List of Fullmetal Alchemist characters

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This is a list of characters in the anime and manga series Fullmetal Alchemist created by Hiromu Arakawa. Although the story in the anime and the manga start basically the same, the anime begins to differ greatly from the manga midway through its runs; characters that are killed early on in the manga survive to the end of the anime and vice verse. The secret identities of some of the main antagonists, the homunculi, differ as well; King Bradley, for example, is Pride in the anime, while in the manga he is Wrath.

Contents

[edit] Creation and conception

In the making of the characters designs, Hiromu Arakawa comments that the manga authors Suihō Tagawa and Hiroyuki Eto are her main inspirations and she also mentions her artwork is a mix of both of them. When drawing the series characters, Alex Louis Armstrong as well as the little animals are the easiest for her to draw; due to the fact she likes dogs, Arakawa added several of them in the story.[1]

Several social problems were integrated into the story by Arakawa after talking to people who had suffered them, such as refugees, war veterans and former yakuza, or simply by watching news about those issues. Several plot elements expand on these themes, such as Pinako Rockbell caring for the Elric brothers after the death of their mother, and the brothers helping people all over the country, to gain an understanding of the meaning of family. Many characters of the series differ from the manga to the anime, most notably the homunculi. This was made since Arakawa wanted the anime to have a different ending from the manga's to avoid repeating the same events in both series. Arakawa said that she became attracted by the idea of using alchemy in the manga after reading about the Philosopher's stone. She liked it so much that she started reading books of alchemy, which she found very complicated due to the fact that some books contradicted others.[2]

[edit] Protagonists

[edit] Edward Elric

Edward Elric (エドワード・エルリック Edowādo Erurikku?), the "Fullmetal Alchemist", is the youngest State Alchemist in history and the main character of the series. He and his younger brother, Alphonse Elric, scour the world in search of the Philosopher's Stone in the hopes of restoring their bodies.

[edit] Alphonse Elric

Alphonse Elric (アルフォンス・エルリック Arufonsu Erurikku?), the younger brother of Edward Elric, did not become a State Alchemist at the request of his brother. Together he and Ed scour the world in search of the Philosopher's Stone in the hopes of restoring their bodies.

[edit] Roy Mustang

Roy Mustang (ロイ・マスタング Roi Masutangu?), the "Flame Alchemist", is a high-ranking member of the State Military. He has hopes of becoming the leader of Amestris, and uses his many subordinates to further him along this path.

[edit] Winry Rockbell

Winry Rockbell (ウィンリィ・ロックベル Uinrī Rokkuberu?) is a friend of Edward and Alphonse Elric, and auto-mail mechanic living in their hometown, Risembool.

[edit] Antagonists

[edit] Dante

Dante (ダンテ Dante?) is a character exclusive to the anime. She is the leader of the homunculi, and strives to create a Philosopher's Stone so that she can prolong her life, as she has done for centuries.

[edit] Zolf J. Kimblee

Zolf J. Kimblee (ゾルフ・J・キンブリー Zorufu J Kinburī?), spelled Solf J. Kimblee in the Japanese manga, the "Crimson Alchemist" ("Red Lotus Alchemist" in the VIZ translation of the graphic novels), is a deranged psychopath who loves the sight of blood and death. He earned fame during the Isvalan Civil War for his ruthless commitment to the Ishvalan extermination, killing thousands without remorse through his unique brand of alchemy. Using transmutation circles tattooed to the palms of his hands, Kimblee can turn anything he comes into contact with into a bomb, be it people or distant buildings. Because of his effectiveness in wiping out the Ishvalans, Kimblee was given an imperfect Philosopher's Stone to increase his alchemical abilities. With it, he killed Scar's family and gave Scar his characteristic cross-shaped scar. After the war was over Kimblee, wishing to keep the stone for himself, killed the superior officers that knew he had it so as to keep it a secret. He was put in jail for his crimes.

In the anime, Kimblee escapes from jail and joins Greed, though only so that he can betray him and get re-enlisted in the military.[3] He later infiltrates the city of Lior to instigate an uprising against the military. Kimblee encounters Scar while there, and after a failed effort to blow him up he is killed by the Isvalan.[4] In the manga, Kimblee is released from jail so that he can help the homunculi. He is given a new stone to replace the one he had kept from the war, and is sent to retrieve the escaped Tim Marcoh. He runs into Scar along the way, is heavily wounded during the ensuing battle, and is forced to flee to save his own life. He recovers at Briggs' Fortress where he is instructed to start a bloody conflict reminiscent of Ishval. As such, he briefly sides with the country of Drachma, and leads them to slaughter against Briggs' forces.

[edit] Homunculi

Clockwise from center: Gluttony, Lust, Envy, Wrath, and Greed in the manga
Clockwise from center: Gluttony, Lust, Envy, Wrath, and Greed in the manga

Homunculi are the main antagonists in Fullmetal Alchemist. They are a group of artificially created humans who seek to fulfill their leader's goals of creating a Philosopher's Stone. In both the anime and the manga each homunculus is named after one of the seven deadly sins, and are marked with an Ouroboros tattoo on their bodies. Aside from this, the concept of the homunculi varies drastically between mediums. In the anime, homunculi are created when someone performs a human transmutation to revive a dead person. They will fail to revive the intended person, and will instead create a homunculus that looks exactly like the deceased target. These homunculi are led by Dante. The only way to kill a homunculus in the anime is by finding a remnant of their original body (a bone, hair, etc.) and having it near them, weakening them and making them susceptible to death.[5]

In the manga, homunculi have a Philosopher's Stone somewhere in their body. Most of the homunculi that have been introduced were created at the same time as their respective Philosopher's Stone. Others, such as Wrath, were humans that accepted a Philosopher's Stone into their body, gaining the abilities of a homunculi while aging like a human. All homunculi are created by or at the discretion of Father, being a manifestation of one of his traits; his greed, his lust, and so on. The only way to kill a homunculus in the manga is by expending all of the power in their Philosopher's Stone, leaving them unable to revive themselves once they have been killed.

[edit] Father

Father (父 Chichi?) is a character exclusive to the manga. He was the first homunculus and is the creator of all subsequent homunculi.

[edit] Lust

Lust (ラスト Rasuto?), the "Ultimate Spear", is the first homunculus to be introduced in the series. She is a well-endowed woman, who primarily works in the shadows, acting as an envoy for her leader in both mediums and encouraging alchemists down her desired path. She is able to extend her fingers to great lengths and can use them to cut through any substance. In the manga, after leading an effort to capture Barry the Chopper, her plans backfire when Roy Mustang infiltrates into the homunculi's secret lair. Though she is able to severely wound him, he sears his wounds shut and kills her by repeatedly setting her on fire, ultimately depleting her Philosopher's Stone.

In the anime, Lust was created when Scar's brother tried to revive his dead lover.[6] Though originally largely the same as her manga counterpart, Lust begins to crave becoming a human as the series progresses. This leads her to defecting from the homunculi and joining sides with Edward Elric under the condition that they help make her human. She is ultimately tracked down by Wrath who, after paralyzing her with a locket that contains strands of hair from her original body, kills her.[7]

[edit] Gluttony

Gluttony (グラト二ー Guratonī?) is one of the first homunculi to appear in the series, typically being in the company of Lust. He is a large, simple-minded homunculus whose thoughts rarely stray far from eating. His Ouroboros tattoo is located on his tongue. He has powerful jaws, acidic saliva, and can and will eat almost anything. He particularly likes eating people, and the only way he can find enjoyment in a battle is if he can eat his opponent afterwards.

In the manga, Gluttony is the failed product of Father's attempts to create a Gate of Truth. When activating this gate Gluttony's stomach opens up, revealing a large eye at its center. His ribs spread out to act as a border for the gate, and then double as large extendable teeth. With these teeth Gluttony can consume everything in his eye's field of vision in an instant, which is then transported to a realm within himself. Artifacts from centuries before the start of the series can be found there, indicating Gluttony's age. Gluttony tries to use this form to kill Roy Mustang, Lust's killer, though he makes the mistake of eating Edward Elric, Lin and Envy instead. Hoping to make it up to Father, Gluttony takes Alphonse Elric to see him, where Ed, Lin and Envy are able to escape to. In the ensuing battle Gluttony runs out of energy and he is no longer able to revive himself. Father takes what remains of his Philosopher's Stone and restores him with all his memories intact. Though he is fully restored when he appears again, he is "killed" several times during a fight with Lin Yao and Lan Fan. He is eventually killed for good when Pride eats him in order to take Gluttony's abilities for his own.

In the anime, after Lust's death, Dante transforms Gluttony into a mindless eating machine, an act that ultimately backfires when he eats her.[8] He appears again in Conqueror of Shamballa, having transformed into a large, multi-limbed monster since his appearance in the anime. He exclusively attacks Wrath during the movie, giving Alphonse Elric an easy opportunity to use Gluttony to create a gate to the other world.

[edit] Envy

Envy (エンヴィー Envī?) is one of the first homunculi to appear in the series. He is able to assume any appearance he wishes, be it an animal or another person. He prefers the form of an "adorable" androgynous boy. Because of his ability, Envy is usually used as a spy by the other homunculi, sending him to steal someone's identity so that he can infiltrate an organization. This leads to him being assigned to kill Maes Hughes; before completing the job he assumes the form of Hughes' wife and Maria Ross, the latter identity allowing Envy to frame her for his death in the manga. Also in the manga, Envy assumes the form of a disgruntled soldier of the State Military and shoots an Ishvalan child, sparking the resulting civil war. He is very proud of this achievement, as he enjoys violence between humans.

In the manga, Envy was created when the country of Xerxes was sacrificed to create a Philosopher's Stone. His natural form is an enormous, demonic creature composed of all the citizens of Xerxes. The mass of his natural form transfers over to whatever other form he assumes, causing him to influence the environment more than might be expected given his comparatively smaller size. After the death of Lust, Envy replaces her as the messenger of the homunculi. He issues orders to Zolf J. Kimblee to capture Tim Marcoh, and displays somewhat of an admiration for Kimblee's violent tendencies. Envy later goes to personally capture Marcoh, though in the ensuing battle all of the souls of the Xerxes citizens are destroyed and he is reduced to a parasitic form. He is given to May Chang to take home with her, but Envy instead convinces her to go back to Central where he will be able to get another Philosopher's Stone.

In the anime, Envy was created when Dante and Hohenheim tried to revive their dead son. His natural form looks like a much younger Hohenheim. When his father left him and started another family, Envy obtained a hate for his father and his two half brothers (Edward and Alphonse Elric).[9] Upon learning that his father is still alive on the opposite side of the Gate of Truth, he crosses it in search of Hohenheim.[8] In Conqueror of Shamballa, Envy has taken the form of a giant serpent and is captured by the Thule Society. He is fed Hohenheim as a human chew toy, an act that allows Ed to pass back through the gate to Amestris.

[edit] Greed

Greed (グリード Gurīdo?), the "Ultimate Shield", craves money, women, and other worldly possessions above all else. Because of this he betrays the homunculi in both the anime and the manga, as working for them would deprive him of his greedy desires, though he does show some loyalty for his subordinates. His Ouroboros tattoo is located on the back of his left hand. He is able to rearrange the carbon molecules in his body to create a shield that coats his body and is as hard as diamond. Greed is introduced when he sends some of his chimera subordinates to capture Alphonse Elric. The State Military soon raids their location to rescue Al, and Greed's fate from that point further differs between adaptions.

In the manga, Greed is repeatedly killed by Wrath, tiring him out and allowing him to be taken back to Father. Unwilling to rejoin them, Greed is melted down and Father consumes his Philosopher's Stone. Later, Lin Yao offers to become a new Greed in his search for immortality. Greed is given complete control of Lin's body, though Lin constantly fights him to regain control. Though this Greed initially has no recollections of his actions as the former Greed, his killing of Bido brings back memories of all his loyal subordinates. Angry with Wrath for killing his "possessions" and further provoked by Lin, the new Greed defects from the homunculi, eventually letting Edward Elric join him. He has recently abandoned the Elrics and his old retainers to try to "take over the world."

In the anime he escapes the raid and flees to Dante's mansion. Dante, having created Greed when she tried to revive her dead lover, is as a result in the possession of the skull from his original body. This leaves him severely weakened and he is killed by Edward Elric. His last action is telling Edward the secret to kill homunculi and dies with a smile on his face. Although he was one of Edward's enemies, his death nontheless has an effect on Edward.[5]

[edit] Sloth

Sloth (スロウス Surōsu?) differs greatly between the anime and the manga. In the manga Sloth is not introduced until midway through the series, where he is revealed to be a large, muscular, dim-witted man. He is tasked with digging a gigantic transmutation circle beneath Amestris to be used in turning the country into a Philosopher's Stone. Though he is briefly impeded in this job when he runs into the Elric brothers at Briggs' Fortress, he is allowed to continue his work, finishing the circle in chapter seventy-eight. Just as his name, Sloth is always wanting to rest and finish his job so he can stop working. When Greed is captured by Wrath, he asks about Sloth and Lust answers saying he is still working, meaning he was already making the tunnel before Greed left the group one hundred years before.

In the anime, Sloth was created when the Elric brothers tried to revive their mother, Trisha Elric. Sloth is able to assume a watery composition, which she can use to drown others by grabbing hold of them.[4] Sloth constantly suffers from memories of raising the Elric brothers. Determined to prove to herself that those are Trisha's memories, not her own, she longs to be able to kill them, as a mother could never kill her own sons. She develops a mother-son relationship with Wrath, and the two stick together during the second half of the anime. During a battle with the Elric brothers Wrath, having forgotten he'd merged with Trisha's remains earlier, merges with Sloth's body to help her in combat. This leaves Sloth paralyzed, allowing Edward Elric an easy opportunity to convert the water in her body into ethanol, which then evaporates into the atmosphere.[7]

[edit] Wrath

Wrath (ラース Rāsu?) differs greatly between the anime and the manga. In the manga, Wrath is the true identity of King Bradley, the "Ultimate Eye". His eye, usually covered by an eyepatch, gives him the foresight to see all possible outcomes of a given situation, allowing him to predict the moves of any opponent before they happen. His favored mode of attack is with his sword, which he wields with great proficiency. Before becoming a homunculus Bradley was trained with a group of others to become the leader of the country. Once they were old enough, a Philosopher's Stone was inserted into their blood system, a process only Bradley was able to survive. Having once been a human, Wrath ages with time, a trait that irritates him since his body can't keep up with his eye's predictions. Because homunculi cannot reproduce he was given a family to keep up appearances: his "son", Pride, and a wife he chose himself.

In the anime, Wrath was created when Izumi Curtis tried to revive her infant child. Her attempt failed, and the infant's body was taken beyond the Gate of Truth. There the child, Wrath, grew up. When Edward Elric later lost his arm and leg while trying to revive his mother, Wrath took both for himself, allowing him to use alchemy and escape to Amestris.[10] In addition to performing alchemy Wrath can merge with any object. Because he is the remains of his former body, he cannot be weakened like the other homunculi, though the cries of a child have a similar effect.[4] After joining the homunculi, Wrath develops a mother-son relationship with Sloth. When he unknowingly helps to kill her (having merged with the remains of her original body) he became distraught and tried to revive her with human transmutation. He lost the limbs gained from Edward Elric, and is given automail replacements by Winry Rockbell.[8] He appears again in Conqueror of Shamballa, doing constant battle with Gluttony. With Gluttony distracted, Wrath tells Alphonse Elric to use them both as sacrifices to open the Gate of Truth. Al does so and is able to reunite with Ed, while Wrath is able to reunite with the spirit of Izumi.

[edit] Pride

Pride (プライド Puraido?) differs greatly between the anime and the manga. In the manga, Pride is the true identity of Selim Bradley (セリム・ブラッドレイ Serimu Buraddorei?), the son of King Bradley (Wrath), something discovered in the latter half of the series by Riza Hawkeye. He is very dedicated to the homunculi's cause, and doesn't allow anyone to get in its way; he promises to kill Riza if she tells anyone else that Selim is a homunculus. He was created in Father's original image, and thus his shadow is a dark blob with many eyes. He can destroy or manipulate anything that this shadow comes into contact with. He also demonstrates the ability to take on the traits of people his shadow devours; when he does so with Gluttony, for example, he gains the latter's appetite and enhanced sense of smell. It is shown that his strength/weakness resides in light because of the lack of it, he cannot project his shadows and thus rendering him useless, and when a great light like a flash is projected over his shadow, this dissapears by a short limit of time. He is currently trapped alongside Alphonse in a huge earth-made jail created by Hohenheim, where thick darkness prevents him from using his powers. He and Alphonse have started a discussion, where he admits that he truly cares about his surrogate mother.

In the anime, Pride is the true identity of King Bradley, the "Ultimate Eye". His eye, usually covered by an eyepatch, allows him to see everything, even the air in a room . His favored mode of attack is with his sword, which he wields with great proficiency. Because he ages like a regular human, Dante considers him her greatest creation, a title he is very proud of. Because homunculi cannot reproduce he was given a family to keep up appearances: his son, Selim Bradley, and a wife. When Roy Mustang discovers what Bradley is, Pride gives Selim the skull of his original body to be kept safe. When Selim unknowingly brings the skull back to him during his battle with Mustang, he is severely weakened by its presence. Out of anger he kills Selim, but this weakened state allows Mustang to kill him by repeatedly setting him on fire.[8]

[edit] Other characters

[edit] Alchemists

Alchemists are people who have learned how to manipulate the world around them. Through the use of transmutation circles, they can reform one object into something completely different. In Amestris alchemists can work for the State Military, earning them a unique title, the rank of major, and funding for all of their endeavors. The people of Xing have their own brand of alchemy focusing on healing wounds. Scar, an Ishvalan, utilizes a mixture of Amestris' and Xing's alchemy developed by his brother.

[edit] Alex Louis Armstrong

Alex Louis Armstrong (アレックス・ルイ・アームストロング Arekkusu Rui Āmusutorongu?), the "Strong Arm Alchemist", is a large and comically emotional State Alchemist. He will burst into tears or joyous praise given the right situation, and embraces others in an effort to console them. Because he is an extremely strong character, this usually causes others great personal injury. Armstrong is very proud of his strength and of his muscular physique, frequently taking off his shirt so that he can flex for others' benefit. As a final element of his comedic properties, he has the tendency to "sparkle"; when first appearing in a scene or taking off his shirt, pink stars radiate from his body. Despite his humorous tendencies, Armstrong can be very serious when the situation calls for it. He is not fond of violence and will try to end conflicts peacefully, and will break down and cry if an innocent person is killed.

Armstrong comes from a wealthy family of aristocrats who have earned renown in most professions. He has mastered many of his family's talents for himself, and when displaying such a talent he remarks it to have been "passed down the Armstrong line for generations". His alchemical skills are also a remnant of his family's history; by using a unique kind of brass knuckles, Armstrong can reshape any solid object that he punches. In addition to projectiles and barriers for combat purposes, he can use this talent to create buildings and at times sculptures of himself. Armstrong is a valuable ally of Roy Mustang and the Elric brothers, even if they are not always happy to be in his emotional company. He takes his honor as a soldier and as a leader seriously, and always looks out for his peers' and subordinates' best interests.

[edit] Izumi Curtis

Izumi Curtis (イズミ・カーティス Izumi Kātisu?) is the teacher of Ed and Alphonse Elric. She distrusts the military and refuses to become a State Alchemist, though her talents catch the military's attention as the series progresses. She cares about her apprentices very fiercley, although on the outside she is sometimes reluctant to show it, as she beats them up quite frequently. Her husband is Sig Curtis.

[edit] Basque Grand

  • Voiced by: Shin Aomori (Japanese), R. Bruce Elliott (English)

Basque Grand (バスク・グラン Basuku Guran?), the "Iron Blood Alchemist", earned prestige in the military for his ability to turn the iron in his blood into a large array of guns and cannons, allowing him to devastate a wide area in a short period of time. In the anime, Grand oversees the military's creation of imperfect Philosopher's Stones as well as an army of super soldiers. Though this causes him to work against the series' protagonists, the Elric brothers, Grand is actually killed by Scar.[11] In the manga, Grand is killed by Scar before the start of the series. Series creator Hiromu Arakawa states in an omake that Scar snuck up on and killed Grand while he was skipping home one night. He does not make an actual appearance until chapter sixty of the manga, appearing during a flashback to the Isvalan Civil War. Instead of the anime's portrayal of Grand as a blood-seeking warrior, the manga portrays him as somewhat of a pacifist. Though he kills countless Isvalans, he defies orders by sparing those who surrender and even kills a superior officer that orders him to execute helpless prisoners.

[edit] Hohenheim

Hohenheim (ヴァン・ホーエンハイム Van Hōenhaimu?) is the father of Ed and Alphonse Elric with a keen knowledge of alchemical processes. In the anime, Hohenheim has used the power of a Philosopher's Stone for hundreds of years to switch from body to body, prolonging his life. In the manga he is a Philosopher's Stone, and thus cannot die.

[edit] Lyra

Lyra (ライラ Raira?), a young girl who appears only in the anime, is first introduced as a subordinate of Yoki. She aspires to be a State Alchemist, and uses a necklace that bears a small transmutation circle to condense the moisture in the air and force it at high velocity toward her opponents. When she is defeated in battle by Edward Elric she becomes the apprentice of Dante in an effort to improve her abilities. The aging Dante performs a body switch with Lyra soon afterwards, leaving her to suffer the wrath of Dante's enemies.

[edit] Tim Marcoh

Tim Marcoh (ティム・マルコー Timu Marukō?), formerly the "Crystal Alchemist", was the leading researcher in the military's Philosopher's Stone creation project. After sacrificing a number of innocent Ishvalans during the Ishval Civil War to create new stones, he fled the military with some imperfect stone samples. He settles down in a small country town where he uses his stones to heal the sick under the identity of "Doctor Mauro". He is later found by the Elric brothers, and he directs them to some of the research he left behind in Central to help them in their search for the Philosopher's Stone. In the anime he is soon afterwards taken into military custody, only to be killed by the homunculus, Lust.[12]

In the manga, Marcoh takes a greater role in the ongoing story. When first found by the homunculi he is kept under house arrest, forced to stay put and alive or risk the destruction of his town. He is later taken into their custody to be used in their future plans, and is kept locked up deep below Central. While there he is found by Scar. Seeing Scar as a means to an end, he tells Scar of his involvement in the Ishvalan War in the hopes of being killed in vengeance. Scar, instead, only disfigures his face beyond recognition and forces him to help in bringing down the homunculi.


[edit] Russell and Fletcher Tringham

  • Russell Voiced by: Kosuke Okano (Japanese), Justin Cook (English)
  • Fletcher Voiced by: Minako Arakawa (Japanese), Avery Williams (English)

Russell Tringham (ラッセル・トリンガム Rasseru Toringamu?) and his younger brother Fletcher (フレッチャー・トリンガム Furecchā Toringamu?) are the sons of the famed alchemist Nash Tringham. Their characters are adapted by the anime from the light novel The Land of Sand, not the manga. They seek to complete their father's research with a substance known as "red water", a toxic liquid with alchemical properties. To help them in this endeavor they impersonate the Elric brothers to gain access to resources and locations reserved for State Alchemists. Though Fletcher is reluctant to do this, Russell insists that nobody will mind. Similarly, although Edward and Russell fight near constantly, Fletcher and Alphonse are able to get along. The two Tringham brothers tend to utilize alchemy involving plants.

[edit] Shou Tucker

  • Voiced by: Makoto Nagai (Japanese), Chuck Huber (English)

Shou Tucker (ショウ・タッカー Shō Takkā?), the "Sewing-Life Alchemist", is introduced early on in the series. He is famed for creating a chimera that could talk, albeit only one phrase: "I want to die". After meeting Tucker, the Elric brothers discover that the talking chimera was actually his wife fused with another animal. Before they can alert the State Military, Tucker also turns his daughter, Nina, into a chimera to keep his position in the State Military. In the manga Tucker is killed by Scar soon afterwards, though in the anime he is merely taken into military custody. There, Tucker is recruited by the military to help in creating an army of super soldiers. Though he agrees, he instead uses the resources given to him to try and bring Nina back to life, resulting in becoming a chimera himself as he restore his daughter's human body. He switches allegiances regularly for the remainder of the anime, crossing paths with the Elric brothers, as he tries to find a way to restore his daughter. In the end, he tricks Al into letting him the Philosopher's Stone in him to execute a flawless human transmutation to recreate Nina's body. However, the newly created body lacked her soul and Tucker lost his sanity as a result with his current wherabouts unknown in the series aftermath.[8]

[edit] State Military

Roy Mustang and his subordinates
Roy Mustang and his subordinates

The State Military is Amestris' primary mode of offense and defense. Throughout the history of the country it has existed to put down uprisings and annex surrounding hostile countries into its borders. It is led by King Bradley, and utilizes a ranking system common of most real-world militaries. In the manga, the State Military is really just the puppet force called upon to further the homunculi's plans.

[edit] Frank Archer

Frank Archer (フランク・アーチャー Furanku Āchā?) is a character exclusive to the anime, introduced as the replacement of Maes Hughes. He is cool, calm, and collected, with a love for violence and war. He dreams of becoming a hero on the battlefield, viewing it as a way to rise up the ranks of the military. To this end he does whatever is necessary to please his superiors and always insures that his actions earn him some publicity. As the series progresses, Archer develops an interest in the military's various projects, such as the homunculi, the chimera, and the Philosopher's Stone. His ambitions of gaining the latter cause the left half of his body to be used in its creation, forcing him to undergo automail modification to regain his mobility. He becomes mentally unstable as a result of the operations and carries out King Bradley's ordered executions until he is eventually killed by Riza Hawkeye.[8]

[edit] Olivier Mira Armstrong

Olivier Mira Armstrong (オリヴィエ・ミラ・アームストロング Orivie Mira Āmusutorongu?) is the older sister of Alex Louis Armstrong who appears only in the manga. She is charged with leading Briggs' Fortress and protecting the country from the neighboring country of Drachma. Unlike her brother, who is cheerful and kindly to all around him, Olivier distrusts everyone when she first meets them and has no patience for formalities or idle conversation. She is also, similarly, a firm believer in survival of the fittest. This has earned Olivier a reputation within the military and in Drachma as one who should not be crossed, though her subordinates hold her in high regard. Because she readily joins them in hostile situations and disregards the orders of superiors if she disagrees, her subordinates will answer only to her. She always carries a sword at her side and is proficient enough to be able to defeat her brother with it.

Olivier crosses paths with the Elric brothers when they arrive at Briggs' Fortress. She is initially distrustful of the two, suspecting that they are keeping something from her. After Sloth infiltrates Briggs she is able to convince them to tell her about the homunculi that control the military. To help the Elric brothers combat the corrupt higher ups (and to increase her rank) Olivier goes to Central to work her way into King Bradley's inner circle. Though she no longer has direct control of Briggs, her subordinates still operate it under her wishes and only appear to obey her replacement. Once she learns of plans to create an army of immortal super soldiers, Olivier has her parents and younger sister leave the country so that they can't be used as hostages against her or her brother in the coming conflicts.

[edit] King Bradley

Führer President King Bradley (キング・ブラッドレイ Kingu Buraddorei?) is the head of the State Military. Though initially portrayed as a kindly ruler who ages like any other human, he is later revealed to be a homunculus in both the anime and the manga. In the anime he is Pride, while in the manga he is Wrath.

[edit] Heymans Breda

Heymans Breda (ハイマンス・ブレダ Haimansu Bureda?) is one of Roy Mustang's most trusted subordinates. He was recruited by Mustang for his high level of intelligence, indicated by his talent with chess and other strategy games. Despite his intelligence, he still has an irrational fear of dogs. Breda is usually tasked by Mustang with jobs that require he travel abroad. In the course of doing so he uses up all of his days off, showing his dedication to Mustang. He is transferred to Western Headquarters when Mustang's group is broken up by the homunculi. In the manga, he eventually defects from the military so that he can help Mustang overthrow King Bradley.

[edit] Denny Brosh

Denny Brosh (デニー・ブロッシュ Denī Burocchu?) is the partner of Maria Ross. He is rather nosy and lazy, and has an enormous infatuation with his partner. He is very sensitive to criticism, and will fall into despair at the slightest insult. Both he and Ross are introduced when they are assigned to protect Edward Elric. In the anime, Brosh later appears in the rebellion against King Bradley, saving various characters from execution. In the manga he has yet to play a very big role in the plot; his only appearance after the end of his protection of the Elric brothers is after Ross's apparent death. Though he is deeply saddened by the news, Ross feels it is for the best that he not know she is alive, as he has the tendency to be a blabbermouth.

[edit] Buccaneer

Buccaneer (バッカニア Bakkania?) is stationed at Briggs' Fortress under the leadership of Olivier Mira Armstrong. He is a large, heavyset man with a thin mustache and an oriental looking face. He has been shown with two different pieces of automail in the series; the first, "Crocodile" is equipped with a kind of chainsaw that, when wound up, can crush a person's limbs. The second, called "Mad Bear", is outfitted with a diamond claw, perfect for close-quarter combat. Though he obeys Armstrong unquestioningly and trusts her allies, he dislikes Edward Elric for outranking him despite his age.

[edit] Vato Falman

Vato Falman (ヴァトー・ファルマン Vatō Faruman?) is one of Roy Mustang's most trusted subordinates. He was recruited by Mustang for his innate ability to remember almost every detail, allowing him to act as a sort of recording device that does not leave any physical evidence. Because his intellect is his area of expertise, he does not have much experience in the field, causing him to make rookie mistakes when in a combat situation. He is overly formal, causing some of his comrades to wish he would lighten up. Falman does not play a large role in the anime, only being another of Mustang's subordinates.

In the manga Mustang tasks him with "babysitting" Barry the Chopper to keep him out of the public eye and from killing civilians for fun. Later, Falman is transferred to Northern Headquarters when Mustang's group is broken up by the homunculi. He is subsequently transferred again, this time to Briggs' Fortress where he is given what amounts to janitorial duties. There he reunites with the Elric brothers, and helps them and Briggs' forces plan against the homunculi.

[edit] Kain Fuery

Kain Fuery (ケイン・フュリー Kein Fyurī?) is one of Roy Mustang's most trusted subordinates. He is overly kind in nature, both to people and to animals. He was recruited by Mustang for his technological expertise. As such, he primarily helps Mustang with communications, both in creating secure lines and tapping into others. He is transferred to Southern Headquarters when Mustang's group is broken up by the homunculi. In the manga, he eventually defects from the military so that he can help Mustang overthrow King Bradley.

[edit] Grumman

Grumman (グラマン Guraman?) is the commander of the Eastern Headquarters. He is an old man with gray hair and a moustache, and takes a lighthearted approach to his command. When Roy Mustang transfers from Eastern Headquarters to Central, Grumman authorizes the transfer of Mustang subordinates, including his granddaughter Riza Hawkeye. He makes no further contributions in the anime, though during a brief cameo in Conqueror of Shamballa he is implied to have replaced King Bradley. In the manga, after the homunculi strip Mustang of his subordinates, he calls for Grumman's aid. Grumman, not under the homunculi's surveillance, has since been acting on Mustang's behalf in intelligence gathering. As with Colonel Mustang and Major General Armstrong, Grumman dreams of ascending to the Presidency of Amestris.

[edit] Jean Havoc

Jean Havoc (ジャン・ハボック Jan Habokku?) is one of Roy Mustang's most trusted subordinates. He is usually seen smoking a cigarette. He was recruited by Mustang for his loyalty and general sincerity, as well as his above average shooting skills. Because working for Mustang requires moving frequently and a complete dedication of time, Havoc has very little free time and cannot maintain a relationship with a woman for very long. Havoc does not play a large role in the anime, only being another of Mustang's subordinates. In the manga he unknowingly dates the big-busted homunculus, Lust, who tries to extract information about Mustang from him. She is unsuccessful, and eventually reveals her true identity to him. In the course of the attempt to kill her, Havoc is severely injured and Mustang is forced to use fire to seal the wounds. Though this saves Havoc's life, the lower half of his body is completely paralyzed. Feeling that he can no longer be of use to Mustang, he tries to leave the military, but is instead encouraged to find another way to help Mustang's cause.

[edit] Riza Hawkeye

Riza Hawkeye (リザ・ホークアイ Riza Hōkai?) is Roy Mustang's most trusted subordinate. She carries out many of the tasks he is too lazy to do, acts as his personal assistant, and protects him from danger. She also doubles as his voice of reason, keeping cool in heated situations and scolding him when he allows his emotions to get in the way. Riza and Roy seem to share a close relationship in both adaptions of Fullmetal Alchemist; in the anime she identifies him as her most precious person, whereas in the manga she loses her resolve to live when believing he has been killed. Riza specializes in firearms, particularly sniper rifles, and can hit nearly any target with lethal accuracy. She adopts a dog, called Black Hayate (ブラックハヤテ Burakkuhayate?), in both the anime and the manga, which she raises with stern discipline; when Hayate goes to the bathroom inside, she shoots at the wall behind him to reinforce that doing so is bad. Another scene from the anime shows Riza making the dog sit, shake both paws, and lay before being allowed to eat.

While Riza does not extend far past the role of Mustang's subordinate in the anime, she takes on a more central role in the manga. When Mustang begins to learn too much about the homunculi, Riza is reassigned as King Bradley assistant, a hostage to be used if Mustang steps out of line. Though she no longer works under Mustang, she still keeps an eye out for ways to make his plans of becoming Führer come true; she discovers that King Bradley's son, Selim Bradley, is a homunculus, and sends her discovery to him as soon as she can. She eventually defects from the military so that she can help Mustang overthrow King Bradley.

[edit] Maes Hughes

Maes Hughes (マース・ヒューズ Māsu Hyūzu?) is an old friend of Roy Mustang. He works in the military's intelligence division, where he learns of the homunculi's control over the country. Before he can get word of his discovery to Mustang he is killed by Envy. Nevertheless, his death leads Mustang to discovering the truth for himself.

[edit] Miles

Miles (マイルズ Mairuzu?) is stationed at Briggs' Fortress under the leadership of Olivier Mira Armstrong. Because his grandfather was from Ishval, Miles possesses the brown skin and red eyes characteristic of Isvalans. Armstrong, despite being ordered to discharge and imprison him during the Ishvalan Civil War, ignored orders, believing that his ethnicity has nothing to do with how good a soldier he is. He is unquestioningly loyal to her for this, and serves as her assistant. He wears sunglasses to hide his red eyes from others to avoid scrutiny. Despite this, he is proud of his heritage, being glad that Edward Elric does not pity him for it and telling fellow Ishvalan Scar that he remains in the military so as to change its perception of Ishval.

[edit] Raven

Raven (レイブン Reibun?) is a high-ranking military official exclusive to the manga. He first appears when Roy Mustang confronts him in search of an ally in King Bradley's inner circle. It is with this that Raven, despite his casual attitude and personable disposition, is revealed to be on the side of the homunculi. He later appears at Briggs' Fortress to deal with Sloth. After ordering the forces there to allow Sloth to continue his work, Raven is killed by Olivier Milla Armstrong and his body is buried in cement.

[edit] Maria Ross

Maria Ross (マリア・ロス Maria Rosu?) is the partner of Denny Brosh. Both are introduced when they are assigned to protect Edward Elric, who she develops a maternal affection for. In the anime, Ross later appears in the rebellion against King Bradley, saving various characters from execution. In the manga she is framed by the homunculi for the death of Maes Hughes. Roy Mustang stages a prison break and then fakes her death, giving her a chance to flee to Xing. Though she has asked that her family and Denny Brosh not be told that she is alive so as to keep the secret from getting out, she has pledged to come to Mustang's aid if ever he has need of her.

[edit] Sheska

  • Voiced by: Naomi Wakabayashi (Japanese), Gwendolyn Lau (English)

Sheska (シェスカ Shesuka?) was a librarian at the First Branch of the Central City library. Because she spent all day reading the many documents stored there instead of doing her job, she was fired. She has a photographic memory and can remember and reproduce anything she has ever read with word-for-word accuracy. Because of this, the Elric brothers seek her out after the library burns down to see if she can remember any research papers by Tim Marcoh. She transcribes the entirety of his research for them, earning enough pay to last her a year for her troubles. When Maes Hughes learns of how she helped the Elrics, he hires her to help recreate the criminal records that were destroyed in the fire. In the anime, after Hughes' death, Sheska helps Winry Rockbell discover the identity of Sloth.

[edit] Yoki

  • Voiced by: Kazuki Yao (Japanese), Barry Yandell (English)

Yoki (ヨキ?) is, when first introduced, a corrupt member of the military who imposes heavy taxes on the town of Youswell, bankrupting its citizens. When the Elric brothers arrive in town, they trick Yoki into giving up ownership of the town and promptly report his actions to the military. He is stripped of his rank and lives as a homeless person on the outskirts of Central, where he meets the fugitive Scar. In the anime, Yoki alerts the military to Scar's location, and in the subsequent raid to apprehend Scar he is killed by Lust. In the manga, Yoki is forced to work for Scar under the threat of death. Though he tries to convince those they encounter that Scar is his servant, Yoki does as Scar commands and calls him "master". As he follows Scar around the country, Yoki has assumed a role as comic relief, often having pain inflicted upon him when he tries to seem superior to others.

[edit] Chimera

A chimera is an alchemical cross between two different beings to create an entirely new one.[13] While the vast majority of chimera seen in Fullmetal Alchemist are a cross between two animals, some are humans that have been crossed with an animal. These experiments, performed in secret by the State Military, endow the human with abilities reminiscent of the animal.

[edit] Bido

Bido (ビドー Bidō?) is one of the many chimera to work with Greed. He was a soldier of the State Military who was turned into a chimera; in the anime this was done to keep him quiet about his secret missions, while in the manga it was because he had been heavily wounded. Bido was crossed with a lizard, allowing him to sneak around and climb surfaces with ease. Because of this he is tasked primarily with intelligence gathering and relies on others to defend him. In the anime, he is killed during the military's attempt to capture Greed. In the manga he is the only chimera to survive. Upon hearing of someone named Greed in Central, Bido goes there to see if it is his master. There he encounters Lin Yao, the new Greed, who, having no recollections of Bido, kills him. Nevertheless, Bido's death brings back the former Greed's memories and causes him to follow his predecessor's footsteps by betraying the other homunculi.

[edit] Darius and Heinkel

Darius (ダリウス Dariusu?) and Heinkel (ハインケル Hainkeru?) are introduced in the manga as two of Zolf J. Kimblee's bodyguards. They are instructed by Kimblee to help him fight and apprehend Edward Elric. When Kimblee shows no interest in their safety and Ed subsequently puts himself in harms way to save them, they side with him instead. Darius can transform into a humanoid gorilla, while Heinkel can transform into that of a lion.

[edit] Dorochet

Dorochet (ドルチェット Doruchetto?) is one of the many chimera to work with Greed. He was a soldier of the State Military who was turned into a chimera; in the anime this was done to keep him quiet about his secret missions, while in the manga it was because he had been heavily wounded. Dorochet was crossed with a dog. As such he displays a number of dog-like tendencies, such as lifting his leg when going to the bathroom and being loyal to Greed to a fault (he notes this to be a particularly irritating quality). He is killed by the homunculi while trying to defend Greed; in the anime he is killed by Lust, while in the manga he is killed by Wrath.

[edit] Jelso and Zanpano

Jelso (ジェルソ Jeruso?) and Zanpano (ザンパノ?) are introduced in the manga as two of Zolf J. Kimblee's bodyguards. They are tasked with capturing Scar. Though they serve Kimblee because they have abandoned the ideas of living normal lives, Alphonse Elric and Scar's other companions convince them not to give up hope. As such, they decide to join sides with Scar's group instead. Zanpano can transform into a humanoid boar, while Jelso can transform into a humanoid frog-like creature.

[edit] Loa

Loa (ロア Roa?) is one of the many chimera to work with Greed. He was a soldier of the State Military (once serving under Alex Louis Armstrong) who was turned into a chimera; in the anime this was done to keep him quiet about his secret missions, while in the manga it was because he had been heavily wounded. Loa was crossed with a bull. He is able to transform into a bull-human hybrid, giving him horns and greater strength. His primary weapon is a hammer. He is killed by the homunculi while trying to defend Greed; in the anime he is killed by Lust, while in the manga he is killed by Wrath.

[edit] Marta

Marta (マーテル Māteru?) is one of the many chimera to work with Greed. She was a soldier of the State Military who was turned into a chimera; in the anime this was done to keep her quiet about her secret missions, while in the manga it was because she was severely injured by a land mine. Marta was crossed with a snake, and thus can stretch and contort her body to great effect. She uses this ability during her introduction to infiltrate Alphonse Elric's hollow armor body and control it from the inside. She remains in Al's body for much of her role in the series, the most prominent reason being that she is safe while in there. In the manga, Marta is killed during King Bradley's attempt to capture Greed; shes tries to use Al's body to kill him for slaughtering her fellow chimera, only for Bradley to cut through Al's armor to get her. Her primary role occurred after she was killed, when her blood splattered across Al's blood seal jogged the memories of his time at the Gate, and thus enabled him to use Alchemy without a transmutation circle like his brother. In the anime Marta survives this raid and accompanies Al in his various endeavors. She is ultimately killed by Bradley in much the same way as in the manga, though not before informing Al that Bradley is a homunculus.[6]

[edit] Ishbal

The Ishbalans are a religious people characterized by their brown skin and red eyes. The majority of their population was slaughtered by the State Military during the Ishbalan Civil War. The few survivors live as criminals and outcasts in various slums across the country. Miles, who has Ishbalan ancestry and thus unmistakably appears Ishbalan, works for the State Military.

[edit] Scar

Scar (傷の男（スカー) Kizu no otoko (sukā)?) is the most commonly seen Ishbalan in Fullmetal Alchemist. He seeks to kill any and all State Alchemists to avenge the slaughter of his people. Scar's true name is unknown.

[edit] Scar's brother

  • Voiced by: Yu Mizushima (Japanese), Bill Townsley (English)

Scar's older brother is never named in the series. He broke with his culture's taboo by practicing alchemy, combining the elements used by alchemists in Amestris and Xing, culminating in a series of tattoos on both of his arms. His left arm reconstructs matter and the right deconstructs. In the anime, Scar's brother used his alchemical knowledge to try and revive the woman he loved, an act that created Lust. He was exiled for his efforts, though returned during the civil war to try and help his people create a Philosopher's Stone. In the manga he is never exiled and practices alchemy only out of a quest for knowledge. In both mediums, Scar's brother is killed by Zolf J. Kimblee. Before dying he gives Scar his right arm to replace the one that was lost to Kimblee, which in the anime contains the Ishvalan's incomplete Philosopher's Stone.

[edit] Xing

Xing is a country far away from Amestris that is introduced only in the manga. Its people are oriental in appearance, and are split into fifty families under the rule of a single emperor. The emperor has fathered a prince or princess for each of the fifty families. In the current storyline, the emperor is in failing health and his children whose families are not in good standing seek to earn his trust in his final days. Two of his children, prince Lin Yao and princess May Chang go to Amestris in separate attempts to find the fabled Philosopher's Stone and gain immortality, hoping that doing so will convince the emperor to make them his successor.

[edit] Fu

Fu (フー Fū?) is one of Lin Yao's bodyguards. He is an older man and the grandfather of Lin's other bodyguard, Lan Fan. Though committed to his duties and stern in nature, he cries for his granddaughter after learning that she sacrificed her arm for their prince. He leaves his prince's side for an extended period of time when helping Maria Ross escape to Xing. Upon his return he takes Lan Fan away to search for a way to restore her missing arm, though they plan to someday return to take Lin home.

[edit] Lan Fan

Lan Fan (ランファン Ranfan?) is one of Lin Yao's bodyguards. She is the granddaughter of Lin's other bodyguard, Fu, and is implied by Lin to be younger than himself. She is a skilled fighter despite her age and can keep up with or defend against seasoned warriors. She is fiercely protective of her prince and instantly attacks anyone who speaks poorly of him. This makes for a weakness in battle; by insulting Lin in some way her opponent can break her usually perfect battle form and leave her open to attack. In protecting Lin, Lan Fan is severely injured by King Bradley. To get Bradley off her scent, allowing Lin a chance to escape, she severs her left arm and ties it to a dog to lead Bradley away. After regaining consciousness she asks Alphonse Elric where to find an automail mechanic so that she can restore her arm and start protecting Lin again. Though he recommends a friendly mechanic, Fu declines his charity, not wanting to endanger their friends. Fu and Lan Fan leave to find a mechanic on their own, though they plan to someday return to take Lin home. She returns to save her master from being executed by the other homunculi, an automail arm replacing her lost one, returning after only six months of recouperation.

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