Battle of Trost District Arc - Attack on Titan
The Battle of Trost District Arc is the second story arc to take place (chronologically) in Season 1 of the Attack on Titan anime series. It spans Episodes 5-13, totalling nine episodes. It is also the second story arc of the Attack on Titan manga, from Chapters 3-14.
Also referred to as The Struggle for Trost District, this arc takes place five years after the first episodes of the season, following the graduation of Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackermann, and Armin Arlelt and the rest of the 104th Training Corps.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 1
Season 1, Episode 5 - ‘First Battle: The Struggle for Trost, Part 1’
- Aired May 5, 2013 (Original) May 31, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Shinpei Ezaki
The Colossal Titan manages to destroy the Trost District’s canons and disappears in a huge cloud of steam before Eren can attack. Mikasa Ackermann helps with evacuating the citizens of the district, while Eren and Armin Arlelt stay back and try to help kill the Titans that are now inside the wall.
Eren saves Armin from being eaten by a Titan, throwing himself in front of its grasp, his arm severed by the Titan’s bite, and then swallowed.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 2
Season 1, Episode 6 - ‘The World the Girl Saw: The Struggle for Trost, Part 2’
- Aired May 12, 2013 (Original) June 7, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Tomomi Ikeda
- Written by Hiroshi Seko
Armin heads to the rearguard with Connie Springer, Krista Lenz, and Ymir. Meanwhile, an Abnormal Titan makes its way to the rear gate of the city, which is crowded with refugees. A wealthy merchant is blocking the way, demanding his cargo be let through first. Mikasa resolves the issue, letting refugees pass through. She recalls memories a year before the fall of Wall Maria (year 844), when her parents were killed by three slave traders. Eren and his father, Grisha Jaeger, were nearby, and killed two after finding her parents’ corpses, but the third began strangling Eren, forcing Mikasa to kill the last slave trader. After this she was adopted by Carla and Grisha Jaeger. In the present, she kills the Abnormal Titan.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 3
Season 1, Episode 7 - ‘Small Blade: The Struggle for Trost, Part 3’
- Aired May 26, 2013 (Original) June 21, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Satonobu Kikuchi, Shinpei Ezaki, Tatsuma Minamikawa
- Written by Noboru Takagi
Supplies are running low for the surviving squads, and they almost admit defeat when the nearby supply depot is overrun with Titans. Mikasa learns of Eren’s death, but accepts the news calmly and leads an attack to reclaim the supply depot. She runs out of fuel for her gear, falling into an alleyway. Before she can be eaten by a Titan, another kills it. This mysterious Titan helps the Scout Regiment fight off the other Titans, saving them and reclaiming the supply depot.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 4
Season 1, Episode 8 - ‘I Can Hear His Heartbeat: The Struggle for Trost District, Part 4’
- Aired May 26, 2013 (Original) June 21, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Satonobu Kikuchi, Shinpei Ezaki, Tatsuma Minamikawa
- Written by Noboru Takagi
Jean Kirstein leads the cadets to Trost HQ, and the mysterious Titan follows. It continues to kill other Titans outside, while the cadets discuss a strategy to get into the supply room. They resupply in time to see the mysterious Titan collapsing from exhaustion, and watch as Eren Jaeger emerges from the nape of its neck, unharmed.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 5
Season 1, Episode 9 - ‘Whereabouts of His Left Arm: The Struggle for Trost District, Part 5’
- Aired June 2, 2013 (Original) June 28, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
- Written by Yasuko Kobayashi
The Scout Regiment on a mission outside of the Walls hear of the Trost District, and their Commander Erwin Smith leads them back to help. Meanwhile, Captain Levi Ackermann demands Eren explain how he is still alive. Eren tries to convince them he is still human, and that he could control the Titan from inside of it. Captain Levi remains doubtful, ordering the artillery crew to fire on Eren and his friends, and Eren turns into a partial Titan, his rib cage sheltering them. Eren recalls memories of being injected with something by his father once more.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 6
Season 1, Episode 10 - ‘Response: The Struggle for Trost, Part 6’
- Aired June 9, 2013 (Original) July 12, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Hiroyuki Tanaka
- Written by Hiroshi Seko
Armin risks his life to argue for Eren’s innocence. Commander Dot Pyxis, the Garrison’s top officer, arrives and halts the attack against them, deciding to follow Armin’s plan to seal Wall Rose with a huge boulder, using Eren’s Titan form. Eren agrees, despite being unsure if he’ll be able to transform again.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 7
Season 1, Episode 11 - ‘Idol: The Struggle for Trost, Part 7’
- Aired June 16, 2013 (Original) July 19, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Kiyoshi Fukumoto
- Written by Hiroshi Seko
Commander Pyxis demands his troops follow the plan to seal Wall Rose, but they remain hesitant, wanting to return to their families. Pyxis convinces them to stay, saying that Eren is a secret human project. Eren manages to transform, only to immediately attack Mikasa.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 8
Season 1, Episode 12 - ‘Wound: The Struggle for Trost, Part 8’
- Aired June 23, 2013 (Original) July 26, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Shintaro Itoga
- Written by Noboru Takagi
Eren’s attack causes panic among the Garrison, split between defending him and attacking him. Armin speaks to Eren by cutting into the nape of his Titan’s neck, reminding Eren of his goal. Eren’s willpower over the Titan renewed, he begins to carry the boulder to the Wall.
Battle of Trost District Arc Part 9
Season 1, Episode 13 - ‘Primal Desire: The Struggle for Trost, Part 9’
- Aired June 30, 2013 (Original) August 2, 2014 (English)
- Directed by Masashi Koizuka
- Written by Noboru Takagi
While the cadets kill the last of the Titans and capture two for research, the soldiers of Trost watch as Eren uses the boulder to seal Wall Rose. Eren is arrested afterwards, and after Captain Levi and Commander Erwin listen to his complete story, Levi allows Eren to join his squad.