, handle holding such power. While Levi dedicates himself to protecting Humanity and the people through the Walls, Leon is corrupt - striving to gain more influence on both his soldiers and the public, rather than fighting the war being his top priority.

Fanon Most Trusted Allies/Comrades: Warden Clive Ehrlich (alive), Captain Monroe Gillespie  (alive)

• Clive Ehrlich(alive):  A friend of Leon's during their trainee days and an unlikely pair. Monotone and terribly boring - Leon did not seem terribly fond of Clive, due to having difficulty reading Clive's words due to his lack of facial expressions when speaking. Leon often jabbed at Clive for being too blank-faced and often nags at him for his insolent demeanor. The two are surprisingly good friends and both hold respectable ranks in their respective legions. Leon is well aware that Clive is an incredible martial artist, even with the significant absence of his vision while Clive is well aware of Leon's intelligence, compassing ability and his 3D Maneuvering Gear fighting style. However, their friendship grew strained when Clive noticed how Leon was changing and letting his power corrupt him, deeming it a pity and he missed the younger Leon. It is alluded to that Leon feels quite guilty upon learning of Clive's blindness, though he fails to express his feelings on the issue. Leon formally encounters Clive during the coup-d'etat and expresses both grief and anger upon learning of Clive's betrayal to the law and his personal morals while the latter remains silent. Clive later mourned the loss of his former friend and the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad. 
• Monroe  "Roe" Gillespie (alive): A fellow graduate of the 91st Trainees Squadron (though from a different division), Roe and Leon met in the spring of 835. As a result of his timid and fragile nature as a teenager, Leon and Roe did not click instantly. Roe's attempts at compliments overwhelmed and confused him, but the issue was later resolved when they met again, months later. Upon graduation, the two drifted away when Leon soon became more focused on work, when becoming the leader of the EPN and a Sergeant, however, they maintained a peculiar friendship. 

• Antonio "Anton" Vega (deceased): The first member to join the second generation of the EPN and an acquaintance of Leon's from his trainee squadron. Relationships have always been somewhat tense and unreadable between these two as their personalities clashed. Anton's chill and unreadable nature is one Leon has trouble comprehending fully - but there was a large amount of trust in their bond. Leon trusted Anton enough to become his second in command and shared a great deal of information with his fellow graduate, both on a private and professional level. It is unknown how Leon reacted to Anton's disappearance, but it is suggested that he did mourn over his friend disappearing.
• Heron Erdei (deceased): The second member of the EPN's second generation. Leon and Heron have a mutual dislike for each other, but Heron nevertheless respects her superior - despite believing he is a whiny, stuck-up rich boy. Heron was apprehended by Leon in the Year 840 and is forced by Leon to enter the ongoing trainee squadron to become a soldier. When she graduates in 843 - she is accepted into the EPN. Leon says he selected her to join his squadron because he saw potential in the skills she accumulated through living in the Trost's Sichel region and believes her skills may come in as beneficial in the future. Alongside Iker, she was nominated to co-lead the EPN with the latter following Leon's death, per his personal orders. She takes her role with pride until her final days - and Heron screams for Leon shortly before her death in Shiganshina, her cries for Leon being her last words spoken alive. 
• Iker (deceased): Iker transferred from the Garrison into the Scouting Legion per Leon's request following the Battle of Trost. Iker had joined the military shortly after the Fall of Wall Maria. Iker possesses deep mental scars, thus leading him to be very quiet and is prone to lashing out. He has quite an attitude - which seems to bother Leon, though the latter never seems to react too harshly. He eventually learns to channel his anger and uses it against the titans in combat, a strategy advised nonchalantly by Leon to him one day. Leon deeply trusted Iker- and requested for him to co-lead the EPN with Heron. The influence Leon had on Iker's life is apparent - for just moments before his death, it is Leon who Iker cries out for.
• Anneke Black (deceased): The daughter of an Asian slave and a merchant - it was not due to her skill nor extraordinary abilities that Leon accepted Anneke into the EPN. Leon took Anneke into the elite squadron to protect her - as one of the few Asians left within the Walls. Small and peppy, Anneke seems to prey on Leon with her childish ways - and is one of the few people who can get Leon merely frazzled rather than irritated. He doesn't seem to mind her immaturity, but will not hesitate to scold her should she cross any lines.
• Airalin Riabhach  (deceased): One of Leon's younger cadets with a fondness for tea, Leon and Airalin have rather good chemistry and get along well together. The two have both a professional and friendly relationship with one another - and do not seem to fight or quarrel very often at all. Leon seems to be reminiscent of a father figure in Airalin's life, to which he objects very little to.
• Layla Kovač (deceased): Layla and Leon have a very complex relationship - perhaps the one of the highest complexity out of him and any of the other EPN cadets. Leon met Layla shortly after her graduation from the 103rd Trainees Squadron - accepting her into the EPN. Their relationship remained stable and friendly until Sé Cassidy, a former soldier in the EPN returned to join the Scouting Legion after taking from the Year 839 to the Year 845. Layla eventually learned that she was a blood relative to Sé, the two being first cousins. This was news Leon was not at all happy to hear about - and it compromised a healthy relationship between him and Layla. Layla is aware of the way Leon treats Sé - and attempts to protect her cousin against the Sergeant's wrath, as she is the only family he has left. Overall - Layla and Leon have a very strained relationship, neither particularly being fond of each other for differing reasons. 

Enemy: Sé Cassidy 

• Sé Cassidy (deceased): If there is one person who Leon loathes the most is a retired soldier named Sé, who was the only survivor from the Elite Patrolling and Navigating's Squad from the Expedition in 839. Sé only survived because he was in a safe area when the raid of abnormals killed the EPN. Aware that Sé was the on-and-off boyfriend of his older sister and the best friend of his brother, he believed Sé would have made an effort to at least protect them, as a friend and as a soldier. The two are also quite alike in so many ways that they seem to repel - both having fiery tempers and are deeply affected by the 839 Expedition. Sé is scared of Leon and does not understand why Leon continues to blame him for deaths he feels unconnected to. In addition to this, Leon physically abuses Sé, treating the older man as his human punching bag with little remorse. 

Other: Reginald Sandweiss (instructor of the 91st  Trainees Squad), Historia Reiss, King Fritz

• Reginald Sandweiss (deceased): Though Reginald disliked Leon because of his condition, he believed Leon's safety and chances of survival would be better if he didn't opt for a military life, which led him to nearly pardon Leon from the Squadron. However - Reginald became very impressed with Leon's quickly excelling skill and abandoned his hatred of the young man, instead of considering it a feat to have trained a disabled, chubby little boy into being a teenage titan slayer with a sharp mind and a remarkable memory. A few years following Leon assuming the rank of Sergeant - Reginald congratulates him and admits he was frankly surprised Leon was still alive. Reginald passed away of old age at some point between Year 850 and Year 854.
  
• Historia Reiss (alive): Prior to her reveal as the true monarch within the Walls on Paradis, Leon senses her royal lineage. He seems to be very interested in her for this reason. When Historia is crowned the Queen - Leon is sincerely loyal to her rule and respects her greatly, rejoicing over the fact that a true royal now holds the throne.
• King Fritz (alive): The false King of the Walls, Leon seemed to have a hankering that Fritz was not the true King prior to this being revealed to the public. He berates the King harshly and seems to despise him, critiquing his rule and his government, until the Military Police walk by. 

Quotes

"I've lost too many matches of this twisted game to be a winner. It's frustrating to lose so often..."

    - Leon subconsciously expresses how he views himself as a player in a game rather than a soldier in war. 

"The bravest thing I ever did was continuing to live even when I wanted nothing more than to die."

    - Leon comes to terms with one of his emotional victories. 

"War doesn't decide who is right, you dense flock. War decides who is left. Left standing."

    - Leon lays down the harsh reality of war in one of his speeches.

"I would rather die with nothing than give in to be caged like a bird with clipped wings."

    - Leon explains why he chose freedom over money. 

"I have been in the presence of my heroes for as long as I can remember, but I have not changed at all to follow in their footsteps."

    - Leon lamenting over how he has not matured like his comrades.

History/Life

Early Life and Childhood (Year 821-834)

Leonardo Ancel was born in the Year 821 to Carole and Percy Ancel on May 5th in the Delaciel Borough of Wall Sina’s Ehrmich District. The couple’s third and last child, he would be the younger brother of fraternal twins Pierre and Victoire “Tori” Ancel, four years their junior. Carole was a simple housewife, being part of the Sina’s elite, there was no urgency for her to find work. Percy, on the other hand, was a high ranking soldier in the Scouting Legion, respected and renowned for his ability to navigate and lead with both pomp, patience and valor. He was famous for leading a specialized squadron: “The Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad” and his involvement in the regiment pulled him away from his home in Delaciel for often weeks at a time. His commitment to work upset his wife greatly, who believed he was spending far too much time at work and not enough time with her and their three children. Paranoia often led Carole to believe Percy was having affairs with other men or women and had become disloyal to their family, neither of which was true. Percy wanted desperately to be involved with his family and remained ever loyal despite Carole’s thoughts. 

In his absence, it was the task of Carole to raise her children. Despite access to servants and maids, she felt it necessary for that job to be hers. The twins were far more independent than their younger brother, who always seemed to be clinging to their mother. Dependent and high-maintenance, Leon hardly ever left Carole’s side and was often fussy or crying when she’d stray too far. Carole predicted Leon would take longer to grow out of this phase, as a result of such intensive nurturing, though it struck her as odd when taking notice of the fact that Leon was nearing a year and a half, and had not yet taken his first steps. Whisked to a nearby clinic by a worried mother, Leon was diagnosed with spastic paraplegia. The severity of his condition remained up in the air, although Carole was informed that this disorder would disrupt his life moving forward. 

Following this diagnosis, Carole abandoned much of the hope she had in her youngest, all while attempting to keep him from safe from a ‘world full of danger’ by isolating the boy inside, where she deemed was safer. A majority of Leon’s childhood was spent in the Ancel’s estate or in pediatric care centres, where he’d receive physical therapy, in an attempt to offset the achiness and increase his range of motion. Tutors would come to teach Leon in the comfort of their home and he proved quickly to be sharp minded and witty, excelling in mathematics and the musical arts. Despite his knowledge and the bettering of his mobility (with the assistance of forearm braces), Leon’s lack of interaction with people other than a few teachers, doctors and the members of his nuclear family lead him to be quite shy. A small boy with a bit of pudginess to him, Carole worried he would be the target of bullying for his weight and his condition, giving her yet another reason to keep him hidden. 

At the age of 10, Percy returned for one of his most memorable visits. Much of what Leon knew of his father was contradictory. Carole’s bitterness towards Percy fuelled a side of Leon that made Leon weary of his father, while the cheerful anecdotes from his older siblings made him sound like the opposite of the battle-thirsty womanizer Carole’s delusions painted him to be. Percy had returned to spread the word about an open trainees squadron, which he was keen on having Pierre and Tori enlist for, saying one of the divisions was under the control of one of his own friends from the trainees. Percy’s artful way with words and his passion for the military was enough to convince the twins while Carole was shocked and horrified by Percy, wanting so strongly to send his children into a war. She resented they leave, but the twins wanted desperately to make a commitment to their world. Pierre wanted to show he could be the son Carole could be most proud of, while Tori was merely eager to step up to a new challenge because life in Sina was far too easy. 

Increasingly angered by her husband’s military propaganda, Leon was often the only one in the estate to keep his mother company. His opinion on his father changed often at this point in time and he often grew tired of listening to Carole lament over how Percy was going to be what put their whole family in the ground all too soon. In fact, it further swayed Leon towards what his father had come to advertise - he wanted to join the military as well and declare his independence from his mother and divorce himself from an easy Sinaite life. Being handicapped only fuelled his desire to prove himself, which grew stronger with each year that passed with his siblings being in the 85th Trainees Squadron. For three years, Leon quietly decided it was a career in the military he wanted to pursue, waiting for the time of Pierre and Tori’s graduation to declare it to his mother. 

Pierre and Tori both graduated with honours. Pierre had made it into the squadron’s Top Ten and was offered a position in the Military Police. Though tempted to join the prestigious regiment, he and Tori were both beckoned to join the Scouting Legion by Percy and join the EPN. Now 13, Leon began to plead and beg to recruit for the Trainees Squadron, set to open in mid-spring. Carole was quick to deny Leon permission - but Leon proved to be persistent and naively keen. Regardless of how Carole would insult him for his weight or his lack of experience or that he would be picked on for being from Sina by the “Roseborns”- all of which were legitimate worries, though the naive boy's hopes didn’t waver. His constant requests began to annoy his mother greatly, to the point where she gave in, allowing Leon to pursue the one thing she hoped he'd never want to be. He enlisted, specifying his handicap and was admitted into the 91st Trainees Squadron’s Western Division, led by former Garrison celebrity Reginald Sandweiss.

Trainee Years (Year 835-838)

When training began, Leon was obviously unprepared for the challenge, both physically and mentally. As his mother had told him, Leon wasn’t in ideal shape - and had a dramatic lowering in self-confidence when the instructor would often taunt Leon’s poor physique, earning him nicknames that attacked his weight. It took Leon a while to gather that the intent of these insults was not only to offend - and the Instructor would poke at things every cadet was self-conscious or nervous about in order to teach them to ignore these little comments and instead focus on the larger task(s) at hand, a classic drill sergeant method. However, the instructor’s comments motivated Leon to begin losing weight - through exercise, a proper diet and eventually, smoking. (Leon began smoking, occasionally, when he was 15 and more during his mid-twenties.)

Leon’s breakthrough occurred when the cadets were taught how to use the Omni-Directional Maneuvering Gear. So far, he’d been failing in the physical portion of training - proving unable to maintain a pace with the rest of the group during running exercises and collapsing due to exhaustion multiple times a day. Reginald’s patience was gradually wearing thinner with the disabled teen, doubting him just as Carole had and he was making the decision to confront Leon and tell him perhaps the military life wasn’t meant for him.

It was around this time when Leon was also trying to improve on his own. During the daytime class exercises, he was so exhausted because he’d spend the nights training while the other trainees slept, determined to catch up, which Reginald was unaware of. Rather than miraculously improving overnight, his nighttime practices impinged on his grades and overall performance, the only benefit being it had gotten him into slightly better shape and he’d been able to teach himself the art of gymnastics. The second developed skill would come in handy when the trainees were taught to use the Omni-Directional Maneuvering Gear and hand-to-hand combat.

Rather than failing as everyone was expecting, Leon proved to be among the best with the gear - creating his own trademark style which had a gymnastic flare to it. Despite it being roguish and unorthodox, nor was it most graceful or refined of fighting styles, it was powerful and it packed the element of confusion and surprise. Leon also incorporated gymnastics into his fighting style, relying on upper body and abdominal strength when he could in the place of his comparatively weaker and less reliable legs - but received no exceptional mark in the combat unit. Regardless and boosted with confidence, Leon stopped his nighttime practices, and his grades began to rise. He proved to inherit his father's tactical mindset and excelled in subjects like math. 

Trainees Years - Joint Squadron Exercise (836)

Due to the 91st Trainees' Squadron's low numbers, the four divisions joined together to allow for the trainees to perform the wilderness exercise, a recent addition to the curriculum.  It was in this group exercise, Leon was briefly reunited with Roe Gillespie, a trainee from the Southern Division. Still shy as a result of misinterpreted compliments, Leon avoided speaking with Roe but eventually managed to form a friendship with Roe by the end of the experimental exercise. 

After three years, the members of the 91st  Training Squadron graduated. Leon ranked at 18th place, recognized at graduation for his considerable improvement and dedication to the cause. To his chagrin, he'd also be praised for graduating, despite his handicap. Over the course of the three years, Leon’s fat had been replaced with developed muscle - and he’d grown to an impressive height of six feet tall. Percy had done to the twins and Leon found himself being dragged into the Scouting Legion to join the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad. Antonio Vega and Monroe Gillespie joined with him while Clive Ehrlich went off to join the Military Police and would become the warden of a prison in Western Trost.

Era of Turmoil & Entering Military Service (Year 839-850)

Leon spent a majority of his first two years in the Scouting Legion working within the Walls. As there was no breach of the Walls yet, titan slaying was a rare form of combat few got to see. His relationship with his older siblings was highly strained at this point in time - due to his resent of Tori finding love. He grew cold towards them both, ignoring them when they tried to baby him - often smoking or lingering in places they would not find him when he had time to spare. 

Two years of patrolling - and Leon had still not seen what was behind the Walls. His father soon approached Leon, come about the time of the midsummer of 839. He informed Leon that he would be leaving the Walls for an upcoming expedition. He had arranged for Leon to remain behind 

Commander Keith Shadis would lead the Scouts out onto a Long Range Scouting Expedition - and would lead to a catastrophic number of casualties, amounting to nearly 550 lost in just over 6 hours, when a forced retreat was declared. Prior to the 57th Exterior Long Range Scouting Expedition and the Fall of Wall Maria, this expedition took the highest death toll of any of the missions predating it.

The Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad, composed of ten members - including his father, brother, and sister would all be declared dead, except for one. Waiting with the citizens for the return of the soldiers, Leon naively looked through the crowd of injured soldiers, reentering the walls on horseback for the EPN. Sé Cassidy, the only survivor of the EPN and love interest of Leon’s sister Tori told Leon what had happened, and pointed Leon towards the body carts. While the cart moved, Leon frantically pushed through the bodies - and found the remains of his brother and his father. From their remains, Leon would take his father’s wedding band and wear it on his ring-finger. He placed the blame on the death of his family on Sé, Commander Shadis, and Second-In-Command Erwin Smith, and to this day has not fully forgiven any of them.

Less than a week after the death of the EPN’s first generation, eighteen-year-old Leon, still riddled with shock from the tragedy in addition to a lack of communication with his mother when he needed her most, was called into Commander Shadis’ office. Condolences were briefly exchanged before Leon was informed that he would be in charge of rebuilding the EPN in his father’s absence. Given the scenario, with Sé having left the Scouting Legion, Leon was the only person left as a candidate to take over the squadron. His knowledge of cartography, military strategies and two years in the squadron were enough for the commanding officers to have hope that Leon could accomplish the simple task, and rise the ranks like his father. Leon did not take Shadis’ request well but gave no definitive answer of whether he would do as told or not. 

It would take Leon a long while to recover from the deaths in his family. He later learned his mother had died, for reasons which were not shared with him - but authorities assumed her death was linked to sorrow for her lost husband, son, and daughter. What war was taken from him was enough to bitter and sour him as he was trapped in a spiral of severe depression. He became much more like his mother and that shy boy from the trainees was soon gone, replaced with a hardened and intimidating young man. Tragedy would serve as the catalyst to his dramatic change as he came of age. A year later, Leon had finally accepted to Shadis’ conditions and vowed he would fill his father’s place and bring forth the second generation of the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad, his spirit to fight rekindled. He had matured as well and now understood the Commander’s urgency, starting slowly to forgive them. 

Feeling as though Leon was ready, Shadis announced officially that he [Leon] could begin building his squadron. He offered his support, but the 19-year-old soldier was keen on handling the task on his own. Some members came more easily than others to convince - like Antonio Vega, a companion from the Trainees who would serve as his second in command. Others, like a young woman by the name of Heron Erdei, would be harder to convince into joining. In 841, Leon apprehended Heron for thieving and held her to joining the open squadron in the place of serving a life sentence in the Trost Prison. The EPN squadron remained relatively small for the first two years Leon controlled it but he had quite the authority for someone so young. 

By the age of 22, the squadron had only three members, though Leon was constantly proving his ability as a leader. Though impatient at times, he rarely cracked under pressure and was a very capable tactician. Shadis took note of these skills and eventually rewarded Leon with the title of Sergeant for his contributions to the regiment as a cartographer, certain that Leon would continue to prove he was worthy of the rank. While Leon never let Shadis down on this, despite his handicap and his hotheadedness, an introduction to such power seems to alter Leon’s personality yet again. Leon had always been a rather prideful young man, however, being crowned a Sergeant only inflated this pride even more. This was likely the fault of his rising popularity in the early 840s, as a result of he and the EPN’s recon missions outside the walls - though in the near future he would go on to receive a reputation as an icy man who cared for few others than himself. 

Now a military official- Leon has established somewhat healthy relationships with the other veterans and elite squadrons, due to working alongside them somewhat frequently. Leading up to the Fall of Wall Maria, Leon associated with the soldiers who would go on to be considered veterans after the breach. When Shadis stepped down as the Commander, Leon was the most loyal to Erwin, infamous for following the 13th Commander in a manner similar to a duckling. Other soldiers Leon would get to know of but never form strong intrapersonal relationships with include Levi Ackerman, Hanji Zoe and Mike Zacharias (and their respective squadrons). Word of Leon's handicap became a popular rumour among young cadets and curious civilians, though only a small handful of soldiers know the truth and protect the fact.

Female Titan Arc - Year 850

Leon makes his first appearance in the anime and manga series in the Year 850, introduced as Sergeant Leonardo Ancel, a veteran and senior member of the Scouting Legion. He assisted Erwin and Hanji with forming the main plan and various backup plans when it came down to capturing Annie Leonhart, the Female Titan. He advised the best routes and areas within the Stohess District to set up the traps, where the Female Titan could be potentially ambushed and captured by the squadrons. As the capture wound out to be a fail, Leon refused to take credit for his input in the mission.

Clash of Titans Arc - Year 850

Leon's appearances in the Clash of Titans Arc are increased since his introduction at the end of the Female Titan Arc. Following Annie and Eren's fight in the Stohess District, Leon leaves the district with the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad as the Military Police sweep the area to clear the corpses of soldiers and citizens of Stohess who died during the fight. He leaves the site of the battle with the rest of the EPN - until appearing later to assist his comrades in locating the supposed breach of Wall Rose. Leon takes the EPN in par with Breezy Bazhenova's squadron - circulating the Walls to locate a breach, well into the evening. 

The joint-squadron wind up unsuccessful and are unable to locate the breach. Infuriated and frustrated, Leon effectively has a tantrum as he grows paranoid over the idea of potentially missing a hole in the Wall. He gets off his horse and begins to pace, going on about how the situation seems impossible and expresses how it is causing him to lose his mind. Breezy does her best to calm down the Sergeant before he can be any more reckless, assuring him that they didn't miss anything, suggesting that they regroup with other squadrons who were also patrolling the Wall, in order to confirm their findings were not an anomaly. Begrudgingly, Leon listens and gets back on his horse - and the group ride off to find the other squadrons. 

The next appearance Leon makes is once again accompanied by members of the EPN at Utgard Castle, when the Scouts arrive to rescue the survivors. Roaring out his orders at his squad members - the EPN does not engage with the titans closest to the tower. Instead, Leon and his squadron work to clear titans is the area surrounding Utgard Castle, while a majority of the other squadrons focus on the titans closest to the tower. After the titans are cleared from the area, he praises his squadron. When the Scouts get word that the Wall isn't breached, Leon stingily tries to think of possibilities, up until the point of Bertholdt and Reiner's reveal as the Colossal and Armored Titans. 

Present on the wall when the two expose themselves to the Scouting Legion - Leon is one of many soldiers blown back by the blast of steam emitted from Bertholdt's titan form. Sent back by the blast, Leon temporarily loses track of his squadron as he is thrown off of the wall by the strength and heat of the blast, alongside Iker - who fell unconscious after getting blasted. Struggling to catch the unconscious cadet by his underarms, Leon holds Iker while anchored from the Wall as the EPN groups back up with him quickly after being separated. All watch in shock as the two titans appear on the Wall. 

From the Wall, when Hanji takes the Fourth Squadron, along with various groups of both Scouts and MPs to attack the Colossal Titan, using their 3DMG. Leon yells at Hanji for putting her squadron in such danger, as he does his best to steady himself and keep Iker from falling nearly 40 metres. Leon is not seen for the remainder of the fight, but he remains present and presumably uninjured by the time the Colossal Titan falls off of the Wall. 

Leon is seen only seen briefly when the mission to retrieve Eren and Ymir is underway. He is fighting the titans alongside the EPN, struggling to keep those in his section safe. Leon is not informed of Erwin's injuries until the Scouting Regiment returns to the Walls and he is notably distraught to receive said news.

The Uprising Arc - Year 850

With the Uprising Arc beginning, Leon is depicted out of his uniform, sporting his casual attire while he smokes as he walks outside of the EPN's barracks, more disgruntled than usual. A few members of his squadron mutter amongst each other, asking why the Sergeant is so mad - until they realize it is because of the Military Police Brigade. The Military Police searched the offices of the commanding officers and high ranking soldiers of the Scouting Legion, to ensure that the Scouts did not have any items that could be used against them. Many, if not all of Leon's maps from past expeditions and of the Districts in both Wall Rose and Wall Sina were confiscated as the freeze in Scouting Legion action is put into place. 

When the members of the EPN finally have the guts to approach Leon and ask if he is doing alright, Leon simply goes on about King Fritz instead. He shares with his squadron quite surely that Fritz isn't of royal lineage and starts to berate the King quite severely before he proceeds to tell his squadron he's been out in the sun for too long and retreats into the barracks. Leon extinguishes his cigarette, crushing it between his fingers before stepping it into the doormat.

Later on - Iker asks Leon why the Military Police have not pestered them and inquires why Leon has not been arrested or is being sought after, like the members of the Special Operations Squad and the Fourth Squad. Leon replies that he paid a large fine that ensured the protection of himself and the EPN - paying a sum of money large enough for him to lose his family's Estate in the Delaciel Borough along with signing various documents. He declares he would rather lose his family's property than be caged up with the other captured soldiers - but also informs Iker and the other members of the EPN as they congregate to listen to him that they cannot fight, and are sitting ducks. He orders them not to use Omni-Directional Maneuvering Gear and orders that they stay in the barracks as often as possible.

In the meanwhile - while ordering his squadron to remain in the barracks, Leon risks getting himself caught by deciding to work in order to maintain order with the Military Police running rampant to control the districts. Leon spends a majority of his time monitoring the police on duty, keeping a careful watch around the prisons, where various Scouts are being held. He makes it his duty to ensure their safety, while the Special Operations and Fourth Squadron handle the situation regarding Rod Reiss and the Anti-Personnel Control Squadron. Leon remains in Wall Rose to keep the incarcerated soldiers as safe as he can, keeping as low of a profile as he can.

In the Trost Prison, a day after Eren and Historia's capture, the staff tire of listening to the whining, dreary masses of Scouts in their care. In an attempt to alleviate their boredom. Clive Ehrlich, the prison's warden, suggests executing the masses slowly, and a portion of the captured soldiers are brought outside, in shackles still - to the firing pit, where they will be subjected to death by firing squadron. To kill the Scouts would be violating the law, but Clive had the authority to brush off the death of a few Scouts. 

Leon was present at the announcement of the soldier's executions. Recalling the message regarding titans not being the only creatures who the war was against - Leon took the liberty to strategically kill the leader of the firing squadron, before he could give any orders to shoot. He reminds the firing squad of the laws they are breaking, and that the soldiers were not to be killed yet. He threatens to kill anyone who dares shoot - and as he's armed with a rifle, the firing squadron obeys, and retreat, bringing the Scouts back inside the prison, all free of injuries.

Leon would keep up his duty of keeping a watchful eye over the other soldiers until the end stages of the coup d'etat are being reached by the Scouting Legion. With everything going according to plan, and Erwin is soon released from the Military Police. The Scouting Legion, now active once again, Leon continues to survey the release of Scouts from prisons as Erwin is released. Following the Battle of the Church, he regroups with the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad. It is around this time, when he requests of Iker and Heron to co-lead the EPN, following his eventual death - before soldiers occupy the Orvud District to counter Rod Reiss' quickly approaching titan form.

The EPN joins up with various other squadrons in the fight against Rod Reiss after the Garrison and MP work hand in hand to ensure the smooth evacuation process - and stays on the wall while Rod is bombarded by cannon fire, and for the duration of Eren carrying out Erwin's idea, with throwing barrels of gunpowder into the open mouth of Rod's titan. Leon takes part in the skirmish after the explosives detonate inside of Rod's titan and hurls himself off the edge of the Wall with the EPN at his heels, to attack the flying portions of Rod's titan. While winding up missing Rod - they cheer once Rod is struck down and killed by Historia.

When Historia is recognized as the true ruler of the Walls - Leon watches her from the corner as the citizens in the Orvud District crowd around her. He seems quite content to see her being accepted by the people, cracking a brief smile before he returns to the other veteran members of the Scouting Legion, after the mission comes to a close. He attends Historia's coronation as Queen of the Walls, standing among the citizens. This is the only time in the canon series ' timeline when Leon is seen with a walking cane. 

Death in Elsner -  Year 850

In the Year 850, two months after Historia Reiss' crowning, Leon is indirectly killed by Zeke Jaeger, killed by the Warlord's ability, allowing for him to change the Eldians into Titans, presumably by accident. Sent to Southern Wall Rose to check on a small lakeshore settlement in the Southern Region known as Elsner (エルスネル, Erusuneru), a fishing village. Rather than setting out to survey the area with the EPN - Leon surveys the area with a small squadron of Garrison soldiers, as a representative of his Commander and the Scouting Legion veterans.

The Garrison soldiers were monitoring the area shortly after receiving word that a scream similar to that of the Beast Titan’s, which was heard, but not seen in proximity to Utgard Castle - from over the wall in the ruins of Shiganshina, presumably during the latter's Titan battle with Reiner Braun. The theory of the Beast Titan being the one to cause civilians to become mindless titans is in its developing stages when the exploration of Elsner is requested, drawn from theories creating regarding the situation of the civilians in Ragako, the home town of Connie Springer.

The soldiers arrive to the circumstances similar to those faced when Ragako was first entered. There are a small amount deformed titans - phenotypically too disproportionate to allow for them to move, none exceeding four metres. After taking the numbers - Leon and the Garrison reinforcements realize that the number of titans present doesn’t amount to the number of civilians who lived in Elsner. The soldiers question the possibility of the titans already have moved, before coming upon the realization that there were mobile titans hiding amongst the trees and even behind the rocks on the lake’s shore. The titans had proved to be intelligent enough to hide from the soldiers until they were spotted and leaped to attack upon being noticed.

The soldiers made a mad dash, in attempts to return to their horses - but were all quickly surrounded by the mobile titans. The soldiers stand no chance against the titans and a skirmish quickly begins. The titans begin to leap and pile on top of the soldiers, trapping them in a rather strategic huddle. They soon begin to tear apart the soldiers - jostling them and tearing off their limbs. Leon - in the midst of the skirmish screams out that he's not ready to die just yet as he is bit open by a titan, dying through his screams of agony.  

The soldiers are found hours later by Garrison officials, finding the gruesome sight which is the partially digested humans. Blood pooling on the grass, the squadron and Sergeant are all stained in blood. Leon himself is severed from the waist down, his organs pouring from the gaping hole in his body, and part of his chest was bitten out to expose his ribcage, where virtually no organs fill the cavity, his spine broken. The soldiers have the regiment badges cut from their jackets and any precious belongings that can be found on their bodies are removed. In Leon’s case, his body, his entity stripped of his badge, his bowtie and his father’s engagement ring.

The bodies of the Garrison cadets and Leon Ancel are put to rest hours following the events in Elsner. His possessions remain in the safe hands of an unidentified Garrison soldier until they are passed off to Commander Dot Pixis, and passed off once more to Erwin. Erwin recognizes the items given to him almost immediately and adds to his grief - envisioning yet another body finding its way into the mountain of corpses he stands on. Leon's body is located much farther down in the pile when Erwin eventually confronts Levi about his horrible thoughts, prior to the Battle of Shiganshina, and no exception - he imagines Leon glaring up at him too. In the pile, Leon's fatal injuries are visible - his severed spine and hollowed out chest.

Post-Death (Uprising Arc- Onwards)

The remaining veterans, a week prior to their raid on Shiganshina, wonder the reasoning for Leon's death. They link the events of what happened in Ragako to those of Elsner, realizing they were practically identical scenarios. They consider the idea of Leon being potentially targeted, before realizing that would be unlikely. Hanji proposes it was a mere coincidence, stating that Leon was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time - but says she is certain that the attack was a reminder that the war has become just as much about fighting the people within the walls as it is about the titans. Hanji suggests that the members Mike's squadron at Utgard Castle and Leon (though is unaware of Mike's death, due to no one being present to record his death) were all witnesses to the Beast Titan's wrath.

Some time following his death, Leon and the EPN's drafts for the routes to take in Shiganshina are further improved upon by the Scouting Legion's veteran members and are the base plan for the expedition.

Heron and Iker, until their deaths in the raid during the "Return To Shiganshina" Arc, assume leadership over the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad. In his last moments, Iker screams out Leon's name in fear as Zeke hurls boulders at the charging Scouting Legion soldiers - before a boulder goes straight through his body and he too dies, alongside Heron. 

Later on - when the Attack on Titan world expands to include the countries of this universe, it is revealed that not every citizen in Paradis was of Eldian descent. It is made aware that many of the non-Germanic characters in the series have foreign blood, from outside of Paradis and are not Subjects of Ymir, though were part of the since fallen Eldian Empire. It is discovered that Leon was a citizen of Paradis who was not fully of Eldian descent, being from one of the former Eldian colonies claimed by the Marleyans.

Hanji predicts Leon would have left Paradis to escape the war if he survived. She states in their growing world, Leon's strengths would serve no purpose in their new type of warfare as she soon begins to lament over her fallen comrades. However, they describe him as a gun which could have fired twice - but never got a chance to use the second bullet. 

Timeline

• Year 821: Leon is born in the Ehrmich District's Delaciel Borough. (0)
• Year 823: Leon is diagnosed with (mild) spastic paraplegia. (2)
• Year 824: Leon learns how to walk. (3)
• Year 831: Leon's older siblings leave to join the 87th Trainee Squadron. (10)
• Year 834: Leon joins the  91st  Trainee Squadron. (13)
• Year 837: Leon graduates, 8th out of the Top 10. He joins the Scouting Legion, per his father’s request. (16)
• Year 839: The Tragedy of 839. The largest number of lives taken outside of the Wall, prior to 850. Having stayed behind, Leon does not witness the deaths of nearly the entire EPN. Leon is informed by Shadis he has been asked to take his father’s role as a squad leader and rebuild the EPN. (18)
• Year 840: Leon returns to full service and is given his role as a squad leader is officiated. He serves Shadis and works to rebuild his father’s squadron. (19)
• Year 842: Leon becomes a fully-fledged Sergeant as a result of his cartographical contributions to the military. (21)
• Year 845: Fall of Wall Maria (24)
• Year 850, Late Spring: Leon is introduced as a veteran soldier in the Female Titan Arc. (29)
• Year 850, Mid-Summer: Leon dies in action in Elsner. The Ancel and Blanc bloodlines end. (29)

Extra

Japanese Seiyuu: Eiji Takemoto (series), Masaaki Mizunaka ('The Compass' OVA)

Miscellaneous Information:

• Despite common belief, Leon is not engaged. The ring he wears on his left ring finger belonged to his father. Leon retrieved this ring from his father's corpse when he passed away during the expedition. 
• As a child, Leon learned to play the cello, however - he eventually forgot how to play it when his mindset became more geared towards his job. To pay homage to his skill - Leon's OST is heavy in string instruments, especially in comparison to the OST of other characters in the series.
• Leon does not fully understand romantic or platonic love. 
• Leon displays the traits of a non-autistic individual with savant syndrome.
• Leon actively tries not to form strong bonds with soldiers outside his squad because he worries they will die without him being aware.  
• While Leon abstains from sexual and romantic relationships, it is presumed Leon has had a few crushes over his years in the Scouting Legion - though on whom has never been canonically confirmed.
• Leon's nationality is kept a secret in order to leave it ambiguous. However, his surname suggests he of Norman, Frankish/Germanic or Roman descent. 
• Leon is based on the First French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte. The two share a tactical mindset and were excellent navigators in battle. Leon is born the day Napoléon dies, May 5th. 
• Despite understanding military tactics and strategy incredibly well and on top of that being a skilled mathematician - Leon is absolutely terrible at playing chess. He overthinks and over-calculates to the point where he makes stupid mistakes while playing. 
• While in his early concept stages, Leon had brown hair and pale green eyes. He was merely a squad leader, as opposed to a squad leader and a Sergeant. 
• Leon is self-conscious of how bony his knees and hips are. 
• Leon smells heavily of spicy cologne, cigarette smoke and ink. 
• When the option is available, it is Leon's preference to sit, stand and even sleep facing northwards, like the needle of a compass. Members of the EPN often tease their squad leader for his subconscious habit, much to his annoyance.
• Leon is primarily vegetarian. He makes some exceptions to eat white meat (as to keep his muscle)- but never eats red meat.
• Leon's death is meant to represent the death of the older generation of soldiers (excluding Levi and Hanji.) as the world of Shingeki No Kyojin expands to the new type of war between Marley and Paradis. Throughout the manga - we see the veterans and older officers within the Survey Corps die, making way for the next generation of soldiers. Leon is no exception to this rule, nor is a majority of the Elite Patrolling and Navigating Squad. 
• Leon is not very fond of conversing with people who express little facial expression. He finds it confusing, in a sense to be talking to a blank slate.
• When using 3DMG, Leon keeps his knees bent after landing. He commonly stays in a crouch, as to best jump back, should he be attacked - hence why he commonly rests on the balls of his feet when using his gear. 

Other Canonverses

Junior High Series

In the Shingeki! Kyojin Chūgakkō manga - Leon is a third-year student at Attack Junior High School. He is a member of the school's Survey Club as well as the leader of the Navigating Club. He is known for loving organizing treasure hunts and games of that sort for the younger students, who find his admiration for mapping odd. While he is respected by his fellow students - he has also been given the nickname of "Cheekbones" (頬骨, "Hōbone") by his fellow third years. His older brother and sister are graduates of the school, and his father used to be a teacher - but they do not make any appearances in the series. Leon's arrogance is dramatized in the Junior High series along with his disability and aggressive nature. 

Leon wears the typical gakuran uniform, with the first button undone to show off his navy blue bowtie. He wears the standard white shoes and carries his schoolwork in a briefcase with titan shifter pins on it. In this series, Leon doesn't wear his father's wedding ring.  Leon's casual attire consists of his white dress shirt, bowtie, brown dress pants and black shoes. 

Chibi Theatre Series

Leon is a Sergeant within the Scouting Legion. Like most of the characters - Leon is rendered slightly less seriously and is parodied as a man who is definitely more book smart than street smart. He ends up walking after a titan, who he believes will help him locate a carriage stop. Like many of the episodes, and not too surprisingly - Leon winds up in a titan's stomach and seemed more pissed off about it than anything. 

High School (Isayama's Official AU)

In this AU, Leon is a mathematics and calculus teacher, making up a part of the known faculty with Erwin Smith, Hanji Zoe, and Levi Ackerman. Little is known about him apart from the fact that he is incredibly strict and gives detentions for even the most minute of school code violations.